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November 9 - 12, 2004
Munich, Germany

Electronica is showcased as one of the largest electronics shows in the world, and it is. Filling 14 massive halls at the New Munich Trade Fair Center, the exhibits seem to go on forever. We have been to other electronics shows in Asia and this is different. While the events in Asia are about miniaturization, Electronica is about large scale and, in particular, automotive electronics. No this is not an automotive electronics show per se, but the needs of this industry are evident everywhere. Japanese, Taiwanese and Chinese companies are here to show their electronics products but at a scale much smaller than CeBIT or CEATEC.

The show halls were variously segmented as follows:

Switches and Relays
PCB and other circuit carriers
EMS
Cables
Power Supplies
Test and Measurement
Electronic Design
Sensors and Microsystems
Displays
Casing Technology
Electronics Protection Devices

We were particularly impressed with the state of sensor technology and the increasing use of MEMS.

Samsung – Technology Abounds

Let there be no doubt that Samsung has become a powerhouse in electronics technology. They are seeking to be better than Sony and with each event we become more impressed. Here at Electronica, they showed both Vixlim and a stunning OLED panel at 17” UXGA.

Though the Samsung booth had many examples of its technology, only a few would be considered futures, i.e., research examples.

There were 3 walls of displays which had a progression of display sizes:

PDP – 42” to 80” – the latter claimed to be the largest
LCD Monitors – 19” SVGA to 24” WUXGA
LCD Televisions – 19” HD to 57” HD

Vixlim was being shown, as far as we know, for the first time. This is a CRT response to flat panel displays, as discussed in the DisplaySearch Korea report. The ID is excellent and yes, the panels are relatively thin for a CRT.

The most complex OLED, yet, a UXGA AM OLED at 17.” It had the usual stunning color quality and Samsung was proud to show how thin it is.

Samsung also showed WiFi and Bluetooth modules.

Being demonstrated was an “Auto Focusing Liquid Lens based on Electrowetting.” This enables an autofocus optical system which has no mechanical moving parts, fast focusing speed and long life. The thickness is 2.2mm for a lens of 1.8mm in diameter. The power consumption is less than 10mw.

The other optics was an optical zooming assembly based on a Piezoelectrical actuator. This provides not only optical zoom but focus. It uses Samsung’s Piezoelectric Ultrasonic Motor (USM) technology.

Mitsumi – More Technology

Mitsumi has a continual stream of technology which we noted at CEATEC and again here at Electronica.

Not known as a cell phone company, Mitsumi was regardlessly showing a VoIP mobil terminal. This is a 802.11b portable wireless LAN phone. The phone supports SIP and has a 1.7” LCD display. The phone is of a clamshell type.

A sweep fingerprint sensor was shown. They called this an “in-finger optical dispersion system.”

ST Microelectronics Makes Play for Home Networking

ST Microelectronics was showing its home solutions. One of which is an ADSL 2+ Headend and WLAN 802.11 a, b, and g access point.

Freescale Claims UWB is Hear and Now

The big print adjacent to the demo said “UWB Solution Hear and Now’ but the small print said 220Mb/s in early 2005 which is claimed to be based on second generation chips. Also in the booth were some of the first ZigBee chips we have seen. Freescale stated: True one-stop shop:

IEEE 802.15.4 compliant RF data modem,
MCUs,
MAC. and
ZigBee software, sensors and reference designs.

Hosiden – Microphones and more Microphones

Hosiden had one of the most complete miniature microphone product lines we have seen. This included a MEMS based mic and even a stereo microphone set.

Booth posters had technical details and product examples for:

MEMS microphone

19 types of Solderless microphones

2 types of Ultra-thin/Ultra-small microphones

2 types of Stereo Microphones

3 examples of Bluetooth headsets including a headset for the PC – excellent design.

We have seldom seen such an extensive microphone line.

Media Cards

The WAVE probed on the business of media cards and connectors. Here are some of our findings.

The number of card types continues to proliferate. Currently types that are active include:

miniSD
Reduced Size MMC
MultiMediaCard (MMC)
Secure Digital Card (SD)
SmartMediaCard (SM)/SSFDC
Compact Flash Card (CF)
Memory Stick Duo (MS Duo)
XD Picture Card

Of these cards, only the last one has a royalty charged for the use of the connector. As our contact stated – the IP holders have finally gotten it right not to charge those seeking to be able to accept their media on products the OEM designs. In the case of the XD Picture Card, the royalties were characterized as “high.”

There are many forms of card readers, even in a family. This includes some of each of these parameters: inverted, plastic, metal, injector types and pin location. For the purpose of approximate costing the price for 1m units is from 50 to 80 cents.

It was stated that the trends are to the smaller cards. For example, Nokia will be moving to a miniSD card for both the GSM sim information and more, including flash storage.

Licensing costs for the form factor to be used by the card are set by the IP holding group or company.

Mascot Technology – Flat Lighting

This Taiwanese company had many examples of EL (Electro-Luminescent) lighting in the booth. This is basically sheet lighting. This can be used for rear illumination, signs and tables. The sheets of light can be as large as 150 X 110 cm. The booth was very well lit up.

Silicon Sensing – Getting the Angle

Silicon Sensing provides some of the inertial sensors for the Segway Human Transporter. They had one in the booth and many miniature sensor products on display and these included:

6 DOF Inertial Sensor
4 Different Angular Rate Sensor
A combined Angular Rate and Linear Angular Sensor

WAVE Comments

We see this event through the color glasses that are tinted by the many conferences attended by the WAVE Report. These glasses here at Electronica see the automobile as one of the first implementations of ubiquitous computing. We came away amazed at the depth of penetration of electronics in the car. Yes, this is the subject of much press and how the Europeans are falling down in reliability due to the “over use of electronics.” But more importantly what is the value of the electronics? Some see the “simpler” Japanese cars, which are less aggressive in their use of electronics, as being more reliable and practical. We come back to points made in a number of recent conferences:

Does embedded electronics support work functions?

The automobile is a work function and may of the components are in direct support of work. ABS microcontrollers improve braking. Transmission electronics improve and make more efficient the management of the drive ratio. Of course, engine control makes engines more efficient and drive better.

What is the value to the car buyers and users?

There is no issue on the value of engine control systems. This has brought increased reliability, longer maintenance cycles and better drivability. The situation is not quite as clear as the level of electronics penetration increases. For example, the value of entertainment systems are related to personal tastes and demographics.

Is the marginal cost low or zero?

Given that high levels of electronics integration is happening in high end automobiles one has to assume no for most applications. At the replacement level all auto electronics are disproportionately expensive.

One of the events at Electronica was called Automobile Software Management. A sign of the time.

Thus, the automobile and its use of embedded processors, electronics and networking is a market in progress which illustrates ubiquitous computing and even ambient intelligence.

http://www.munichtradefairs.com/Electronica/default.htm