TSMC confirms plans to make top-end chips in US 

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) founder Morris Chang (張忠謀) yesterday confirmed that the company plans to produce its most advanced 3-nanometer chips in the US as part of the company’s phase 2 plan at its plant in Phoenix, Arizona.The 91-year-old entrepreneur, who has been appointed as Taiwan’s envoy to APEC six times, yesterday morning held a news conference at the Presidential Office Building to discuss his delegation’s accomplishments at this year’s APEC Economic Leaders’ Week in Bangkok, which ended on Saturday.

Source: TSMC confirms plans to make top-end chips in US – Taipei Times

EASii IC announces first silicon for its DVB-S2X satellite Modem ASIC

EASii IC announces its satellite modem ASIC, EZID211 also known as Oxford-2. The Oxford-2 is aimed at the earth-segment satellite communication market. Targeted applications include: internet via satellite user terminals covering GEO, MEO and LEO constellations, aero-mobile, earth observation, cellular backhaul, IP trunking, IOT and many other applications. The Oxford-2 is compliant with the DVB-S2 standard ETSI EN 302 307-2 and implements the latest S2X, adaptive coding and modulation (ACM), Very Low Signal to Noise Ratio (VLSNR) and super frame functionality.

Source: EASii IC announces first silicon for its DVB-S2X satellite Modem ASIC

The cost of America’s ban on Chinese chips 

The advice “dig two graves, before you set out” applies to anyone bent on revenge. An old aphorism is hardly going to divert the US from its mission to restrict Chinese access to its world-beating technology, slowing the progress of its rival towards self-sufficiency in high-performance chips.However, American policymakers are unlikely to have fully appreciated the corollary of splitting the world semiconductor supply chain in two: far higher costs for western manufacturers and their customers.

Source: Lex in-depth: the cost of America’s ban on Chinese chips | Financial Times

U.S. Suppliers Halt Operations at Top Chinese Memory Chip Maker 

China’s memory-chip industry is already facing a shortage of U.S. parts and labor. The Wall Street Journal reports that some of America’s leading chip-equipment manufacturers are pulling workers from China’s largest chip maker because of new restrictions on semiconductor exports.

Source: U.S. Suppliers Halt Operations at Top Chinese Memory Chip Maker | SupplyChainBrain

US chip ban most punitive move yet against China

When Nancy Pelosi traveled to Taiwan in August, it made front-page news around the world and raised the specter of all-out war between the US and China. Early in October, the Biden administration made a far more decisive move against China – but it barely made the news in Australia. Biden decided to unequivocally sever China’s access to high-end computer chips, also known as semiconductors.

Source: US chip ban most punitive move yet against China – Asia Times

U.S. Chip Sanctions ‘Put Temporary Checkmate on China’ 

Based on the Cold War-era Wassenaar Arrangement, including more than 40 nations, the latest U.S. regulations ban exports of Nvidia and AMD GPUs destined for supercomputers in China, as well as sales of chipmaking tools and design software. Brett Simpson (Source: Arete Research) For now, the U.S. export rules have probably stymied the advancement of China’s chip industry, Brett Simpson, senior analyst at Arete Research, told EE Times.

Source: U.S. Chip Sanctions ‘Put Temporary Checkmate on China’ – EE Times

Intel Ignite taps Boston to launch first U.S startup accelerator next month

After graduating close to 100 deep-tech startups from its outposts in Israel and Germany, Intel Corp. is bringing its 12-week accelerator program Intel Ignite to Kendall Square. Tzahi Weisfeld, the Tel Aviv-based general manager of Intel Ignite, said that the ten startups who’ll be in the first Boston batch will be announced in the coming days. Serial entrepreneur Mark Castleman will be managing the hybrid program, slated to start in November.

Source: Intel Ignite taps Boston to launch first U.S startup accelerator next month – Boston Business Journal

The Resurgence of U.S. Semiconductor Fabs 

Leading-edge semiconductor fabs haven’t been built in the U.S. for a while but that’s about to change. Let’s look at how and where those changes will take place. It is certainly worth reviewing such information because these fabs will be driving the matching advanced packaging that will also be installed on shore. If there is anything that IFTLE is sure about it is that the US government now understands that it does us no good to manufacture 5nm chips in the US if we then have to ship them to Asia to get them packaged.

Source: IFTLE 535: The Resurgence of U.S. Semiconductor Fabs – 3D InCites

Examining What’s Behind SiC Market Growth 

Silicon carbide is more than a niche technology, and recent investments by manufacturers across the globe showcase the importance of this emerging semiconductor. With the enactment of the CHIPS and Science Act, a significant portion of funds is dedicated to increase manufacturing for emerging semiconductor technology, including SiC. With this recent boom in utilization, where is SiC heading in the years to come?

Source: Examining What’s Behind SiC Market Growth – EE Times

Demand for Semiconductors Drives Double Digit Sales Growth 

Growing consumer demand for electronics, the surge in the adoption of high-end tech devices and affordable pricing on electronics are all driving a growth in the semiconductor market. Even while the sector continues to grapple with worldwide shortages, it’s posting double-digit sales growth. According to the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA), worldwide sales of semiconductors totaled $152.5 billion during the second quarter of 2022, an increase of 13.3% over the second quarter of 2021 and 0.5% more than the first quarter of 2022. The organization says global sales for the month of June 2022 were $50.8 billion, a decrease of 1.9% compared to the previous month.

Source: Demand for Semiconductors Drives Double Digit Sales Growth | Source Today

The Future Is Bright for LED and General Lighting Technology 

The lighting industry has been evolving at a rapid pace over the last several years, largely due to significant improvements in LED technology, which has positioned it as the go-to technology for traditional lighting fixtures. The growth of global LED usage has been phenomenal, projected to reach 87 percent of all light sources used in 2030, up from less than half in 2019.By virtue of their durability, energy efficiency, versatility and environmentally friendly nature, LEDs are understandably in high demand and have become one of the most ubiquitous electronic components on the market today. With significant advances in LED technology on packages, features, improved efficiencies and manufacturing costs, they have easily surpassed traditional incandescent bulbs and compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) in popularity. As a result, LEDs are expected to change the dynamics of lighting in every sector, including industrial, retail, residential, healthcare and automotive. Certain technology trends are emerging that will create a host of new opportunities in the general LED lighting market.

Source: The Future Is Bright for LED and General Lighting Technology | TTI, Inc.

U.S. officials order Nvidia to halt sales of top AI chips to China 

Sept 1 (Reuters) – Chip designer Nvidia Corp (NVDA.O) said on Wednesday that U.S. officials told it to stop exporting two top computing chips for artificial intelligence work to China, a move that could cripple Chinese firms’ ability to carry out advanced work like image recognition and hamper Nvidia’s business in the country.

Source: U.S. officials order Nvidia to halt sales of top AI chips to China | Reuters