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MAY 12th, 2005
Dragon to Invest Millions in Memory Start Up
Dragon Communication &
Technology Sdn Bhd and O2iC Co. Ltd have announced plans to launch ProSem Technology Sdn Bhd. ProSem will base its chips on
technology developed at O2iC. O2iC has been developing magnetoresisitive memory chip technology, often referred to as MRAMs,
a nonvolatile, high speed memory technology. Specifically, ProSem will base its integrated circuits on McRAM technology, which
integrates non-volatile and volatile memory into the same cell. McRAM based chips are expected to be low-cost, because they
can be built with a standard CMOS semiconductor manufacturing process. Approximately RM 40 million has been allocated to ProSem
over a three-year period, which if all goes to plan, will see ProSem grow to 40 employees. ProSem, incorporated in 2003, is
based in Penang.
APRIL 14th, 2005
Arrowhead Research Corporation (NASDAQ:ARWR)(NASDAQ:ARWRW) has been
issued U.S. patent 6,879,012, entitled, Giant Planar Hall Effect in Epitaxial Ferromagnetic Semiconductor Devices. The patent
covers ferromagnetic semiconductor and magnetic spin technology, known as "spintronics", which is used to store information
as magnetic states instead of charge.
R. Bruce Stewart, President at Arrowhead discussed the significance
of the patent, "This patent covers foundational technology for what we believe will be the next-generation of semiconductor
devices. This patent further strengthens our diversified portfolio of patents in the nanotechnology space. Arrowhead and its
subsidiaries now control 36 issued U.S. patents and have licensed over 240 U.S. and international patents and patent applications."
FEBRUARY 14th, 2005
Cypress Semiconductor Exits MRAM –
Sites Solar Cells
Confirming
a continued trend, Cypress as it announced its planned exit
from the MRAM market, stated that its solar cell business may reach $10 million this quarter. The CEO of Cypress seemed to
suggest that the capital investment for solar was a better bet than the capital intensive investment needed to win the MRAM
market. Cypress commented that it no longer believes that
MRAMs will be a cost-effective alternative to SRAMs, neglecting to mention the DRAM market. The memory chip market, which
varies widely from year-to year, can bring in revenue on a worldwide basis from $14 billion to $30 billion a year. So is the
solar cell market a better risk than the high stakes multi-billion memory chip market? One
has to wonder what the effect will be on NVE Corp., a company that licensed MRAM technology to Cypress.
FEBRUARY 14th, 2005
Micromems
Raises $1.5 Million for MRAM Technology
As
Cypress Semiconductor gets set to abandon its MRAM effort, Micromems has found more money to continue its MRAM development
efforts. The company has reported it raised about $1.5 million from a private
placement of securities. The funding has been planned to further Micromem’s
MRAM development efforts, file patents and keep operations moving.
So
why did Cypress
decide to exit the market. Especially after it just passed significant development hurdles. It’s difficult to say, but
the reason might be a technology breakthrough in any one of the other nonvolatile memory research areas. . In the age of nanotechnology,
all bets are off on the innovative staying innovative for long. Could Cypress’
exit from the MRAM market have anything to do with Ovionics technology license to Elpida or perhaps developments in ferroelectrics
at Ramtron? Will have to wait and see.
FEBRUARY 1, 2005
NVE Announces Cypress MRAM Samples Part of Agreement
NVE reported yesterday
that Cypress Semiconductor MRAM samples were covered as part of its agreement with Cypress.
Cypress Semiconductor’s Jeff Kaszubinski led the MRAM design commercialization effort at Cypress.
JANUARY 31, 2005
Cypress MRAM Samples Pass Initial System House Tests
Cypress Semiconductor through
its subsidiary, Silicon Magnetic Systems presented alpha samples of its 256-Kbit magnetic random access memory (MRAM) device
to seven of its key customers. Two of the customers said the MRAMS were fully functional in initial systems tests.
JANUARY 26th, 2005
Although many investors are now skeptical of NVE Corp and its MRAM technology, the Defense Advanced Research Projects
Agency (DARPA_ apparently isn’t. Its apparent faith in NVE’s experience and lengthy patent portfolio, have led
DARPA to grant a two year contract valued at $520,000. The contract is for the development of next-generation spin-dependent
tunneling junctions (SDTJ). SDTJs are fundamental to the operation of MRAM memory cells, ultra-sensitive sensors and biomagnetic
sensors
JANUARY 20th, 2005
Singulus
Technologies Searching For MRAM Partner
Signulus announced yesterday that it has appointed Lazard Investment
Bank to find a semiconductor partner to form an alliance. Singulus hopes such a partnership will help to commercialize its
products and increase its market share for its Magnetic Random Access Memory (MRAM) thin film coating systems.
BACK TO MAIN MEMORY
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Cypress Semiconductor |
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Freescale Semiconductor |
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Micromem Technologies |
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NVE Corp |
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O2IC |
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