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April 22
- Symposium on VLSI Technology & Circuits in Kyoto,
➀ The 45th Symposium on VLSI Technology & Circuits will be held in Kyoto, Japan from June 8-12, 2025;
➁ Topics include DRAM technology innovation, VLSI for AI growth, and challenges in semiconductor design technologies;
➂ The program features joint focus sessions, short courses, and panel discussions on sustainability and education.
- Further UK electronics industry consolidation
➀ Hawker Siddeley Group将进一步整合其电子业务，将Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft和Brush Electrical Engineering的电子部门合并。
➁ 新的合作伙伴关系，名为Armstrong Whitworth-Brush，将生产和销售先进的电子和电气控制系统。
➂ 刷公司将成为合伙关系的营销组织，与Armstrong Whitworth Equipment的销售团队合作。
April 21
- TSMC plans independent GigaFab cluster for Arizona
➀ TSMC is advancing the production start date for its second Arizona fab, Fab 21, by at least two quarters; the original plan was set for 2028.
➁ Fab 21 is being equipped for a 3nm process, with modules for 2nm and 1.6nm processes to begin construction this year, with production expected in 2029.
➂ TSMC CEO CC Wei states that the expansion will create an independent leading-edge semiconductor manufacturing cluster in the U.S., contributing to a more comprehensive supply chain ecosystem.
- Private RAN revenues soar while public RAN revenues fall
➀ Private Wireless Radio Access Network (RAN) revenues grew 40% in 2024, contrasting with the decline in public RAN revenues;
➁ Dell’Oro Group's Stefan Pongratz highlights the promising growth trajectory of private wireless in the RAN market;
➂ The report expects private wireless RAN revenue to grow at a 15 to 20 percent CAGR by 2029, accounting for 5 to 10 percent of total RAN.
- Free-space optical isolators
➀ Edmund Optics has introduced Mini Free-Space Optical Isolators;
➁ These isolators are designed for applications with limited space, weight, and power;
➂ They are suitable for ultrafast and continuous-wave lasers in aerospace, quantum, or research systems.
- Ed Plans The Alibaba of AI
➀ Ed在日记中透露，预计会有大量廉价的中文AI程序涌入全球市场，现在是时候从中获利了；
➁ 作为内阁部长，Ed不能公开设立任何商业机构，但他已经向中国大使馆的朋友Xi-Xi Poo以及他在Scunthorpe的老朋友Greaser透露了这一可能性；
➂ Ed设想了一个涵盖所有领域AI程序的“一站式商店”，类似于阿里巴巴的AI版，这可能会成为欧洲重新品牌化的操作，如果中国AI程序被禁止进入欧洲和美国市场的话。
April 18
- When EDA Couldn’t Handle More than Moore.
➀ 十九年前，在2006年的DATE会议上，飞利浦半导体首席技术官Rene Penning de Vries表示，当前的EDA技术无法处理被称为‘More than Moore’的新一代多样化技术；
➁ de Vries提到，为了将这些非CMOS技术在系统级封装（SiP）中集成，“需要我们今天不拥有的EDA环境”。“我们离那还很远，”他说；
➂ 然而，Cadence和Synopsys都对开发能够应对这一挑战的设计工具充满信心。
- Arm selling Artisan physical IP unit to Cadence
➀ Arm has agreed to sell its Artisan physical IP unit to Cadence;
➁ The deal includes engineering team, standard cell libraries, memory compilers, and GPIOs;
➂ Arm bought Artisan in 2004 for $900 million to enhance accessibility of its processor IP.
- Tariffs will decide H2 memory supply, demand and price
➀ TrendForce表示，美国关税的未来走向将是影响下半年内存供需和定价的关键因素；
➁ 90天的宽限期暂时缓解了因新关税壁垒导致的需求损失担忧，但美国贸易政策方向的持续不确定性使得内存买家更加谨慎——通过增加DRAM和NAND库存水平作为应对供应风险的缓冲；
➂ 这种积极的库存积累扩大了第二季度的DRAM和NAND Flash预期合同价格上涨，但这种上涨可能是短暂的，因为美国品牌和出口商的需求，他们对关税变化更为敏感，已经大量提前到第一季度，打破了季节性趋势。
- TDK develops 20ps Spin Photo Detector
TDK has developed the world's first 'Spin Photo Detector,' a photo-spintronic conversion element that operates at a 20 picosecond speed using 800 nm light, which is over 10 times faster than conventional semiconductor-based photo detectors. This technology is a game-changer for the next generation of AI applications.
Key features of the Spin Photo Detector include ultra-high-speed response, broad light detection, and energy efficiency, making it suitable for applications in AR/VR smart glasses, high-speed image sensors, and aerospace.
- The Biggest Concentrations Of Datacentre Capacity In The World
➀ The highest concentration of data center capacity is in Northern Virginia, with nearly 7 GW of installed capacity in 2024;
➁ Asia is the second largest region in the world for data center capacity, with Beijing, Singapore, Shanghai, and the Pearl River Delta ranking among the top 10 markets;
➂ Global demand for data center capacity is expected to increase by 530 TWh between 2024 and 2030, exceeding the demand for space and water heating and heavy industry.
April 17
- Avalanche photodiodes for analysis across 320 to 1,000nm
➀ Hamamatsu Photonics has launched a new series of avalanche photodiodes;
➁ The S17353 series operates across 320 to 1,000nm with a sensitivity peak at 750nm;
➂ The series offers a typical sensitivity of 0.44A/W at 650nm and includes six models with photosensitive diameters ranging from 0.2 to 5mm.
- What caught your eye? (Tree gum, GEO graveyards, Optical sensor, AI servers)
➀ The use of tree gum in supercapacitors;
➁ Nvidia's expansion into AI server manufacturing in Texas;
➂ TDK's new optical sensor technology;
➃ Northrop Grumman and Intelsat's collaboration on space debris avoidance and satellite life-extension missions.
- Picture of the Day: ELVIS, the holographic microscope
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➁ The article features a picture of the day: a holographic microscope named ELVIS, which stands for Extant Life Volumetric Imaging System.
➂ The system utilizes holographic technology to provide detailed 3D views of cells and microbes, enhancing the accuracy of biological studies.
- UK directed energy weapon defeats drones
➀ The UK government has demonstrated an anti-drone radio frequency directed energy weapon;
➁ The weapon uses high frequency radio waves to disrupt or damage critical electronic components inside drones;
➂ The system can defeat airborne targets at ranges of up to 1km and is effective against threats which cannot be jammed using electronic warfare.
- TSMC Q1 profit up 60% YoY and revenue up 42%
➀ TSMC reported a 42% year-over-year increase in revenue to $25 billion and a 60% increase in profit to $11.1 billion for the first quarter.
➁ The company expects 20% growth this year and has set its 2025 capital expenditure at $38-42 billion.
➂ For the second quarter, TSMC forecasts revenue between $28.4 and $29.2 billion, up from $20.8 billion in the same quarter last year.
- US to tackle patent abuse
Yesterday, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) announced the establishment of the Patent Fraud Detection and Mitigation Working Group to address threats to the U.S. patent system and ensure its integrity.
The group aims to limit improper activities in patent applications and reexamination proceedings, and will focus on addressing erroneous fee certifications, monitoring suspicious filings, and identifying potential misrepresentations to the USPTO.
The agency has also launched a new webpage to provide information on new and potential threats in patent applications and reexamination proceedings.
- Q1 smartphone units up 1.5% YoY
➀ Q1 2025 smartphone shipments increased by 1.5% year-on-year to 304.9 million units, according to IDC.
➁ Chinese vendors, supported by government subsidies, saw significant growth in the domestic market.
➂ Samsung led the market, followed by Apple, Xiaomi, OPPO, and vivo, with notable growth for vivo and OPPO.
- Light creates a super-solid
➀ An international team of scientists has achieved a super-solid state by shining laser light on gallium arsenide;
➁ This super-solid exhibits properties of both liquids and solids, and is a significant breakthrough in fundamental physics;
➂ The research has potential applications in LEDs and could lead to new ways of building quantum devices.
- Where Is Rare Earth?
➀ China has introduced new controls on the export of several critical minerals and magnets.
➁ The process of obtaining special export licenses is expected to be lengthy, which may lead to a shortage of stockpiles.
➂ China is the world leader in rare earth reserves, holding nearly half of the world's known reserves.
- 1,200V silicon carbide three-phase mosfet bridge
SemiQ has launched three 1.2kV three-phase silicon carbide MOSFET bridge modules in 62.8 x 33.8 x 15mm press-fit six-pack format.
The modules, with power ratings of 20mΩ 263W, 40mΩ 160W, and 80mΩ 103W, are designed for electric vehicle charging, energy storage, and motor drives.
Each module is tested to over 1,350V with 100% wafer-level burn-in.
April 16
- Datacentre Power Consumption To Double By 2030
➀ According to a report by the International Energy Agency (IEA), global electricity demand from datacentres is expected to more than double in the next five years;
➁ By the end of the decade, around half of the global energy demand for datacentres is expected to come from renewables, including solar PV, wind, and hydro;
➂ A range of energy sources will be needed to meet global datacentres’ growing electricity needs, with coal and natural gas being the next most important energy sources after renewables.
- Antiferromagnetism discovered in quasicrystals
➀ Researchers from Tokyo University of Science and other institutions have discovered antiferromagnetism in quasicrystals for the first time.
➁ The discovery was made in a novel Tsai-type gold-indium-europium (Au-In-Eu) iQC with unusual symmetries.
➂ The research suggests that quasicrystals with a positive Curie-Weiss temperature are more likely to establish antiferromagnetic order.
- DESI maps 13m galaxies
➀ The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) project has released a 270TB dataset mapping 13.1 million galaxies and 1.6 million quasars.
➁ The map covers more than 14,000 square degrees of sky, nearly one-third of the entire night sky.
➂ DESI allows researchers to map objects up to 11 billion light-years away and observe patterns in the cosmos called baryonic acoustic oscillations (BAOs).
- Top Ten Semiconductor Companies 2024
➀ This article lists the top ten semiconductor companies in 2024, based on data from Gartner.
➁ The top five companies are Nvidia, Samsung, Intel, Hynix, and Qualcomm.
➂ The full list includes other notable companies such as Broadcom, Micron, AMD, and MediaTek.
April 15
- Poor Old Intel
➀ The article discusses Intel's sale of 51% of Altera to private equity for $4.46 billion, highlighting the company's poor management over the last 20 years since Andy Grove's retirement.
➁ The deal comes at a difficult time for Intel, with financial pressures and a market downturn.
➂ The article points out that despite raising $3.4 billion, Intel's financial struggles persist, with a significant debt and a rival investing heavily in capex.
- Insights from Blueshift Memory’s Helen Duncan – CHIIPS Podcast Episode 4
➀ This article discusses the insights gained from Helen Duncan, CEO of Blueshift Memory, in the CHIIPS Podcast Episode 4;
➁ Duncan shares her career journey as an engineer and journalist, and her leadership at Blueshift Memory, which introduced non-von Neumann technology to enhance processing speeds;
➂ The article highlights her role in the AI revolution and the impact of her company's technology.
- Korea provides $23bn subsidy to chip industry
➀ The Korean government announced a $23.25 billion support package for its semiconductor industry, an increase from last year's announced 26 trillion won package.
➁ The increased support is a response to competition from China, uncertainties in US policy, and rising costs for chip companies.
➂ The government has also raised the financial assistance program for the chip industry to 20 trillion won, up from the previous 17 trillion won.
- Nvidia to make supercomputers entirely in the US
➀ Nvidia 正在与其制造合作伙伴合作，设计和建设工厂，首次在美国完全生产 Nvidia 人工智能超级计算机；
➁ 该公司与领先的制造合作伙伴已委托超过一百万平方英尺的制造空间，在亚利桑那州的凤凰城生产 NVIDIA Blackwell 芯片，并在德克萨斯州生产人工智能超级计算机；
➂ Nvidia Blackwell 芯片已开始在亚利桑那州凤凰城的台积电芯片工厂生产，公司正在德克萨斯州建设超级计算机制造工厂，与富士康在休斯顿合作，与纬创在达拉斯合作，预计两家工厂的大规模生产将在未来 12-15 个月内启动。
- Northrop Grumman, Intelsat complete historic satellite life-extension mission
➀ Northrop Grumman and Intelsat have successfully completed a historic satellite life-extension mission.
➁ The mission involved the undocking of a Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV) from Intelsat’s IS-901 satellite.
➂ The MEV, developed by Space Logistics LLC, added five years of service to the satellite and its customers.