Cover Story
Escaping a Negative Chain of Events
Rejuvenation Scenario for Semiconductor Companies
Part 1: Money or Technology
Leading-edge Semiconductor Industry at a Crossroads: Accelerated Oligopolization or Comeback by Second-Tier Companies
In the field of leading-edge semiconductor products, such as microprocessors, NAND flash memory, and DRAM, the gap between the largest manufacturers and the second-tier manufacturers is beginning to increase. A contraction in product demand and a surge in capital cost, brought about by the financial crisis, are accentuating the difference in competitive strength among manufacturers. The largest manufacturers are poised to continue taking advantage of their overwhelmingly greater economy of scale to grab market share from second-tier manufacturers.Meanwhile, to attempt a comeback, second-tier manufacturers will introduce innovative technologies and new financial methods. Will any of them emerge as serious competitors to the market leaders? The critical moment has arrived and equipment manufacturers are eagerly waiting.
Part 2: Elpida Memory's Strategy
Leaving DRAM-Centric Business Behind to Expand into Foundry and Through-Silicon Via Business
“It is important to focus on developing a business model that will be ready when the recession is over. There is no dark mood within our company.”Elpida Memory, a major DRAM manufacturer, has outlined its strategy toward business recovery in 2010 and beyond. As a DRAM-only manufacturer, the company has until now worked on leading the industry in achieving finer design rules and expanding its production capacity.Elpida is now veering away from DRAM-focused business and moving toward a non-DRAM foundry business that capitalizes on its manufacturing technologies.In parallel with this move, the company will also actively market its Through-Silicon Via (TSV) technology, which has the potential of integrating an entire system into a single device. In early 2009, the company plans to become the first in the industry to begin operating a TSV production line.
Opinion
China and India are no longer low-cost centers
The days of China and India being the answer to the quest to cut development costs are drawing to an end.In several years, the cost of hiring top engineers will come close to that of developed nations and at some point the two countries will be major centers for the development of cutting-edge technology.China and India have a growing presence with significant personnel exchanges occurring between these two nations and the US and Europe.Japanese firms, meanwhile, need to devise R&D strategies that encompass China and India.
Part 3: Diversification Example
Doing Things Differently from Other Companies by Capitalizing on Unconventional Ways of Thinking
An increasing number of semiconductor manufacturers are taking unconventional approaches in order to add new value to their products. As they increase their investment in leading-edge processes, these manufacturers are trying to capitalize on other features of semiconductors besides design rule reduction. Examples include technologies that utilize new materials to achieve incomparable performance levels, and efforts to use semiconductors in previously unheard-of applications. These are the kinds of efforts that lead to opportunities for differentiating devices manufactured by competitors.
Part 4: ISSCC Preview
Reflecting the Trends in the Semiconductor Industry, Some Technologies Do Not Rely on Finer Design Rules
The state of the semiconductor industry, which is facing a period of reform in the midst of the recession, was also reflected at the ISSCC 2009, where the latest circuit technologies are announced. Due to the impact of the economic slowdown, the number of papers presented at the international conference was about 10% fewer than normal years, and only a handful of manufacturers presented papers actively promoting CMOS design rule reduction. Particularly noticeable instead were papers focusing on technologies that increase the integration level and reduce cost, and those aiming to expand the use of semiconductors into new fields such as medical and energy applications.
Special Feature
Google and Nokia to Transform Car Navigation Systems
Inexpensive PNDs to Disappear, Resulting in Tri-Polar Market
The global market of car navigation systems, currently dominated by portable navigation devices (PNDs), is about to be transformed. As 3G mobile communication networks expand, PNDs will be replaced by smartphones and disappear from the market. Communication-related enterprises, such as Google and Nokia, will begin to dominate this market. As this occurs, three types of devices will serve the global market: portable communication terminals, PNDs equipped with communication functions, and navigation systems that link cars to roadside infrastructure.This market picture actually reflects what has already been occurring in Japan. Looking at Japanallows one to foresee what will take place in the global market.
50,000-Yen Laptops to Act as Drastic Medicine in Promoting Major Reorganization of PC Industry
A major change is occurring in the PC market. Sales of low-priced, compact notebook PCs (mini notebook PCs) that sell for around 50,000 yen are growing much more robustly than industry insiders had initially anticipated. Already, these mini notebook PCs account for 1/4 of all laptop PCs sold in Japan. While the market vitality they bring about is a good thing, they also lead to some painful side effects.
Documentary
History of Struggles to Eliminate Lead from Solder; 10 Years of Twists and Turns (Part 1)
Tutorial
What is a Metamaterial (Part 3)
Application of Transmission Line Theory to Left-Handed Materials; Expressing Them Using Right-Handed “Dual” Circuits
Among metamaterials comprised of circuits, those exhibiting left-hand characteristics are gaining attention because of their great potential in industrial applications. This article explains in detail the basics of the transmission line theory, which clearly positionsmetamaterials that are based on circuits.
Matrix Converters (Part 2)
AC Direct Method vs. Virtual Indirect Method: Exploring the Ideal Control Method
A matrix converter consists of nine switching elements, which are turned on and off at optimum timings to obtain an AC output having the desired frequency and amplitude. As a result, control of these converters is quite complex. This installment explains the two representative control methods, i.e., the AC direct method and the virtual indirect method, along with their advantages and disadvantages.
Academy
Session Final: Instruments that Support Development Work
World Report
From the US: Black Friday under Economic Crisis Makes Warehouse Retailers Mainstream
In the U.S., the Friday following Thanksgiving Day is called “Black Friday,” and marks the beginning of the traditional holiday shopping season. On this day, retailers all over the country begin heavy sales promotions and consumers flock to their stores to buy the heavily discounted merchandise. The day is called “Black Friday” because it marks the beginning of the period in which retailers hope to erase their red ink and get back into the black. But since the U.S. is currently in the midst of an unprecedented economic crisis (financial crisis), triggered by the subprime loan problem, consumer spending has dropped to an extremely low level. Did 2008’s Black Friday live up to its name? Van Baker, who covers consumer and retail trends related to digital home appliances at Gartner, Inc., reports on the actual trends and discusses the future sales forecast.
Keyword
Formal Methods
No Clear Definition on What Constitutes “Formal”
Key Person
X-Style Inc. Managing Director Toshiya Ando: Creating Ideal Mobile Devices by Adopting the G-Shock Designing Methodology
NE Interview
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. President and CEO Dirk Meyer: Eliminating Customer Concerns by Partnering with Abu Dhabi Government
News
- Next-Generation HDMI Emerges
- Moor’s Law Lives On: IBM Develops 22-nm Technology
- Tsutaya Begins Service Delivering HD Image Content on Sell-Through Basis
- EU to Levy Tariff on Cellphones? Fierce Opposition from Industry Organizations
- Google Develops Technology for Executing Machine Language on Web Browser
