Vendor Acts To Cut Time To Market

In a move intended to shorten time-to-market for integrated discrete devices, Philips Semiconductors, Eindhoven, the Netherlands, has transferred its integrated passive component (IPC) product line from its Components division to its Semiconductors division. The shift reflects a convergence of the processes used to manufacture IPCs and very small scale integration (VSSI) discrete semiconductors. This latter category includes parts such as discrete transistors that integrate passive networks for input matching, biasing, and other purposes.

Both IPCs and VSSI semiconductors rely on silicon-based fabrication, particularly thin-film-on-silicon processes. By combining engineering and production resources, the company hopes to develop more advanced integrated components that will ultimately blur the line that separates ICs and discretes. Such advances are being spurred by applications that severely restrict pc-board space.