ICL inked reciprocal licensing agreements on LTCC technology with Japanese and domestic firms

An early-stage collaboration between the Computer and Communications Research Laboratories (ICL) of ITRI and Japan-based Matsushita Kotobuki Electronics (MKE) Industries, Ltd. produced in May a non-shrinkage lower temperature co-fired ceramic (NS-LTCC) bluetooth module prototype, which was the world's smallest module of its kind. Since then, the two organizations have further worked together on developing and transferring design and process technologies, and pursued reciprocal licensing. With an international cross licensing formalized, ICL will share its advanced LTCC design technology with MKE while the latter will share its state-of-the-art NS-LTCC process technology with ICL's partner manufacturers. ICL's aim is to help domestic manufacturers to acquire both the design and process technology in order to explore the world market of Bluetooth products.

With support from the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), ICL, MKE, and a domestic manufacturer, Sengton Transportation Implements Co., Ltd., inked a multilateral collaboration and licensing agreement on November 22. According to the agreement, the three sides will work on an equal and reciprocal basis. MKE will transfer and license the NS-LTCC process technology to Sengton while ICL will transfer and license LTCC design technology to MKE. Meanwhile, ICL willl continue collaborative R&D with MKE on bluetooth module design and work with Sengton for product development. ICL and Sengton also signed a memorandum of understanding to co-develop applications products using NS-LTCC technology. Through such a collaboration model, ICL expects to help domestic manufacturers establish the capabilities of designing and manufacturing high frequency communications components.

As deputy general director of ICL Teddy Huang pointed out, " It has been over five years since ICL involved in the basic research of LTCC 3D high frequency circuit design. ICL is among the few organizations in the world that have the capability of designing a full spectrum of LTCC devices; to date, ICL owns over 10 design patents in this area." It also has the capability of designing bluetooth modules using LTCC technology. The module has the advantages of lightweight, compact size, high reliability, and steady radio frequency. ICL and MKE collaboration started in 1999 and produced the world's smallest bluetooth module with antenna (in the volume of 2.0 cm × 1.2 cm × 0.35 cm). When this item was displayed at the Tokyo Electronic Show, CEATEC in early October 2000, it was highly praised and has drawn international attention ever since. The module was a joint product of ICL's bluetooth technology and MKE's NS-LTCC process technology. The two parties will further their collaboration after this initial success to create a win-win situation for both in the future.

Meanwhile, Sengton has signed a contract with MKE to license NS-LTCC technology. It is the first consumer electronic company in the world (except for those member companies of the Matsushita conglomerate) to obtain this license. According to MKE, it will not only spur the product development of Sengton, but also give positive impacts to Taiwan's industry.

Given the rising demand for compact and lightweight designs in the consumer electronic market, applications of LTCC process will become even more popular. Currently, the technology is widely adopted to automobile electronics, bluetooth technology, and mobile communications. In particular, when it is used with bluetooth technology, it can be applied to all information appliance (IA) products. ICL has a strong R&D team on Bluetooth technology capable of designing IC chip, firmware, module and communications protocols. Additionally, ICL has ample experience in GSM/DECT/WLAN/PC. Pooling the strength and resources together, ICL is in an advantageous position to apply bluetooth technology to items such as notebook computers, PDA, mobile phones, digital still cameral and wireless Internet products. All these products will bring vast business opportunities to domestic industries.

According to the surveys conducted by In-State and Merrill Lynch, the global bluetooth production value and output volume from 2000 to 2005 will see a big increase. Taiwan has 35 firms investing in this line, and seven of them have participated in the ICL's early-stage technology transferring program for bluetooth module and communications protocol. Several more are negotiating with ICL for joining the program. It is noteworthy that some well-known manufacturers not previously in the communications industry are manufacturing Bluetooth products as their primary products to probe the communications market. This has shown the ambition of local enterprises to explore this field.

For more information, please contact Mrs. Margaret Chen at Tel:+886-3-5917921; email:margaret@itri.org.tw.