Uniquest, a leading semiconductor solutions provider [KOSPI code: 077500], announced on October 27, 2004, that it signed a deal with U.S. power management IC manufacturer, Enpirion on the sales of Enpirion products in Korea and technical supports that follow. In line with its market diversion strategy, Uniquest plans to make a stella debut into the domestic mobile power IC market in 2005 after reviewing the technology in its research center by the end of 2004. This deal is quite significant because it makes possible that Uniquest can expand its market by adding a power-related application to its mobile-based applications designed for such products as RF and mobile processor.
The new application integrates each PWM, power management, controller, Power FET and Magnetic Component on the same chip, reducing occupying volume by 70% and number of parts by 60%. Moreover, this high integration can cut down on by-produced heat while increasing the efficiency of battery and thus can realize 90% or higher total efficiency manitanance. Therefore, it is particulary suitable for miniaturization applications targeted to devices with various internal power sources such as mobile phone, PDA and PMP. This technology is acknowledged as a timely solution at a time when size reduction of PCB is becoming a must due to the trendy adoption of multimedia functions to almost all battery-based, hand-held devices.
The chips for laptop computers have already been producing with the integration technology in the fourth quarter this year and the sample is available now. Samples for cell phones are expected to be available from the first quarter of 2005 while the full-fledged production will be geared up in the second quarter of 2005. A company offical said Uniquest estimated an annual sales volume of 2,000 ~ 3,000 dollars from the outset of earnest production.
A Director of Technical Marketing at Uniquest, Kim Tae-wook said “Starting from early next year, we will launch full-swing promotion and solution design especially for mid- and high-end cell phone markets. If proven successful, it will be further marketed for PMPs, laptops, set-top box and more.”
Enpirion Inc.
Founded in November, 2001, Enpirion was selected in 2003 as one of the most promising venture companies in semiconductor industry by Micro Venture Investment Fund. Enpirion provides the smallest, fastest and most powerful power conversion solutions. Among major products are iPOWER™, miPOWER™ and complete DC-to-DC converters which are installed to a server, laptop computer, laser printer, set-top box and other data communication equipment depending on application. miPOWER™, in particular, is designed to manage power in mobile devices and is expected to hit the market later this year.
