Cover Story
New Plastics Can Overturn Common Knowledge
Electronics manufacturers find themselves in direct competition with manufacturers from emerging economies in a bid to lower costs, but are stuck with climbing raw material expenses. A low-cost agenda alone will just make matters worse. Manufacturers will need to be more aggressive to break out of this predicament, setting themselves apart by employing new materials that will enhance product functions. The situation has in fact spawned many new resins possessing startling capabilities. Each is so unique they will certainly add value to a company’s products if applied well.
Overview
Active participation in joint development efforts will generate future value
Practical Example
Unique new resins steadily emerging—fully making use of their superior characteristics
Special Feature
EUV Lithography Moves to Practical Implementation
Extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography technology, which had been thought of as a futuristic technology, has finally taken its first step towards practical application. The technology will pave the way toward realization of 64 to 256Gbit NAND flash memory and microprocessors containing 1.6 to 6.4 billion transistors. The technology is likely to be employed in certain products from 2010 at the earliest, with mass production commencing around 2011.
Special Feature
E3: The True Battle Begins for the Latest Game Consoles
The E3 Media & Business Summit relating to home video games was held from July 11 to 13, 2007 in Santa Monica, California. It was the first E3 summit since the launch of the most recent game consoles—Xbox 360, Wii and PlayStation 3. Third-party developers of game software reiterated their “omnidirectional” stance, targeting multiple game consoles. The three console developers are starting to differentiate their products by offering online services and bolstering the lineup of their own game software.
Guest Paper
Just What Is So Great About the iPhone?
We had cognitive psychologist, Donald A. Norman, and US design firms, frog design inc. and Cooper, evaluate the iPhone user interface. The results revealed both areas of excellence and areas that had not been fully developed. We take a closer look at the findings to delve into the design concept of Apple Inc.
Guest Paper
Incorporating Performance Testing in Test-Driven Development
Test-driven development (TDD) refers to software development that centers on the implementation of tests. The objective is to enhance quality, mainly in terms of function. In one example, IBM Corp. used TDD to develop a device driver for point-of-sale systems using Java language in an attempt to raise the quality of software performance. By continually testing performance throughout the development process, a high level of performance was attained.
Documentary
The Chip that Popularized CMOS (Part 1): A Fast and Inexpensive CMOS Chip Destroys User’s Stereotypes
Keyword
Photovoltaic Solar Cells
Key Person
Lenovo Group, Yao Yingjia: “Design Is Rooted in Culture”
NE Interview
Nomura Research Institute, Ltd., Chief Corporate Counselor, Teruyasu Murakami: “‘International Symbiosis’ and ‘Technology Diplomacy’ Change the Rules of the Game”
NE Tutorial
Introduction to Mobile Power Electronics (Part 5): The Fundamentals of EMI/EMC Emissions
Mobile equipment is so densely packed, there is very little room to add in components such as filters for countering electromagnetic interference (EMI). Sometimes we have to revisit basic design if EMI-prevention components do not fit into a package. Electromagnetic noise has to be predicted prior to design in order to shorten the product development process.
NE Tutorial
Causes and Countermeasures for Accidents (Part 1): Why Electronic Products Emit Fire
Many accidents have occurred recently involving the combustion of household electrical appliances such as notebook computers, printers, microwave ovens and clothes dryers. Brand reputations built up over the years are in danger of being severely damaged by serious accidents caused by errors in design. Yoshiyuki Ihara, who has engaged in product failure analysis for many years, talks about the causes of product-related accidents and methods of prevention.
NE Tutorial
Introduction to Mobile Power Electronics (Part 6): Small Size, High Output, High Efficiency Motors
Motors used in mobile equipment in which space is limited face various restrictions not applicable to industrial motors. For example, they must be compact, high-powered and highly efficient, as well as being able to operate within a broad speed range, generate little noise, and have an extensive temperature range. In this installment, we look at principles of operation and control techniques, focusing our attention on alternating current (AC) motors, which drive comparatively large loads.
NE Tutorial
1seg Systems (Part 2): The System for Data Transmission
Integration of communication and broadcasting can be observed in the form of tie-ups between the two services. However, it is extremely difficult for such different industries to come up with a single set of specifications and standards. The 1seg system was created jointly by the two industries. This second installment explains the mechanisms behind data broadcasting and the receiving of digital content.
Watcher / Samsung
Using Personal Specialized Knowledge as the Biggest Weapon for R&D
News
- Are the Xbox360 Problems Caused by a Failure to Control Heat from the GPU?
- HDD Areal Recording Density Is Growing Quickly
- Relaxation of “Copy Once” Saves the Remuneration System for Video Home Recording
- Automobile Manufacturers and Others Establish an Automobile Electronics Research Facility in Kita Kyushu
