By Category

The proliferation of 1seg terrestrial digital broadcasting, digital cameras and more has not only made video and still images an integral part of our lives but has also led to growing needs for improved resolution. NEC Electronics, in collaboration with NEC Laboratories, has developed a super-resolution technology capable of sharpening out-of-focus images or smoothing rough edges in low-resolution video and still images when they are enlarged for display. Here we will take a closer look at the secret behind this new technology.

A new ASIC solution that encapsulates a dedicated 32-bit V850E2™ CPU core-based microcontroller and a gate array in a single package has made its debut. This new ASIC not only aids in shortening development time and cost, it also reduces both the number of components and the size of the mounting area. We interviewed members of the Platform for embedded system-in-a-package (PFESiP) development team to get the story behind its development.

Along with the demand for fast and beautiful printing of business documents and pictures taken with digital cameras, there are mounting needs for high-resolution color laser printers in a wide spectrum of areas ranging from business to personal use. NEC Electronics has developed a laser control core (pulse-width modulator, or PWM) for cell-based IC use that is essential to further increasing the speed and definition of printers and copy machines. Here we will introduce the capabilities of this laser control core as well as the advantages of its implementation at the time of printer development.

NEC Electronics has developed a 55-nanometer (nm) cell-based integrated circuit (IC) capable of dramatically reducing power consumption. Utilized in this IC is a low standby power CMOS technology that supports extended battery usage in mobile phones and other portable devices. We asked the developers of the first practical application of high-k gate insulation film to discuss their journey to make ultra-thin high-k a reality.

EMI noise is a source of frustration for many electronics manufacturers. This article introduces NEC Electronics' spread-spectrum clock generator (SSCG) macro for on-chips, which—using the concept of incorporating noise reduction functions into the actual LSI itself—realizes superior characteristics.

A new project got its start when a customer requested that NEC Electronics find a way to equip an ASIC with a V850 core. Even though the differing cultures for microcontroller and ASIC design caused confusion at times, the engineers involved made a tremendous effort and overcame their differences.

In the spring of 2001, as development of the UX6 90nm process reached its climax, NEC Electronics launched the CB-90 Development Promotion Conference to promote the commercialization of new products using 90 nm.

Part 1 of this series describes the challenges process engineers faced during the development of the world's first 90 nm process, the foundation of CB-90 system LSI design.