Researchers at the University of Tokyo have used metal germanides at the metal-germanium interface, with suitable surface crystal planes, to improve contact resistance and device performance in germanium transistors. Germanium has high electron and hole mobilities, and has been demonstrated in MISFETs (metal-insulator-semiconductor FETs), but parasitic resistance and off-state leakage at the source-drain inhibit performance. …

Read full article: Germanium transistors show promise again

Two events this week could have significant implications for a global strategy to address climate change. On Wednesday the US voted in a new president and today the Eiffel Tower in Paris turned green, along with public buildings in Marrakesh, New Delhi, Sao Paulo and Adelaide. In a week when governments, including US, China, India and the …

Read full article: Trump, Marrakesh and COP22

Europe ended Q3 with a slight decline in semiconductor sales, but it was only a “technicality”, according to supply chain market watcher, DMASS. The quarter ended with sales of €1.81bn which was a decline of 0.9%, mainly due to different quarter-end reporting by some members. The worrying news for the UK market, where the effect of the Brexit …

Read full article: Electronica: Europe strong in chips, but UK wobbles

Melexis, the automobile IC fabless specialist, is developing a LIDAR chip which is integral to the autonomous car project “We can do that because we have a history of building light sensors,” Françoise Chombar, CEO of Melexis (pictured) told me at Electronica. Chombar is not exactly an autonomous car optimist – seeing it as a …

Read full article: Electronica: Melexis edges towards autonomous cars

The mood was bullish at Electronica for Digi-Key Electronics with the company reporting an almost 15% growth in sales for the UK in the last year.

Read full article: Electronica: Digi-Key boasts post-Brexit success

Fairchild’s first product was made for IBM. “IBM needed a core driver that would tolerate the 85 degree Celsius operating temperature,” recalls Fairchild’s sales boss Tom Bay as recalled in Charlie Sporck’s book SPIN-OFF, “they needed to drive at 150 milliamp, 60 volt capability. We said sure we could do that. I say we, and …

Read full article: Fairchild’s First Product

Silicon doping in GaN-based vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) could reduce complexity and improve blue laser efficiency, claims a team formed between Meijo University Nagoya University. “GaN-based vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers are expected to be adopted in various applications, such as retinal scanning displays, adaptive headlights, and high-speed visible-light communication systems,” said researcher Tetsuya Takeuchi of Meijo …

Read full article: Silicon doping comes to the rescue of vertical cavity GaN lasers

Maxim has designed a high-sides switch that can handle back-EMF from any inductance, regardless how much energy it has stored. MAX14913 includes eight of the switches, which can operate loads at up to 24V (36Vmax) and 500mA. “Designers of industrial controllers can safely drive and demagnetise any inductive load for Industry 4.0 applications,” claimed the …

Read full article: Octal high-side switch shrugs-off any inductance

Digi was showing off its newly released ConnectCore for i.MX6UL module at Electronica. It is designed to support the rapid development of smart and secure connected devices.

Read full article: Electronica: Digi demos its secure ConnectCore for i.MX6UL Starter Kit

At Strategies in Light, a session will be devoted to the topic “Non-Visual Effects of Lighting: Status of Knowledge” and features speaker Mariana Figueiro, who provides key points here on health and circadian lighting.