News - Archive 2002

Press Release

ROHM Expands its Blue LED Lineup
New 7-Segment Blue Series

ROHM Co., Ltd. has completed development of a series of blue LED numerical display devices for use in a variety of applications.

ROHM's blue LED numerical displays come in four models and all have a peak emission wavelength of 470nm: the LA-301BB/BL with a character size of 8mm, the 10.16mm LA-401BD/BN, and the 14.6mm LA-601BB/BL. These three models are single-digit displays. The fourth model, LB-602BA/BK2, is a two-digit display. Samples will be available in December 2002 (sample price: ¥500/unit) while the initial mass production of 100,000 units/month is scheduled to begin in January 2003.

Alphanumeric LED displays have proven to be the most effective components in a variety of applications from game machines to industrial equipment, test and measuring machines, home appliances, parking meters, and ticket and vending machines to name a few. In certain applications such as gaming equipment, the demand for LED colors other than red, orange, yellow, and green has been rapidly increasing. Part of the reason for this demand is the necessity for the visual impact to be equal to that of the graphic and video content of the games. Some of the other applications require a more refined, sophisticated image, or in some instances it is important that colors are easily distinguishable. While fulfilling these requirements and complementing red and green LEDs, blue LEDs also expand the array of colors.

In order to meet customer's needs and to include blue LEDs in the product portfolio, ROHM has made modifications to its current manufacturing line of standard LED lamps and chip LEDs. One major manufacturing modification in developing blue LED display devices was the overhaul of the plastic package used to incase the blue LED elements. In comparison to red or green LEDs, blue LEDs generate higher levels of heat and form short wavelengths (including ultraviolet). These higher heat levels would cause conventional plastic packaging to melt and the ultra violet components would turn the packaging yellow. To resolve this problem, ROHM optimized the production of the plastic material for the new product to achieve higher durability by improving resistance to heat as well as ultraviolet rays.

An additional important characteristic is the need for a protector diode has been eliminated. In spite of higher levels of heat in the blue LEDs, the package does not require a protector diode thanks to its resistance of up to 1000V as well as its strong resistance to static electricity. This feature contributes to the ease of handling and the reduction of labor required for production, and since the package dimensions have not changed, switching over to the new blue will not pose any problem in design, cost or layout.

The Availability of blue in ROHM's LED line up, complementing conventional red, orange, yellow, and green LEDs offers a broader selection to customers. It gives freedom to the designer, for example, to incorporate a blue display in a refrigerator application and a red LED in a microwave oven.

The main features of the newly developed blue LED numerical display devices include:

1) Blue light emission thanks to use of blue LED elements
2) 4 models available: character height 8mm (one-digit display), 10.16mm (one-digit display),
and 14.6mm (one-digit display /two-digit display)
3) Peak wavelength of 470nm available (a lineup at 430nm is under consideration)

ROHM has always provided unique products and solutions to the market. Experience in compound semiconductor technology and surface mount packaging techniques in optical semiconductors have been the prerequisites to these solutions. Constant pursuit of new technologies will maintain ROHM's leading position in the market.

Press Release

ROHM Expands Lineup of Image Sensor Heads
for Multi-function Printers

ROHM CO., LTD. has recently completed work on three new flathead-type image sensor heads for multi-function printers-the 600dpi IA6008-FA10 (for normal printing), the IA6008-FB10 (for high-speed printing), and the 1200dpi IA1208-FA10 (for high-speed, high-resolution printing) -thereby expanding its lineup to cover all low, medium, and high-speed multi-function printers.

Samples of the IA6008-FA10 and IA6008-FB10 sensor heads will ship September 2002, with mass production of 200,000 units per month starting December 2002. IA1208-FA10 samples will ship December 2002, with mass production of 100,000 units per month starting June 2003.

In recent years, the multi-function printer market has shown annual growth rates in the vicinity of 20%. Forecasts project annual production at around 30 million units, as the multi-function printer market absorbs the shift away from the fax, printer, and scanner markets, A major factor in this rapid growth has been due to the rising popularity of digital still cameras, which allow images to be sent via e-mail without ever resorting to ordinary paper printing. As a result, the ease with which SOHO and general household users can manipulate photographs has increased scanning and printing needs.

-Another factor contributing to the rapid growth of the multifunction printer market is the desire by set manufacturers, compelled by rapidly dropping prices, to set their inkjet and laser printers apart by defining them as "multi-functional." This situation has created a niche for multi-function printers as input/output devices which deliver valuable space savings in typically small SOHO and general household environments.

For these new multi-function printers, a new sensor IC has been developed specifically for high-speed image reading and processing applications. In order to ensure full compatibility with flathead-type sensors ROHM uses optical simulation; and, lenses with outstanding focus depth characteristics to optimize the newly developed prism and LED illuminant.

This has made it possible to nearly double illumination efficiency (conventionally 40%) to 75%, thereby securing sufficient brightness in the practical scanning depth (2mm) illumination depth characteristics that express output changes when the original floats. Compared with the CCD type, CIS has simpler and more compact optics and the set is more compact and easier to assemble, making it ideal for users who need to save space.

In summary, major features include:
(1) Use of new sensor ICs suited for a variety of different applications for a complete lineup.

(2) Nearly double the illumination efficiency of conventional types thanks to use of a newly developed prism.

(3) Very thin dimensions - 234 ´ 20 ´ 9 (mm)

(4) Scanning speeds:
IA6008-FA10: 3ms/line (b/w), 9ms/line (color)
IA6008-FB10: 1ms/line (b/w), 3ms/line (color)
IA1208-FA10: 1ms/line (b/w), 3ms/line (color)

In the future, ROHM CO., LTD. will continue to answer market demand through application of its LSI and optical device technologies acquired through years of experience in the field.

Press Release

The World's Highest Speed and Low Power Consumption!
ROHM Develops Low-voltage Thermal Print Head for Mobile Terminals

ROHM CO., LTD. recently developed the KF2002-GP30A, which is a 2-inch-sized thermal print head for mobile EFT-POS (Electronic Fund Transfer-Point of Sales) terminals. A low-voltage-driven model of this new product operates at 7.2 V, achieves the world's highest printing speed withlow power consumption, and high-definition quality printing.

Shipment of samples began in July 2002 (sample price: 3,000 yen/unit). The mass production of 100,000 units per month is scheduled to begin in September 2002. 300,000 units per month or more is expected to be manufactured in the future.

Because a usual EFT-POS terminal that handles credit cards will print out receipts in duplicate, one for the customer and one for the stores' record, there is a need for improvement in the speed of printing There is also the need for (1) a decrease in the number of times a battery must be replaced and (2) a reduction in power consumption from mobile terminals such as terminals used for utility meter inspection (water, gas, etc.) and warehouse management.

The heat concentration of the heating elements must be increased in order to satisfy these market requirements for high speed, low power consumption, and high-definition printing. Conventional heating elements, however, present a problem of heat resistance.

ROHM succeeded in improving the heat concentration of the heating element. This was achieved by developing a heating element (printer head) of unique structure (double-fine structure) with smaller exothermic dots, and introducing new heating element materials that withstand higher pressures.

Furthermore, by adopting high-function driver IC chips, ROHM succeeded in functional improvement while halving the number of IC chips applied, which increases efficiency in production. Therefore, ROHM will be able to support the mobile terminal market that is growing at a surprisingly high ratio of 15% to 20% annually, while responding promptly to allsharp increases in production in the future.

Conventional printing speed is 50 mm per second. The new thermal printhead will print equally as well at twice the speed, 100 mm per second, which is the world's highest speed achieved by a low-voltage-driven model. At this speed, there is almost no waiting time. Therefore, the KF2002-GP30A is ideal for increaseing in the printing speed of mobile terminals including EFT-POS terminals that are used daily by a large number of customers.

As for power saving, the KF2002-GP30A performs the world's highest print efficiency with an energy reduction ratio of approximately 16% compared with conventional products printing at the same density. (See attached sheet. When the OD (Optical Density) value indicating the printing darkness is 1.2, energy supply to the conventional product was 0.198 mJ/dot while energy supply to the new product is 0.165 mJ/dot, which means 16% improvement in print efficiency is achieved.) As a result, battery life is prolonged by approximately 20%, which saves power consumption including a reduction in the number of times a battery must be replaced.

The new product has the following features:
1) The low-voltage-driven model (operating at 7.2 V) ensures the world's highest printing
speed (100 mm per second or higher).
2) Achieves power saving (approximately 20% of the battery life is prolonged) with improvement in 16% print efficiency compared with conventional products.
3) Realization of high-definition printing at the world's highest level
4) Compatible in appearance and pin arrangement with ROHM's conventional KF2002-GP20A (2 inches in size)

ROHM will continue the fulfillment of the product lineup of thermal print heads by making use of its accumulated LSI circuit technology and device technology, capturing the trend of the market promptly, and responding to a variety of needs such as high-speed printing, color printing, and energy-saving printing.

Product Photograph
< KF2002-GP30A Thermal print head for EFT-POS terminals>

Press Release

ROHM Develops Silent Disc Driver for CD-ROM/RW and DVD-ROM Combo Drives
-Improved Low-noise and Low-vibration Driver Series-

ROHM CO., LTD. recently developed the BD7905BFS, a silent disc driver IC that achieves low-noise and low-vibration levels. This IC is designed for CD-ROM/RW and DVD-ROM disc drives of half-height models used for desktop personal computers.

The IC incorporates six drivers, i.e., a 3-phase PWM spindle motor driver making use of ROHM's original innovative PWM driving circuits for quiet operation, a BTL-driven focusing actuator driver, a tracking actuator driver, a tray motor driver, and two PWM feed motor drivers.

Samples started being shipped out in July 2002 (sample price: 1,000 yen/unit). The mass production of 3,000,000 units per month is scheduled to begin in September 2002.

As the speed of optical disc drives has been increasing recently, there has been an increasing need for the elimination of noise and vibrations generated from these audio sets.

In response to the demand, ROHM has been expanding a series of CD-ROM/RW and DVD-ROM disc drives which employ an unique noise elimination technology. ROHM has already developed two half-height driver models of single spindle construction and a slim driver model, along with a half-height disc drive model of complex one-chip construction and five slim drive models.

The BD7905BFS silent driver IC newly developed by ROHM is for CD-ROM and DVD combo drives used for desktop personal computers. This driver IC uses an innovative PWM driving system incorporating 180-degree application of power. This system sharply reduces noise and vibration generated from the motor by suppressing abrupt changes in the motor driving current. Compared with conventional drivers, the new system achieves a 12-dB reduction in noise level during disc activation and regenerative braking.

The thermal design of the one-chip IC poses a significant problem in that it effects the permissible heat dissipation (i.e., package power) and peripheral circuits of the IC. ROHM's BD7905BFS uses power MOSFETs with low on-state resistance (0.85 W typical) to cut loss at the output stage. Heat reduction achieved in this way and use of the SSOP-A54 package (surface mount power package) contribute to the continued miniaturization and energy-saving design of electronic products.

The newly developed 6-channel BD7905BFS silent driver IC has the following main features:
1) A one-chip IC incorporating six drivers, i.e., a spindle motor driver, focusing actuator driver, tracking actuator driver, tray motor driver for loading, and two feed motor drivers.
2) Incorporates two-line control terminals that allow the ON/OFF switching of each driver, spindle gain selection, brake mode selection, and standby mode selection.
3) Employs a heat-resistant SSOP-A54 package.
4) Incorporates a T.S.D. (thermal shutdown) circuit.

< Spindle Motor Driver Block>
5) 180-degree PWM drive control ensures low-noise and low-vibration levels.
6) A highly efficient drive ensured by a PWM drive and a low-ON resistance power MOSFET
7) Incorporates current limit, hole bias, short brake, FG 3-phase output, gain selection, and reverse rotation prevention circuits.

< Slide Motor Driver Block>
8) A highly efficient PWM drive
9) Incorporates two channels applicable to stepping motor driving.

< Actuator and Tray Motor Driver Block>
10)A linear BTL drive with minimal noise generation

ROHM is strengthening its lineup by applying silent disc drive technology to other disc drivers, while rapidly expanding customized driver ICs that will support each set of manufacturers' drivers.

Glossary
PWM: Pulse Width Modulation
PWM is a pulse modulation system in which the width of pulses of a fixed period and fixed amplitude is varied according to the amplitude of the modulating signal. Pulse widths are extended and shortened for large and small signal amplitudes, respectively.

Press Release

Industry's Best Anti-Noise Characteristics at 3 Volts ROHM Develops Low Power Remote Control Receiver

ROHM CO., LTD. has recently completed work on development of the RPM7200 series of remote control receiver modules for all types of remote controls that work with indoor electrical appliances.

With the aim of complying with the Law Concerning the Rational Use of Energy, this series has been developed to address the needs of set makers switching to 3-volt designs for low power consumption sets. These modules have the same characteristics as 5-volt modules, which until now has been impossible to achieve. With a top view type available in addition to the two conventional side view types, the packaging has also been designed to allow for a smooth transition from 5-volt designs.

Samples will start being shipped out in June 2002 (sample price: 100 yen / unit) with mass production of one million units per month scheduled to begin in autumn.

While remote control receiver modules used in remote controls for TVs, air conditioners, and other appliances have for the most part employed a 5-volt design in the past, microcontroller for set backup power have begun employing 3-volt designs, which means that 5-volt designs cannot be used for the remote control. In order to comply with the Law Concerning the Rational Use of Energy, set makers need to lower power consumption and minimize standby power, hence the development 3-volt design. Compared with 5-volt modules, however, 3-volt modules have the limitation of being susceptible to light and power noise, which has created a need for a 3-volt design with improved noise resistance to allow set makers to switch over from 5-volt designs.

To do this, ROHM has succeeded in reducing power consumption to 1/5 of conventional modules by redesigning the modules using an optimized BiCMOS process. The sensitivity of the remote control receiver almost never drops from the effects of power noise, an increase of which must be taken into consideration with the higher packaging density on the substrate inside the set, also, thanks to the use of a proprietary noise-canceling circuit, the module demonstrates around twice the performance of conventional modules even when noise in the vicinity of the carrier frequency which is most easily affected is overlaid on the power. Thanks to ROHM's proprietary band-pass filter (BPF) circuit technology which is compatible with low voltage operation, ROHM has succeeded in improving performance nearly 1.5 times against the effects of inverter fluorescent lights.

Features:
1) Low voltage operation (Vcc=2.7 ~ 3.6V)

2) Less than 1/5 of the power consumption of conventional types (Icc=0.3mA when Vcc=3V)

3) Noise resistance improved 1.5 times by using band pass filter (BPF) low voltage operation

4) Achieves around twice the noise margin thanks to an internal design with outstanding power noise resistance characteristics

5) Available with a variety of holders

In order to address the needs for low power consumption and low voltage operation, Rohm will continue to use its system technology to develop new products and technologies that contribute to protection of the environment and prevention of global warming.

Glossary
1) Law Concerning the Rational Use of Energy

This law was passed in 1979 with the goal of promoting efficient use of fuel resources. A revision was introduced in April 1999 to strengthen the law due to the need to more vigorously promote the conservation of energy usage.

2) Band Pass Filter (BPF)

A filter which only allows certain frequencies to pass.

Press Release

ROHM Develops Sensor Chipset with World's Highest Power and Sensitivity among Its Types Supporting Reflow Soldering

ROHM Co., Ltd. has recently developed a sensor chipset (infrared light emitting diode: SIM-012ST; phototransistor: RPM-012PB) with the world's highest power and sensitivity among its types supporting reflow soldering.
The newly developed sensor chipset consists of an infrared light emitting diode as a light emitting element and a phototransistor as a light receiving element, each achieving extraordinarily high power and sensitivity compared with conventional products. Moreover, mounted in an ultra-compact surface-mount package supporting reflow soldering, the sensor chipset offers various advantages in such applications as touch panels, remote control, CD and other disc media detection and paper passage detection for fax machines and printers.

Samples of the new sensor chipset are scheduled to begin shipping in February 2002 (sample price: 200 yen/unit) with mass production of 3million units per month expected to commence in April 2002.

The sensor chipset newly developed by ROHM is comprised of an infrared light emitting diode with a radiant intensity of 2.8 mW/sr Typ., delivering approximately seven times the power of conventional types (0.4 mW/sr Typ.), and a phototransistor with a light reception power of 1.6 mA, providing approximately four times the sensitivity of conventional types (0.4 mA). These two chips, each demonstrating their own excellent power and sensitivity characteristics when used separately, offer further upgraded characteristics when used in combination.

The high power and sensitivity of this chipset offer a number of advantages in a variety of applications. These include not only the improvement in infrared ray transmission distance, which is a basic characteristic of sensors, and the capability of receiving weak light enabled by the improved sensor sensitivity, but also power saving and simplification of lenses and mechanism elements achievable by the high power and sensitivity characteristics.

Conventional sensors with high power and sensitivity characteristics have been available only with insertion type packages with leads. ROHM has succeeded in developing the SIM-012ST and RPM-012PB chips, both mounted in packages that support reflow soldering. This enables the mounting process, which, for conventional products, requires dip-soldering or manual soldering onto boards, to be upgraded to include automated mounting and automated reflow soldering.

One of the most promising applications is in touch panels. Many of conventional optical touch panels use sensor chipsets of the types with leads. The newly developed surface mount chipset achieves a low profile of 2 mm, a more than 50% reduction from conventional products with a height of 4.7 mm, and is therefore capable of meeting the needs of electronic products that are increasingly requiring ultra-low profile design.

Moreover, unlike resistance and electrostatic types of touch panels, which require a strong, direct touch on the screen to operate, the new sensor chipset is of an optical type, which can be operated with only a light touch. This feature contributes to the applications in locations requiring adequate safety or highly public places, such as touch sensors for car navigation systems, usually operated during driving, and touch sensors for ticket-vending machines at stations used by an unspecified number of the general public.

Photointerrupters and mechanical switches have been widely used for disc media and paper passage detection in such machines as typified by CD changers and printers. Due to their structural features, however, detectable sizes are limited. The use of ROHM's new sensor chipset can provide separate boards for light emitting and light receiving, allowing sufficient space for increased design freedom, and thus enabling detection of objects of various sizes.
The newly developed sensor chipset, operated with little electric power, also offers totally innovative applications, including the use of simplified optical communications for exchange of signals between boards to eliminate harnesses used for connecting boards in electronic products.

Features of the newly developed high power, high sensitivity sensor chipset include:
1) High power: Approximately seven times the power of conventional types (Radiant intensity: 2.8 mW/sr Typ.) (Infrared light emitting diode: SIM-012ST)
2) High sensitivity: Approximately four times the sensitivity of conventional types (Light reception power: 1.6 mA) (Phototransistor: RPM-012PB)
3) Ultra-compact surface-mount package (3 mm ´ 3 mm´ 2 mm): Smallest among the high power, high sensitivity class packages
4) Highest moisture resistance in its class

In the field of optical semiconductor devices including sensors, ROHM has developed and placed on the market ahead of all competitors a number of distinctive products that respond to market needs, making full use of its original compound semiconductor and surface-mount package technologies. It intends to promote the development of pioneering and innovative technologies and products, thus contributing to society as an optical semiconductor manufacturer with an excellent customer-satisfaction rating.

<Glossary>
Radiant intensity: Amount of energy per unit solid angle specified by JIS; value obtained by dividing radiation flux radiated from point source into solid angle in a certain direction by that solid angle.

Press Release

Industry's First Single-Chip, 6-Channel CD Drivers for Car CD Changers
-ROHM's Single-Chip Solution Making Use of Low On-State Resistance Power MOSFETs-

ROHM CO., LTD., has developed and commenced mass production of the BD7960FM, BD7961FM and BD7962FM single-chip, 6-channel CD drivers for car CD changers.
These ICs are the industry's first to employ linear driving power MOSFETs as loading drivers (for loading and elevator mechanisms) for CD trays. Each model incorporates six channels of drivers required for CD changers in a single chip, including a power MOSFET driver and BTL drivers for the spindle motor, sled motor, optical pickup focus and tracking actuator.

Each model is configured to allow our customers to choose the most suitable drivers for their products as follows:

BD7960FM: 2-channel power MOSFET driver and 4-channel BTL driver with a pre-stage operational amplifier
BD7961FM: 2-channel power MOSFET driver and 4-channel BTL driver; also contains a 3.5 V/5.0 V regulator
BD7962FM: 2-channel power MOSFET driver for loading, 1-channel bipolar driver, and 3-channel BTL driver with a pre-stage operational amplifier
With mass production commencing at the end of 2001, these three models have been manufactured on a scale of one million units per month since the beginning of this year.

Unlike general audio CD changers, car CD changers load and select discs at a high speed and therefore require high-power drivers. Conventional loading drivers using bipolar transistors cause great power dissipation and heat generation, making it difficult for them to be integrated into a single chip with other drivers.

ROHM is the first in the industry to employ low-power-dissipation power MOSFETs as loading drivers, with the objective of achieving a single-chip design. The power MOSFETs with a low on-state resistance of 1 W (total on-state resistance of upper and lower transistors) can produce a wide dynamic range (high power) at a low power supply voltage, reducing greatly the heat generated by the whole IC and thereby enabling the loading driver to be integrated into a single chip with other drivers for the spindle motor, sled motor and actuators (for focus and tracking sections).

ROHM has also developed a new compact package (HSOP-M36) to fit the number of pins of these single-chip CD drivers. It helps achieve substantial space savings for car CD changers, which increasingly require a more compact design.
Moreover, an output voltage setting pin is provided for each channel to ensure fine adjustment of CD tray operation speed, facilitating mechanical designing.

Features of the newly developed 6-channel, single-chip CD drivers BD7960FM, BD7961FM and BD7962FM include:

1) Loading driver consisting of 2 channels of low power dissipation, low on-state resistance power MOFSETS (total on-state resistance of upper and lower transistors: Ron = 1 W) (Note: The loading driver of BD7962FM has 3 channels [2-channel MOSFETs and 1-channel bipolar transistor].)

2) Loading driver equipped with loading motor voltage setting pin

3) Focus, tracking, sled and spindle sections employing 4 channels of BTL drivers to minimize noise influences over RF blocks (Note: The BTL driver of BD7962FM has 3 channels.)

4) Implemented in new compact package HSOP-M36 to help electronic products achieve space savings

5) BD7960FM and BD7962FM containing pre-stage operational amplifiers to configure arithmetic and filter circuits

6) BD7961FM with a built-in regulator to supply 3.3 V/5.0 V power to microprocessor and DSP

Unlike bipolar types, power MOSFETs eliminate current concentration on devices and are thus resistant to thermal breakdown. Applied to the loading section requiring great power, the power MOSFETS ensure increased reliability of the CD drivers. Making optimal use of the Bi-CDMOS processing and circuit technologies, ROHM intends to continue to develop new high-performance drivers and upgrade functionality by incorporating various peripheral parts, such as operational amplifiers and regulators, into its drivers to meet user needs.

(Glossary)
Bi-CDMOS
A fabrication process used to integrate structurally different semiconductor devices of bipolar, CMOS, and DMOS devices into a single chip; or LSI employing the Bi-CDMOS fabrication process.

(Product Photograph)
Single-chip, 6-channel CD drivers BD7960FM, BD7961FM, and BD7962FM for car CD changers

Press Release

ROHM and Digiplug partner to create fully integrated audio solutions for the telecom industry

Kyoto, Paris - February 5, 2002 - ROHM and Digiplug today announced their decision to enter into a long term partnership aiming at developing enhanced solutions for mobile multimedia applications.

Both companies will combine their respective expertises in design and development of powerful integrated circuits and dedicated embedded software to build advanced IC based audio solutions for today’s and tomorrow’s mobile handsets. Their partnership aims at providing the telecom industry with innovative and cost effective components complying with industry standards and meeting the requirements for performance and quality of advanced audio technology integrated in mobile terminals.

Mr. Takahiro Ota, ROHM’s General Manager, Communication LSI Division, said "There is a real complementarity between our two Companies; Digiplug already proved its expertise in embedding advanced audio and telecommunication software in various mobile terminals and we are convinced that, with Digiplug as our software partner and thanks to our recognized experience in high quality integrated audio hardware solutions, we will be able to create the new generation of IC based, flexible and innovative audio products that the telecommunication market requires"

"We are very proud of this partnership with a first class player in the industry and we are committed to creating with ROHM the best multimedia solutions for both handset manufacturers and mobile phone operators. This is one of the key partnerships we are setting up to accelerate the development of our Company; it will strengthen our position in the market as a provider of software technology for embedded audio and multimedia applications and we are eager to make both ROHM’s and Digiplug’s customers quickly benefit from the long term cooperation launched today" commented Mr. Stephane Bohbot, CEO of Digiplug.

The two Companies intent to launch several development projects together. Their R&D teams have already started working together. More detailed plans should be announced in the coming weeks.

About ROHM
ROHM CO., LTD., is one of the largest Japanese Semiconductor manufacturer founded in Kyoto, Japan in 1958 with net sales of Yen 409.3 billion ($3.3 billion) in 2001, develops and produces Integrated Circuits and other electronic components. With its about 15,000 employees in more than 10 countries are active in the areas of Integrated Circuits specifically for cellular phones, for example base-band signal processing LSIs compliant with GSM, CDMA, and PDC standards, mixed-signal LSIs, and other various circuit block such as power management and display-related circuits.

ROHM’s strength is in the development of Integrated Circuits that precisely meet customer needs.

In regard to the cellular recent trend of polyphony for ring tones, ROHM is a leading company delivering quality PCM sound generator LSIs.
ROHM is listed on Tokyo Stock Exchange.
URL: http://www.rohm.com

About Digiplug
Digiplug is a mobile multimedia enabler that provides major players in the mobile market with turnkey technology and services enabling the transfer, use and control of multimedia content on mobile handsets.

With solid expertise in telecommunication and information technologies, and in tight partnership with hardware manufacturers, Digiplug has developed powerful compression technology for mono-channel and polyphonic musical content as well as associated transfer protocols. This technology is now integrated in several handsets under several brand names. Committed to supporting standards, Digiplug also proposes implementations of rich audio engines. It is therefore very active within standardization bodies such as 3GPP.

Digiplug also developed a service platform enabling its customers to quickly deploy multimedia content downloading services - ringtones and logos as of today -. This platform is a turnkey solution dealing with content delivery via SMS/EMS and WAP, customer billing, customer care as well as payment of copyrights. This solution has been selected by major players worldwide, including mobile operators, B to C service providers and portals.

Digiplug is a founder member of the Mobile Music Forum - www.mobilemusicforum.com. Established in 1998, Digiplug is headquartered in Paris, France.