Chips & Supply · United States

Micron licenses Netlist's memory tech for US$600M to settle patent dispute

Reading from The Economic Times · Credited to DigiTimes $ · digitimes.com · 15h ago

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Netlist said in a statement that Micron would pay $30 million per quarter for a five-year license to Netlist's patent portfolio that includes its "high bandwidth memory" technology.

Computer-memory company Netlist announced on Tuesday that Micron would pay $600 million to settle a patent dispute over Micron's memory chips.

Netlist won a $445 million patent infringement verdict against Micron in Marshall, Texas, federal court in 2024.

Netlist filed a new infringement complaint against Micron at the US International Trade Commission in September seeking to block imports of Micron chips used in Google, Nvidia and Broadcom products for AI computing.

"The agreement with Micron further validates the value of our AI memory technologies," Netlist CEO C.K. Hong said in a statement. "We remain committed to protecting our IP while continuing to invest in the development of next-generation products".

Spokespeople for Micron did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the agreement.

Netlist settled a separate memory-patent dispute with Samsung ⁠in August after winning $421 million in patent verdicts against the South Korean tech giant in Texas.

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Chips & SupplyUnited States

Hwacom shifts semiconductor business to SureWin, targets post-quantum security

Credited to DigiTimes$ · digitimes.com17h ago

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Hwacom Systems has shifted its semiconductor-focused business to subsidiary SureWin, targeting growing demand from chipmakers for AI deployment, data governance, and cybersecurity, including post-quantum cryptography (PQC).

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Chips & Supply · United States

NEXTIN Wins 25.44 Billion Won Wafer Inspection Equipment Order From SK hynix

Credited to TheElec · thelec.net · 20h ago

Semiconductor inspection and metrology equipment maker NEXTIN has won an order worth 25.44 billion won for equipment.

On Oct. 6, NEXTIN announced that it had signed a contract with SK hynix to supply a Wafer Inspection System. The contract is worth about 25.44 billion won, equivalent to 38.02% of NEXTIN's sales of 66.9 billion won last year.

The equipment to be supplied is understood to be from the AEGIS series. AEGIS is a front-end semiconductor inspection system based on 2D imaging technology that inspects the wafer during the process in which fine circuits are formed.

The system shines light onto the wafer surface and captures circuit images using multiple complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) sensors. It detects nanoscale defects and particles in fine circuits by comparing the images with normal pattern images.

The equipment incorporates both bright-field (BF), which uses reflected light, and dark-field (DF), which uses scattered light, optical systems. Inspection modes can be selected according to process characteristics. The system offers greater price competitiveness and process efficiency than competing equipment, which separates BF and DF systems into different machines.

The equipment will be supplied in South Korea. It is estimated to be intended for Y1, the first fab at SK hynix's new semiconductor industrial complex in Yongin.

The contract ends on Nov. 25 next year. NEXTIN will complete equipment manufacturing, delivery, installation and setup before the contract expiration date.

There is no separate advance payment. The company did not disclose the payment terms for the equipment. Semiconductor manufacturers typically make payments after equipment setup is completed.