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April 28
- Huawei chip to take on Hopper
➀ Huawei plans to sample its Ascend 910D AI processor by late May, targeting competition with NVIDIA's 2022-era H100 GPU;
➁ Mass production of the 910D is slated for Q1 2026 using SMIC's 7nm process, with a focus on datacenter efficiency;
➂ While the 910D matches H100 in AI inference tasks, it lags in training performance, though rack-scale configurations may narrow the gap at the cost of energy efficiency.
- ECTC discussion themes
➀ AMD Senior VP Samuel Naffziger discusses the demand and solutions for efficient zettascale computing in the AI era, emphasizing holistic innovation across devices to datacenters;
➁ Intel introduces fluidic self-alignment technology using capillary action for precise 3D chip stacking in hybrid bonding, achieving sub-micron alignment accuracy;
➂ IBM demonstrates machine learning models reducing thermal resistance prediction errors to <15%, significantly outperforming traditional methods (300% error) for advanced packaging reliability.
- Scottish CSignum raises £6m Series A for underwater wireless networks
➀ CSignum secures £6m Series A funding to develop EM-2 products using electromagnetic field signaling (EMFS) for sub-surface communication across water, ice, and concrete;
➁ Applications include marine monitoring, subsea infrastructure security, and environmental sensing, supported by investors like Archangels and Scottish Enterprise;
➂ Plans to expand operations in the UK, USA, and EU with new hires and enhanced cloud-based data services for underwater IoT networks.
- ChEmpower raises $18.7m SeriesA
➀ ChEmpower raised $18.7 million in Series A funding co-led by M Ventures and Rhapsody Venture Partners, with participation from Intel Capital and other investors, to scale its wafer planarization technology；
➁ The company's abrasive-free chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) solutions reduce defects, improve chip yield, and conserve water usage, addressing sustainability challenges in semiconductor manufacturing；
➂ The funding will accelerate commercialization, talent acquisition, and global fab adoption to support advanced AI chip production at sub-10nm nodes, driven by rising demand for high-performance semiconductors.
- Ed Gets Into Humanoid Robots
➀ The article highlights the emerging humanoid robotics market, noting fewer than 20 companies globally developing such technology, including three UK-based firms focused on domestic and industrial applications;
➀ Ed explores leveraging UK government support to position the nation as a 'humanoid robot superpower,' citing bullish market forecasts ($36B by 2035 from Goldman Sachs, $7T by 2050 from Citigroup);
➂ The narrative humorously touches on potential use cases, from companion robots to government-backed robotic staff, while showcasing Ed's practical adoption of a robot receptionist in his office.
April 25
- Picture of the Day: IBDM – International Berthing and Docking Mechanism
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➂ Picture of the Day: IBDM – International Berthing and Docking Mechanism
➃ This is a very expensive and complicated connector, an IBDM. It is a docking mechanism for the European Space Agency’s habitation module for the Lunar Gateway (the Lunar I-Hab). The Gateway will be a lunar-orbiting outpost and is the NASA replacement for the International Space Station. The module will eventually...
- 1,200V SiC mosfets are avalanche tested to 800mJ
➀ SemiQ is developing 1,200V SiC MOSFETs for solar inverters with avalanche testing up to 800mJ, co-packaged with silicon carbide Schottky diodes.
➁ Four devices are introduced with channel on-resistance ranging from 8.4mΩ to 16.5mΩ.
➂ Additional devices with 330mJ avalanche testing and 39mΩ on-resistance are also mentioned, with some offering ultra-fast switching capabilities.
- Most Read – Apple smartphones, GigaFab cluster, Qualcomm countersuit
➀ US-China trade deficit down 30% from its 2018 peak;
➁ Apple loses market share in China's smartphone market;
➂ TSMC plans an independent GigaFab cluster in Arizona;
➃ Intel to cut 20% of workforce and outsource 2nm processors to TSMC;
➄ Qualcomm files a countersuit against Arm.
- EW BrightSparks 2024 profile: Ethan Wilkinson, EDA Solutions / Birmingham University
➀ Ethan Wilkinson, a UKESF Scholar at the University of Birmingham, is highlighted for his exceptional technical skills and commitment to excellence at EDA Solutions.
➁ His significant achievements include contributing to the development of the first electro-optical co-simulator and his role in training and supporting customers.
➂ Wilkinson is also recognized for his community engagement, particularly in inspiring young students to pursue careers in electronics and semiconductor technologies.
- “The last and best finfet node”
➀ TSMC's N3 process is expected to be a long-running and high volume node, referred to as 'the last and best finfet node' by Kevin Zhang, SVP for Business Development and Overseas Operations Office.
➁ The N3 process includes multiple variants such as N3B, N3E, N3P, N3X, N3S, N3RF, N3A, and N3C, each tailored for different applications.
➂ TSMC's strategy is to develop a comprehensive and customizable silicon resource with the N3 process, aiming to make integrated silicon performance a platform.
- Intel Q1 revenues flat y-o-y; lacklustre Q2 forecast
➀ Intel reported Q1 revenue of $12.7 billion, flat y-o-y with a gross margin of 36.9% down 4.1 points y-o-y.
➁ The company expects Q2 revenue between $11.2-12.4 billion.
➂ CEO Lip-Bu Tan emphasized the need for better execution and operational efficiency to regain market share and drive sustainable growth.
- Crypto Quantique launches lightweight RoT IP block
➀ Crypto Quantique, a provider of quantum-driven silicon IP, has launched a new lightweight RoT IP block named QRoot Lite.
➁ The block complies with the MARS specification for secure device health and trustworthiness attestation.
➂ It is designed for integration into small systems and offers functions for device identity, measurement, and attestation.
- The World’s Workshop
➀ China accounted for 29% of all global manufacturing in 2023, according to the United Nations Statistics Division;
➁ The Chinese manufacturing sector added $4.8 trillion to the country's total economic output in 2023;
➂ The U.S. manufacturing sector's contribution to the economy has significantly decreased, now accounting for just over 10% of the country's added value.
April 24
- Wi-Fi 7 over-the-air tester
➀ Anritsu has partnered with Microwave Vision to offer a Wi-Fi 7 over-the-air tester;
➁ The tester combines Anritsu’s MT8862A wireless connectivity test set with Microwave Vision’s multi-probe over-the-air test system;
➂ It supports IEEE 802.11be measurements, the standard behind Wi-Fi 7.
- What caught your eye? (Intel sackings, Energy weapon, African Space Agency)
➀ Intel lays off 20% of its workforce and outsources its 2nm processor production to TSMC;
➁ The British Army demonstrates a directed energy weapon against drones, with a range of up to 1km;
➂ The African Space Agency (AfSA) is officially inaugurated in Cairo, Egypt, with representatives from various African governments and international space organisations in attendance.
- Taiwan turns to Astranis for its first dedicated comms satellite
➀ Taiwan's Chunghwa Telecom is partnering with Astranis to launch a dedicated microGEO satellite to support Taiwanese communications by the end of 2025;
➁ The satellite will be the first to be exclusively dedicated to Taiwan, providing real-time backup for natural disasters and submarine cable disruptions;
➂ Astranis CEO John Gedmark emphasizes the importance of secure and independent communications for Taiwan's critical infrastructure.
- ST sees Q1 as the bottom of the market
➀ STMicroelectronics reported Q1 revenues of $2.52 billion with a gross margin of 33.4% and an operating income of $3 million. Net income was $56 million.
➁ The company expects Q2 net revenues of $2.71 billion and a gross margin of 33.4%. A company-wide program to resize the company is expected to save in the high triple-digit million-dollar range by 2027.
➂ CEO Jean-Marc Chery highlighted the improvement in the book-to-bill ratio for Automotive and Industrial segments and the focus on innovation and cost management in the uncertain environment.
- A good Q1 for UK connector market
➀ The Q1 UK connector market saw a strong performance with sales up 11% over Q4 2024 and 7% on Q1 2024.
➁ Mass Transport and Data Processing were the standout sectors, with significant growth.
➂ The order intake in Q1 2025 was the second highest since Q2 2022, but there were significant variations in market performance across different sectors.
- Redwire to provide habitation docking system for Lunar Gateway
Redwire has been awarded a contract to provide four docking mechanisms for the European Space Agency's habitation module for the Lunar Gateway, known as the Lunar I-Hab. This lunar-orbiting outpost is a replacement for the International Space Station and will support long-duration missions, potentially including a future human mission to Mars.
Redwire's Belgian subsidiary, Redwire Space NV, will deliver the International Berthing and Docking Mechanism (IBDM) for the Lunar I-Hab. The contract is with Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture between Thales and Leonardo.
The IBDM will enable safe transfers of crew and cargo within the Gateway station, using advanced automation and precision alignment. Other subsystems for the Lunar I-Hab are being provided by JAXA, including environmental control, life support, and batteries.
- Peak Globalisation?
➀ The re-emergence of nationalism and protectionism is undoing the effects of globalisation on world trade.
➁ Global trade growth stagnated after the financial crisis, during the first Trump administration, and in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
➂ World trade has seen a peak in 2022, but is expected to drop back in 2023, according to the World Bank.
April 23
- 200V half-bridge mosfet driver
➀ Littelfuse has introduced a 200V half-bridge MOSFET and IGBT driver with integrated cross-conduction protection logic.
➁ The IXD2012NTR is designed to drive n-channel MOSFET gates requiring 10 to 20V and can supply a minimum of 1.4A pull-up and 1.8A pull-down.
➂ The device is optimized for high-frequency power applications and offers a supply range of 10 to 20V with a high-side bootstrap circuit capable of handling up to 224V.
- China exports to US to fall 77%
➀ Chinese exports to the US are expected to fall by 77% in 2025, according to WTO forecasts.
➁ Chinese imports are expected to increase to every other market, with the rest of North America predicted to see growth of 25 percent.
➂ The CIS region is projected to raise exports, which the WTO says is principally related to exemptions for natural resources.
- Analog Bits moves to 2nm
➀ Analog Bits, a mixed-signal IP specialist, is demonstrating its latest LDO, power supply droop detectors, and embedded clock LC PLLs on the TSMC N3P process.
➁ The company is also showcasing clocking PVT and droop detectors on the TSMC N2P process at the TSMC 2025 North America Technology Symposium.
➂ CEO Mahesh Tirupattur emphasizes the importance of power management in architectural design, especially for advanced datacenters, AI/ML applications, and automotive SoC's.
- Intel to cut 20% of workforce and puts 2nm processor out to TSMC
➀ Intel is expected to announce a 20% workforce reduction this weekend, as reported by Bloomberg;
➁ The new CEO, Lip-Bu Tan, has previously criticized Intel's bloated bureaucracy;
➂ Intel has outsourced the compute tile of its Nova Lake processor to TSMC, which is in trial production on TSMC's 2nm process in Hsinchu.
- Qualcomm files countersuit against Arm
➀ Qualcomm has filed a countersuit against Arm for hearing in Q1 2026.
➁ Qualcomm claims Arm has breached the contract by misrepresenting the relationship with its customers and not delivering IP.
➂ Qualcomm also accuses Arm of interfering with its business and not licensing IP at reasonable prices.
- African Space Agency inauguration takes place at Egyptian Space City
➀ The African Space Agency (AfSA) was officially inaugurated at its headquarters in the Egyptian Space City;
➁ Representatives from the African Union Commission, various African governments, national space agencies, and international space organisations were present;
➂ Cooperation agreements were signed with the European Space Agency, the UAE Space Agency, and Roscosmos, covering areas such as Earth observation, training, and technical consultation.
- Top 10 (less 5) Server Suppliers In Q4
➀ Dell Technologies and Super Micro tied for the top spot in Q4 2024 server vendor rankings;
➁ HPE and IEIT Systems also tied for the third position;
➂ The overall server market revenue for Q4 2024 was $77.3 billion, a significant growth from the same period last year.
April 22
- Back in Wonderland: inside another SCR dc motor controller
➀ The author discusses the need for a large inductor in series with permanent magnet DC motors when controlled by SCR-based power controllers.
➁ The possibility of safely interfacing an Arduino with an SCR controller is explored.
➂ The author details the process of reverse-engineering a SCR controller from a 1980s machine tool and the challenges encountered.
- Danger On The Digital Silk Road Warns Nvidia
➀ Nvidia's CEO Jensen Huang is said to have warned President Trump about the risks of China's chip policy benefiting Huawei;
➁ The New York Times reports that China is expected to fund AI datacentres worldwide under the Belt and Road initiative, possibly using Huawei chips instead of Nvidia's;
➂ Nvidia fears the spread of these datacentres could lead to the export of Chinese standards and surveillance capabilities.
- TSMC opts for smaller substrate for initial PLP runs
➀ TSMC has chosen a 310x310mm substrate for its initial panel-level packaging (PLP) production, instead of the 510x515mm substrate initially tested.
➁ A source told Nikkei that the decision was made to start with a slightly smaller square shape rather than a larger one used in earlier trials, due to the difficulty of evenly coating the entire substrate with chemicals.
➂ The first production will take place on a pilot line in Taoyuan City in 2017.