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September 16
- 6800 Being Fabbed At East Kilbride
➀ Motorola began fabricating its 6800 microprocessor on 4-inch wafers at its East Kilbride plant in 1978, aiming for full production by September;
➁ The plant aimed to become Europe's major 6800 supplier, highlighting high yields and competing with Fairchild by matching prices and emphasizing price reductions (over 50% annually in 16 months);
➂ The £10M investment in East Kilbride countered Fairchild's claims of superiority via its San Jose facility.
September 15
- US messes up its Chips Act
➀ The U.S. CHIPS Act aimed to revive leading-edge logic chip manufacturing, driven by both commercial value and geopolitical security concerns over Taiwan's dominance;
➁ Intel, the primary recipient of funding, failed to achieve timely 2nm (18A) process development due to mismanagement and lack of focus, leading to declining margins and lost foundry opportunities;
➂ CHIPS Act funds were misallocated to non-critical projects, resulting in a failure to establish advanced U.S. chipmaking capabilities and exposing systemic mismanagement.
- Compact circular military connectors
➀ Lemo launched the Optima D Series rugged circular connectors for military and aerospace applications, featuring IP68 sealing and MIL-STD-810H compliance for shock/vibration resistance;
➁ The connectors offer two latching mechanisms (break-away and push-pull), multiple key patterns to prevent incorrect mating, and an over-molded design that reduces size by 25% compared to previous models;
➂ Supports high-speed signals like USB 3.2, 10G Ethernet, and coaxial cables, with durability up to 5,000 mating cycles and operation in extreme temperatures (-55°C to +150°C).
- Announcing the finalists for Elektra Awards 2025
➀ The article announces the finalists for the 2025 Elektra Awards across multiple categories, including Automotive/Hi-Rel Semiconductor, Consumer Semiconductor, Medical, and Power Systems;
➁ Notable companies featured in the shortlist include Microchip Technology, Nordic Semiconductor, NXP Semiconductors, Siemens EDA, and Navitas Semiconductor, highlighting advancements in GaN technology and EDA tools;
➂ Additional segments recognize educational support, manufacturing excellence, and rising stars, with the BrightSparks winners to be revealed at the event.
- Q2 datacentre infrastructure market up 18%
➀ Q2 Data Centre Physical Infrastructure (DCPI) market revenue surged 18% YoY to $8.9 billion, marking the third consecutive quarter of high-teens growth;
➁ Hyperscalers and colocation providers drove demand, with Direct Liquid Cooling (DLC) growing 156% YoY, becoming mainstream for AI clusters, while power distribution and UPS systems also saw significant growth;
➂ North America led regional growth, and vendors like Vertiv and cooling specialists like Munters benefited from the AI-driven infrastructure expansion.
- Ed The Scams Czar
➀ Cabinet members raise concerns about widespread AI-driven scams, pressuring Ed to take action as the newly appointed "Scams Czar";
➀ Ed establishes an HMG hotline to validate internet communications, collaborating with Greaser's team to analyze scam patterns;
➂ A proposed fake rare earth mine investment scheme reveals potential corruption, as Greaser suggests profiting by endorsing the scam through government channels.
September 12
- SIA Looking For Government Funding
➀ The SIA emphasized the semiconductor industry's economic impact in a 1996 report, highlighting its role as the top contributor to U.S. GDP, 1.5 million jobs, and high average wages;
➁ The association lobbied the government for funding to support fab development and relaxed immigration laws to address skilled labor shortages;
➂ AMD CEO Jerry Sanders framed semiconductors as pivotal to the Information Age, aligning advocacy with long-term industry growth.
- Precision isolation amplifier for current sensing
➀ Vishay launches VIA0050DD precision isolation amplifier with 5kVrms isolation and 150kV/µs common-mode transient immunity for harsh environments like motor applications;
➁ The device features ±50mV input range, fixed 41x gain, 250kHz bandwidth, and operates over -40°C to +125°C with Vishay WSBE shunts;
➂ Targets high-voltage systems (e.g., half-bridge current sensing) in SOP-8 packaging, but design details for input power rail remain restricted.
- 300W baseplate cooled PSU
➀ Cinon's CBM300S is a 300W fanless AC-DC power supply with peak 360W output in a compact 107×85×20mm package;
➁ It supports wide input voltage (90-264Vac/120-370Vdc), offers 7 adjustable output voltages (12-54V), and achieves up to 94% efficiency;
➂ Designed for harsh industrial environments (-40°C to +90°C), it features multiple protections and meets railway/EMC standards with 240,000h MTBF.
- Most Read – IQE buyer, Arm Lumex, LED Destroyer
➀ IQE, a Cardiff-based semiconductor company, announced it is seeking a buyer and revised its 2025 revenue forecast downward due to contract delays;
➁ Arm introduced Lumex, an AI-focused Compute Sub-System (CSS) for edge inference, emphasizing AI as foundational for mobile technology;
➂ Nvidia unveiled the Rubin CPX GPU, a 30 PetaFLOPS accelerator with 128GB GDDR7, targeting large-context AI model inference.
- X-FAB opens new production line in Malaysia
➀ X-FAB inaugurated a $600 million production line in Sarawak, Malaysia, expanding wafer capacity to 40,000 per month and doubling output of its 180nm BCD-on-SOI technology;
➁ The BCD-on-SOI platform offers high-performance advantages for automotive, industrial, and medical applications, including extreme temperature resilience and enhanced reliability;
➂ The expansion, supported by Malaysian government partnerships, aims to meet rising global demand and drive innovation in smart automotive systems and medical devices.
- Hynix ready for mass production of HBM4
➀ SK Hynix announced the completion of HBM4 development and readiness for mass production, marking the world's first next-gen memory for AI applications;
➁ HBM4 doubles bandwidth with 2,048 I/O terminals, improves power efficiency by 40%, and boosts AI service performance by up to 69%, addressing data center power challenges;
➂ The company utilized advanced MR-MUF and 1bnm process technologies to ensure stable production, exceeding JEDEC standards with 10Gbps operating speed.
- Chip market to hit $800bn this year
➀ The semiconductor market is projected to grow 17.6% to $800 billion in 2025, driven by AI infrastructure, data centers, and accelerated computing, with compute segment revenues rising 36%;
➁ Automotive and industrial markets show gradual recovery, with automotive growth at 3% (supported by electrification and SiC/GaN adoption) and industrial growth at 11%, despite macroeconomic headwinds;
➂ Networking chips and optical interconnects lead expansion, addressing AI data bottlenecks, while wireless semiconductors grow 5% due to increased AI-enabled content per device.
September 11
- Fable: Future Imperfect
➀ A fable reflects on a company's 11-year-old proposal for a 25 mph driverless car with no human controls, designed for urban environments;
➁ The narrative highlights the unpredictability of technological progress and the gap between past visions and present realities;
➂ Concludes with the moral: "The Future Is Not Always What It Used To Be", emphasizing evolving perspectives on innovation.
- Five-axis shaker tables for drone components
➀ German manufacturer MB Dynamics introduced vertical pitch and roll shaker tables for multi-axis vibration testing of drone, helicopter, and vehicle components, simulating complex real-world conditions like uneven roads and flight maneuvers;
➁ Two models (VPR 2825 and VPR 4050) offer peak forces of 2.8kN/4kN, support payloads up to 300kg, and feature displacements of 50mm peak-to-peak and rotations up to 5.7°;
➂ Applications include testing image stabilization systems, gimbals, and automotive seats, with low-noise operation suitable for buzz, squeak, and rattle analysis.
- What caught your eye? (CSA CEO, ARM IP, Sailing robots, Australian satellite)
➀ Caroline O'Brien becomes CEO of CSA Catapult, focusing on commercializing UK semiconductor technology;
➁ ARM introduces a new system-level licensing approach for mobile IP, enhancing its market strategy;
➂ NOAA deploys autonomous sailing robots by Oshen for hurricane research, while Australia's first operational satellite, ElaraSat, is confirmed operational after SpaceX launch.
- Extending the Gadget Master virtual library
➀ The article announces updates to the Gadget Master virtual library, featuring new entries in its book series;
➁ Topics include robotics, deep learning, electronics design, and cybersecurity (via Project Zero Trust);
➂ Access to full articles requires user registration or login.
- SMT high power TVS diodes
➀ Littelfuse launched the DFNAK3 Series High-Power TVS Diodes, featuring a compact DFN package with 3 kA surge current protection and a 70% smaller footprint;
➁ Designed to meet IEC 61000-4-5 Level 4 standards, the diodes are ideal for Power over Ethernet (PoE), data center power supplies, and industrial DC systems in harsh environments;
➂ The surface-mount design supports automated PCB assembly, enabling high-density layouts while maintaining robust surge protection for critical applications.
- $1.5trn spend on fab 2024-30, forecasts PwC
➀ Global semiconductor fab investment is forecast to reach $1.5 trillion from 2024 to 2030, driven by government subsidies and AI-driven server/network market growth, with AI accelerators projected to dominate 50% of datacentre semiconductor revenue;
➁ The automotive industry, fueled by EVs and autonomous driving, may see GaN/SiC power semiconductors exceed 60% share by 2030, while AI applications in home appliances (e.g., AR/VR) will boost demand for power-efficient chips;
➂ A talent gap of 100,000 engineers by 2030 and collaborative ecosystem transformations (fabless firms, foundries, IP vendors) are critical challenges and enablers for the semiconductor sector.
- Sub-GHz wireless MCU for proprietary protocols
➀ Silicon Labs launched the FG23L family of sub-GHz wireless MCUs, simplified from the existing FG23 series for basic applications like smart city sensors and security devices;
➁ FG23L offers reduced memory (128kB flash/32kB RAM) and supports only proprietary protocols, unlike the original FG23 family that also runs Wi-Sun and Wirepas;
➂ Both families share the same 78MHz Cortex-M33 core, RF performance (up to +20dBm output), and security features, but differences in supported protocols require further official clarification.
September 10
- Pocket-sized sailing robots hunt hurricanes
➀ NOAA deploys five solar-powered C-Stars sailing robots from UK-based Oshen to gather hurricane-related meteorological and oceanographic data;
➁ The autonomous robots navigate via wind and thrusters, transmitting real-time data and storing high-resolution information onboard, enhancing hurricane forecasting accuracy;
➂ Oshen aims to scale deployment with a 50-robot fleet in the North Atlantic to predict climate tipping points, following a £2m ARIA contract.
- China exports to US down 33% YoY in August
➀ China's exports to the U.S. fell by 33% year-over-year in August 2025, marking one of the steepest declines in years, alongside a similar 34% drop in May;
➁ Despite the U.S. remaining China's largest export market, China has increased shipments to the EU and ASEAN countries (e.g., Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam), driving an overall 4.4% YoY rise in total exports;
➂ The shift highlights China's strategic trade diversification amid geopolitical and economic tensions with the U.S.
- 160nA rail-to-rail op-amp measures 910 x 800μm
➀ Rohm launched the TLR1901GXZ, a nano-power rail-to-rail op-amp in a 910×800μm WLCSP package for sensors in compact devices like wearables and motion detectors;
➁ Operating at 1.7–5.5V with 160nA typical current, it offers 400Hz gain-bandwidth and 300V/s slew rate but lacks detailed ESD protection specifications;
➂ Includes an ultra-compact 2.4×2.9mm evaluation board and targets applications requiring minimal power and space.
- Nvidia launches GPU for disaggregated inference
➀ NVIDIA launched the Rubin CPX GPU, a specialized accelerator for massive-context AI models, delivering 30 PetaFLOPS of NVFP4 performance and 128 GB of GDDR7 memory on a monolithic die;
➁ The GPU is optimized for disaggregated inference, separating compute-bound context phases and memory bandwidth-bound generation phases to enhance throughput, reduce latency, and improve resource utilization;
➂ Integrated with NVIDIA Vera CPUs and Rubin GPUs in the Vera Rubin NVL144 CPX platform, it provides 8 exaflops of AI compute, 7.5x faster than previous systems, and scales to 100TB of memory and 1.7PB/s memory bandwidth per rack.
- Military-grade tactical router
➀ Sundance Multiprocessor and Etion Create introduced the Cheetah Tactical Router, the first military-grade L2/3 switch/router for harsh environments like military vehicles;
➁ It supports the VNX+ standard, enabling cryptographic security, video processing, and diverse connectivity interfaces (Tactical Data Link, PoE, etc.);
➂ Samtec provides high-speed SEARAY connectors for the router, ensuring 56 Gbps performance, with customization available through Sundance.
September 9
- 1mT sensitivity from side-activated SOT-23 Hall switch
➀ Texas Instruments (TI) introduced the TMAG5134A1CDBVR Hall-effect switch with a record 1mT sensitivity, targeting door/window sensors and consumer electronics;
➀ The TMAG5134 family offers seven variants with thresholds from ±1mT to ±2mT, sample rates up to 20Hz, and ultra-low power consumption (as low as 500nA);
➂ Key features include in-plane sensing flexibility, CMOS output, support for specialized configurations, and tools like the Magnetic Sense Simulator for development.
- Multimodal AI and AI TRiSM Reach Peak of Inflated Expectations
➀ Multimodal AI integrates diverse data types (images, text, audio) for advanced applications, projected to drive innovation across industries over five years;
➁ AI TRiSM ensures ethical AI deployment through governance, security, and privacy protections, addressing challenges conventional methods miss;
➂ Gartner highlights both technologies at the 'Peak of Inflated Expectations,' urging organizations to adopt layered AI TRiSM solutions.
- CHIIPS #16 – Circularity insights from Global Electronics Association
➀ Latest CHIIPS podcast episode features Dr. Kelly Scanlon discussing sustainability in electronics manufacturing;
➁ Focus on circular economy, Evolve project, and global industry collaboration for sustainable practices;
➂ Highlights the role of the Global Electronics Association (formerly IPC) in driving environmental initiatives.
- 500MHz six-channel bi-dir multiplexers switch analogue or digital
➀ Nexperia launches NMUX27518 six-channel bidirectional multiplexers operating at 500MHz, supporting analog/digital signals (1.08-3.63V) with 500ps port-to-port skew;
➁ Features low on-resistance (8-31Ω), -58dB off-state crosstalk, and 1.8V-compatible control inputs, targeting automotive (AEC-Q100) and consumer electronics (notebooks, servers);
➂ Toshiba’s 26.2GHz 4-channel multiplexer is noted as a higher-speed alternative.
- Celebrating 65 years of Electronics Weekly
➀ Electronics Weekly celebrates 65 years since its 1960 launch, documenting the UK's early semiconductor industry, space projects, and evolving technology trends.
➁ The publication transitioned from print to digital platforms, including a website (1999), podcasts (CHIIPs), and multimedia content, expanding its global readership across Europe, the Americas, and Asia.
➂ It established industry-recognized initiatives like the Elektra Awards, BrightSparks, and Women Leaders in Electronics Awards, maintaining its role as a trusted source for electronics industry news and analysis.