Fuji Electric has developed IC (integrated circuit) technology particularly in the fields of power IC's (for automobiles, power supply systems, and displays) using high-voltage technology, auto focus IC's with built-in sensor, and pressure sensors, They are characterized by high-voltage technology, such as dipolar, Si-gate CMOS, C/DMOS, and Bi-CMOS, and the bumping process technique suitable for high-density mounting. The paper also refers to the importance of systematization and cooling technologies required for the future trends towards large-scale integration and built-in power circuits.

High-voltage IC (integrated circuit) process technology are used in many fields such as displays and power supply systems. For isolation in high-voltage devices, on junction isolation or self-isolation technology is employed, and the process of high integration and low cost can be attained by miniaturizing devices and simplifying the process. This paper describes the features of three processes: 650-V class for switching supply, 60-V class for DC-DC converters, and 150-V class for plasma display panel drive.

Because of the advantages such as small size, light weight, and high efficiency, switching power supplied are widely used in various electronic equipment. Fuji Electric, so far marketed various switching power supply control IC's (integrated circuits), has developed a new IC for switching power supply with a power MOSFET (metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor) and a control circuit united in a body to meet the market needs for further reduction in size and price. With this IC, the number of external components can greatly be reduced. This paper introduces an outline of the power IC.

Because the operating voltage of digital LSI's (large-scale integrated circuits) such as CPU's and memories is being reduced to 3.3V or less from 5V formerly, which poses a problem of an increase in the rate of diode power dissipation to the output power and a decrease in power supply efficiency in the DC-DC converter for DC power supply. Fuji electric has developed a control integrated circuit "FA3616E" with very high efficiency of about 95% to output of 3.3V or less by means of synchronous rectification using MOSFET (metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor) as rectifier element instead of diode.

Liquid Crystal Display is used as a means of showing information and man-machine interface widely in the displays of information, communications, and OA (office automation) equipment. This paper introduces the features, main characteristics, and applications of the controller driver integrated circuits for character display type small liquid crystal displays, which have been marketed in a series of products to meet the diversified display capacities.

Because a larger screen can be made and response time is short, the plasma display panel (PDP) is expected as the strongest candidate for large screen wall TV display devices. Fuji Electric before started mass-producing integrated circuit (IC's) for monochrome PDP's using high-voltage technology, and successively, it developed and marketed IC's for color PDP's first in the world. This paper describes the merits and main characteristics of the address driver IC and scan driver IC.

This paper introduces technologies developed to meet backlit conditions and a flare to be applied to auto focus (AF) modules used in cameras. Concerning the backlit conditions, the high luminance data of backlit parts are excluded by the new AFIC function to get the image data of a subject. With regard to the flare, a black mask (anti-reflection layer) is formed on the AFIC chip surface to prevent the reflection of incident light.

Now individuals have an interest in medical care and medical expenses remarkably increase. In keeping with the trend, demand for medical instruments is also increasing. These instruments are required to hurt no patient, and particularly instruments touching patients must satisfy the safety standard to protect patients from an electric shock. To meet uses in these medical instruments, Fuji Electric has recently developed an insulated DC-DC converter which has withstand voltage of 2.5kV AC or more between input and output and is in accordance with the fundamental insulation of IEC 601.

With the progress of secondary batteries, portable apparatuses have come into wide use and needs for secondary battery chargers increase. As shown by the product liability act in Japan and the EC directives in Europe, the safety of products is a global concern. Through immunity tests and so on, Fuji Electric completed a quick battery charger with enhanced safety. This paper gives an outline of the charger.

Semiconductor pressure sensors have been in practical use for automobiles, personal apparatuses, instruments, etc. Their application to new uses has expanded the market, but demand for low price has become severe. Fuji Electric has mass-produced pressure sensors with a sensing unit and a signal processing circuit integrated on a chip since 1992, and prepared a series of packages and characteristics to meet requirements of various users. This paper outlines the merits, design, structure, and characteristics of the on-a-chip integrated pressure sensors.

As automotive airbag systems came into wide use for popular cars, demand for high-performance, small-sized, cheap semiconductor acceleration sensors has become intense. Fuji Electric jointly with Fujitsu Ten Limited developed a semiconductor acceleration sensor which has a swastika type 4-beam structure using micromachining technology, an 8-strain-gage system, and an air damping mechanism composed of 3-layer structure of glass + silicon + glass using hydraulic design based on the squeeze film effect. This paper outlines its merits, structure, and characteristics.

This paper describes the basic concept of quality assurance of integrated circuits (IC's) in four stages of new product planning, development, design, to shipping, and gives the details on the important matters among them. One is IC fault analyses and fault mechanisms, in which IC fault modes, a list of fault causes, and their typical photos are shown. The other is feedback of analysis data to the source to maintain and improve the reliability of quality, for which an explanation is given.