Category Archives: Displays

BY JEFF DORSCH, Contributing Editor

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing kicked off its Open Innovation Platform (OIP) Ecosystem Forum with thanks – not for another beautiful day in Silicon Valley, but for the collaborative work it does with its customers, suppliers, and other industry partners.

Rick Cassidy, the foundry’s senior vice president and president of TSMC North America, kicked off the all-day event in Santa Clara, Calif., saying he wanted to debunk the myth of the “lone creative genius” in the chip business. “It is a lot of geniuses working together,” he said. “Innovation happens collectively.”

While there has been much attention paid to the slowing growth in the smartphone market, mobile technology will continue to be a significant driver for the semiconductor industry, according to Cassidy. He reviewed the areas of mobile technology, the Internet of Things, and automotive electronics.

“IoT will require an incredible amount of interconnection technology,” Cassidy said.

Between IoT and automotive tech, there will be “a very significant amount of data that’s going to be needed to be stored and processed,” he added.

Cassidy emphasized TSMC’s relations with its many collaborators, large and small. “We’re a pure-play foundry,” he said. “We do not have any products.”

He added, “Nobody does yield better than TSMC.”

Cassidy noted that TSMC will spend more than $2.2 billion this year on research and development, compared with more than $1.9 billion last year. The foundry’s capital expenditure budget for 2015 is $10.5 billion to $11 billion, up from $9.5 billion in 2014, he added.

The opening session also heard from Jack Sun, TSMC’s vice president of R&D and chief technology officer, and Cliff Hou, vice president of the R&D design technology platform, as well as executives of Avago Technologies and Xilinx, two TSMC customers.

This article was originally published on SemiMD.com, part of the Solid State Technology network.

A screen-printable functionalized graphene ink supplied by Goodfellow performs better than normal carbon-based ink, opening the door to innovative applications that require exceptional electrical conductivity, excellent ink coverage, and high print resolution. Such applications are found in light flexible displays, plastic electronics, printed circuit boards, thin film photovoltaics, sensors, electrodes, and OLEDs.

The ink is made with HDPlas (R) functionalized graphene nanoplatelets and is optimized for the viscosity and solid contents required of semi-automatic and manual screen-printing equipment. Substrates that can be printed include but are not limited to polymers, ceramics, and papers.

In addition to the distinguishing characteristics stated above, functionalized graphene ink is:

  • Flexible on appropriate substrates
  • Metal-free, 100% organic (non-tarnishing)
  • Curable at low temperatures
  • Environmentally friendly

The ink is fully customizable and can be modified for specific applications. Scientists and printers running trials with the small quantities available from Goodfellow (100g to 1000g) can, if desired, consult with Goodfellow to further tailor performance in order to meet individual needs.

Transparency Market Research (TMR), a market intelligence company based in the U.S., projects the global organic electronics market to grow at a CAGR of 32.6% from 2012 to 2018. The report, titled “Organic Electronics Market – Global Industry Analysis, Market Size, Share, Growth and Forecast 2012-2018”, is available on the company website for sale. The TMR study points out that the organic electronics market has tremendous potential in the fields of display technologies and electronic circuits, and is expected to register high growth rates in the coming years. The growth of the organic electronics market will be boosted by a combination of OLED lighting, OLED displays, OFRID, and organic photovoltaics.

As per the TMR study, the displays segment held the largest share of the organic electronics market. For the purpose of the study, the displays segment is segregated into electrophoretic, OLED displays, and other displays. Of these, OLED displays are projected to lead the organic electronics market and are projected to be worth US$10,450 million by 2018. This is due to their low energy consumption, high-speed performance, and sharp display features. Further, the study found the electrophoretic sub-segment is projected to be worth US$3,950 million by 2018, growing at a CAGR of 58.4% for the study period. Additionally, the continuous expansion of end-use applications beyond OLED lighting, OLED displays, and organic photovoltaics (OPV) is responsible for the robust growth of the global organic electronics market, as per the study analysis. Moreover, RFID labels and logic and memory are increasingly becoming the prime focus for OE manufacturers due to the high usage of these segments in the organic electronics market.

TMR’s findings show organic electronics will mostly be newly created rather than used as a replacement for other existing electronics, which will drive the growth of the market. Moreover, organic electronics, in spite of being capable of complemented with conventional silicon electronics, have the ability to produce flexible circuits. Owing to this trait, organic electronics have a rapidly increasing application base for flexible displays such as intelligent textiles, RFID labels, e-paper, bio-sensors, and intelligent packaging.

For the purpose of the study, the global organic electronics market is segmented into Asia Pacific, the U.S., Europe, and Rest of the World (RoW). In the geographical scenario, Asia Pacific is expected to lead the organic electronics market by revenue till 2018. As per the TMR research findings, Asia Pacific will boast a 50% share of the total revenue of the global organic electronics market in 2018 and will be followed by Europe.

Samsung Electronics, a global producer of semiconductor and display solutions, formally opened the doors to its new Device Solutions America headquarters in San Jose, Calif., setting the stage for a new wave of innovation across the digital landscape.

Located on the same corner in San Jose’s tech corridor where Samsung’s original campus was first built more than 30 years ago, the new headquarters symbolizes both Samsung’s long heritage in Silicon Valley and the company’s focus on innovation and growth.

Samsung Electronics’ semiconductor operations’ has long been innovating and with the new America headquarters for its components business, Samsung’s R&D efforts will be bolstered substantially. Innovation and advanced technologies for next-generation devices generated at the new facility will help make a contribution to providing the critical competitive advantage that the company’s U.S. and global customers seek.

Speaking before an audience of more than 800 at the site’s grand opening ceremony, Oh-Hyun Kwon, Vice Chairman and CEO of Samsung Electronics, said “We are transforming Samsung into a world-class example of a truly market-focused technology company.” He further said that the company is “laying the groundwork for a more aggressive pace of growth over the next several decades.”

While Samsung Electronics’ Device Solutions Division has experienced growth since its arrival in Silicon Valley in 1983, it has created multiple organizations dispersed throughout the region. The move brings more than 700 employees together in one location, enhancing efficiency that is crucial in creating technologies and products at the cutting edge of technology. The 1.1-million-square-foot building will house various research labs dedicated to semiconductors, LEDs and displays, as well as staff in sales, marketing and other support areas.

Complete with gardens and open air space within the building, its new design increases collaboration by encouraging more spontaneous encounters between staff, while also bringing nature closer to the workplace to increase employees’ contentment and creativity.

Samsung’s President of its Device Solutions America operations, Jaesoo Han, said, “Today represents a major milestone as we open our most strategically important Samsung facility in the U.S. and also our biggest investment in Silicon Valley.” He went on to say that “Samsung’s goal is nothing less than to develop the best next-generation technologies for device solutions.”

Dignitaries in attendance at the grand opening for Samsung’s new headquarters included the current mayor of San Jose, the Honorable Sam Liccardo; former San Jose mayor, the Honorable Chuck Reed; State Senator Bob Wieckowski; San Jose State University President Susan Martin; and San Francisco Korean Consul General Dongman Han.

In keeping with the company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, Samsung announced a number of contributions to the Silicon Valley community. The company donated $100,000 to the Family Giving Tree and another $100,000 to the Second Harvest Food Bank.

Samsung Electronics has also established a $1 million STEM College Education Scholarship Fund to celebrate its latest expansion. Deserving university students who are currently enrolled in STEM-focused programs at a California State or University of California school will benefit from this program, beginning with a $50,000 gift to San Jose State University this year. Each scholarship will cover tuition and living expenses for one year.

In response to the current crisis in confidence brought on by revelations of misreporting of emissions levels by a major multinational car manufacturer, Edwards Ltd and its subsidiaries (Edwards), the leading supplier of exhaust management abatement systems to the Semiconductor, Flat Panel Display, Solar and LED industry, reassures its customers that all of its exhaust management abatement system products are designed to meet industry emission standards.

“Environmental responsibility is one of our top priorities at Edwards,” states Paul Rawlings, Vice President Marketing, Semiconductor & DSL Business Unit. “We take great pride in adhering to high standards in our worldwide manufacturing facilities, as well as in all the products that we make. All of our exhaust management abatement systems have been independently verified in use according to internationally recognised methods and standards, including those set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and other national and international regulatory bodies.”

Paul Rawlings adds, “The recent news and controversy about a German car company apparently deliberately designing its products to evade emissions tests is very surprising and serves as a reminder of the need to always verify testing methodologies when reviewing performance data. As a global leader in the design and manufacture of exhaust management abatement systems for the electronics industry we want to reassure our customers that all of our abatement products comply with internationally recognized standards and that protecting the environment from harmful gasses is a responsibility we all share – across all industries, and across all borders.”

London, UK and San Jose, California – Dialog Semiconductor and Atmel Corporation announced today that Dialog has agreed to acquire Atmel in a cash and stock transaction for total consideration of approximately $4.6 billion. The acquisition creates a global leader in both Power Management (defined as power management solutions for mobile platforms including smartphones, tablets, portable PCs and wearable-type devices) and Embedded Processing solutions. The transaction results in a company that supports Mobile Power, IoT and Automotive customers. The combined company will address a market opportunity of approximately $20 billion by 2019.

Dialog will complement its position in Power Management ICs with a portfolio of proprietary and ARM (R) based Microcontrollers in addition to high performance ICs for Connectivity, Touch and Security. Dialog will also leverage Atmel’s established sales channels to diversify its customer base. Through realized synergies, the combination could deliver an improved operating model and enable new revenue growth opportunities.

“The rationale for the transaction we are proposing today is clear – and the potential this combination holds is exciting. By bringing together our technologies, world-class talent and broad distribution channels we will create a new, powerful force in the semiconductor space. Our new, enlarged company will be a diversified, high-growth market leader in Mobile Power, IoT and Automotive. We firmly believe that by combining Power Management, Microcontrollers, Connectivity and Security technologies, we will create a strong platform for innovation and growth in the large and attractive market segments we serve. This is an important and proud milestone in the evolution of our Dialog story,” said Jalal Bagherli, Dialog Chief Executive Officer.

“This transaction combines two successful companies and will create significant value for Atmel and Dialog shareholders, customers and employees. Adding Dialog’s world-class capabilities in Power Management with Atmel’s keen focus on Microcontrollers, Connectivity and Security will enable Dialog to more effectively target high-growth applications within the Mobile, IoT and Automotive markets,” said Steven Laub, Atmel President and Chief Executive Officer.

The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of the 2016 calendar year. In 2017, the first full year following closing, the transaction is expected to be accretive to Dialog’s underlying earnings. Dialog anticipates achieving projected annual cost savings of $150 million within two years. The purchase price implies a total equity value for Atmel of approximately $4.6 billion and a total enterprise value of approximately $4.4 billion after deduction of Atmel’s net cash. Dialog expects to continue to have a strong cash flow generation profile and have the ability to substantially pay down the transaction debt approximately three years after closing.

The transaction has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies and is subject to regulatory approvals in various jurisdictions and customary closing conditions, as well as the approval of Dialog and Atmel shareholders. Jalal Bagherli will continue to be the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Board Director of Dialog. Two members of Atmel’s existing Board will join Dialog’s Board following closing. The transaction is not subject to a financing condition.

Atmel Corporation, a microcontroller (MCU) and touch technology solutions provider, today announced the company has expanded its portfolio of automotive-qualified maXTouch (R) touchscreen controllers with the mXT641T family. The new family is optimized for capacitive touchpads and touchscreens from 5 to 10 inches. These mXT641T devices are the industry’s first auto-qualified self- and mutual-capacitance controllers meeting the AEC-Q100 standards for high reliability in harsh environments.

The automotive-qualified maXTouch mXT641T family incorporates Atmel’s Adaptive Sensing technology to enable dynamic touch classification, a feature that automatically and intelligently switches between self- and mutual-capacitance sensing to provide users a seamless transition between a finger touch, hover, or glove touch. It eliminates the need for users to manually enable “glove mode” in the operating system to differentiate between hover and glove modes. Adaptive Sensing is also resistant to water and moisture and ensures superior touch performance even in these harsh conditions.

The new devices support stringent automotive requirements including hover and glove support in moist and cold environments, thick lens for better impact resistance, and single-layer shieldless sensor designs in automotive center consoles, navigation systems, radio interfaces and rear-seat entertainment systems. The single-layer shieldless sensor design eliminates additional screen layers, delivering better light transparency resulting in lower power consumption along with an overall lower system cost for the manufacturer.

“More consumers are demanding high-performance touchscreens in their vehicles with capacitive touch technology,” said Rob Valiton, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Automotive, Memory and Secure Products Business Units. “Atmel is continuing to drive more innovative, next-generation touch technologies to the automotive market and our new family of automotive-qualified maXTouch T controllers is further testament to our leadership in this space. Atmel is the only automotive-qualified touch supplier with over two decades of experience in designing, developing, and manufacturing semiconductor solutions that meet the stringent quality and reliability standards for our automotive customers.”

Radiant Vision Systems, a provider of light and color test and measurement systems, announced the release of the ProMetric (R) I29, an ultra high-resolution imaging colorimeter developed to meet the needs of high-volume display and consumer electronics manufacturers. The newest addition to the ProMetric I-Series, the I29 complements the I2, I8, and I16 models, providing a higher resolution option for inspection applications that call for high resolution while meeting short cycle time requirements.

The high spatial resolution of the I29 makes it capable of detecting very small flaws that can be missed by human inspectors. Mura, particles, scratches, and other defects in flat panel displays can be identified and quantified using Radiant’s TrueTest (TM) Automated Visual Inspection software to provide objective and repeatable pass/fail criteria. “The I29 enables inspection of very fine detail, even in large and very high-resolution displays,” stated Doug Kreysar, Chief Solutions Officer for Radiant Vision Systems. “It is also advantageous in ‘multi-channel’ configurations, where multiple devices are tested in a single cycle. Additionally,” continued Kreysar, “the I29 has been engineered for optimal measurement speed, which means the shortest possible takt times are achieved. This is critical to large volume manufacturers.”

Radiant’s ProMetric I Series colorimeters are built around scientific-grade, cooled interline CCD sensors, ranging in resolution from 2 to 29MP. Specially constructed to replicate human spatial perception of brightness and color, they bring the benefits of automation – speed, flexibility, and repeatability – and the accuracy of human vision to production inspection applications. Each model is available with a variety of interchangeable lenses, enabling optimized measurements over a wide range of working distances and viewing angles. ProMetric I supports high-speed USB and Ethernet communications, providing reliable operation over long distances. Smart Technology (TM) features, including electronic lens control and onboard touchscreen, simplify setup and improve measurement accuracy. ProMetric I can be paired to Radiant Vision Systems’ TrueTest software to provide a complete, turnkey solution for testing displays, keyboards, housings, and other products.

With a recent sharp rise in the number of patent applications for flexible display technologies, the market for various types of flexible displays is expected to broaden. According to IHS, 312 patents for flexible displays were filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office in 2014; user-interface technology was the most active sector for patent applications. Flexible displays accounted for 62 percent of US display patent applications last year.

“Flexible displays are next-generation display panels fabricated on a paper-thin and flexible substrate, so that they can be bent and rolled without damage,” said Ian Lim, Senior Analyst of Intellectual Property for IHS Technology. “These types of displays, which lend themselves to far wider applications than conventional rigid displays, are projected to create an entirely new display market and replace existing non-flexible display solutions.”

Based on the latest information from the IHS Flexible Display Patent Report–which covers patents related to flexible displays issued in the US, in 2014, focusing on materials, manufacturing technology and applied devices–Samsung Electronics filed half of all new flexible display patents in the United States, followed by LG Electronics at 17 percent. Most of these patent applications focus on preventing image degradation, reducing device distortion and providing a range of user interfaces for bendable and foldable displays. Patents on parts and manufacturing technologies that primarily focus on the use of polyimide flexible substrates and metal nanowire in organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays were also popular.

“Patents for flexible display device technologies outnumber those for flexible display parts and manufacturing technologies in recent patents, indicating that the flexible display market is entering a period of maturing growth,” Lim said. “As manufacturer requirements for flexible displays grow, battles to acquire relevant patents will only become fiercer.”

Flexible_display_patent_chart

Solid State Technology is thrilled to announce that several key industry leaders have joined the Advisory Board for its annual conference and networking event, The ConFab. New members include: Robert Cappel, Senior Director Corporate Marketing, KLA-Tencor; William Chen, Fellow and Senior Technical Advisor, ASE; L.T. Guttadauro, Executive Director, Fab Owners Association; Li Li, Distinguished Engineer, Cisco Systems; Ariel Meyuhas, COO, The MAX Group; Gary Patton, CTO and Head of Worldwide R&D, GLOBALFOUNDRIES and Elton Peace, General Manager North America Regional Operations, Lam Research.

“We are delighted to welcome the new additions to our Advisory Board, each of whom have a unique and valuable insight into the what makes the semiconductor manufacturing industry successful,” said Pete Singer, Editor-in-Chief of Solid State Technology and conference chair for The ConFab. “These individuals will be instrumental is ensuring that The ConFab has an expanded role in the industry and is a “must attend” event for networking and discussing critical economic and manufacturing issues.”

The ConFab 2016 conference program will focus on “The Economics of Semiconductor Manufacturing and Design”. Topics will include:

  • How IoT is Driving the Semiconductor Industry
  • Filling the Fabs of the Future: A Guide to Hot New Applications
  • MEMS Sensor Fusion and More then Moore
  • The Limits of Scaling: Understanding the Challenges of sub-10nm Manufacturing
  • Fabless, Foundries and OSATs: Optimizing the Supply Chain
  • System Integration, Advanced Packaging + 3D Integration
  • China’s New Role in the Global Semiconductor Industry
  • Legacy Fabs and the Resurgence of 200mm
  • The Impact of Continued Consolidation Across the Supply Chain
  • Wearables and Bioelectronics: The Cusp of a Revolution?
  • Tackling Rising R&D Costs in the Semiconductor Industry

The new members will be joining the existing Advisory Board, comprised of David Bennett, VP Alliances, GLOBALFOUNDRIES; Janice M. Golda, Director, Lithography Capital Equipment Development, Intel Corporation; Devan Iyer,,Director Worldwide Semiconductor Packaging Operations, Texas Instruments; Lori Nye, COO/Executive Director Customer Operations, Brewer Science; Ken Rygler, President, Rygler Associates (founder of Toppan Photomasks); Sima Salamati, VP, Fab Operations, imec; Hans Stork, CTO, ON Semiconductor Corporation; Aubrey Tobey, President, ACT International; Geoffrey Yeap, VP of Technology, Qualcomm Inc.; and Abe Yee, Sr. Director, Advanced Technology and Package Development, NVIDIA Corporation.

 The ConFab (June 12-15, 2016) is an executive-level conference and networking event for business leaders from the semiconductor manufacturing and design industry. The event features a high-level conference program, networking events and business meetings with purchasing decision makers and influencers. More information on The ConFab may be found at www.theconfab.com.