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April 8
- Tariffs
➀ The author expresses confusion over the White House's approach to tariffs, suggesting it invites presidents and prime ministers to negotiate different tariffs.
➁ The author references Trump's playbook of making demands and then negotiating, noting Vietnam's offer to reduce tariffs to zero and Israel's promise to balance trade with the US.
➂ The author discusses the ideal of a tariff-free world, referencing Margaret Thatcher's influence on the EU to create a single market and Elon Musk's statement advocating for a zero-tariff situation between Europe and North America.
- Li-ion battery module for electric buses and boats
➀ Toshiba has announced a 1.2kWh 27.6Vdc li-ion battery module for electric busses, ships, and boats.
➁ The module, called Type4-23, improves heat extraction with an aluminum baseplate and offers double the heat dissipation compared to current modules.
➂ The battery is expected to be available in the middle of April 2025 and is designed to meet safety standards for both motive and stationary applications.
- 250kVA filter for monster grid-connected vehicles
➀ Danfoss Power Solutions has launched a 250kVA 560Vac three-phase mains filter designed for heavy all-electric vehicles directly powered from the grid;
➁ The filter is suited for 50 and 60Hz operation, with sealing protection for -40 to +85°C and up to 4,000m altitude;
➂ It is compatible with Danfoss’ EC-C1200-450-L power converter, allowing bidirectional power flow from and to the grid.
- Marvell selling Automotive Ethernet unit to Infineon for $2.5bn
➀ Marvell is selling its Automotive Ethernet division to Infineon for $2.5 billion.
➁ The division has a sales forecast of $225-$250 million this year with a 60% gross margin.
➂ The acquisition includes Marvell’s Brightlane Automotive Ethernet portfolio, which supports network data rates up to 10 Gbps.
- MoD putting £200m into compound semis- open to partnerships
➀ The UK MoD is investing £200 million in the former Newton Aycliffe fab, purchased from Fujitsu last September, to produce GaAs and GaN ICs for military and radar systems.
➁ The investment is part of a £200 million, ten-year program to expand the fab's capabilities.
➂ Octric Semiconductors, the new owner, aims to become a foundry for the next generation of semiconductors.
- Satellite Applications Catapult adds gravity offload system
➀ The Satellite Applications Catapult has upgraded its In-Orbit Servicing, Assembly and Manufacturing (ISAM) facility with a new gravity offload system.
➁ The system, located at the Catapult's site in Westcott, Buckinghamshire, is designed to simulate microgravity for testing purposes.
➂ The new system allows for testing larger payloads in more unique configurations, enhancing the validation of ISAM solutions.
- Element 6 and Bosch form quantum sensor jv
➀ Element Six and Bosch have formed a joint venture called Bosch Quantum Sensing for the production of quantum sensors.
➁ Element Six will hold a 25% stake in the joint venture, having collaborated with Bosch on the technology since 2023.
➂ The specially developed synthetic diamond by Element Six is a key component for Bosch's quantum sensors, making them portable, less expensive to produce, and commercially scalable.
- EMI targets US electronics market via Capitol Records
➀ EMI通过其美国子公司Capitol Records Ltd. 正在努力收购美国电子产品市场的大部分份额；
➁ 64年前，《电子时报》1961年3月15日的版面上开始讲述这个故事；
➂ Capitol通过收购两家独立电子公司——纽约的霍夫曼电子管公司和洛杉矶的Voi-Shan电子部，成立了名为Electric and Musical Industries (United States) Inc. 的新子公司。
April 7
- The Big Stick
➀ The United States has targeted China, its country with the highest trade deficit, with high tariffs.
➁ Additional tariffs have been imposed on exports to the US from countries with high import duties, such as India, Tunisia, and Algeria.
➂ The EU and China have also seen increased tariffs due to other practices, with China facing a rate of +54 percent.
- M8 D-coded panel connectors with single wires
➀ Binder has announced M8 D-coded panel connectors with pre-installed single wires for factory automation;
➁ The connectors enable communication between controllers, sensors, and actuators;
➂ Available in three versions with four pins and 200mm long wires, with options for custom lengths.
- Analysts question TSMC-Intel jv plan
Analysts have raised concerns about TSMC's plan to operate or form a joint venture with Intel's fabs. They believe the differences in manufacturing and operations would hinder success. Citigroup suggests that Intel's foundry has failed to compete with TSMC and that forcing a company to use inferior manufacturing would diminish shareholder value. Lynx Equity questions TSMC's interest in Intel's IFS and the potential risks involved. Bank of America points out the technological mismatch between Intel and TSMC and questions Intel's eligibility for $19 billion in Chips Act funding due to the required majority ownership.
- AI drives VC funding
➀ In Q1'25, global venture funding reached $121 billion, driven by OpenAI's $40 billion raise, valuing the company at $300 billion;
➁ Despite a decline in deal count, AI startups remained the primary beneficiaries of this capital concentration, capturing more than half of the quarter's funding;
➂ The AI dealmaking landscape is evolving, with a shift from infrastructure investments to vertical solutions and application-layer platforms.
- Nato’s Situation Center turns to ICEYE for SAR Satellite Data
➀ NATO's Situation Center has signed an agreement with Iceye, a Finnish company specializing in satellite-based SAR imagery, to provide data to SITCEN at NATO headquarters in Brussels.
➁ The collaboration aims to enhance NATO's data-driven assessments for decision-makers.
➂ Iceye's latest SAR satellites offer 25cm ground resolution and can provide imagery in all weather conditions.
- Ed Becomes Mr Go-Between For US-UK Trade
➀ Ed 在内阁会议上因获得美国10%的关税率而受到祝贺；
➁ Ed 的成功归功于他在美国商务部的一个朋友，提前得知了计算关税的方法；
➂ Ed 在未公开之前就计算出关税，并在内阁会议上直接告诉首相关税率；
➃ Ed 作为英国与美国贸易的中间人，有望在即将到来的贸易谈判中获得丰厚的收益。
April 4
- 550W industrial or medical ac-dc PSUs
➀ Cinon推出了一系列550W的交流直流单输出电源，尺寸约为130 x 84 x 25.4mm；
➁ 这些电源没有内置风扇，550W的功率只有在基板和吹风冷却超过21.9cfm时才能实现，环境温度达到50°C时开始降额，80°C时最大允许负载降至350W；
➂ 在不吹风的环境空气中，这些是450W的电源，50°C时开始降额，80°C时降至约240W。
- ISS National Lab launches Orbital Edge Accelerator programme
➀ The ISS National Lab is launching an Orbital Edge Accelerator programme to support space startups;
➁ The programme is backed by space and environmental VCs and aims to foster innovation in the space economy;
➂ Six startups will receive up to $500,000 in investment, mentorship, and opportunities for sponsored investigations.
- Ohmite power resistors available from Arrow
➀ Ohmite's power resistor range will be available through Arrow Electronics due to a worldwide distribution agreement;
➁ Ohmite manufactures industrial and surface mount power resistors, load banks, heat sinks, and rheostats in the US and Mexico;
➂ The company offers standard and custom products and celebrates its centenary this year.
- Most Read – TI isolated modulator, Greenland, ReRAM memory
➀ Intel 开始风险生产 18A 处理器；
➁ TI 声称推出首个功能性隔离调制器；
➂ TSMC 在高雄的 2nm 工厂举行产能扩张仪式；
➃ Weebit Nano 讨论下一代非易失性存储器 ReRAM；
➄ Ed Sees The Greenland Opportunity，探讨量子计算的机会；
➅ TSMC 2nm 量产启动；
➆ TI 为紧凑型机器人设计提供电机控制；
➇ 英特尔进入 18A 风险生产阶段。
- TSMC-Intel jv back on the cards
➀ According to a report, Intel and TSMC are considering a joint venture to operate Intel's fabs.
➁ The White House and the US Department of Commerce are said to be encouraging the agreement.
➂ Intel and other American semiconductor companies would hold the majority of the stock in the joint venture.
- PLP set for 27% CAGR 2024-30
➀ Yole Group forecasts the Panel Level Packaging (PLP) market to grow from $160 million to $600 million by 2030 with a CAGR of 27%;
➁ High-density fan-out and ultra-density platforms will dominate the market by 2030, driven by AI;
➂ Samsung Electronics leads the market in 2024, followed by ST, with PTI, SIPLP, and ASE holding less than 10% market share.
- 2D 32-bit RISC-V processor
Chinese researchers have built a 32-bit RISC-V processor using molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) on a sapphire substrate. The processor, RV32-WUJI, has 6000 transistors and operates at KHz speeds, executing the full RISC-V 32-bit instruction set. The researchers used machine learning to optimize the wiring and materials for the transistors. The overall yield was over 99.9 percent, with a chip-level yield of 99.8 percent.
- MDA Space buys SatixFy for software-defined digital satellites
➀ MDA Space has acquired SatixFy, a specialist in satcomms chips, with a focus on the company's roadmap for next-generation software-defined digital satellites.
➁ The transaction, worth approximately $193 million, involves a complementary technology and IP portfolio for end-to-end satellite communications solutions.
➂ MDA Space aims to expand its offerings for digital LEO and MEO satellites using SatixFy's space-grade chips and communication systems.
- The Big Dilemma
➀ The dilemma facing Big Tech is the cost of building AI, with estimates ranging from tens of millions to tens of billions;
➁ Some investments in cheap, effective Chinese products have raised concerns about the wisdom of some investments;
➂ Microsoft is withdrawing from data center projects in various countries, and expectations for GenAI are declining due to high failure rates and dissatisfaction with current results;
➃ OpenAI is not yet profitable and expects positive cash flow only in 2029, despite spending $644 billion on AI programs and data centers.
April 3
- Fable: The Bridge Which Blew Down
➀ One hundred and twenty-six years ago, a railway bridge collapsed due to an engineering failure.
➁ The designer of the bridge had underestimated the strength of the winds, leading to the collapse during a storm.
➂ As a result, new standards for bridge design were established to withstand wind forces up to 56 pounds per square foot, significantly higher than the previous 10 pounds per square inch.
- Mouser ships BLE modules based on NXP Wi-Fi 6 chip
➀ Mouser Electronics now offers BLE modules that combine Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) and Bluetooth Core 5.4 from Ezurio (formerly Laird Connectivity).
➁ The Sona NX611 Wi-Fi 6 + Bluetooth LE modules are based on NXP’s IW611 Wi-Fi 6 chipset, offering a data transmission throughput of 500Mbps.
➂ These small industrial IoT modules are suitable for IoT, medical, industrial automation, and consumer applications.
- What caught your eye? (Intel 18A, Compostable sensor, Airbus lander)
➀ A photonics-enabled radar system is discussed, with potential advancements in sensing technology for autonomous vehicles.
➁ Intel's 18A process is moved into risk production, aiming to compete with TSMC.
➂ The University of Glasgow develops a compostable pH sensor, a technology demonstrator with potential applications.
➃ Airbus UK is selected by ESA to build the ExoMars landing system, which will deliver a rover to Mars.
- Imec shows photonics-enabled CDM FMCW 144FH radar
➀ Imec has developed a proof-of-concept photonics-enabled CDM FMCW radar system that ensures coherent chirps to remote radar units.
➁ This technology could revolutionize next-generation driver assistance solutions and other high-precision sensing applications.
➂ The system utilizes a phase encoder with code-division multiplexing and optical signal distribution for low-loss transmission.
- DigiKey premieres Sustainable Futures video series
➀ DigiKey推出新的视频系列《可持续未来》，关注推动环保技术创新的最新进展。
➁ 该系列由Analog Devices赞助，共有三个环节，探讨了在组织内部推动绿色技术和可持续实践的领先企业和个人。
➂ 第一集《优化可持续性》聚焦可持续制造挑战和解决方案，特别强调了灵活制造。
➃ 第二集《连接数字信号》探讨了工厂地面的数字连接和可持续性，例如嵌入式视觉系统如何帮助组织做出更明智的决策。
➄ 第三集《打造可持续未来》讨论了物流技术，例如智能物料流动、工业视觉和自动化机器人系统。
- CyberWhiz sets up in Cheltenham
➀ CyberWhiz, a team specializing in embedded, mobile, and cloud cybersecurity, has established a UK office in Cheltenham.
➁ The company offers a variety of hardware and software security products and services, drawing on its extensive experience at Beko, a major domestic appliance manufacturer.
➂ CyberWhiz focuses on edge, mobile, and cloud cybersecurity, providing solutions for devices, mobile applications, and cloud services.
- Tech is the biggest wealth creator for billionaires
➀ According to Knight Frank's 2025 Wealth Report, technology was the biggest wealth generator among billionaires in 2024, accounting for $2.6 trillion across 342 billionaires.
➁ However, the largest number of 2024 billionaires – 427 – came from the financial sector.
➂ Over the last decade, manufacturing produced the most new billionaires – 509, half of whom are in China, while technology produced the second highest number – 443, with China leading.