Planned merger of Applied Materials and Tokyo Electron failed

The announced eighteen months ago merger of the two companies from the USA and Japan has met with opposition from the US antitrust authorities. The promise of more competition does not suffice to competition watchdogs.

The cartel investigations in the US Department of Justice issued the merger plans drawn up by Applied Materials and Tokyo Electronics clearly rejected. The recent concessions of the two companies to provide for the merger to more competition, not enough auditors. Applied Materials wants to buy back its own action worth about three billion dollars (about 2.77 billion euros) in the market.

In September 2013, the California service and manufacturing companies and the Japanese producer of flat screens and machines for the semiconductor industry had announced their plans for a merger. The merger should arise a new heavyweight for equipment, software and services in the semiconductor industry and the production of chips and displays, such as for smartphones.

Had the merger of Applied Materials and Tokyo Electron been completed, a market value $ 29 billion was for the emerged from the merger company with a planned new headquarters in the Netherlands worden.Die predicts shareholders of Applied Materials should with 68 percent of the majority of shares hold in the new company. From the merger, the two companies promised not only to accelerate the development of new technologies for semiconductors and displays, but also a savings of 500 million euros annually.

Enables remote measurements of diode power sensor

Previously, power meters are grouped together by the power meter external power sensors and a host via a cable connection. In the radio-frequency power sensor signal is converted into a voltage signal, amplified, after digitization, is displayed in the host. This has the advantage that you can choose the appropriate power sensor for the current task, without the need to replace the power of the host, the downside is that the power sensor can not work independently, it can not be used without a host.

Now, with advances in semiconductor technology, power meter can be made into a small, integrated unit, and can be via a standard USB interface to connect directly to a PC or a power meter host. Rohde & Schwarz has recently released a new R & S NRPxxS and R & S NRPxxSN USB interface three-channel diode power sensor. The new three-channel diode power sensor products with greater flexibility, in addition to the existing USB interface probe, there is a new LAN interface, so you can easily achieve the long-distance power measurements.

The new diode power sensor has about features:

A wider range of frequencies

Both models have three selectable power sensor frequency range: 10 MHz to 8 GHz or 18 GHz or 33 GHz

Superior measurement speed

10,000 times per second, to be completed by the measurement trigger, trigger a minimum resolution of 100μs. Probes specific models can even be completed per second over 50,000 such interval measurement. Improved design allows three-channel diode power sensor can measure lowering the minimum -70dBm. New models with up to 93dB of dynamic range. At low power measurement speed improvement is particularly evident.

Through the LAN interface and a web browser control

The new LAN interface enables remote power measurement distance. For example, in a satellite system or a particle accelerator system in place certain position some power sensors can be completed on the computer control and monitoring control center. Power sensor can be easily controlled through a web browser, a graphical user interface, without having to install additional software.

Diverse and versatile measurement mode

Can help mobile communication users GSM, 3GPP, LTE and LTE-A signal power measurement. Can also be used to measure the 33GHz automotive collision avoidance radar development and production. In addition, new models can still measure the continuous average power, average burst power, average power slot, the average power gating and power curves.

Metering pump detects pressure variations without external sensors

The magnetic sensor as
On the way to increasingly high-quality chemical products the exact dosage is becoming increasingly important. For the dosing affects not only on the reproducibility of the quality of products produced from, but can also increase the profit margin by a security surcharges are metered. If the metering pumps used then also monitor nor even, also increases the availability of the production process.

These and other requirements were the focus of development efforts for the new dosing pump gamma / X Prominent - the successor model of the proven series gamma / L. First comes a controlled magnetic drive is used, which has been so designed that it can also monitor the hydraulic conditions.

In conventional dosing pressure sensors are integrated to detect pressure in the liquid. The electronic components and connectors are exposed to the metered, often aggressive chemicals that can be attacked and corroded. The necessary components and additional sealing surfaces also increase, depending on the model, the price of around 15 to 20 percent. The new pumps do not require such sensors. Their magnetic control covers all variations in pressure and protects the system from overpressure. So unnecessary sources of error are excluded.

Trouble-free dosing even with effervescent media
An example of typical problems in the use of metering pumps in practice are effervescent media. Thus, gas bubbles can completely block the dosage of chlorine bleach. This may in waterworks, where the operator is not always on site, result in impairment inserts. This not only causes loss of production, but additional costs.

An automatic venting of the metering pump prevents outgassing media disturb the dosage by gas bubbles and optimize the dosing. In addition, the new solenoid diaphragm detects varying pressure conditions and adjusts their dosing automatically to the currently prevailing conditions - even with highly viscous media. Viscosity changes caused by temperature variations are automatically compensated. The control automatically ensures trouble-free dosing. The new legislation also increases the accuracy of ± 5% to ± 2% or better. As a result, product quality and productivity can be increased.

The magnetic control detects selbstätig hydraulic deviations that interfere with the metering considerably. Overpressure, broken pressure lines or vacuum and gas in the liquid can be registered without sensors and processed. This pressure is indicated on the display. When exceeding or falling below a preset limit values ​​on the display, an alarm is displayed and transmitted via relay or bus interface. The timely detection and switching off the system and pump help to prevent damage. The integrated pressure monitoring is a reliable backup system to the existing pressure gauge and pressure relief valve. The pressure in the display simplifies commissioning, monitoring and troubleshooting, and thus reduces downtimes considerably.

High accuracy and intuitive operating concept
The pump is used for the dosage of 1 ml to 45 l / h at a back pressure of 25 to 2 bar. Your control range is 1: 2,000, reproducible accuracy within ± 2%. Other features of the new pump series also includes the installation and intuitive operating concept. In a fortified with standard tool mounting plate, the new solenoid is simply connected. For installation and positioning almost no restrictions must be observed, the status LED will be readily apparent from every angle. The unique pin assignment prevents incorrect assignments. Simple and front-access controls and clear messages from the large display simplify maintenance.

The pump is equipped with a large, illuminated graphic display with plain text in many languages. Use the Click Wheel newly developed is possible a rapid adjustment of the parameters. The Quick Access is via four buttons without cumbersome long scrolling in various operating levels. The feed rate is adjusted directly in liters per hour. Stroke, frequency and dosing profile can be parameterized. By a pressure gauge gives a short glance at the display information about the existing pressures. The three-stage LED status indicator, which is attached to the upper front panel displays from all sides visible from the current operating status.

The stroke length can be adjusted electronically in the range from 0 to 100 percent. If a pulsation or continuous dosing is required, it allows the controlled magnetic drive, execute the print stroke slowly. In the volume-proportional dosing of a chemical in a main stream continuous dosing characteristic is obtained in the form of an elongated metering stroke. Since both media are already well mixed in this way, is mixing elements can be saved in the main stream.

Static mixer unnecessary
For applications for pH regulation, for example in water levels, may as "chemicals clouds" are avoided. The slow pressure stroke the pH-regulating chemical is added to the water flow evenly. The water then has a nearly constant pH and arrives without pH variation to the consumer. The cost for an additional static mixer and its installation can be saved.

In the case of rigid dosing also can smoothest flow metering characteristic be necessary to prevent pipeline or pump will be damaged by strong pulsations of the incompressible dosing liquid. This requirement is mastered by the new pump.

Conclusion: The new solenoid diaphragm gamma / X-wear, overload and energy saving. As a first metering pump in its class, it is driven by a regulated magnet. In addition to high dosing accuracy and high efficiency, it can help to improve process safety through automatic monitoring of hydraulic conditions and sensorless pressure monitoring.

E-Facts
For operators
The more precise the control of a metering pump, the better the dosing.
The solenoid gamma / X is equipped with a low-wear, controlled magnetic drive.
Together with an automatic air vent and the detection incorrectly sized suction / discharge lines makes the new drive for high reliability.
The magnetic regime embraces Durckabweichungen and protects the network without additional (error-prone) sensors against overpressure.

Sharp plans to sell its headquarters and close Mihara LED factory

According to Japan's Kyodo News April 16 reported that the media on the 16th was informed that the entire contents of the Sharp company restructuring plan the program, including the closure of the production of LCD TVs Tochigi Plant (Tochigi Yaita), sold in Osaka City Corporation and other large scale layoffs. Sharp plans to submit the plan to the major trading banks. Due to the fiscal year 2014 (April 2014-March 2015) ¥ 200 billion size (about 10.4 billion yuan) in losses, Sharp will strive to assist banks were ¥ 225 billion of capital to accelerate reorganization.

Plan for the proposed spin-off of the main LCD business, set up a subsidiary, will cut 3,000 jobs at home and abroad and about 2,000 people.

About underperforming solar cell business, including household batteries, including Sharp considering to completely withdraw from the study for the first large-scale photovoltaic power plants sell "thin-film solar cells," department.

Domestic production of LCD TVs will be transferred to the manufacture of white goods factory Yao (Yao City, Osaka). Due to the depreciation of the yen, the company has considered the production moved back from overseas Tochigi plant, but the deterioration of the performance exceeded expectations then changed the policy. Will determine the future treatment of employees and whereabouts.

Plans to shut down production program also includes an LED factory Mihara (Mihara, Hiroshima City), as well as the manufacturing plant sensors Fukuyama (Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture) of the first to plant a total of four 3 factories. The company will summarize the new medium-term management plan on the basis of the program, and released in May.

Because of the small LCD screen smartphone business performance for the Chinese downturn, coupled with structural reforms to increase the cost of, Sharp 2014 fiscal year to a loss again a year later. The company has Mizuho Bank and The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ to seek financial support.

Various possible applications of wireless optical communication has slowly emerge

Optics in the semiconductor, electronics, using a wide range of ICT industries, such as optoelectronic semiconductors can be used as LED lights, lighting; Opto Semiconductors CCD, CMOS image sensors do digital cameras, digital surveillance, micro-electromechanical systems do DMD projector; Phototransistor, couplers for automatic control.

Or optical storage, such as Blu-ray Disc BD-chip; or optical communication, such as FTTH FTTH broadband, and optical communications is actually divided into wired and wireless, wireline, such as fiber to the House, that xPON various passive optical network; or large enterprise IT room, storage area network SAN within the data centers used; consumer electronics field, as in the past Sony MD with optical S / PDIF audio transmission line; or in the professional video editing regard, Apple Mac optical version Thunderbolt (referred TBT) transmission line.

Cable transmission of light has been used a lot, but rarely use wireless transmission, especially in the field of consumer end, almost all stay in the IR infrared remote control stage, and then the last few years people began to advocate the visible wireless communications VLC, estimated future a few years there will be a new development.

Why wireless optical communications to start showing off? Because the existing Wi-Fi in 2.4GHz spectrum resources have been squeezed almost to the limit, you want a faster rate, almost all to consider the 5GHz band, IEEE 802.11ac is the case, LTE-U is true, but not the global access 5GHz The band, some countries can not be used, or only partially used, conditional use (not for outdoor use, or may not exceed the number of transmit power).

In addition to 2.4GHz, another global access is available band 60GHz, but because the band is too high, the relevant design are highly difficult, is still developing. Plus LED popularity, people began to consider the use of wireless communication to accelerate the transmission of light in the region.

About this, the most representative of the technology for Li-Fi, has demonstrated over the 2014 CES, the fastest way transmission 150Mbps, two-way down to 110Mbps, in fact only a single antenna 11n Wi-Fi is almost, but the future There greatly enhance the potential of up to 1Gbps, 10Gbps than standard lights and colors currently available to improve the rate of increase, and the other is a channel such as a red LED, green LED is also a channel and so on.

Two other advantages of wireless optical communications, one from electromagnetic interference, although the current flight regulations allow passengers to use electronic products, and medical equipment in hospitals is important to use the room on the plane, are buried in the walls of the copper network in order to avoid interference from mobile phones, but there is still cause interference, in these sensitive sites use optical wireless communication, you can avoid interference.

Another is the power, the drive to pass the signal LED light off, more power than the RF radio frequency signal transmission mode, the handheld device battery power cable, optical wireless transmission would be more favorable. But optical wireless communication has its drawbacks, such as once shading can not receive, such as people walking, can not communicate through the wall, unless the wall can light.

Li-Fi direct vision combined with daylight plate LED bulbs, we can provide in-room wireless Internet HotSpot hot spots, while the phone more than a LED flash and CMOS camera lens, equivalent to already have the ability to close out of one, the future of inter-phone can easily pass information.

In addition to Li-Fi, the Japanese also developed indoor positioning IPS (Indoor Positioning System) with lighting, similar to Bluetooth Low Energy's Beacon indoor location, so you can be more energy-efficient.

Altera added Internet industry alliance to promote global ecosystem of Things

Altera Corporation today announced that the company joined the Internet Industry Alliance (Industrial Internet Consortium, IIC), the industry organization aimed at promoting the development of global collaborative ecosystem of Things (IoT). In particular, Altera and alliance members to work together on the technology roadmap, developing Internet industry, in this intelligent devices and sensor networks, data exchange through different Internet protocols, and enhance the performance of a variety of end-market applications . IoT promise that this intelligent network connection can support companies to develop "smart" new business applications, assets and business optimization, simplification, or automate existing processes.

Dr. Richard Soley, executive director of the Internet Industry Alliance, said: "IIC has been at the forefront of industrial innovation and technological development of IoT We are very pleased to be joining Altera IIC, play to their strengths in FPGA and SoC solutions, and develop a more flexible and secure. IoT systems. "

FPGA support intelligent and flexible acceleration IoT gateway and analysis

Altera's highly customizable FPGA (field programmable gate array) and SoC (system on a chip) product enables designers to bridge a variety of wired and wireless interface standards IoT growing variety of applications safely. FPGA technology also supports data analysis and control functions to accelerate, including data centers as well as local and edge, which is the key to meet the emerging demand for IoT applications.

Altera industrial business unit director David Moore, said: "Altera technology will help IIC seek innovative ways to support the achievement of accelerated intelligent cloud platform and gateway platform, the acquisition and processing of various 'objects' of the input signal from the network edge of these platforms. can significantly benefit from Altera programmable hardware and software capabilities, the flexibility to meet the needs of distributed applications, while providing a cost-effective analysis and security capabilities to accelerate data center and IoT infrastructure. "

Altera FPGA, SoC, and power products have been in RF wireless systems and machine to machine communication networking plays an important role. In addition, the programmable logic is widely used in factory automation and smart grid, supporting high-performance control and analysis functions, to achieve an efficient, safe, secure advanced manufacturing and power systems. FPGA is also used for the next generation of automotive and medical IoT systems, and smart city applications, for example, the use of intelligent lighting and traffic management systems of high performance embedded vision and video analysis capabilities.

The new study was important progress in the two-dimensional semiconductor LED lights cost or drop

The market can buy LED lights, although power consumption is only 6% of incandescent lamps, life of up to 50,000 hours, but tens of times the price, the LED light can not easily walk into ordinary people's homes. Recently, this reporter learned from Nanjing University, the school has made a new type of two-dimensional semiconductor research on important progress, is expected to create a new material, which greatly reduces the cost of production LED lights, the research published online in chemistry and materials science and other top journals "Germany Applied Chemistry ", and by Nature, NanoWerk, new materials and other academic online media coverage of the highlights.

It is understood that the high brightness LED lights, low power consumption, no radiation, non-toxic ingredients, but also in areas not covered by the grid, relying on solar energy can be used. Tension in the earth's resources, serious environmental pollution today, for all of humanity has very important significance. 2014 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to the blue light-emitting diode (LED) inventor of the blue LED R & D biggest difficulty has been overcome.

Institute of Nano-optical materials have Hyperion school director, said, LED basic structure is an electroluminescent semiconductor material chip, the main material used in the production is made of gallium nitride. This is necessary to prepare high-temperature vacuum semiconductor material, expensive, is an important reason for the high price of LED lights, can not be promoted.

In recent years, drawing widespread graphene and other new materials exhibit excellent performance, very suitable, including LED, including information on energy used to manufacture the device. However, these new materials have fatal flaws - metallic or semi-metallic properties, and used in the production of semiconductor material must have properties, how to change the properties of these materials has become difficult to overcome the bottlenecks in the academic material.

Hyperion has said the new material designed for single school arsenic and antimony-ene-ene, only one atom thick, with semiconductor properties. This ultra-thin material stability, superior performance, broad application prospects. Huanan Institute of Materials Chung Yan teacher said, "The new material once used for applications, these devices not only wearable performance leaps and bounds, and will be more slim, the price will be more close to the people."