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March 25
- The Man Who Rewrote China's Chip History: A Story of Resilience and Innovation
➀ At 60, Yin Zhizao, the 'Father of China's Chip Etching Machine', returned to China from Silicon Valley, restarting his career with Chinese chip development.
➁ After years of effort, Yin and his team developed China's first domestically produced etching machine, breaking the foreign monopoly.
➂ Despite facing lawsuits and challenges from former employers, Yin's company, Microelectronics, achieved significant breakthroughs in chip etching technology, propelling China from a follower to a leader in the industry.
- Storage Research Framework: The Development Path of DRAM Technology
➀ Large Language Models (LLMs) have revolutionized the field of natural language processing (NLP) with their breakthroughs, leading to a new wave of technological progress. These models, however, are traditionally deployed on cloud servers, which bring challenges such as network latency, data security, and continuous internet connectivity requirements, limiting their widespread application and user experience.
➁ Storage computing integrates storage and computing, adding computing capabilities to the memory to perform two-dimensional and three-dimensional matrix calculations. It can effectively overcome the bottleneck of the von Neumann architecture and achieve a significant increase in computing energy efficiency.
➂ There are three types of storage computing: Proximity Memory Computing (PNM), In-Memory Processing (PIM), and In-Memory Computing (CIM). Each type has its own advantages and is suitable for different application scenarios.
- EV Semiconductor Investment Slows Down, Japanese, American, and European Companies Lay Off Workers
➀ The global market growth of electric vehicles (EVs) is slowing down, leading to layoffs in the semiconductor industry.
➁ Infineon, the world's largest semiconductor power company, plans to lay off 1400 people and adjust the positions of another 1400.
➂ The rise of Chinese manufacturers, such as BYD, is also impacting the industry, with companies like Renesas Electronics delaying investments.
March 24
- China's Domestic 5nm Chips Enter Mass Production Countdown!
➀ The market is currently experiencing a cold wind due to the upcoming US equivalent tariff policy on April 2nd.
➁ Three sectors are worth paying attention to: financial, resources, and chip equipment.
➂ The chip equipment sector has seen several positive developments, including the acquisition of a semiconductor testing equipment company by the National Integrated Circuit Fund and the participation of a new chip equipment company with a mysterious background in an international semiconductor exhibition.
➃ It is expected that domestic advanced G-line machines have passed the acceptance test and will enter mass production next year.
➄ The domestic advanced chip production line is expected to have a significant impact on the global chip industry.
- Inside a TSMC Engineer's Busy Day: Starting at 7:35 AM
➀ TSMC, founded in 1987, has become a global leader in semiconductor manufacturing.
➁ TSMC's 2nm process technology is set to enter mass production this year.
➂ Engineers at TSMC work in a highly specialized and continuous environment, facing various complex challenges.
➃ TSMC's corporate culture is influenced by Asian Confucianism, emphasizing discipline, professionalism, and respect for the elderly.
➄ TSMC has launched a 2025 campus recruitment plan to hire about 8,000 new employees.
March 23
- 14 AI Infra Experts Gather at GenAICon 2025 Beijing, Discussing the Future of AI
➀ The 2025 China Generative AI Conference (Beijing) is set to take place in Beijing on April 1-2, featuring 45+ key speakers.
➁ The conference focuses on the theme 'Big Turn, New Journey' and aims to showcase significant advancements in domestic generative AI.
➂ The event includes a main forum, application forums, and technical seminars on deep learning and AI agents.
- What Signal Does the Chip Billionaire Yu Renrong Release by Selling 100 Shares?
➀ Yu Renrong, the founder and CEO of Weilai Electronics, sold 100 shares, signaling his intentions regarding Beijing Junzheng.
➁ Weilai Electronics reported impressive financial results in 2024, with revenue exceeding 25 billion yuan and a profit growth of over 2199.15%.
➂ Beijing Junzheng, a semiconductor design company, saw its revenue decline from over 5.2 billion yuan in 2021 to just over 4.5 billion yuan in 2023.
March 20
- China Mobile and ZTE Visit Jiangbolong, Co-Initiate a New Era of Communication and Storage Collaborative Innovation
➀ China Mobile and ZTE visited Jiangbolong's storage industrial park for research and discussions on storage technology innovation and industrial collaboration.
➁ The visit included an in-depth look at the history of storage technology and a tour of the storage production line.
➂ Jiangbolong showcased its full-stack capabilities in storage, including in-house research and development in IP, main control chips, hardware design, firmware programs, industrial design, testing tools, production machines, and digital systems.
- Summary ofEDA Tools for Analog Chip Design at Home and Abroad
➀ Summary of various EDA tools for analog circuit design, including schematic design, simulation, SPICE model generation, transistor characteristics simulation, layout design, parasitic parameter extraction, LVS, IR-drop analysis, DRC, post-layout simulation, and mixed-signal simulation.
➁ Comparison of domestic and foreign manufacturers, highlighting the leading role of Cadence, Synopsys, and Mentor in the global market and the rapid growth of domestic companies like Hua Da Ji Tian and Guolun Electronics.
➂ Discussion on the challenges and opportunities in the analog chip design field, with a focus on AI-driven automation design and the construction of a domestic process ecosystem.
- Domestic SiC Companies Collaborate, Focusing on 8-Inch Wafer Manufacturing
➀ Multiple SiC companies, including Yangjie Technology, Chongqing Tianke, Tuopu Electronics, and Zhonghengwei, are collaborating to advance the research and production of SiC products.
➁ Zhonghengwei Semiconductor has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Xinhua Semiconductor to focus on SiC wafer manufacturing and module packaging, aiming to achieve a full-chain technical closed loop.
➂ Chongqing Tianke, Pengjin High-tech, and Shangyangtong Technology are working together to develop power device processes based on 8-inch epitax wafers.
➃ Yangjie Technology has signed strategic cooperation意向s with Puxing Electronics and Hantiancheng to create an efficient SiC supply chain.
➄ Tuopu Electronics and Pu Zhou City Industrial Bank have established a joint venture to focus on ultra-high-voltage SiC power chip projects.
- SoftBank's 65 Billion USD Acquisition of Ampere: The Reason Behind the Surprise Move
➀ SoftBank announced a significant acquisition, purchasing US server CPU company Ampere Computing for $6.5 billion in cash, expected to be completed by the second half of 2025;
➁ Ampere, founded by former Intel executives in 2017, specializes in designing chips for Arm architecture servers and has early customers like Microsoft, Google, ByteDance, and Tencent;
➂ Despite facing financial challenges with three years of cumulative losses of nearly 14 billion RMB, Ampere's technical strength and market potential attracted SoftBank's attention.
- Enhanced Linearity of MOSCAP-Driven Silicon Microring Modulator
➀ Si-MRM is an ideal device for optical communication, interconnect, computing, and microwave photonics due to its compact size, low drive voltage, and high bandwidth.
➁ High linearity is crucial for special applications like analog optical links and high-precision optical computing.
➂ MOSCAP structure improves Si MRM linearity by enhancing the capacitance density and linearly accumulating charge with gate voltage, which compensates for the nonlinear Lorentz transmission curve of the MRM.
➃ MOSCAP Si MRM demonstrates excellent linearity and a high SFDR of 106 dB·Hz²/³.
➄ University of Southampton and HPE have also developed MOSCAP MRM structures with notable performance improvements.
March 19
- The Rise and Fall of Japan's Electronics and Chip Industry: A Historical Perspective
➀ The historical development of Japan's electronics industry from the Meiji Restoration to the present day, focusing on the rise and fall of key companies like Sony, Panasonic, and Toshiba.
➁ The impact of the internet and smartphones on the global supply chain and the decline of Japan's consumer electronics industry.
➂ The strategic transformation of Japanese electronics brands and new positions in the international division of labor.
March 18
- Bestech Micro Revenue Soars, Losses for Two Years, R&D Investment as 'Culprit'?
➀ Bestech Micro's 2024 revenue reached 6.88 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 18.98%;
➁ Non-GAAP net profit was -46.28 million yuan, and the company's profitability was poor due to a decline in operating income;
➂ The main reasons for the company's continuous losses despite increased revenue are intense market competition and insufficient R&D investment.
March 17
- Exclusive: Huawei Noah's Ark Lab Director姚骏 Succeeded by Youngest Leader Wang Yunhe
➀ Huawei Noah's Ark Lab undergoes leadership change with new director, Wang Yunhe, a 90-year-old successor to Yao Jun;
➁ Yao Jun, the former director, has an extensive background in AI research, including deep learning and AI hetero-systems;
➂ Wang Yunhe has a strong academic and professional background in AI, including deep learning, model compression, and computer vision, and has been involved in significant projects at Huawei.
- Changan-SIDA SiC Project Set to Begin Production with 1.8 Million Units
➀ The Changan-SIDA SiC project, a joint venture between Changan's Deep Blue Auto and SIDA Semiconductor, is set to begin production with an initial capacity of 1.8 units.
➁ The project is expected to reach full production in June, with a first-phase capacity of 500,000 units and a second-phase capacity of 1.8 million units.
➂ SIDA Semiconductor, founded in 2005, specializes in the design, research, production, and sales of IGBT and SiC power semiconductor chips and modules.
- Sudden Acquisition! Huada Jiutian 'Surprises' Chip and Semiconductor!
➀ Huada Jiutian plans to acquire the controlling stake of Chip and Semiconductor through the issuance of shares and cash payment.
➁ Huada Jiutian is committed to becoming a leading EDA provider in the global market.
➂ Chip and Semiconductor aims to create a full-stack EDA platform for the AI era, covering chip, packaging, module, PCB board-level, interconnection, and整机 system.
March 16
- An Overview of ADC
➀ Briefly introduces ADC (Analog to Digital Converter) and its basic functions;
➁ Discusses the author's personal experience with SAR ADC and the importance of engineering experience over theory;
➂ Explains the three main steps of ADC: sampling, quantization, and coding;
➃ Describes various ADC specifications and classifications, including static and dynamic parameters, and different types of ADC structures such as full-flash, two-step, pipeline, integrating, successive approximation, and sigma-delta ADCs.
- He, 65, Takes the Reins of the 'King of Chips'
➀ Chen Liwu, 65, has been appointed as the new CEO of Intel, marking the first time in Intel's 57-year history that a Chinese has held the position.
➁ Chen is known as the 'Father of Chip Venture Capital' and has founded Walden International, managing over $3 billion in capital and investing in over 500 companies, including many semiconductor companies.
➂ Intel has faced challenges such as declining revenue and market share loss in recent years, prompting the appointment of Chen to lead a strategic shift.
- The Legend of Futures Enters Chip Industry: From Secondary to Primary Market, Chip Market风云际会
➀ The legendary futures trader Guo Yanchao enters the chip industry, investing in Beijing Chenzhi Semiconductor Technology Co., Ltd., and stirring up the chip market.
➁ The shift to centralized architecture in automotive electronics is challenging the current landscape, with domestic players struggling to replace imported central domain controller chips.
➂ Chenzhi Semiconductor, with its high-level ASIL-D automotive chips and experienced team, aims to compete with international giants and become a key player in the domestic substitution of chips.
- The Intensifying Competition in the MCU Industry
➀ The competition in the MCU field is heating up, with Infineon becoming the largest supplier in 2024 with a market share of 21.3%;
➁ At the Embedded World 2025 in Nuremberg, Germany, major MCU manufacturers are competing in areas such as size, power consumption, storage technology, AI computing power, advanced processes, and architecture innovation (especially RISC-V);
➂ The article discusses the five dimensions of the 'fight' in the MCU industry: size and power consumption, process technology, storage technology, AI and computing power, and architecture.
- Huawei Launches Heavyweight CPU Chip Product to Compete with Intel
➀ Huawei's Hisilicon Kirin X90 processor has obtained a security reliability grade of II, indicating its excellence in security, stability, and reliability.
➁ The processor is expected to be released in the second half of 2025, possibly with new Huawei PC or server products.
➂ The Kirin X90 is positioned to focus on commercial ecosystem compatibility and AI computing capabilities, potentially expanding to high-end tablets and convertible devices.
March 14
- A Multi-Billion Yuan Chip Merger Falls Through
➀ A multi-billion yuan chip merger between Huizheng Technology and Yunying Valley was terminated due to price disagreements.
➁ Yunying Valley, founded by a Harvard graduate, has been focused on semiconductor display chip design and has attracted numerous investors.
➂ The merger failure highlights the challenges in the exit strategy for startups in the semiconductor industry, with many seeking IPOs as an alternative.
March 13
- TI全球最小MCU：国产芯片积极应战
➀ TI's smallest MCU has been widely discussed recently, prompting the author to mention some competitive domestic chip products.
➁ The CH32V005D6U6 MCU is smaller than TI's in terms of volume but offers double the Flash capacity and six times the RAM. It also includes an additional built-in operational amplifier and more GPIO pins, and saves a pin for single-wire debugging.
➂ CH634F is the smallest USB3.0 HUB chip with a 4*4mm QFN32 package, featuring two 3.0 ports and four 2.0 ports.
➃ CH634M is the smallest 4-port USB3.2 Gen1 HUB chip, supporting 100W PD fast charging, and is designed with a 5*5mm QFN48 package.
➄ CH32M007 is a 1 yuan-priced MCU with built-in high-voltage LDO and three-phase motor pre-driver and op-amp, in a 3*3mm QFN26 package.
➅ CH585 is a Bluetooth chip with a 3*3mm QFN20 package, integrating 480Mbps high-speed USB and NFC.
➆ CH390D is the smallest Ethernet controller with a 3*3mm QFN20 package, and CH395F is the smallest Ethernet protocol stack chip with a 4*4mm QFN32 package.
➇ CH132C is a USB2.0 PHY chip in a 2*2mm QFN package, and CH182D is a gigabit Ethernet PHY chip in a 3*3mm QFN package.
March 12
- McGill&Intel Collaborate on Coherent Technology for High-Speed Data Centers and Next-Generation PON
➀ McGill and Intel demonstrate the application of coherent technology in high-speed data centers and next-generation PON using heterogeneous integration technology.
➁ They achieve a 400 Gbps/λ O-band SiP coherent optical link and a 200-G DS coherent PON for ONU, compatible with 25~200 Gbps.
➂ The proposed solution supports high-volume production and is energy-efficient.
March 7
- Passive Component Market Recovery and Price Pressure Relief: Growth in Orders for Kemet, Murata, and TDK
➀ The electronic consumer demand has seen a recovery after several quarters of adjustment, leading to a resurgence in the passive component market.
➁ Kemet's operations manager Wang Danru noted that the market for multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCC) has shown signs of recovery and price pressure has eased.
➂ Murata Manufacturing Co. and TDK Corporation, two major Japanese passive component manufacturers, have also seen an increase in orders.
- Sandisk Announces Price Increase: All Products to Rise Over 10% Starting April 1!
➀ Sandisk plans to increase prices for all products aimed at channel and consumer customers starting April 1, with a hike of over 10%.
➁ The increase is due to the transition to a supply shortage in the NAND Flash chip industry and recent tariff changes, which will affect the availability of supplies and increase Sandisk's business costs.
➂ Sandisk will continue to conduct frequent price reviews and expects additional increases in the next quarter.
March 6
- ASML China Revenue Share at 36.1%, to Build New Service Center in Beijing This Year!
➀ ASML's annual revenue reached €28.263 billion in 2024, with China contributing 36.1% of the total.
➁ ASML plans to open a new service center in Beijing, China, to enhance its repair capabilities.
➂ The company expects the semiconductor market to recover, driven by demand for AI-related memory and advanced logic chips.
- ADI Cancels Wenye Agency!
➀ ADI has confirmed the cancellation of Wenye's agency rights without issuing a formal press release, representing a business change in channel integration.
➁ Wenye has actively issued a statement, indicating that the last delivery date for ADI products to the company is July 26, 2025. ADI also requires the company to send all purchase orders to ADI by the end of April to ensure a smooth supply of ADI products during the transition period of the agency business.
➂ Currently, ADI has only two authorized agents in mainland China: Zhongdiangang and Junlong.
- Major News: Liu De-yin Joins Micron as Director!
➀ Liu De-yin has joined Micron Technology's board of directors, bringing his extensive experience in the semiconductor industry to the company.
➁ Liu's impressive career at TSMC, where he rose to the position of chairman, has provided him with a wealth of experience in management and technology.
➂ Micron expects Liu's expertise to help the company expand its business and capitalize on growth opportunities in the semiconductor industry, particularly in the areas of data centers and edge computing.