Chips4Light offers 265 nm UV LED for Disinfection

Chips 4 Light extends its UV LED Portfolio and offers a highly effective UV LED in 265 nm for sterilization and disinfection applications. This UV LED developed by Stanley Electric Co., Ltd, proofs in a first scientific study in collaboration with Yamaguchi University in Japan to minimize the germ formation also for viruses such as the Corona SARS CoV-2. Generally, is the emission in this wavelength spectrum suitable for all kinds of surface, air and water disinfection. Further test and studies will be succeeded.

Source: New 265 nm UV LED for Disinfection » Chips4Light

10K/15K Resolution Line Can Image Sensor Enable Inspection Systems Throughput

Premstaetten, Austria (February 11, 2021) — ams (SIX: AMS), a leading worldwide supplier of high-performance sensor solutions, today launches the 4LS series, adding new faster and higher resolution line scan image sensors to its broad family of sensors for machine-vision applications. Use of cameras equipped with 4LS sensors will help operators of the latest smart factories to maintain the highest standards of quality control while increasing the volume of production output.

Source: 4LS – 4LS | ams

The world is dangerously dependent on Taiwan for chips 

As China pushes the world to avoid official dealings with Taiwan, leaders across the globe are realizing just how dependent they have become on the democratic nation.Taiwan is being courted for its capacity to make leading-edge computer chips. That is mostly down to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, the world’s largest foundry and go-to producer of chips for Apple Inc smartphones, artificial intelligence and high-performance computing.

Source: The world is dangerously dependent on Taiwan for chips – Taipei Times

Fearless Chip Forecasts For 2021

It’s been a roller coaster ride in the semiconductor industry. In early 2020, the semiconductor business looked bright, but then the Covid-19 pandemic struck, causing a sudden downturn. By mid-2020, though, the market bounced back, as the stay-at-home economy drove demand for computers, tablets and TVs. The chip market ended on a high note in 2020, but the question is, what’s in store for 2021.

Source: Fearless Chip Forecasts For 2021

CRL Announces Strain Sensor for Curved Mounting Surfaces

Columbia Research Laboratories has introduced a new sensor designed to accurately measure strain on curved mounting surfaces. Series DT3747 sensors are customized to measure circumferential strain around the diameter of the surface to which it is mounted. Featuring the accuracy, ruggedness, and ease of installation found in Columbia’s flight-qualified Series DTD284, DT3747 models are available to compensate materials commonly used in aircraft structural fabrication. Similar devices have been utilized to monitor rocket motor expansion. They can also be used in many industrial and military applications involving pipe expansion measurements, explosive body applications, aircraft surface load, and engine monitoring of all types.

Source: Columbia Research Laboratories, Inc.

Murata Announced Completion of New Raw Ceramic Manufacturing Plant 

Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.’s production subsidiary Okayama Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture) has been expanding its welfare and energy buildings Construction of a new production building was initiated in December 2019 and was just recently completed. A ceremony was held for the new production building on January 20, 2021.

Source: Murata Announced Completion of New Raw Ceramic Manufacturing Plant – Passive Components Blog

ams introduces world’s first AEC-Q102 and ISO 26262 compliant VCSEL flood illuminator 

Premstaetten, Austria (January 11, 2021) — ams (SIX: AMS), a leading worldwide supplier of high performance sensor solutions, today announces the pre-release of the new TARA2000-AUT family of VCSEL (Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser) flood illuminators for automotive applications which are the industry’s first to be qualified to the AEC-Q102 automotive quality standard and the ISO 26262 functional safety standard.

Source: TARA2000-AUT – TARA2000-AUT | ams

Chip shortages hit even as auto chip sales climb 

When COVID-19 caused carmakers to shut down plants around the globe last spring, few envisioned the fourth quarter 2020 jump in sales of cars and auto-related semiconductors.Lately, some North American carmakers are even reporting a chip shortage that has been seen elsewhere around the globe, cutting into their production.  Ford Motor Co. is planning to idle a Louisville, Kentucky, SUV assembly facility for a week because of limited supplies of chips used in displays and transmissions, forcing a temporary layoff of 3,900 workers, according to recent reports, including one from Reuters. Fiat Chrysler is also idling its Brampton facility in Ontario, Canada.

Source: Chip shortages hit even as auto chip sales climb | FierceElectronics

U.S. Takes Strategic Step to Onshore Electronics Manufacturing 

Late last week, the U.S. Congress passed the annual policy law that guides the U.S. Defense Department. Tucked away inside the National Defense Authorization Act of 2021 (NDAA) are provisions that supporters hope will lead to a resurgence in chip manufacturing in the United States. The provisions include authorization for what could be billions of dollars of financial incentives for construction or modernization of facilities “relating to the fabrication, assembly, testing, advanced packaging, or advanced research and development of semiconductors.”

Source: U.S. Takes Strategic Step to Onshore Electronics Manufacturing – IEEE Spectrum

MLCC supply is beginning to tighten

As lead times grow, expect the MLCC market to tighten throughout 2021. By TTI’s vice president of product and supplier marketing, Jeff Ray.After a prolonged lull during 2019 and most of 2020, the supply of MLCCs is beginning to tighten. Lead times are extending across many case sizes and suppliers, both in commercial and automotive-grade components.

Source: MLCC supply is beginning to tighten | Latest Articles News

Global Semiconductor Sales Increase 6% in October; Annual Sales Projected to Increase 5% in 2020 

WASHINGTON—Nov. 3, 2020—The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) today announced worldwide sales of semiconductors reached $39.0 billion for the month of October 2020, an increase of 6.0 percent compared to the October 2019 total of $36.8 billion and 3.1 percent more than the September 2020 total of $37.9 billion. Monthly sales are compiled by the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) organization and represent a three-month moving average. Additionally, a newly released WSTS industry forecast projects annual global sales will increase 5.1 percent in 2020, followed by an increase of 8.4 percent in 2021. Projections for both years are higher than they were in the previous WSTS forecast released in July. SIA represents 98 percent of the U.S. semiconductor industry by revenue and nearly two-thirds of non-U.S. chip firms.

Source: Global Semiconductor Sales Increase 6 Percent Year-to-Year in October; Annual Sales Projected to Increase 5.1 Percent in 2020 – Semiconductor Industry Association

ams announces accurate digital temperature sensor for wearable devices

Premstaetten, Austria (December 2, 2020) — ams (SIX: AMS), a leading worldwide supplier of high performance sensor solutions, today announced the launch of the AS6221, the world’s most accurate digital temperature sensor.The AS6221 achieves measurement accuracy of ±0.09°C, over a temperature range from 20°C to 42°C, making it ideal for the measurement of human body or skin temperature. No competing digital temperature sensor on the market today can achieve accuracy better than ±0.10°C. The digital temperature sensor AS6221 is housed in a WLCSP package with a footprint of just 1.5mm x 1mm, and draws 6µA at an output data rate of 4Hz. Stand-by current is just 0.1µA.

Source: AS6221 temperature sensor – AS6221 temperature sensor | ams