Deeper Eye acquires Korea’s first ‘edge AI semiconductor’ technology patent in China and the US
DeepEye announced on the 28th that its edge AI semiconductor technology was the first in Korea to be patented in the United States and China.
The patents registered this time are: △Chinese patent for a neural network parameter optimization method suitable for hardware implementation, a neural network calculation method and device; △US patent for a neural network parameter optimization method suitable for hardware implementation, a neural network calculation method and device thereof.
This patent is a technology related to the lightweight processing of data between neural processing units (NPUs), and is known to contribute to drastically reducing power consumption between AI data operations. According to DeepEye, an NPU chip that applies this technology can show approximately 100 times the efficiency of AI operations using a graphics processing unit (GPU).
Giga Lane, Full-scale Entry into China’s Power Semiconductor Market
Gigalane, a company specializing in manufacturing semiconductor etching equipment and RF (high frequency) communication components, announced on the 28th that it will establish a subsidiary specializing in semiconductor equipment in Wuxi, China in the second half of this year to target the Chinese power semiconductor market.
According to the company, Gigalane is in the final stage of negotiations with the Wuxi city government regarding benefits related to the establishment of a subsidiary.
Last year, Gigalane had already received Qualification from Korea’s leading SiC (silicon carbide) and GaN (gallium nitride) power semiconductor companies and entered the market stably. Based on this, we completed a one-year mass production evaluation of ICP (inductively coupled plasma) etching equipment for GaN with a Chinese GaN power semiconductor manufacturer, proving our technology and mass production. Starting in the second half of the year, we plan to actively sell etching equipment for power semiconductors to the Chinese market.
Samsung Electronics, Defects Occur at Semiconductor Foundry Plant
It was reported on the 26th that a defect occurred during the semiconductor wafer production process at Samsung Electronics’ domestic foundry division.
According to the business community on this day, it was reported that a defect affecting quality occurred recently at Samsung Electronics’ foundry wafer manufacturing plant, which caused a setback affecting yield. The exact amount of damage has not been confirmed.
It is reported that an accident occurred during the process on the 24th, and the damage was initially estimated to be around 50 wafers. It is said that this scale is classified as a ‘Class D accident’ in the company’s accident response classification. However, it is reported that it is not ‘complete disposal’ as spread in the securities industry. It is reported that the exact condition of the products produced on the production line is being additionally evaluated.
JNTC Successfully Develops TGV Glass Substrate for Semiconductors
J&T, a 3D cover glass specialist, announced on the 26th that it had early developed a glass substrate (TGV) for semiconductors.
According to the company, J&T formalized its entry into the new semiconductor glass substrate (TGV) business through a general shareholders’ meeting last March, and, starting with the success of prototype development, is in the build-up stage for full-scale mass production as of the end of this month. Entered.
The company explained that it decided to build a semiconductor glass substrate (TGV) demo line in the third quarter of this year at its third plant in Vietnam and that orders for key equipment for each process have already been placed. The first round of investment funding for this was also successfully completed with the active participation of excellent institutions.
Iron Device, a mixed-signal SoC semiconductor company, receives preliminary review approval for listing
Iron Devices, a mixed-signal SoC semiconductor company, announced on the 27th that it has received preliminary listing review approval from the Korea Exchange.
Mixed-signal SoC semiconductors are cutting-edge technologies that can process analog, digital, and power signals on a single chip. Iron Device is the only domestic audio system semiconductor company in the smart power amplifier field using this technology, and is positioning itself as a fabless specialized company in system semiconductors.
Founded in 2008, Iron Device was created primarily by personnel from Samsung Electronics System LSI and Fairchild Semiconductor. They have accumulated a wealth of mass production experience in the fields of digital, analog, and power mixed-signal technology, and based on this expertise, they have maintained technological continuity.
TSMC Japan Kumamoto Factory 2 begins construction… Production of 6-nano advanced semiconductors by 2027
Kyodo News reported on the 27th that Taiwan’s TSMC has begun land preparation work for the construction of a second factory in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan.
According to JASM, a subsidiary that operates TSMC’s Kumamoto plant, construction on the site for the second plant began in Kikuyomachi, Kumamoto Prefecture on the 22nd.
The plant is scheduled to begin construction in the second half of this year as originally planned, with operations scheduled for 2027. The second plant is located adjacent to the east of TSMC’s first plant, which opened in February.
Padu to accelerate CXL business through US subsidiary ‘Eum’
Padu, a data center semiconductor company, announced on the 27th that it is accelerating its Compute Express Link (CXL) business by investing an additional KRW 6.3 billion (USD 4.5 million) in its subsidiary eeum.
Eim is a company established by Padu in Silicon Valley, USA in October 2023, and is researching and developing semiconductor products based on CXL, the next-generation data center technology standard.
CXL is a next-generation standard for quickly and efficiently transmitting data between various semiconductors installed in data centers.
Volkswagen Invests 7 Trillion Won in Electric Car Rivian
Volkswagen is investing 7 trillion won in Rivian, a once promising American electric car company that was a rival to Tesla.
Volkswagen announced after the New York stock market closed on the 25th (local time) that it had decided to invest $5 billion (about 7 trillion won) in Rivian by 2026. Volkswagen plans to first invest $1 billion in Rivian to secure a stake, and then invest an additional $4 billion to establish a joint venture with Rivian.
Volkswagen and Rivian said, “The joint venture will be jointly controlled and owned,” and “will develop ‘next-generation’ battery-powered vehicles with advanced software.” Oliver Blume, CEO of Volkswagen, said, “Through cooperation between the two companies, we will be able to provide the best solutions for vehicles faster and cheaper.”
Tesla is staggering… 50% share of the U.S. electric vehicle market likely to fall
Tesla is expected to be pushed out of the 50% market share it has long maintained in the U.S. electric vehicle market.
According to Marklines, which provides automobile sales data, Tesla’s U.S. market sales for the 12 months from June last year to May this year were 618,000 units.
In comparison, other manufacturers’ electric vehicle sales were 597,000 units.
However, this figure is likely to reverse when sales figures for June of this year come out next week. This is because popular new models from competitors such as Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Motors are included.
Did China’s pressure work? EU slightly reduces tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles
The EU has so far imposed a 10% tariff on Chinese electric vehicles. However, on the 12th, the European Commission, the EU’s executive branch, announced a plan to impose additional tariffs of 17.4 to 38.1 percentage points based on the tentative conclusion of an investigation into the subsidy status of Chinese electric vehicles.
At the time, the EU announced that it would impose additional countervailing duties of 21% on average on Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers that responded to the subsidy investigation and 38.1% on all companies that did not cooperate. However, the tariff rate was slightly reduced based on information provided by Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers.
This adjustment will result in additional tariffs of a weighted average of 20.8% for other Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers that cooperated with the survey but were not sampled, and 37.6% for those that did not cooperate.
TI and Delta announce ‘long-term cooperation’ for electric vehicle onboard charging solutions
Texas Instruments (TI) announced on the 28th that it is partnering with power and energy management manufacturer Delta Electronics to develop next-generation electric vehicle onboard charging and power solutions.
This development cooperation will be achieved by combining the research and development capabilities of both companies in power management and power supply at the joint innovation laboratory of TI and Delta Electronics in Pingzhen, Taiwan. Together, TI and Delta Electronics aim to accelerate the realization of safer, faster-charging and more affordable electric vehicles by optimizing power density, performance and size.
The development of the two companies’ next-generation vehicle power solutions consists of three stages.
LG Ensol Temporarily Suspends Construction of ‘ESS Factory’ in the US
According to the industry on the 28th, LG Energy Solutions recently suspended construction of a pouch-type lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery production plant (17GWh per year) for ESS in Queen Creek, Arizona, USA. The medium-to-large cylindrical battery plant (36GWh per year) measuring 4680 (diameter 46mm, height 80mm), which began construction together, is scheduled to be built as scheduled and operate in 2026. The company initially invested 7.2 trillion won, the largest amount for a single factory, and has been building the factory since last April.
However, as the electric vehicle ‘chasm’ (temporary slowdown in demand) became prolonged and battery demand plummeted, the direction of investment changed. As the battery factory operating rate fell, new investment was restricted. Accordingly, the investment amount for the Arizona factory is expected to decrease by about one-third to KRW 4.8 trillion. A company official said, “It is a choice to adjust the planned investment speed and optimize the operation of existing production facilities,” and “The schedule for resuming construction has not been set yet.”
Top Material, US Nanolamic and LFP Cathode Material Supply and Electrode Business MOU
Top Materials, a total solution company for secondary batteries, announced on the 27th that it signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation for the common benefit of both companies with Nanoramic Laboratories (hereinafter Nanoramic), located in Boston, USA.
Nanoramic is a company that possesses Neocarbonix technology, an innovative secondary battery electrode technology. Unlike existing electrode manufacturing processes, the environmentally friendly method that does not use fluorine-based binders and toxic solvents reduces electrode manufacturing costs, increases energy density, and enables rapid charging and discharging.
Nanoramic has attracted investment from GM and has confirmed receipt of subsidies from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and plans to install a large-scale lithium iron phosphate (LFP) electrode manufacturing facility for ESS and other uses in Connecticut.
Enchem promotes new businesses such as NMP recycling and CNT conductive materials
Enchem announced on the 26th that it plans to further diversify its core battery material and business portfolio by expanding its NMP (organic solvent) recycling business and promoting a new CNT (carbon nanotube) conductive material dispersion business.
According to the company, Enchem, which has the largest single electrolyte production facility in North America, is pursuing an aggressive market share (M/S) expansion strategy. Enchem plans to maximize growth momentum by developing a new materials business centered on ‘local production-local supply’ along with electrolyte.
Enchem’s new businesses in North America are the NMP recycling business and the CNT conductive material dispersion business. NMP is the only organic solvent material used in the manufacturing process of cathode material (anode active material) slurry for manufacturing cathode electrode plates. Cathode material slurry is a mixture of NMP, cathode active material, conductive material, and binder.
Anyang City-Autonomous A2Z Co., Ltd. Signs ‘Autonomous Driving Commercialization Business Agreement’
On the 27th, Anyang City signed a ‘business agreement to lead the commercialization of autonomous driving and to demonstrate research and development and technology’ with Autonomous A2Z Co., Ltd. at the Smart City Integration Center.
On this day, 10 people attended the signing ceremony, including Anyang City Vice Mayor Jang Young-geun, a2z CEO Han Ji-hyeong, executives and staff, and officials from relevant departments of Anyang City.
According to Anyang City on the 28th, with this agreement, Anyang City and a2z decided to actively cooperate in research and development and technology demonstration to foster the autonomous driving industry, expansion of autonomous public transportation operation and commercialization, operation of autonomous vehicle pilot operation zone, and related data sharing. .
LG Innotek “Vehicle Sensing Sales Challenge 2 Trillion Won”
LG Innotek announced on the 24th that it recently established a new ‘LiDAR’ business division, a dedicated vehicle sensing solution organization, directly under CEO Hyuk-soo Moon. It was decided to integrate the scattered LiDAR development and business organizations into one, including the Optical Solutions Division and the research organization under the Chief Technology Officer (CTO). This is the first time at LG Innotek that the business organization has been changed to directly report to the CEO. LG Innotek explained that this is a measure to increase the speed from technology development to commercialization.
Lidar is considered a key component for autonomous driving. According to global market research firm Yole Intelligence, the autonomous driving lidar market is expected to grow from $2.1 billion in 2025 to $11.2 billion in 2030.
Sapien Semiconductor Signs Development Agreement for ‘Micro LED Engine’ with Global Customers
Sapien Semiconductor announced on the 27th that it recently signed a contract to develop a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) backplane worth approximately 4.4 billion won with a global micro LED display engine manufacturer.
The complementary metal oxide semiconductor backplane is a solution specialized for micro LED display engines used in wearable devices such as smart glasses. It is preferred for its ultra-small size and ultra-low power.
Sapien Semiconductor is the only company in the world that can produce over 4,000 micro LED display modules on a single 12-inch wafer, while also implementing a pixel size of 3 micrometers (㎛) or less.
LG Display moves headquarters staff to Magok and Paju
According to the industry on the 26th, LG Display recently notified some employees of a plan to move them to Magok Science Park and Paju production lines.
A company official said, “This is a matter of adjusting the work location.” As some employees’ work locations have changed, attention is also being paid to the possibility of relocating the headquarters. LG Display, which is expected to have an annual deficit for two consecutive years, is said to be considering various measures to reduce costs. As a result, there is a possibility that it will leave LG Twin Towers to save on rent.
KPS transfers KRW 14.4 billion stake in subsidiary Battery Solutions to Hana Bank, etc.
KPS, a display equipment and materials company, announced on the 28th that it would transfer 1,102,072 shares of Battery Solutions, a comprehensive battery recycling subsidiary, to 9 companies, including Hana Bank, for approximately KRW 14,499.96 million.
According to the KPS disclosure on this day, the amount of this transfer is 24.75% of last year’s consolidated equity capital. The purpose of the transfer is to dilute the stake for the listing of Battery Solutions and secure investment funds. After the transfer, KPS’s stake will be 77.83%. The transaction price will be paid in full in cash on this day.
Source: kipost.net