Cover Story
Patent-Related Turmoil in Wireless LAN
Gloomy Buffalo
Part 1: Issues Exposed
Dark Cloud Hangs Over Wireless LAN Market Growth; Many Patent-Related Lawsuits Filed in the U.S.
Wireless LAN has become so popular that nearly 400 million chip sets are now shipped annually. Its rosy future, however, is beginning to be overshadowed by patent-related problems. Large-scale patent infringement lawsuits related to wireless LAN have been filed in the U.S., involving more than 30 well-known equipment manufacturers. This may only be the beginning and could invite lawsuits by holders of other standards or patents. There is not much time left for achieving standardization and building a new patent framework.
Part 2: Road to Resolution
“Didn't know” will no longer fly. Standardization organizations are now also beginning to deal with patents. Patent issues related to wireless LAN have highlighted the problems in the way standardization organizations have been handling patents. The “Patent Policy,” which requires a fair license from a patent-owning corporation, will continue to function until standard specifications are drafted. Standardization organizations, however, have turned their backs on the problems that can occur involving subsequent use of patents. As long as there are standard specifications, there will always be patent holders who aim to increase their patent-licensing revenue. In an effort that utilizes the power of the many to restrict the moves of individual corporations, standardization organizations have at long last begun to take action.
Special Feature
Global Cellphone Market Pins Its Hopes on Smartphones
Report from Mobile World Congress 2009
The recently held Mobile World Congress 2009 was the world’s largest cellphone-related exhibition to date. While many of the world's major cellphone operators are planning to adopt the Long Term Evolution (LTE) strategy, the key question now is how cellphone services should evolve during the several years of migration. Manufacturers that have been working hard to develop high-functionality handsets are also beginning to turn to services as a means of differentiation.For mobile communication methods, technologies positioned ahead of LTE will likely play the key role for the next several years.
DC-DC Conversion Exceeds 6 MHz; Watch Out for Side Effects Resulting from Size Reduction
Step-down DC-DC converter ICs used for supplying power to mobile devices are rapidly moving to higher frequencies. This is because increasing the frequency allows peripheral components to be drastically reduced in size and thickness, greatly contributing to reductions in mobile device size and thickness.One must watch for overconfidence, however, because some characteristics will worsen as the frequency increases. In deciding whether to use high-frequency converters, it is important to carefully evaluate their merits and demerits.
Documentary
History of Struggles to Eliminate Lead from Solder: 10 Years of Twists and Turns (Part 5)
Holes in Stainless Tanks ...
Tutorial
Matrix Converters (Final Session)
Progress in Application Development toward Wider Usage; Circuits for High Voltage Applications and Generators Emerge
Matrix converters have many advantages over existing converters. So far, however, only two companies - Yaskawa Electric and Fuji Electric Holdings - have launched products in the market, with no others following suit.As a result, matrix converters are not becoming as widely used as expected. The main problem is their high price tag. This situation is encouraging the development of new applications all over the world in order to expand the market base.
Semiconductor Industry at Crossroads
A major change is occurring in the ASIC industry, which up to now had managed to continue reducing the design rule.Beyond the 45-nm generation, adoption of cutting-edge processes has come to an abrupt halt. ASIC designers point out that benefits derived from design rule reductions are rapidly diminishing. How is the ASIC industry, which has been evolving in line with Moore's Law, going to deal with this situation in the future?
Keyword
Pico Projector
Key Person
Given Imaging K.K. Japan President Yoshinori Oikawa: Not Utilizing Israel Is Regrettable. We Are Also Focusing on Japan’s Technologies
NE Interview
Meiji University School of Science and Technology, Department of Computer Science’s ProfessorMasao Mukaidono: Japan’s Safety Standards Trail behind Global Standards
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has begun considering the possibility of introducing risk assessment (RA) into the four product-safety laws.The introduction of this method, which quantitatively assesses risk by combining the degree of potential injury or damage (harm) with frequency, is expected to result in comprehensive product safety regulations. We asked Prof. Mukaidono, who has been a strong advocate of this method, about the current issues related to product safety and his expectations regarding RA introduction.
World Report
From South Korea: Aiming to Become a World-Class Environmentally Advanced Nation by 2030; Will the “Low-Carbon, Green Growth” National Strategy Work?
While the global recession, triggered by the downfall of Lehman Brothers, casts a dark shadow over the Korean economy, Korean electronics manufacturers are focusing on implementing environmental measures as an investment in the future.
News
- Sumitomo Osaka Cement Develops Compact Antenna Using Nanoscale Magnetic Particles
- Many 720-MHz Band Systems Introduced for Use in Large-Scale ITS Verification Tests
- Tokyo University and Others Cut Power Consumption of New Power Supply System for SSD
- Using Nanotech and Printing Processes to Manufacture Batteries and LCD Panels on Roll-to-Roll Basis
