U.S. plans to impose visa restrictions on Chinese high-tech and manufacturing students

The US State Department said on Tuesday (29th) that the Trump administration plans to shorten the validity of certain visas issued to Chinese citizens. The report stated that Trump is trying hard to crack down on Beijing involved in "theft of US intellectual property rights."

The U.S. State Department stated that the visa application process itself will not change. However, according to the new policy, US consular officials may restrict the validity of visas, and do not relax the deadline as much as usual. The relevant changes will take effect on June 11.

The US Department of State did not provide specific details. However, a U.S. official said that according to instructions received by the U.S. Embassy and Consulate, if Chinese graduate students study in the areas of robotics, aviation, and high-tech manufacturing, their visa validity will be limited to one year. According to reports, these areas of research are listed by China as the focus of the "Made in China 2025" program.

In addition, according to the directive, if Chinese citizens serve as researchers or managers in an entity within the special scrutiny list of the US Department of Commerce, they will need special permission from multiple U.S. agencies. The official said that in the visa application, these licenses are expected to take several months.

The report stated that Trump had foreshadowed these changes in the national security strategy document issued in December. The document said that the United States will review and tighten visa procedures to "reduce economic theft by non-traditional intelligence collectors." The document specifically mentions visas that may restrict foreign students from studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Link:Tenco

How important is the sensor to the robot?

Today's robots possess a sensitive figure, amazing intelligence, and fully automated operation. All of these are similar to human body and sensory functions.

The sensor is like a human's sensory organ, and it is the robot's perception of the world. The robot's perception of the external environment such as vision, force, touch, smell, and taste is transmitted by the sensor.

In addition, the sensor can also be used to detect the robot's own working status, as well as the robot's intelligent detection of the external working environment and object status, and can be converted into a device that can use the output signal according to a certain rule. Various sensors are installed in the robot body structure, which will bring them higher sensitivity.

Well, let's imagine: how much damage to the robot will be caused by losing the sensor?

Robot sensors can be divided into internal sensors and external sensors depending on the detection object.

The internal sensor is mainly used to detect the status of the robot's internal systems, such as the position, speed, acceleration temperature, motor speed, motor load, and battery voltage of each joint, and sends the measured information as feedback information to the controller. Closed-loop control.

The external sensor is used to obtain information about the robot's working objects and the external environment. It is an information channel for the robot to interact with the surroundings and is used to perform sensors such as vision, proximity, touch, and force sense, such as distance measurement and sound. , light and so on.

Slide sensors, force sensors, distance sensors, tactile sensors, proximity sensors, speed and acceleration sensors, vision sensors, and acoustic sensors are very important for robots. It is hard to imagine how the robot would exist without them.

Slide sensor

The sliding sensor is mainly a sensor for detecting the degree of slip between the robot and the gripping object. In order to determine an appropriate grip force value when gripping an object, it is necessary to detect the relative sliding of the contact surface in real time, then determine the grip force, and gradually increase the strength without damaging the object. The glide detection function is necessary to achieve a flexible grip of the robot. condition.

Force sensor

The force sensor is a sensor for detecting the interaction force between the robot's own force and the external environmental force. Force sensors are often installed at the joints of robots and indirectly measure the force by detecting the deformation of the elastomer. The force sensor mounted on the joints of the robot often appears in a fixed three-coordinate format, which is conducive to meeting the requirements of the control system.

distance sensor

Distance sensors used in smart mobile robots include laser rangefinders (including measurable angles), sonar sensors, etc. Lidar sensors developed in recent years are currently the more mainstream ones and can be used for robot navigation and obstacle avoidance.

Touch sensor

The tactile sensor is mainly used in a robot to simulate a tactile function. Tactile sensation is an important sensory function when a person is in direct contact with the external environment. Developing a tactile sensor that meets the requirements is one of the key technologies in robot development.

Proximity sensor

The proximity sensor is located between the tactile sensor and the vision sensor, can measure distance and orientation, and can fuse vision and touch sensor information. The proximity sensor can assist the function of the visual system to determine the orientation and shape of the target object and identify the surface shape thereof.

Speed ​​and acceleration sensors

Speed ​​sensors have two types of translational and rotational speeds, but in most cases they are limited to measuring the speed of rotation. Using the derivative of the displacement, especially the photoelectric method, let the light irradiate the rotating disk, detect the rotation frequency and the number of pulses to obtain the rotation angle, and use the disk to make a gap, and distinguish the angular velocity through two photodiodes, ie, the rotation speed. This is the photoelectric pulse speed sensor.

Vision sensor

Machine vision is a system that enables the robot to have a sensing function. It acquires images through visual sensors and analyzes them, allowing the robot to recognize objects, measure and judge instead of human eyes, and achieve positioning and other functions.

Sound sensor

The sound sensor acts as a microphone (microphone). It is used to receive sound waves and show vibrational images of the sound. However, the intensity of noise cannot be measured. Acoustic sensors are mainly used to sense and interpret sound waves in gas (non-contact sensations), liquids or solids (contact sensations).

In order for robots to be as human-like, the robot's five sensory sensors are indispensable. From the perspective of anthropomorphic functions, vision, force, and touch have entered practical stages, but sensory sensors such as auditory, sense of smell, taste, and glide are still under study.

More attention:Tenco

Global telecommunication sets off 5G hegemony, closely arranging by many operators

With the evolution of people's lives and industry intelligence scenarios, the requirements for communication networks are also increasing. For example, in AR augmented reality applications, virtualized information exchange requires a large amount of traffic; unmanned driving is taking heat, and fast communication is needed between vehicles and vehicles, cars and people, vehicles and roads; there are also scenarios such as Internet of things and big data. All need a strong communication standard.

Then, next-generation wireless communications will need to be able to more quickly respond to advanced technology needs such as virtual surgery, driverless, remote-controlled machines. Therefore, 5G has undoubtedly become a necessary basis for these technological innovations, and it is also a future development highland that countries around the world will seize. 5G will likely breed more business opportunities.

T-Mobile merges with Sprint to force next-generation 5G
Not long ago, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce stated that building the next-generation 5G mobile network is the top priority for President Trump’s administration. The United States saw a huge opportunity for 5G communications, and thus promoted the merger of wireless operators Sprint and T-Mobile. Its goal was to help the United States gain more chips in the 5G global market.

According to reports, T-Mobile and Sprint have already reached a merger agreement valued at 26 billion U.S. dollars. As the third and fourth largest wireless operator in the United States, this merger is of great significance and will re-price their wireless product portfolio. The combined company said it will invest US$40 billion over the next three years. This bonus will be used to upgrade the network to accommodate the demand for 5G communications.

The Federal Communications Commission of the United States has already stated in February that it plans to start a new high-frequency spectrum auction later this year to accelerate the development of the next-generation 5G network. U.S. operators have spent billions of dollars to acquire spectrum and have begun to develop and test 5G networks that are expected to be at least 100 times faster than current 4G networks and reduce latency to less than one thousandth of a second.

The merged company will continue to use the name "T-Mobile". T-Mobile's original CEO, John Legere, will serve as CEO of the new company. Tom Hoettges, chairman of Deutsche Telekom's board of directors, will serve as chairman of the board of directors. Softbank CEO Sun Jung will also join the board of directors. After the merger, the company will have more than 120 million users and have a 42% stake in Deutsche Telekom.

Ooredoo Launches World's First Commercial 5G Network
Since 2016, Qorte telecom operator Ooredoo has been actively deploying 5G plans. After completing local 5G trials, it also launched a 5G commercial service trial with Qatar Airways. Ooredoo has launched the world's first commercial 5G network, 5G Supernet, and is expected to implement standards-compliant, on-site 5G NR services in Doha, Qatar.
On May 14th, Ooredoo announced the "First Stage" 5G super network launched in Doha's 3.5GHz band, covering a few miles from Qatar's Pearl Island to Hamad International Airport. Mobile 5G service covers some popular areas. , such as Katara Cultural Village, Sai Wan, and Binhai Road.
With the completion of the operator's infrastructure, 5G services will become a new economic growth point, providing the necessary foundation for a series of innovative scenarios, including driverless cars, smart roads, virtual/augmented reality, and national service UAVs. and many more.

According to reports, Ooredoo has promised to provide so-called client devices (CPEs) and smart phones by June 2019. Client devices refer to fixed 5G hardware, such as computer modems. These devices will remain in the user's home to help connect devices such as mobile phones to 5G networks, but the company may also offer wireless 5G hotspots.

Sprint launches fifth-generation network in the United States

The merger of Sprint and T-Mobile may change the time of the 5G networks launched by the two operators, but before the merger is completed, Sprint is still maintaining its own 5G service plan. Recently, Sprint announced that it will launch 2.5GHz spectrum in New York City, Phoenix, Arizona and Kansas City, Kansas. These markets will experience Sprint's fifth-generation network for the first time in the first half of 2019.
Prior to April 2018, Sprint brought 5G network facilities to Chicago, Dallas, and Los Angeles, and then expanded to Atlanta, Houston, and Washington, DC. This hardware includes, in particular, the Massive MIMO wireless antenna, which allows compatible devices to send and receive data on multiple wireless channels at once, radically increasing the transmission speed.
To prepare for the upgraded network, Sprint began installing thousands of massive MIMO wireless devices in several large cities last month. Before the introduction of 5G services, engineers will need to optimize 4G wireless, and a large number of MIMO devices can support both LTE and 5G.
At the same time, T-Mobile plans to launch 5G services in Dallas, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and New York City early next year. The merger of T-Mobile and Sprintis should incorporate its licensed wireless spectrum as soon as possible, and the unified workforce can achieve the required technology faster. However, from the current point of view, Sprint is still advancing its own plan.

AT&T opens 5G service in more than 100 regions
The battle for fighting in the 5G field has already begun. AT&T, the largest carrier in the United States, plans to provide 5G in 12 cities before the end of this year, and has already launched an accelerated version of LTE in more than 100 locations. This company has a powerful wireless 5G network operator. May defeat Sprint.
The operator has launched a network called 5G Evolution in parts of 117 new markets, and the total number has reached 141. In addition, AT&T also introduced LTE-LAA, an unlicensed spectrum with faster LTE connections, used in parts of Boston, Sacramento, and McAllen, Texas.
AT&T is speeding up its pace of deployment to take full advantage of its enhanced infrastructure and prepare to upgrade to next-generation wireless networks. For example, at Waco, Atlanta, and Dallas, by the end of 2018, they will receive true 5G services and use 5G Evolution.

According to AT&T, 5G Evolution can provide theoretical peak speeds up to 400 Mbps, while LTE-LAA can provide speeds up to 1 Gbps. However, whether or not the speed is true, the experience needs to have devices that can connect them. It is reported that currently supported devices such as Samsung's Galaxy S8, LG V30, and Moto Z2 Force Edition can support 5G Evolution.
Verizon will open 5G in Los Angeles this year
As the second largest operator in the United States, Verizon's layout in 5G is not far behind and promises to launch 5 Gin Sacramento in 2018. Verizon is currently focused on providing fixed 5G services for the home Internet and launching wireless services after six months. However, it is not expected to be able to provide services for 5G mobile devices until the beginning of next year.
Lowell McAdam, chairman and chief executive officer, confirmed that Los Angeles is one of the first cities for residential 5G airlifts, followed by Sacramento and other regions still planning. Verizon was originally designed to bring three to five cities, and the company has now locked four as its first launch.
However, the current 5G technology is still in its initial stage, and the speed may not achieve the desired results. Even if U.S. operators are vigorously deployed, virtually no operators can provide true 5G services before 2019. In addition, devices that support 5G mobile phones or tablets will not appear prematurely.

More news:Tenco

Pass Qualcomm Meets With Chinese Officials This Week: Acquisition of NXP Trading Expected to Be Approved

According to sources, Qualcomm is expected to meet with Chinese anti-monopoly regulators in Beijing this week in order to ensure that its $44 billion acquisition of NXP's transactions is approved through the final move.

The transaction was implicated in the escalation of Sino-US trade frictions. Informed sources said whether the deal was approved depends on the broader bilateral talks between China and the United States. A total of 9 regulatory agencies are required to approve the transaction. At present, only China has not yet approved it.

Qualcomm may meet with Chinese regulators before U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross arrives in Beijing on Saturday. They said that Qualcomm’s team will meet with relevant department officials in Beijing on Friday.

The trade friction between China and the United States released a signal of easing in the near future, so Qualcomm is currently cautiously optimistic about the deal.

Qualcomm has not yet commented on this and NXP has not responded.

It is reported that Qualcomm is currently preparing a new plan submitted to the regulatory agency, the goal is to provide the final guarantee. However, the Chinese market regulator has not yet responded.

Although there is no clear link between the ZTE issue, Sino-U.S. trade friction, and Qualcomm’s approval for the acquisition of NXP, the “perceived link” between the existing negotiation opportunities is not a coincidence.

"The degree of resolution of trade friction between the two sides will obviously have an impact," said one person familiar with the situation.

Qualcomm has restarted the communication procedures that had been terminated at the end of last year in recent weeks. After entering a dead-end alley last year, the company re-submitted an anti-monopoly application in China in April.

Qualcomm president Cristiano Amon attended the big data industry conference in Guizhou, China last week. Earlier this month, Chinese anti-monopoly regulators also approved Qualcomm’s investment in a division of Datang Telecom to design, package, and test smart phone chips, which was announced one year after the joint venture announced.

 

More news:Tenco

AI+VSLAM innovation in visual technology, Rockchip boosts the fourth-generation sweeping robot industry

 Rockchip released four "AI Artificial Sweeping Robots" chip-level solutions to the industry: RK3399, RV1108, RK3326, and RK3308, supporting functions ranging from AI to VSLAM and laser navigation, and comprehensively covering high-end to entry-level robots for sweeping and realizing Rapid mass production, breaking the bottleneck of the traditional industry, and helping to define and upgrade the standards of the fourth-generation AI artificial intelligence scanning robot positioning navigation.

In recent years, the sweeping robot industry has developed rapidly. After three generations of randomized, planned, and navigational development, more manual interventions are still required. The pain points such as interactive methods, intelligent planning, and hardware energy consumption cannot be solved. Rockchip has released four Linux-based systems. The chip-level overall solution helps the industry upgrade and efficiently resolve product pain points.

Among them, the flagship RK3399 chip uses AI + VSLAM positioning navigation technology, RV1108 and RK3326 support VSLAM image visual positioning navigation technology, RK3308 can achieve mainstream laser navigation technology.

【 Flagship Core RK3399, AI+ Image Recognition + VSLAM Positioning Navigation Technology 】

Rockchip released AI+VSLAM positioning and navigation technology based on RK3399 chip, allowing sweeping robot navigation technology to directly enter the fourth generation, truly realizing industry AI artificial intelligence, with image recognition, big data, deep learning, intelligent algorithms, and AI artificial intelligence Perfect integration with sweeping robots.

RK3399 adopting the fourth-generation navigation technology is based on the visual recognition technology and AI algorithm on the CPU/GPU chip, which breaks the limitations of the original VSLAM technology on the light conditions and can be applied not only to the light complexity of weak light, weak texture, and strong light. Indoor scenes can also intelligently identify 100 indoor image objects, classify records, visual distance measurement and obstacle avoidance, and plan the best cleaning path.

In terms of man-machine dialogue and voice interaction, it supports multi-grain arrays and far-field voice control. Sweeping and mopping can all be accomplished through voice control, and binocular vision algorithms can be supported.

[Mainstream Core RV1108, RK3326, RK3308]

RV1108 & RK3326 Features:
VSLAM image visual positioning navigation technology
RK3308 Features: Laser SLAM Positioning Navigation Technology

The RV1108 and RK3326 chip-level total solutions announced this time all have VSLAM image visual positioning and navigation technology. Although these two major navigation technologies have been applied maturely, Rockchip's new solutions have more advantages in hardware performance, and are designed to meet the needs of different customers. Demand, two types of chip schemes make a distinction in the way the VSLAM algorithm is implemented:

RV1108 can support VSLAM algorithm on DSP, built-in 8M ISP, can support 3D camera at the same time, for customers using VSLAM positioning navigation technology, can adapt to more complicated usage scenarios; support MIPI CSI interface, select Camera Sensor module A wider range.

The RK3326 supports the technical implementation of VSLAM algorithm on the CPU/GPU side. The RK3326's GPU adopts the G31 and supports Full profile OpenCL2.0. The VSLAM algorithm can be quickly implemented on the GPU. The CPU+GPU can work together to achieve better performance.

The RK3308 can implement the laser navigation technology of mainstream cleaning robots, using 64-bit Cortex A35 architecture, compared with similar 40nm Cortex A7 program, Rockchip programs are using 28nm technology, higher performance, lower power consumption of new processors, can be effective Solving the problem of chip heating is particularly important for sweeping machines with built-in batteries.

[Summer's fourth-generation sweeping robot Rockwell 5 technical advantages summary]

In terms of technology, Rockchip's four major solutions have the following advantages over traditional sweeping robot solutions:
1, support AI deep learning
2, superior system performance
3, with intelligent voice interactive system, support for voice control
4, targeted system optimization, <2 seconds fast boot
5, customized elastic hardware design, cost-effective

[Innovation! Hardware Elastic Design

Rockchip has a lot of algorithm partners and ODM/OEM customers on the ecology of sweeping robots, covering laser, VSLAM, AI, etc., and can achieve rapid mass production. In response to the different product innovation needs of industry customers, Rockchip has also performed hardware-elastic design of four sweeping robot solutions. In the peripheral materials, RK3399, RV1108, RK3326, RK3308 can provide a more extensive support list for key components such as DDR/WIFI/BT/Camera/Nand Flash/EMMC. For partners, it will greatly increase market competitiveness.

In the rapidly growing industry context, Rockchip's first-release solutions rely on the accumulation of artificial intelligence, image vision, and chip technology and are extremely disruptive compared to traditional products. The combination of new technologies such as IoTand artificial intelligence will enable the white-market market to gain more breakthrough opportunities in limited changes.

Home appliances with embedded smart technologies not only become a market trend, but for the current intelligent transformation and upgrading of home appliances, relying on the user's life scene and business scenarios, creating artificial intelligence solutions for home appliances is a general trend, and will also be more in line with artificial intelligence and things. Internet age features.

Yageo to Acquire Pulse Electronics for US$740 Million

According to reports, Yageo, a leading global supplier of passive components, said that the company will acquire Pulse Electronics, a maker of automotive and heavy-duty electronics components, for US$740 million, which is Yageo’s largest transaction seeking business expansion in the United States and Europe.

The transaction was the second medium-sized bid by Taiwan Electronics in the acquisition of US companies in recent months. In addition, in March this year, Foxconn made a bid of US$866 million for the purchase of computer accessory company Belkin.

On May 22, a Yageo executive stated at a press conference that the acquisition of Pulse Electronics will strengthen Yageo’s position in the automotive electronics market, highlighting the company’s growing concern for new energy vehicles using smart technologies. According to Yageo's official website, the company provides resistors, capacitors, wireless components and soft ferrite products for the consumer, automotive and industrial markets.

After a few years of mediocre performance, Yageo stocks have recently soared, rising 7 times in the past year. In the first quarter of this year, Yageo's revenue increased by 62% year-on-year to a record 11 billion Taiwan dollars (US$368.25 million), while the company’s net profit also hit a record high.

Pulse Electronics also sells products in the wireless and wireline communications markets and in the defense industry. In January this year, the company said it won several key customers last year, including a contract to supply Tesla with products. Pulse Electronics' revenue for 2017 was $315 million, and net profit was $34.6 million.

More attention:Tenco

Xiaomi8th Anniversary Memorabilia Checkpoint: Remember the representative of Xiaomi every year?

May 22 news, xiaomi mobile phone official confirmation, on May 31 in Shenzhen xiaomi new conference, xiaomi8 will officially debut.

The following news reveals some of the answers for everyone. Recently, users broke the news that the two new machines of xiaomi passed the 3C certification of the China Quality Certification Center. Their models are M1805E2A and M1803E1A respectively. Both models are equipped with xiaomi6 charger MDY-08-ES and support 18W fast charging. Performance speculation, the two new machines should correspond to xiaomi7 and xiaomi8.
As for the use of special-shaped Liu Haiping? More advanced face recognition? Under the screen or even half-screen fingerprint recognition technology suspense can only be left to announce the day of the announcement.
Xiaomi8 Anniversary Memorabilia Inventory, Over the years users love these products
On April 6, 2017, on the anniversary of the 7th Anniversary of the xiaomi company's founding, MIUI used a picture on the official Weibo to summarize the events of the past seven years. These include:
On August 16, 2010, MIUI's first closed beta release was announced. From then on, xiaomi was known to users; on August 16, 2011, Xiaomi Mobile Phone 1 was released; in 2012, the first rice flour festival was held, and Xiaomi Mobile Phone 2 was released; Red rice mobile phone release; 2014 red rice Note phone, xiaomi tablet, xiaomi4 mobile phone release; 2015 xiaomiNote officially released; 2016 xiaomi5, xiaomiMax, red rice Pro, xiaomi notebook, xiaomiNote 2, full screen mobile phone xiaomiMix release, xiaomi pay online ; 2017 xiaomi independent research and development of S1 chip released ......
The next big issue I tried to add; April 2017, xiaomi6 mobile phone release, September 2017 xiaomiMix 2 release, March 2018 xiaomiMix 2S release, April 2018, xiaomi6X conference, Lei Jun promised to the user The overall net profit of the entire hardware business, including mobile phones and various ecological chain products, does not exceed 5%. In May 2018, xiaomi formally submitted the application and plans to list in Hong Kong...
In line with xiaomi8 listing preheating, recently xiaomi forum statistics xiaomi users selected calendar year xiaomi representative products, they are: 2011 xiaomi mobile phone 1, 2012 xiaomi mobile phone 2, 2013 xiaomi mobile phone 2S, 2014 xiaomi mobile phone 4, 2015 xiaomiNote, 2016 xiaomiMix, 2017 xiaomi mobile phone 6, 2018 xiaomi mobile phone Mix 2S (tentative).

▲ xiaomi6 becomes 2017 xiaomi representative work (Source:xiaomi forum)

Among them, xiaomi digital series models, xiaomi3, xiaomi5 two mobile phones did not become the representative of the year, the former because of the fatal chip fever problem, the latter is because the full screen concept phone xiaomiMix is ​​too amazing.
8th anniversary of xiaomi8 qualified to become the representative of the user's mind xiaomi it? We will wait and see.

More attention:Tenco

LG shows off 77-inch transparent flexible display

LG Display has shown off its 77-inch transparent flexible OLED display for the first time.

The Ultra High Definition (3840x2160) resolution display, which was successfully developed last June, has 40 percent transmittance and 80R curvature, or can be curved into a circle with an 80mm radius.

The display is being shown at the Society for Information Display (SID) Display Week 2018 tradeshow at Los Angeles Convention Center.

LG Display also showed off 55-inch and 65-inch UHD Crystal Sound OLED (CSO) displays, which emit sound by themselves directly from the panel. The technology was first shown off at CES earlier this year.

The firm has also showed off Quad HD displays 12.3-inches and 16.2-inches in size for automobiles, for the cluster and passenger seat respectively. Another 14.3-inch centre information display has embedded touch support.

LG is leading the charge in OLED innovation, especially in flexible displays.

It showed off a 65-inch 'rollable' OLED display at CES earlier this year. It also showed off an 88-inch, 8K OLED display.

The company is also expanding in automobiles. It launched an OLED lighting brand for cars last December.

Source from:ZDnet
More electronic products:Tenco

YIKESHU NES Case Free Delivery!

Hello everyone, bring a NES case for everyone today.
It has a functional power supply and a RESET button.
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NES case specifically designed for Raspberry Pi 3, 2 and B+, with Functional Power and RESET Button.
This firm design, made out of plastic is held together with the 4 provided bolts
Easy access to the SD-Card and all other ports without opening the case
Inspired by the Nintendo Entertainment System.This case DOES NOT include any Raspberry Pi products.
Notice:1. There are some screws in the case, we want to remind you that screws are not used for NESPI CASE( NESPI CASE is not need these screws , it is used for Raspberry Pi )2.Power supply needs to reach more than 3A, it will not produce low voltage situation.

Now I need your help.
Make a comment for my event.
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Samsung continued to surpass Intel in the first quarter to become the world's largest semiconductor market

According to reports, in the past few years, Samsung's semiconductor business performed exceptionally well. The Korean electronics giant has consistently set new profit records in the past few quarters, with the semiconductor industry making the most of its outstanding performance. In 2017, Samsung replaced Intel as the world's largest chip maker, demonstrating Samsung’s rapid growth in the semiconductor industry.

However, there are also many opinions that Samsung’s performance in sustaining its strong growth may not be sufficient for its staying power. However, from the current point of view, Samsung's momentum does not show any sign of slowing down. Last month, we saw another impressive performance in Samsung's first-quarter earnings report, in which the semiconductor sector continued to make significant contributions. Recently, the market statistics company IC Insights just released the first quarter statistics report also showed Samsung's leading position in chip sales.

According to the results of the report, Samsung’s chip sales in the first quarter of 2018 were US$18.6 billion, surpassing the 23% of Intel’s second-ranked company, which had sales of US$15.8 billion. Samsung's growth rate is as high as 43%, while Intel's growth rate is only 11%. In addition, TSMC, SK Hynix and Micron are ranked three to five respectively.

The report said that Samsung's outstanding performance mainly benefits from the market's demand for DRAM and NAND flash memory. In the first quarter of Samsung's semiconductor sales, the proportion of memory chips reached 83%, higher than 77% last year. Samsung’s competitors, Micron and SK Hynix, also benefited from this market situation, with both companies’ sales increasing by 49%.

Samsung previously stated that it is expected that the demand for the memory chip market will slow down in the next few quarters, which may affect the company's semiconductor business profitability. Therefore, it needs to be remembered that Samsung can gain the first position in the chip market, mainly relying on the strong performance of memory products, rather than the microprocessor chip.

On the other hand, Intel's ability to govern the semiconductor market for up to 20 years is mainly due to the advantages of processor chip products, and the slowdown in the future demand of the memory chip market may help Intel to overtake Samsung to recapture the market. One of the thrones.

What does the LED initial code mean? A high and low level intelligent control LED circuit design

1, A - company name: The company abbreviated name "XM" said.
2. B - Light name: The first letter of the Chinese Pinyin with the first two characters of the ceiling light is indicated by the capital letter "DT";
3, C - luminous color code: LED's luminous colors are mainly red (Red), yellow (Yellow), blue (Blue), green (Green), white (White) these are used "R", " Y", "B", "G", "W" indicate.
4, D - use the lamp model: Currently used for flexible light bar LED is generally 3528 and 5050 two, divided by another "35" and "50" to indicate.
5, E - represents the number of lamp beads per meter of light: There are generally 60PCS/M and 120PCS/M two, respectively, with "06" and "12" to indicate.
6, F - on behalf of waterproof and non-waterproof two: waterproof plus "F" for identification, not waterproof without this one

A, the company code XM.
B, indicates that the product type is high power.
C, appearance shape (substrate) code: E, no heat plate. S, star base plate. R, round substrate. F, square base plate.
D, bracket code: bracket code.
E, wafer specification code: wafer manufacturer and chip code.
F, luminous color: Y yellow, R red, G green, B blue, PW is white, WW warm white.
G, Power: How much is W's lamp, how much to write.
Lens shape: L120°, M140°, K80°, N-lantern, P60, Q90°, X80° funnel-shaped, T without lens.

High-power LED as an illumination source has the advantages of small size, low power consumption, low heat generation, long service life, fast response speed, safe low voltage, good weather resistance, good directionality, and the like. The cover can be made of PC tube, with a high temperature resistance of 135 degrees. , low temperature - 45 degrees
1. Service life: High-power LED lamp life up to 50,000 hours
2. Energy saving: Save more than 80% of electricity compared to high-pressure sodium lamps 3. Green and environmental protection. High-power LED street lamps do not contain lead, mercury and other pollution elements, without any pollution to the environment
4. Security: impact resistance, strong shock resistance, led light in the visible range, no ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) radiation. No filament and glass enclosure, no problem of fragmentation of the traditional lamp, no harm to the human body, no radiation;
5. No high pressure, no dust. Eliminates the decrease in brightness caused by the blackening of the lamp shade due to high-pressure absorption of dust by ordinary street lamps;

6. Without high temperature, the lampshade will not be yellowed. Eliminating the degradation of brightness and shortening of life caused by the yellowing of ordinary street lamps caused by high temperature baking lamps;
8. Start without delay. Led in nanoseconds, power up to normal brightness, without waiting, eliminating the long-term start-up process of traditional LED street lights;
9. No flicker. The pure DC work eliminates the visual fatigue caused by the traditional street lamp stroboflash.
10. No adverse glare. Eliminate the glare, visual fatigue and line-of-sight disturbance caused by the bad glare of ordinary high-power LED street lamps, improve the driving safety and reduce the occurrence of traffic accidents.
11. Flexibility - The exquisiteness of the LED light source enables the LED lamp to adapt to various geometrical dimensions and different space-size decorative lighting requirements, such as point, line, surface, ball, different forms, and even any kind of artistic lighting sculpture ;
12. Pure color - the color produced by the semiconductor PN junction itself, pure, thick; rich colors - three primary colors plus digital technology, can evolve any color;

Level intelligent control LED circuit module design:
Since the invention of the LED more than 30 years ago, its luminous efficiency has steadily increased, and the increase in conversion efficiency has been achieved in both directions. Some high-brightness, high-efficiency LEDs exhibit significant photovoltaic effect, such as HP's HLMP-EG30-NR000 is a red light emitter encapsulated in a transparent housing. The circuit in the figure shows how to use the photovoltaic properties of the LED. When using the same components, this circuit can also work with the old red LED, but the light output is low. The circuit of this design example describes an LED circuit that can be self-controlled and can determine whether it is on or off, in addition to its own characteristics, without any light sensor assistance. When the LED is blocked, it turns on, and when it shines it, it turns off. The main components of the circuit include LED D1 operational amplifier IC1, monostable IC2A, and transistor switch Q1 controlling the current through the LED.

When blocked, the LED does not generate photovoltaic current. When there is moderate light (for example, in an office or laboratory), 50 millivolts to 100 millivolts can be generated on 4.7 M[Omega] load resistors. The comparator op amp IC1 compares the voltage produced by the LED to a threshold reference voltage of about 50 millivolts. Changing the resistance of the resistors R1 and R2 connected to the voltage divider on IC1 pin 2 can change the sensitivity threshold of the circuit.
When the ambient light weakens, the LED produces a lower voltage. When the voltage is below the 50 mV threshold, the output of the op amp goes low, triggering the monostable IC2A. Monostable turns transistor Q1 on for an interval, and the LED emits light for about 3 milliseconds until the monostable output goes low. In a dark room, this cycle repeats at a rate of 200 Hz, and the LED flashes repeatedly with a short period. At high refresh rates, the LEDs appear to glow continuously.
In the daylight state, the current source of the circuit mainly includes the current that drives the reference bias network: 3.6V/162 kΩ=22 mA. In daytime and night mode, the LED consumes several milliamperes of current when it is emitting light. A battery at 1 ampere can supply power to the circuit for several months. Increasing the R1 and R2 values ​​also reduces the current. Because this circuit consumes low current intermittently in a well-lit environment, the lifetime of a 1 ampere-hour lithium battery should be close to its storage life.

Japan's display and China and South Korea's competition have suffered the biggest loss

Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported on May 17th that JDI, a large-scale LCD company, was at a critical juncture in the rebuilding of its business. The company's consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year 2017 (as of March 2018) released on May 15 showed that the final profit and loss was a loss of 247.2 billion yen (a loss of 31.6 billion yen in 2016 fiscal year), making it the worst loss in history. Although the fiscal year 2018 (as of March 2019) is expected to become profitable, the competition between JDI and Chinese and South Korean companies has become increasingly fierce, and the road to reconstruction is still uncertain.

"The company that has become a profitable body through structural reforms", JDI President stressed the significance of the worst losses in history in the press conference held on the 15th. The main reason for the loss was the expansion of structural reforms. The loss of production equipment and inventory loss reached 143.7 billion yen.

However, due to the impact of four consecutive quarterly losses, the net assets that played a buffer role in sustaining losses were reduced to a total of 117 billion yen even after the April increase. The self-owned capital ratio, which shows security, fell to 17.8%.

What's more serious is the ability to earn cash. As major customers Apple iPhone X released in autumn 2017 using organic EL panels, JDI's LCD panel sales decreased. The operating cash flow showing the ability to earn cash from the main business was reduced by 700 million yen in FY2017 (an increase of 112 billion yen in fiscal year 2016). In 2017, the main business failed to make cash, and the capital turnover had to rely on financial institutions such as banks.

It is expected that JDI's sales in fiscal year 2018 will increase by 10-20% year-on-year, and its operating profit margin will be 2-3%. JDI Chief Financial Officer Oshima Takashi said that "the next fiscal year is expected to increase substantially." The company is looking forward to the new iPhone that Apple will release this fall. Due to the expectation that the shipment of LCD models will surpass that of organic EL models (the senior director of UK survey company IHS Markit), there is a voice in the market that “JDI will benefit from this”.

However, the competition between the current JDI and the Chinese panel makers whose technological capabilities are continuously improving is becoming more and more intensified. From January to March, sales to China mobile terminals accounted for 11% of JDI's total sales, which was a year-on-year decline of 18%.

The reason is that the demand for smart phone market in China is decelerating and the competition with Chinese panel makers is becoming increasingly fierce. Due to the "higher profit margin for panels for high-end smart phones in China than for Macs" (a senior analyst at UOB Securities, Nakayama Yasuo), these two factors have caused a huge blow to JDI.

In addition, China-US trade friction has also become a risk. The U.S. Department of Commerce has imposed sanctions on ZTE for prohibiting U.S. companies from trading with ZTE for the next seven years. ZTE smartphones have been forced to stop selling. The arrival of JDI President East indicated that the impact of ZTE’s sanctions on JDI sales amounted to “a few billion yen”. If the U.S. sanctions are extended to other Chinese manufacturers such as Huawei Technologies, the impact on JDI will further expand.

Get rid of the dependence on smart phones

On May 15th, JDI officially announced the personnel adjustment of Vice President Yoshizaki Yoshizaki. The former president of He Xiu Er will serve as a technical advisor. In order to realize the goal of turning profit and loss into profit in the 2018 fiscal year, the company will strengthen the vehicle-oriented business with the new system and get rid of the profit model that relies on smart phones.

Moonsaki will be the third president of JDI since its establishment in 2012 six years ago. JDI's senior personnel has always been in confusion. After the presidential election was announced in March 2017, it was withdrawn again in May, two months later. It should have served as president of the East to serve as the president, while President He Xiu has been re-elected.

Tsuyoshi Kawasaki served as the head of JDI's vehicle department as of March and has played a role in negotiations with European auto parts manufacturers. JDI's vehicle-mounted business such as instrumentation sales exceeded 100 billion yen for the first time in fiscal 2017. According to the British survey company IHS Markit, its global share ranks first.

The business of mobile terminals accounts for 80% of the total sales. The performance of JDI has been dominated by smart phones. In order to consolidate its profitability base, the company urgently needs to expand its in-vehicle operations that provide stable returns.

In addition, the organic EL business has also become a topic. In order to achieve mass production of organic EL panels, JDI has been exploring capital cooperation with Chinese companies, but negotiations on relevant conditions have reached an impasse and the deadline for the original deadline for March 2018 was postponed. The president of the East I.com.com reduced the tone, saying that "the trend of organic EL has changed, and the mass production investment with overseas partners will be judged on the basis of careful observation of the market."

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Multiple factors put pressure on Samsung Electronics shares fell 7 consecutively

According to reports, since the 50:1 stock split, Samsung Electronics' share price has been in a downward trend, which is completely contrary to the market's previous expectations. Before the market generally believed that Samsung Electronics will attract a large number of retail investors after the stock split, and promote its stock price rise.

In the May 15 intraday trading, Samsung Electronics shares fell for the seventh consecutive day, the lowest fell to 49,100 won.

Market analysts said Samsung’s management structure issues and Samsung’s involvement in accounting fraud are one of the factors that contributed to Samsung’s stock price decline, but the market’s negative outlook on the company’s core business is the culprit for the stock’s decline. .

"The second quarter is usually the off-season of the semiconductor industry, so it is difficult for IT companies to drive up share prices during this period," said Kim Byung-yeon, an analyst at investment and securities firm NH Investment & Securities.

According to financial data company FnGuide, the market is now unanimously expecting that the Korean tech giant’s operating profit in the second quarter will be 15.8 trillion won, which is 4.5% lower than the market’s previous forecast in January.

Due to some of the reasons for the decrease in market expectations, foreign investors sold a total of approximately 950,000 shares of the company in the first week after Samsung Electronics opened shares. After the stock split, Samsung Electronics' share price dropped from several million won to 53,000 won.

Some analysts expect Samsung Electronics' share price to rebound in the second half of the year as demand for high-end displays and semiconductors grows. For example, Apple allegedly plans to release the new iPhone in the second half of this year and adopt Samsung's OLED screen.

The South Korean government’s request that Samsung resolve its complex ownership structure also put pressure on the stock.

In a meeting with South Korea’s big corporate group CEO last week, Kim Sang-jo, head of the Korea Fair Trade Commission, criticized Samsung’s current management structure, which allows Samsung’s founding family members to control a handful of Samsung’s subsidiaries. The entire enterprise group.

Kim Sang-jo has been recommending that the Samsung Group establish two holding companies, a financial subsidiary that manages Samsung, and a non-financial subsidiary that includes Samsung Electronics, before serving as the top head of the Korean antitrust agency.

Recently, Kim Sang-jo asked Samsung to establish a new control structure to develop core management decisions and business strategies for its subsidiaries. He said that this allows Samsung to no longer need to set up a controlling entity.

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More and more Swedes are implanting microchips subcutaneously: solving life problems

In recent years, more and more Swedish "technology people" have chosen to implant chips in their skin to facilitate life. Because only a micrometer-sized microchip is needed, you can reduce the trivial things in your life, including taking keys, taking credit cards, and buying train tickets.
According to Singapore’s “Lianhe Zaobao” reported on May 14, from 2015, Sweden and some countries have implanted microchips using Near Field Communication Technology (NFC) in their bodies. Many Swedes who are passionate about new technologies have chosen the latter to worry about the leakage of personal data and the convenience of living. They regard the sharing of personal information as a sign of a transparent society. They actively participated in the use of microchips for the past few years, and there have been particularly few negative comments on the use of chips.
28-year-old Urrika Sekhin is one of the 3,000 Swedes who joined the scheme. She implanted chips on her hands and has a new life experience. Now, when she enters the office, she doesn't have to “punch.” Just wave a hand on the device and press the passcode to open the door. At the same time, the chip in her body not only became an "electronic wallet" but also replaced the gym's access card. She can also buy train tickets through the Internet, register tickets to the chip, and let the inspector scan the chip while on the train.
Swedes have long accepted to pass the identity card number and share personal data with other state administrative agencies. Sweden has always had a good record of personal information sharing. This may have “struck hard” for millions of people in the country, making them more acceptable to implant chips in the human body.
As for whether the chip will cause any security problems, Seh Xin said when interviewed, she did not worry about being monitored or the chip data was stolen by hackers. "I think that modern technology has not yet been able to achieve this, but it is difficult to predict the future, so I can make decisions at any time to take out the chip."
Microbiologist Ben Lilton believes that implanting a chip in the human body poses a certain risk because the chip can cause infection or react with the human immune system. "As the data collected by the chip increases rapidly, if the chip has problems, it will pose even greater risks to people."

From Your Cell Phone to Your Car: Future AI Chips Will Be Everywhere

According to CNET, Google may have foreseen the spread of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in applications, devices, and services, such as identifying a friend's face in a photo and giving a smart speaker a human-like voice. The good news is that the processor industry has also noticed this. This means that we will see a large number of new chips that not only can accelerate AI tasks on mobile phones or laptops, but also can appear on car or home security cameras.

(Figure 1: Google's second-generation TPU AI chip. Google uses artificial intelligence to provide services such as search, translation, and face detection, but its AI chip (ie, TPU, tensor processing unit) runs in the data center. Now, AI chips are expanding into smart phones, personal computers, automobiles, etc.)
This is just the latest progress made by AI. This seemingly all-encompassing term is often referred to as what is known as "machine learning" or "neural network" technology, which is established by simulating the human brain. When you train neural networks with real-world data, it can find spam, transcribe your voice messages into text messages or identify cats and other objects. This has brought dramatic changes to the design of rigid traditional computer programs.
AI will become ubiquitous. For example, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg had testified in Congress for nearly 10 hours and he mentioned many potential AI solutions for dealing with fake accounts and misinformation. At the same time, AI is also a popular vocabulary used by handset makers such as Apple, Samsung and LG.
Linley Gwennap, chief analyst at the chip analysis firm Linley Group, said at the processor conference: "Most new high-end smartphones have AI accelerators, including the Apple iPhone X A11 chip and the Samsung Galaxy S9 Exynos 9810. We have seen As time goes by, AI is gradually being applied to mid-range handsets, and it may continue to flow to low-end handsets over time."
AI chips may not only be used on smart phones, thanks to the startup's custom chip design and efforts from mobile chip giant ARM's Trillium AI project. This means that today's computer intelligence revolution is only just beginning. It can eventually help Amazon and Google's digital assistants expand to new devices, let your car recognize pedestrians and everything around them, make your computer smarter and automatically take photos And editing and so on.
Take a web security camera as an example. It can make your home network and broadband connection a continuous video stream. Gwennap explained: “The camera you really wanted was able to see the scene and then said nothing happened and there was no need to upload a video. When a change happened, it could send an image or a notification.” Gwennap anticipates that the PC can be The relatively powerful main processor runs AI, but as more software uses this technology, they also get AI chips. Adobe Systems software like Photoshop and Premiere Pro has pushed the processor to the limit, and the company has introduced Sensei AI technology to accelerate tasks like photo editing.

(Figure 2: Various sensors will be installed on driverless cars, and chip companies such as Synopsys and GlobalFoundries are expected to sell processors capable of handling all data)
As the driverless technology advances, the car will gain AI brain. The company called Synopsys showed its way at the conference to manage the large amount of data collected from radar, laser radar, cameras and other driverless cars. Synopsys marketing manager Gordon Cooper said: "Apple implanted neural network in iPhone X. Now everyone wants to have neural network function."
Today, smart speakers like Amazon Echo or Google Home are at the forefront of AI, but most of their “brains” rely on web links. Gwennap said that the built-in AI chips allow them to understand your voice commands faster, which is an important improvement, because no one likes to delay when ordering new music or turning the lights off.
In the field of drones, AI will mean more powerful capabilities, such as avoiding obstacles in flight, or tracking a moving object. For example, walk down a ski slope so that you can take action videos to the next level.
For the chip industry that has suffered from the rapid development of Moore’s Law, the addition of AI has brought a fresh air. Today, new laptops may not look much faster than they were five years ago, but with the advent of AI chips, you may have reason to upgrade again.

Qualcomm Says First 5G Smartphones Will Be Launched During the Year

According to foreign media reports, Durga Malladi, senior vice president of Qualcomm, said in an interview that the first batch of 5G smart phones will be launched this year, not 2019.

He said that although most operators and equipment manufacturers plan to launch 5G mobile phones next year, some ambitious players will be the first to introduce 5G-compliant smartphones later this year, offering twice or four times the 4G LTE speed. The data transmission speed of the device.

"Actually, some operators have already launched (pioneering) 5G services, and plan to commercialize them later this year. We will do our best to help them," said Marady.

Right now, operators are determining the speed of support for early 5G devices. Marradi said: "Operators believe that they can support the speed of 1 to 4.5 Gbps, depending on the broadband they use. In addition, operators generally want to start from 2 or 4 Gbps, is the latest 4G LTE technology peak Two to four times, "Qualcomm said earlier, when 5G is not available, LTE will serve as a backup network, providing about 1GB of speed.

The 5G speed is expected to surprise users, especially in downtown areas. Based on tests in cities such as San Francisco, "about 50% of users get a speed of about 1.4GB/sec, which will change the way you do things," said Marady.

He said that when the user's laptop or tablet has such a speed, "your consumption will change significantly." He pointed out that providing such a speed for mobile and portable devices, providing homes for desktops and televisions The engineering challenge of fixing 5G broadband services is simpler.

Qualcomm said in January this year that it plans to display its first 5G mobile phone at the CES Consumer Electronics Show next year. However, due to pressure from operators and equipment manufacturers, this timetable has been advanced several months.

It turned out that the crystal played this role in the circuit!

The full name of Crystal is also called the Crystalz oscillator. It is like the heart of the human body. It is sacred and beautiful and plays a vital part.
The role of the crystal oscillator is to provide the system with a basic clock signal. Usually a system uses a crystal to facilitate the synchronization of the parts. Some communication systems use different crystals for the fundamental frequency and radio frequency, and they keep pace by adjusting the frequency electronically.

The following is the introduction of crystal technology in the circuit for you in Imperial Science and Technology. Crystal generally uses the three-terminal capacitor (Cabitex) AC equivalent oscillator circuit shown in Figure 1a; the actual crystal oscillator AC equivalent circuit is shown in Figure 1b, where Cv is Used to adjust the oscillation frequency, generally using a varactor diode with a different reverse bias voltage to achieve, which is also known as the pressure control for the analysis of the entire tank circuit, the use of Cv to change the frequency is limited: the entire tank capacitance to determine the oscillation frequency After three capacitors C=Cbe, Cce, and Cv are connected in series with Co, they are connected in series with C1. It can be seen that the smaller C1 is, the larger Co is, and the smaller the effect of Cv on the capacitance of the entire tank circuit is. Therefore, the frequency range of "voltage control" is also smaller. In fact, because C1 is small (1E-15 scale), Co cannot be ignored (1E-12 magnitude, a few PF). Therefore, when Cv becomes larger, the effect of reducing the channel frequency becomes smaller and smaller, and when Cv becomes smaller, the effect of increasing the channel frequency becomes larger and larger. On the one hand, this results in nonlinearity in the voltage control characteristics. The larger the voltage control range, the greater the nonlinearity.

On the other hand, the feedback voltage that distributes the oscillation (the voltage on Cbe) is getting smaller and smaller, eventually resulting in stoppage of vibration. Through the schematic of the crystal oscillator, you should have a general understanding of the role of the crystal oscillator and the working process. Using a crystal with a higher number of harmonics, the equivalent capacitance C1 is smaller; therefore, the frequency variation range is smaller. Even if the quartz crystal can play a stable start-up characteristic under extremely harsh environmental conditions, the product itself has excellent heat resistance, vibration resistance, impact resistance and other environmental resistance characteristics, to meet the lead-free soldering and high temperature reflow temperature curve requirements, in full compliance with AEC -Q200 standard.

Chip wars: Tech rivalry underlies US China trade conflict

Chinese and American officials will be trying to defuse tensions pushing the world’s two largest economies toward trade war in meetings beginning Thursday where analysts say chances for a breakthrough seem slim given the two sides’ desperate rivalry in strategic technologies. 

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and other U.S. officials including Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer arrived Thursday for the talks in Beijing. Liu He, President Xi Jinping’s top economic adviser, is heading the Chinese side in the talks.

President Donald Trump said he expected relations with Beijing to remain smooth.

“Our great financial team is in China trying to negotiate a level playing field on trade!” he said on Twitter late Wednesday. “I look forward to being with President Xi in the not too distant future. We will always have a good (great) relationship!”

Overtake western industry leaders in advanced technologies

Regardless of the huge U.S. trade deficit often decried by Trump, Chinese companies are struggling to overtake western industry leaders in advanced technologies, especially for semiconductors, the silicon brains required to run smartphones, connected cars, cloud computing and artificial intelligence.

Under Xi, a program known as “Made in China 2025” aims to make China a tech superpower by advancing development of industries that in addition to semiconductors includes artificial intelligence, pharmaceuticals and electric vehicles. The plan mostly involves subsidizing Chinese firms. But it also requires foreign companies to provide key details about their technology to Chinese partners.

Beijing looks unlikely to cede any ground on that strategic blueprint.

“The Made in China 2025 industrial policy concerns China’s long-term development plan, so the overall direction won’t change at all,” said Yu Miaojie, professor at Peking University’s National School of Development. Yu says China would rather cut the trade deficit by importing high-tech products from the U.S. that are currently tightly restricted.

U.S firms gripe that Chinese policies compel them to share technologies in order to gain market access. Those complaints bely Beijing’s decades-long, still unsuccessful struggle to catch up, especially in the area of semiconductors. Washington’s recent decision to ban Chinese telecom gear maker ZTE from importing U.S. components in a sanctions-related case drove home to Beijing its costly vulnerability to foreign sources for advanced microchips. The Trump administration’s efforts may actually spur China to ramp up efforts to develop its domestic industry as it strives to fulfil Xi’s vision, said Jian-Hong Lin, an analyst at research firm TrendForce.

China determined to realize self-reliance in semiconductor technology

China will be even more determined “to realize self-reliance in semiconductor technology,” he said. The “Made in China 2025” plan calls for domestic producers to supply 70 per cent of the country’s chip demand. China now consumes nearly 60 per cent of the world’s semiconductors but supplies only about 16 per cent, according to PWC. The country spends more than $200 billion a year on foreign-made semiconductors, which in 2015 surpassed crude oil as the country’s biggest import.

Experts say increasingly high technological hurdles and a meagre talent pool are hindering the effort to catch up with dominant U.S., Japanese, South Korean and Taiwanese manufacturers. They say Chinese chipmakers are five years behind their U.S. and Asian rivals when it comes to leading edge chip technology, and have made no progress in recent years. Those advanced chips are highly complex to make because of their increasingly tiny “nodes,” measured in nanometers, that make them faster and more power-efficient.

And even as Chinese researchers and chipmakers strive to catch up, the technology is evolving, with new materials transforming the future landscape of the electronics industry. Larry Kudlow, Trump’s economic adviser, is among those due to join the meetings in Beijing. He has acknowledged it would take time to persuade China to let U.S. companies compete in the Chinese market without being forced to surrender their technological know-how.

Still, Beijing is backing up its towering ambitions in the semiconductor sector with money and tax breaks. The government set up the National Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund in 2014, seeded with 140 billion yuan ($22 billion) in capital to invest in chip companies. A second round of fundraising for as much as 200 billion yuan is underway, Chinese media report. The state-controlled Tsinghua Unigroup project, associated with Tsinghua University _ China’s equivalent of MIT _ emerged as a national champion after buying two Chinese chip design firms, Spreadtrum and RDA Microelectronics in 2013. It’s building two massive memory chip factories, including a $30 billion facility in Nanjing that will churn out 100,000 wafers a month and is expected to exert a “siphon effect,” drawing microchip industry suppliers and experts to the area.

It’s unclear how successful those efforts will be

One of Beijing’s strategies, acquiring overseas chipmaking-related firms, has faced resistance from foreign regulators. Washington has scuppered multiple China-linked bids for semiconductor-related firms _ a trend that began about the same time that a White House advisory panel urged in January last year, before President Donald Trump took office, more protections for the industry because of China’s industrial policies. Market leaders like Samsung and Intel each command about 14 per cent of the global memory chip market, according to Gartner research. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, South Korea’s Hynix, Micron Technology and Qualcomm of the U.S. and Japan’s Toshiba also are major chipmakers.

“Even though they’ve committed a lot of money to the investment fund, the reality has sunk in that it’s harder than just throwing money at the problem. The Samsungs of the world, the TSMCs have a large head start,” said Alexander Wolf, an economist at Aberdeen Standard Investments. “Certain products, you can’t really reverse engineer.”

While some companies like Huawei and ZTE are avidly pursuing advanced semiconductor technology, experts say overall Chinese research and development spending is a fraction of the multibillion-dollar budgets of the big players. That’s one reason Beijing’s success is anything but a given.

“These things are built from thousands of engineers of different disciplines pulling it together,” said Christopher Thomas, a Beijing-based partner at consulting firm McKinsey, who estimates it will take a decade for China’s efforts to result in any meaningful shift. “You’ve got to solve all the complexity to catch up. You can’t just solve one thing.”

____

AP writer Gillian Wong and researcher Yu Bing contributed to this report from Beijing.

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