Intellectual Property
frequency integrated circuit) production techniques, test technology, and electronic design.
One patent was for an electrical contactor used to automatically test RF chips (No.6,437,585). Another patent describes a new amplifier bias adjustment circuit offering improved quality for cable TV signals (No.6,404,284) through maintaining high-output third-order intermodulation distortion performance.
The two remaining patents are for innovations in GaAs semiconductor
manufacturing technology. No.6,415,843 was awarded for a spatula for
separation of a thinned wafer from its mounting. No.6,458,640 was awarded for a GaAs MESFET having a lightly doped drain (LDD) and non-uniform well doping profiles.
UMC has licensed MoSys 1T-SRAM technology for 0.18, 0.15 and 0.13micron, and 90nm standard logic processes. UMC will develop new customised 1T-SRAM cores with process-proven 0.18micron and 0.15micron 1T-SRAM cores to be available customers in Q1 2003, 0.13micron cores in Q2 2003 and 90nm cores in H2 2003.
MoSys has already worked with UMC by offering a range of standard 1T-SRAM memory macros that have been verified on UMCs 0.18micron and 0.15micron standard logic processes.
Semiconductor intellectual property (SIP) provider Virtual Silicon
Technology has introduced products targeted for IBMs 130nm foundry process (8SF). The SIP family includes basic I/O, phase-locked loop (PLL), delay-locked loop (DLL), high-speed interface products and standard cells. The offering includes basic CMOS I/Os that are flip-chip and area-array compatible. Some of the interface IP was developed as a part of an OEM partnership with TriCN.
Virtual Silicons IBM foundry process products are available for license now. Three customers have already used the SIP in SoC esigns aimed at IBMs 130nm process.
Tokyo Electrons Arizona subsidiary (TAZ) has settled claims of
misappropriation of trade secrets and other complaints against two
suppliers of replacement parts in the USA. TAZ is alleging that Discreet Industries stole TAZs designs for replacement parts used in its Eclipse machines. Gilbert Precision Machine settled with TAZ on September 3, 2002, admitting its liability and agreeing to pay a substantial royalty to TAZ on the replacement parts it manufactured for Discreet. Still involved in the case are Discreet Industries, Ovadia Meron, Discreets president, and New Horizon Machine, the sole remaining supplier-defendant.
In addition to Gilbert Precision Machine, another unnamed replacement parts manufacturer also settled potential TAZ claims against it on September 18, 2002. Both Gilbert Precision Machine and the unnamed replacement parts manufacturer are now under court order not to manufacture any parts containing TAZ confidential information "for anyone but TAZ or its express designee".
TAZ has entered into three separate settlements in cases based on dealings with Discreet Industries. TAZ entered the first settlement in the case, with Hummel Machine and Tool Company, on May 29, 2002.
Lam Research has obtained and enforced a preliminary injunction in South Korea restraining Kirim Semitec from selling Lam proprietary electrodes. Lam believes that Kirim was selling electrodes that violated Lams US and Korean patents.