Online information source for semiconductor professionals

Chartered Semiconductor has made an investment in Taiwan-based SOCLE Technology Corporation, known for its system-on-chip (SoC) design services using ARM cores and developing ARM-based platforms. Financial terms of the investment were not announced. Read more >>

ASM International has publicly announced that it has received an unsolicited offer for its ALD and PECVD product ranges from Applied Materials who is offering between $400 million and $500 million for the two businesses. Read more >>

Axcelis Technologies has said that it is to start negotiations shortly over the possible sale of the company to Sumitomo Heavy Industries (SHI) and TPG Capital. The parties signed a confidentiality agreement with respect to discussions between the parties and the confidentiality of information to be provided by Axcelis to SHI and TPG. Read more >>

Eyelit has said that SYSTEMA GmbH will now offer consulting services and product sales for Eyelit’s manufacturing software suite of products across Europe as the demand for its products has increased in the region. SYSTEMA is already a trained Eyelit solution provider. Read more >>

Replisaurus Technologies, has acquired S.E.T. SAS to establish a production site for its proprietary ‘ElectroChemical Pattern Replication’ (ECPR) technology, used for TSV and other IC packaging integration schemes. S.E.T. Smart Equipment Technology is the former device bonder division of SUSS MicroTec and is based in France. Read more >>

The Si2 Design-for-Manufacturability Coalition has welcomed Takumi Technology as its newest member. Takumi follows in the footsteps of Intel, Infineon, Mentor Graphics, UMC and STARC, who joined the association in January. Si2 was founded to maintain standards between EDA software tools and manufacturing software and now represents nearly 100 companies in all areas of the silicon supply chain. Read more >>

In joint development work, IMEC and AIXTRON have said that they have successfully deposited crack-free AlGaN/GaN structures onto 200mm Si(111) wafers. This is the first such demonstration, according to the development team. The aim is to reach full fabrication of low-cost GaN power devices for high-efficiency/high-power systems beyond the silicon limits. Read more >>

Nantero is placing its ‘CMOS-friendly’ CNT process modules at SVTC’s two development fabs in the U.S. to allow for wider collaboration with potential licensees of Nantero’s technology and the ultimate aim of full commercialization. Read more >>

First Nano has shipped one of its SiGe CVD systems to CEA Grenoble, France. The CEA will use the system in its Silicon Nanoelectronics Photonics and Structures (SiNaPs) laboratory for aiding research into low-dimensional silicon-based nanostructures. Read more >>

Gartner has tweaked its semiconductor forecasts for 2008 and beyond. The good news is that the first quarter showed seasonal declines rather than a reaction to macro-economic factors, suggesting that IC market conditions have remained stable, according to Gartner. The market research firm has therefore raised projections for 2008 to growth of 4.6 percent compared to its previous forecast of only 3.4 percent growth. Sales will now reach $287 billion in 2008 compared to $278 billion as previously projected. Read more >>