Electronics Supply Chain News & Analysis

Intel Orders 15 EUV Lithography Systems

A sizable order for ASML lithography systems, worth possibly more than $1 billion, is a milestone that indicates that extreme-ultraviolet lithography has finally overcome technical hurdles and can go on to assist Intel, Samsung and TSMC with commercial chip production.

Tensilica Fusion DSP Aims at IoT, Wearables

Cadence is launching a variant of the Xtensa processor architecture aimed at wearables and IoT applications, where it can provide security, sensor fusion, voice and audio processing capabilities.

Apple Wins Place in Top 25 Chip Vendor Ranking

A change in product categorization by IHS saw Apple break into the top 25 among chip vendors in a strong growth year. Slower growth is expected this year, partly due to sluggish conditions in the memory sector.

Microchip Unveils Power Management IC

Device combines popular power calculations with advanced features for use in high-performance commercial and industrial products.

EU Halogen Ban Postponed Until 2018

Ban, originally planned for September 2016, is part of wider strategy to promote more energy-efficient technologies like compact fluorescent and LED bulbs.

Broadcom Rolls Ethernet Switches

ICs said to offer 30% lower power and double the performance for data center virtualization overlays.

Freescale Tips Network Switching Platform

Platform combines performance and efficiency of a traditional network switch with the manageability, flexibility and security required for software-defined networking, according to the vendor.

Synopsys to Buy Software Security Firm

Deal expected to bring talent, technology and products to expand Synopsys' presence in software security market.

Intersil Launches Power Management ICs for Ultrabooks, Tablets

Power management ICs said to enable industry's first credit card-size motherboards for high-end ultrabook and tablet computers powered by two-cell lithium-ion batteries.

Acquisitions Take ARM IP Portfolio into RF

Intellectual property licensor grabs two U.S. companies and will unite their IP into a portfolio for low-power Bluetooth hardware and software.

Moore's Law at 50

Half a century after Gordon Moore made his prediction that the number transistors per square inch on an IC would double at a constant rate, the eponymous "law" is still with us.

Presto, INSIDE Secure Form Manufacturing Partnership

The companies have formed a contract manufacturing agreement whereas Presto will take over the semiconductor operations and global supply chain from INSIDE Secure.

Toshiba Researching Low Power in Wearables

The Japanese chip vendor is looking to reduce power consumption in multi-sensor wearables by decreasing the mode transitions required when the microcontroller receives data from sensors.

Intel Cuts Capital Spending Estimate in Anticipation of Down Year for PCs

Microprocessor giant says the PC market is due for a poor year and that the company will lean more heavily on its other business units.

Andes Wins CPU Role in MediaTek SoCs

Taiwan processor IP licensor says it won multiple design-ins on the basis of offering the smallest die area and the lowest power consumption among competitive options.

Sensor Fusion Growth Creates New Challenges

Since the humble beginnings of sensors in the Apple iPhone, sensor fusion technology has been integrated into a broad range of applications. But as growth in this market continues, challenges remain.

Altera Joins IoT Consortium

Programmable logic vendor joins Industrial Internet Consortium, an open membership organization looking to accelerate the adoption and use of the Internet of Things.

Solantro Raises Funding for Volume Manufacturing

Renewable power chipmaker has raised $11 million in funding in order to accelerate volume manufacturing of digital power processor chipsets.

Why China Is Shopping for Silicon Valley Chip Companies

Some may put Chinese venture capital shopping for U.S. chip companies down to Chinese plans to become a global technology leader in electronics. A couple of factors driving the trend could be more base and capitalistic—but would lead to same result.