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Integral technologies

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Development capability to maximize value by integrating elemental technologies

This interview was originally published in the ROHM Group Integrated Report 2024.

The source of ROHM’s competitiveness in the power and analog areas on which we focus lies in understanding and optimal design of our own processes, such as circuit design, layout, and processes, based on customer needs. Additionally, the optimization of comprehensive technologies, including heat dissipation design, package technology, and measurement technology during assembly, is one of ROHM’s major strengths. The realization of this technology optimization is achieved through integral technologies. Engineers from the development and manufacturing divisions in Japan and overseas combine their specialized element technologies and expertise at a high level, working together to develop high value-added products that meet customer and market needs.

Elemental Technologies

Process

We develop the manufacturing processes that will be necessary in the future by working closely with design engineers who are familiar with customer requirements and expectations. The wafer processes are optimized by adjusting factors such as pressure resistance, size, and device characteristics. We design packages to have compact structures with excellent heat dissipation characteristics suited to the mounting environment of the customer’s product. For example, for power devices like flip-chip packages, it is important to align the layout to reduce connection resistance between the chip and the package in order to enable the supply of large currents.

Layout

When integrating a circuit diagram received from a circuit design engineer into a wafer, the circuit functions and performance must be satisfied while keeping the chip size lean. Based on an understanding of the system, discrete semiconductor devices and blocks are arranged and wiring is routed in consideration of variations and other factors to fully realize circuit performance. This technology ensures reliability by preventing malfunctions caused by external factors such as noise or static electricity.

Elemental Technologies

Circuit design

When designing specifications, we not only listen to customer requirements but also investigate and understand the environment in which the system or application will be used, and the operations or functions expected. We then select the optimal processes and package for these expected specifications.
Circuit design requires techniques that account for variations in specifications and electrical characteristics, and ensure sufficient operating margins. In particular, analog technology requires assembly of circuits by considering the process characteristics of each discrete semiconductor device in transistors.

Employees’ Perspective

Taking on the challenge of advancing integral technologies with a strong mindset to develop high value-added products

Employees’ Perspective

I work as a Product Marketing Engineer (PME*) for semiconductor switches called Intelligent Power Devices (IPDs). My job involves accurately identifying product market trends and developing products in anticipation of customer needs.
IPDs are products created through coordination between engineers specializing in manufacturing processes, packaging, and circuit design. They realize the previously challenging issues of heat suppression and low on resistance. These advancements were made possible thanks to ROHM’s technologies and capabilities accumulated over more than 60 years of history. This technology offers a higher level of protection upon load short circuits and heat generation and is widely used in automotive and industrial equipment applications to improve safety and comfort.
ROHM’s engineers have a mindset of gathering experience, element technologies and know-how to develop high value-added products that meet customer and market needs. I also believe that ROHM’s great strength is its ability to propose products and solutions that maximize customer value and have a thorough customer support system by gathering technologies accumulated over many years and utilizing integral technologies. Moving forward, we aim to contribute to solving energy issues and reducing environmental impact by developing products that promote energy savings and miniaturization. Additionally, we intend to focus on nurturing highly specialized human resources to further refine our unique development capabilities.

*PME: Stands for Product Marketing Engineer. A person who possesses full knowledge of advanced technology and authority for new product development. This position is affiliated with the product development division and is responsible for both planning and sales of products developed by the development division.

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