Author page description
April 24
- Wi-Fi 7 over-the-air tester
➀ Anritsu has partnered with Microwave Vision to offer a Wi-Fi 7 over-the-air tester;
➁ The tester combines Anritsu’s MT8862A wireless connectivity test set with Microwave Vision’s multi-probe over-the-air test system;
➂ It supports IEEE 802.11be measurements, the standard behind Wi-Fi 7.
- What caught your eye? (Intel sackings, Energy weapon, African Space Agency)
➀ Intel lays off 20% of its workforce and outsources its 2nm processor production to TSMC;
➁ The British Army demonstrates a directed energy weapon against drones, with a range of up to 1km;
➂ The African Space Agency (AfSA) is officially inaugurated in Cairo, Egypt, with representatives from various African governments and international space organisations in attendance.
- Taiwan turns to Astranis for its first dedicated comms satellite
➀ Taiwan's Chunghwa Telecom is partnering with Astranis to launch a dedicated microGEO satellite to support Taiwanese communications by the end of 2025;
➁ The satellite will be the first to be exclusively dedicated to Taiwan, providing real-time backup for natural disasters and submarine cable disruptions;
➂ Astranis CEO John Gedmark emphasizes the importance of secure and independent communications for Taiwan's critical infrastructure.
- ST sees Q1 as the bottom of the market
➀ STMicroelectronics reported Q1 revenues of $2.52 billion with a gross margin of 33.4% and an operating income of $3 million. Net income was $56 million.
➁ The company expects Q2 net revenues of $2.71 billion and a gross margin of 33.4%. A company-wide program to resize the company is expected to save in the high triple-digit million-dollar range by 2027.
➂ CEO Jean-Marc Chery highlighted the improvement in the book-to-bill ratio for Automotive and Industrial segments and the focus on innovation and cost management in the uncertain environment.
- A good Q1 for UK connector market
➀ The Q1 UK connector market saw a strong performance with sales up 11% over Q4 2024 and 7% on Q1 2024.
➁ Mass Transport and Data Processing were the standout sectors, with significant growth.
➂ The order intake in Q1 2025 was the second highest since Q2 2022, but there were significant variations in market performance across different sectors.
- Redwire to provide habitation docking system for Lunar Gateway
Redwire has been awarded a contract to provide four docking mechanisms for the European Space Agency's habitation module for the Lunar Gateway, known as the Lunar I-Hab. This lunar-orbiting outpost is a replacement for the International Space Station and will support long-duration missions, potentially including a future human mission to Mars.
Redwire's Belgian subsidiary, Redwire Space NV, will deliver the International Berthing and Docking Mechanism (IBDM) for the Lunar I-Hab. The contract is with Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture between Thales and Leonardo.
The IBDM will enable safe transfers of crew and cargo within the Gateway station, using advanced automation and precision alignment. Other subsystems for the Lunar I-Hab are being provided by JAXA, including environmental control, life support, and batteries.
- Peak Globalisation?
➀ The re-emergence of nationalism and protectionism is undoing the effects of globalisation on world trade.
➁ Global trade growth stagnated after the financial crisis, during the first Trump administration, and in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
➂ World trade has seen a peak in 2022, but is expected to drop back in 2023, according to the World Bank.
April 23
- 200V half-bridge mosfet driver
➀ Littelfuse has introduced a 200V half-bridge MOSFET and IGBT driver with integrated cross-conduction protection logic.
➁ The IXD2012NTR is designed to drive n-channel MOSFET gates requiring 10 to 20V and can supply a minimum of 1.4A pull-up and 1.8A pull-down.
➂ The device is optimized for high-frequency power applications and offers a supply range of 10 to 20V with a high-side bootstrap circuit capable of handling up to 224V.
- China exports to US to fall 77%
➀ Chinese exports to the US are expected to fall by 77% in 2025, according to WTO forecasts.
➁ Chinese imports are expected to increase to every other market, with the rest of North America predicted to see growth of 25 percent.
➂ The CIS region is projected to raise exports, which the WTO says is principally related to exemptions for natural resources.
- Analog Bits moves to 2nm
➀ Analog Bits, a mixed-signal IP specialist, is demonstrating its latest LDO, power supply droop detectors, and embedded clock LC PLLs on the TSMC N3P process.
➁ The company is also showcasing clocking PVT and droop detectors on the TSMC N2P process at the TSMC 2025 North America Technology Symposium.
➂ CEO Mahesh Tirupattur emphasizes the importance of power management in architectural design, especially for advanced datacenters, AI/ML applications, and automotive SoC's.
- Intel to cut 20% of workforce and puts 2nm processor out to TSMC
➀ Intel is expected to announce a 20% workforce reduction this weekend, as reported by Bloomberg;
➁ The new CEO, Lip-Bu Tan, has previously criticized Intel's bloated bureaucracy;
➂ Intel has outsourced the compute tile of its Nova Lake processor to TSMC, which is in trial production on TSMC's 2nm process in Hsinchu.
- Qualcomm files countersuit against Arm
➀ Qualcomm has filed a countersuit against Arm for hearing in Q1 2026.
➁ Qualcomm claims Arm has breached the contract by misrepresenting the relationship with its customers and not delivering IP.
➂ Qualcomm also accuses Arm of interfering with its business and not licensing IP at reasonable prices.
- African Space Agency inauguration takes place at Egyptian Space City
➀ The African Space Agency (AfSA) was officially inaugurated at its headquarters in the Egyptian Space City;
➁ Representatives from the African Union Commission, various African governments, national space agencies, and international space organisations were present;
➂ Cooperation agreements were signed with the European Space Agency, the UAE Space Agency, and Roscosmos, covering areas such as Earth observation, training, and technical consultation.
- Top 10 (less 5) Server Suppliers In Q4
➀ Dell Technologies and Super Micro tied for the top spot in Q4 2024 server vendor rankings;
➁ HPE and IEIT Systems also tied for the third position;
➂ The overall server market revenue for Q4 2024 was $77.3 billion, a significant growth from the same period last year.
April 22
- Back in Wonderland: inside another SCR dc motor controller
➀ The author discusses the need for a large inductor in series with permanent magnet DC motors when controlled by SCR-based power controllers.
➁ The possibility of safely interfacing an Arduino with an SCR controller is explored.
➂ The author details the process of reverse-engineering a SCR controller from a 1980s machine tool and the challenges encountered.
- Danger On The Digital Silk Road Warns Nvidia
➀ Nvidia's CEO Jensen Huang is said to have warned President Trump about the risks of China's chip policy benefiting Huawei;
➁ The New York Times reports that China is expected to fund AI datacentres worldwide under the Belt and Road initiative, possibly using Huawei chips instead of Nvidia's;
➂ Nvidia fears the spread of these datacentres could lead to the export of Chinese standards and surveillance capabilities.
- TSMC opts for smaller substrate for initial PLP runs
➀ TSMC has chosen a 310x310mm substrate for its initial panel-level packaging (PLP) production, instead of the 510x515mm substrate initially tested.
➁ A source told Nikkei that the decision was made to start with a slightly smaller square shape rather than a larger one used in earlier trials, due to the difficulty of evenly coating the entire substrate with chemicals.
➂ The first production will take place on a pilot line in Taoyuan City in 2017.
- 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.