Targeting to Become the Industry-Leading Compound Semiconductor Supplier by Strengthening Product Lineups
TOKYO, Japan, October 7, 2010 — Renesas Electronics Corporation (TSE: 6723), a premier supplier of advanced semiconductor solutions, today announced new objectives to strengthen the company's compound semiconductor business, which includes opto devices formed by compound semiconductor such as gallium arsenite (GaAs), and microwave devices. Renesas Electronics plans to: (1) Acquire and retain the global top market shares (Note 1) with photocouplers, RF (radio frequency) switch ICs and other focused products. (2) Launch new gallium nitride (GaN)-based semiconductor products by March 2011.
Renesas Electronics expects the market of compound semiconductors to grow by an average annual growth rate of 8 percent from FY2010 to FY2012, and by achieving these objectives, the company aims to expand its compound semiconductor business by 11 percent, exceeding the market growth rate. The company also plans to increase its compound semiconductor sales in FY2012 by 1.2 times, targeting to become the industry-leading compound semiconductor supplier.
(1) Acquire and maintain the world's #1 market shares with photocouplers, RF switch ICs and other focused products
Renesas Electronics aims to gain the largest shares of photocouplers and optical storage devices (Note 2) and will further expand its worldwide top market shares of RF switch ICs and GaAs low-noise field effect transistors (FETs, Note 3)
Photocouplers
Renesas Electronics plans to accelerate its development of high-temperature operation, low-power and small-sized package to address the rising demand from the “green” markets such as hybrid and electric vehicles, LED lighting systems and electric meters.
The company intends to further expand its sales of photocouplers by combining them with its IGBTs (insulated gate bipolar transistors), suitable for high-voltage and high-current output, and microcontrollers (MCUs) as one kit solution. In particular, the company will strengthen its overseas marketing function by doubling the headcount.
In addition, in anticipation of a rapid rise in demand, Renesas Electronics plans to double its production capacity from that of FY2009 Q4.
Based on these measures, Renesas Electronics is aiming to achieve the world's #1 share in the photocoupler market in FY2011.
RF Switch ICs
For RF switch ICs that enable transmit-receive switching, 3G-GSM-mode switching and antenna switching on electric devices with an RF function such as mobile phones and notebook PCs, Renesas Electronics will adopt a new transistor that offer industry-leading low loss, and will also offer products in small-sized packages.
To be flexible for customers' demands, Renesas Electronics will offer its RF switch IC products equipped in an ultrasmall package or as a bare die. The company also aims to expand its RF switch IC business through collaboration with chipset vendors in the U.S., Europe and Taiwan to provide reference designs for system manufacturers.
By achieving these objectives, Renesas Electronics intends to retain its current worldwide top share in the RF switch IC market.
(2) Launch GaN-based semiconductor products by March 2011
GaN is capable of operating at higher frequency, output power and temperatures compared to the existing semiconductor materials such as silicon (Si) and GaAs, and allows for far higher frequency of operation compared to SiC (silicon carbide), enabling higher breakdown voltage and high-speed operation for high-frequency applications.
Unlike other companies that apply the multi-layered fabrication method on a SiC substrate with a diameter of 3 to 4 inches, Renesas Electronics fabricates a circuit by stacking GaN layers on a Si substrate. This method brings a realization of larger wafers (6-inch wafers) and enables production of semiconductor devices at low-cost.
Renesas Electronics plans to first launch its highly reliable GaN-based products with high functionality for the market of CATV (cable television) amplifiers. Sample shipments of Renesas Electronics' first GaN-based product, a module device for CATV incorporating multiple GaN FETs, condensers and other devices, is scheduled to begin by March 2011.
Renesas Electronics aims to further increase its shares in the market of its focused products such as photocouplers and RF switch ICs, and will expand its compound semiconductor business with the newly developed GaN-based products by cultivating markets that require high power and high frequency, such CATV amplifiers, microwave and millimeter wave devices.
(Note 1) Source: Renesas Electronics.
(Note 2) Visible laser diode, PDIC.
(Note 3) FET (field effect transistor): A transistor structure that is capable of high-speed switching.
About Renesas Electronics Corporation
Renesas Electronics Corporation (TSE: 6723) delivers trusted embedded design innovation with complete semiconductor solutions that enable billions of connected, intelligent devices to enhance the way people work and live. A global leader in microcontrollers, analog, power and SoC products, Renesas provides comprehensive solutions for a broad range of automotive, industrial, infrastructure, and IoT applications that help shape a limitless future. Learn more at renesas.com. Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.
The content in the press release, including, but not limited to, product prices and specifications, is based on the information as of the date indicated on the document, but may be subject to change without prior notice.