ICs
Strengthening our automotive business while also expanding overseas markets and our industrial equipment business to become a major global player
In April 2024, ROHM completed an absorption-style merger with LAPIS Technology Co., Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary engaged in IC planning and development. Through this action, we strengthened the management structure of the Group as a whole to enhance competitiveness.
ROHM’s IC business has developed products with a focus on analog ICs that serve as the entrance and exit points of electronic equipment systems, along with power supplies that support the systems as a whole. As the analog portion entails application-specific issues, pinpointing the needs of customers is vital. This is an area of advantage for ROHM, with its culture of deep communication with users. Through our integration with LAPIS Technology, which holds MCU-related and other digital processing technologies, we will develop high-value-added products through the fusion of analog, power, and digital technologies and will strive to provide customers with even greater ease of use.
At the same time, ROHM faces the following major challenges: environmental issues exemplified by decarbonization, boosting the efficiency of the industry through DX to address the decline in the younger population, and ensuring the businesses resilience required to withstand geopolitical risks. Looking at our business environment, electrification and higher performance in the automotive market, which accounts for half of our sales, are major trends pushing up demand for semiconductors. Under these circumstances, we must respond to market needs through further miniaturization, efficiency improvement, and performance improvement in our products. As for consumer products, our motor control technologies contribute to greater efficiency in air conditioners and heat pumps. We plan to roll out original products that achieve both high efficiency and miniaturization through the practical application of new technologies utilizing GaN devices.
To attain the status of a major global player by FY2030, we will engage in selection and concentration and will expand our business domains by enhancing added value. I see my role as tackling new challenges to create a vibrant group led by frontline staff members.
Performance by segment
FY ending March 2024
-
■ICs
- 207.2billion yen
- 44.3%
- ■Discrete Semiconductor Devices
201.9billion yen 43.2% - ■Modules
32.9billion yen 7.0% - ■Others
25.7billion yen 5.5%
Sales
467.7billion yen
Sales by application
-
Automotive
48.7%
-
Industrial
11.6%
-
Consumer
26.4%
-
Communication
4.7%
-
Computer&Storage
8.6%
ICs Net sales
207.2billion yen
ROHM’s Position (2023)
Worldwide analog IC market
- Total market
- 83,336million U.S. dollars
Automotive–Analog ASSP,
Automotive–Analog ASIC
- Total market
- 14,168million U.S. dollars
Industrial & Other–Analog ASSP, Industrial & Other–Analog ASIC
- Total market
- 4,906million U.S. dollars
Source：Competitive Landscaping Tool CLT, Annual 2Q24
Key products
Isolated gate driver ICs
Controlling power devices, such as those in the drive units of electric vehicles. ROHM’s unique microfabrication technology contributes to miniaturization and higher efficiency of inverters for automobiles.
Power management/Power supply ICs (PMICs)
We have a diverse lineup of application-specific system power supplies to meet various uses and specifications. In addition to consumer products, we are expanding the product lineup of various PMICs for each electronic control unit (ECU) for automotive use.
Microcontrollers (MCUs)
We offer high-performance MCUs that control the power and analog devices that are ROHM’s strength, achieving high-efficiency motor and power supply solutions.
TOPICS｜
Toward the Realization of a Sustainable Society
Development of small, energy-saving DC-DC converter ICs using the SOT23 package
The increase in semiconductor applications in consumer and industrial equipment in recent years has created demands for space-saving substrates, and the adoption rate of small DC-DC converter ICs is increasing. As reduction of standby power is also a key issue, DC-DC converter ICs also face demands for higher efficiency under low power use (under light load). ROHM has responded to these market demands by developing four compact DC-DC converter IC models that achieve higher efficiency in a smaller package than the existing SOP-J8 package, and began mass production in March 2024. These products are ideal for consumer and industrial equipment applications including refrigerators, washing machines, PLCs, and inverters. All four models are able to reduce component footprint by approximately 72% compared to the general SOP-J8 package, greatly contributing to the miniaturization of power supplies. The models use wireless structure packages, reducing wire impedance (the cause of resistance in wiring) and achieving high-efficiency operation.
ROHM will continue to focus on the development of products that fully leverage our analog design technologies, and will contribute to miniaturization and energy saving in consumer and industrial equipment applications.
For more information: ROHM’s New Energy-Saving DC-DC Converter ICs Offered in the TSOT23 Package