Xilinx has extended its Global Services Division (GSD) to the Asia Pacific region. The main objective of the division is to provide a range of services using its Programmable Logic Device (PLD) solutions.

STMicroelectronics and Texas Instruments have teamed up to define and promote an open standard for wireless application processor interfaces.

A fractal is a repeating pattern of ever smaller branches that gives structures a unique profile.

Combining concepts from electromagnetic radiation research and fibre optics, researchers have created an extreme-ultraviolet, laser-like beam capable of producing tightly-focused light in a region of the electromagnetic spectrum not previously accessible to scientists.

Macronix, Taiwan has announced an agreement with Mitsubishi Electric which covers 0.15 um DINOR Flash technology development, joint design of product and wafer manufacturing.

Agilent has introduced high speed optocouplers, claimed to be capable of transmitting data at a 50 megabaud (MBd) rate, allowing high speed collection and control in industrial automation applications where isolation is required.

The future of nanoelectronics looks promising. Built with nanotubes and various self-assembling molecular structures, this technology may revolutionise the elctronic world by replacing the silicon transistor in approximately ten years.

The success of many advanced technologies that use devices such as sensors and actuators, including gyroscopes and optical devices, depends on microscopic components called microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) devices made of polycrystalline silicon (polysilicon). Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have reported that miniature micron-sized polysilicon laboratory specimens subjected to cyclic tension/compression loading undergo fatigue, and could ultimately fail as a result of damage produced by the compressive cycles, rather than from moisture-assisted stress corrosion cracking.

German company, Cairos Technologies is developing an automated soccer refereeing technology that could result in fewer disagreements over decisions particularly the offside rule.

PhD student Daniel Kehrer has established a new speed record in data transmission with an experimental CMOS semicondutor circuit at Infineon Technologies in Munich.

B&R Enclosures has opened a new head office and manufacturing facility in Brisbane. The 13,000 m2 facility is located at Heathwood in Brisbane's south and will be used for the production of its range of electrical enclosures, data equipment racks and accessories.

Philips has announced a plan for a phased closure of its semiconductor fabrication operation (fab) in Albuquerque, New Mexico at the end of 2003.

The Australian Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association (AEEMA) will be hosting the ninth World Electronics Forum (WEF) in the first week of September 2003. Locations details are yet to be finalised.

Agilent has introduced what is claimed to be the industry's smallest four-port serialiser/deserialiser (SerDes) integrated circuit (IC) designed specifically for fibre channel storage area networking (SAN) equipment used to store and transport data between servers and larger corporate data centres.

It has been reported by the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) that global sales of semiconductors are recovering and are forecast to rise 1.8 % to $141 billion in 2002 and about 20% in each of the next 2 years.