Electronics Weekly - New TI Buck Converter, Hitachi Narrows its Focus & More

TI Releases 4-A Synchronous DC/DC Buck Converter for Automotive and Industrial Applications

(Image courtesy of Texas Instruments.)

Texas Instruments (TI) recently introduced an integrated power management solution for double date rate (DDR)2, DDR3 and DDR3L memory subsystems in automotive and industrial applications. The TPS54116-Q1 DC/DC buck converter is a 2.95-V to 6-V input, 4-A synchronous step-down converter with a 1-A peak sink/source DDR termination and buffered reference.

Designed for automotive applications such as infotainment, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and instrument clusters, the TPS54116-Q1 can also power DDR memory in telecommunication, test and measurement, and factory automation equipment.

The switching frequency can be set above the medium-wave radio band for noise-sensitive applications and is synchronizable to an external clock. For more information, read the blog post, "Four design tips to obtain 2-MHz switching frequency."

Hitachi Gears Up to Sell Power Tool and Chipmaking Equipment Operations

(Image courtesy of Hitachi Koki.)

Hitachi is preparing to unload operations in power tools and semiconductor fabrication equipment, further narrowing its focus and resources with the aim of bolstering earning power in an uncertain global economy.

The Japanese company is seeking to sell Hitachi Koki and a portion of Hitachi Kokusai Electric for a total of more than 100 billion yen (USD $972 million). Hitachi has stated that it hopes to widen its operating profit margin and to strengthen its competitiveness on the global stage.

Hitachi and units together own more than half of Hitachi Koki's outstanding shares, including treasury stock held by the power tool maker. Hitachi has initiated a bidding process with a goal of unloading the stake by the first half of 2017. The sale could total more than 50 billion yen ($484 million). U.S. investment fund Carlyle Group is among those interested.

There are also plans to sell Hitachi Kokusai's chipmaking equipment business next year.

Hitachi is shifting focus to infrastructure and information technology equipment, and particularly to services as a maintenance, management and consulting provider. Because its power tools and chipmaking machinery businesses focus more on the sale of equipment than on services, the company has decided that these do not fit the broader group strategy.

Hitachi logged a 787.3-billion-yen ($7.6 billion) group net loss for the fiscal year ended March 2009, a record low for a Japanese manufacturer. It has since both restructured and focused more on providing services than products.

Synopsys Releases Version 2016.09 of the RSoft Photonic Component Design Suite

(Image courtesy of Synopsys.)

Synopsys, Inc. recently announced the latest release of its RSoft Photonic Component Design Suite, the company's software for the design of photonic devices and components used in optical communications, optoelectronics and semiconductor manufacturing. Version 2016.09 of the RSoft Photonic Component Design Suite is intended to aid the design of optical devices used in semiconductors, silicon photonics and LEDs/OLEDs.

The RSoft Photonic Component Design Suite can be integrated with Synopsys Sentaurus TCAD products to provide simulations of complex optoelectronic devices such as silicon modulators and waveguide photodetectors.

Visit the product page for more information.

Flexpoint to Join Industry Consortium Focused on Developing Flexible Electronics, Displays and Other Applications

(Image courtesy of Flexpoint.)

Flexpoint Sensor Systems, Inc. recently announced that the company has accepted an invitation to participate in collaborative studies focused on the manufacture of Flexible Hybrid Electronics (FHE) displays and other industry applications. As a manufacturer of sensor technologies within this group, Flexpoint will be able to collaborate with other complementary companies in identifying new technologies.

This initial FHE Pathfinder Study will have Flexpoint pairing with companies such as IQMRI and Design HMI LLC. IQMRI is also part of the industry group NEXTFLEX which awards grants for projects emerging from these studies.

Visit the Flexpoint website for more information.

Digicom Electronics Incorporates Nitrogen in Soldering and Reflow Processes for Device Reliability

(Image courtesy of Digicom.)

Digicom Electronics, Inc., now generates its own nitrogen to use in its solder reflow, selective soldering and hand soldering manufacturing processes. According to the company, adding nitrogen minimizes device failure and ensures printed circuit board integrity, especially for mission critical products for the medical, military and aerospace, industrial and RF wireless industries.

The nitrogen is generated and piped directly to machine inputs and work areas at a prescribed volume and pressure to achieve optimized saturation of the inert gas and to eliminate oxidation at critical moments of the soldering operation.

Digicom's white paper, “Can Nitrogen Reduce Failures in Medical Devices?” explores the use of nitrogen in the manufacturing process. A copy is available for download on the Digicom articles website.

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