Established in 1985 by Sony Electronics Inc., the Semiconductor Products Group, Component Solutions Business Division, enables Sony to respond quickly in the rapidly changing and competitive U.S. semiconductor marketplace. The division was created to support Sony's global efforts in developing innovative, value-added products for wireless and optical communication, audio-visual and computer applications. There are more than 200 employees assigned to design, engineering, marketing and sales operations. A nationwide customer service and support network ties these services together.

Sony employs approximately 21,000 people in manufacturing, customer service, research and development, marketing and sales in North America. The backbone of much of Sony's consumer electronics technology is semiconductor technology. One of its first moves in efforts to diversify was to put the needed resources in place to address OEM requirements in the semiconductor marketplace.

Sony Electronics' Component Solutions Business Division began selling semiconductors in 1983. With the consolidation of its resources into a single domestically-based organization, fully 60 percent of all Sony semiconductor sales in the U.S. is expected to come from products designed by the Semiconductor Products Group in San Jose for North American customers.

Product Overview
Products from the Semiconductor Products Group include ultra-high speed Static Random Access Memory (SRAM), SigmaRAM™ ICs, as well as a diverse selection of products targeted to the audio, video and communication markets. These include data communications, TV ICs; digital filters; CCD sensors; serial/optical communication ICs; GPS and cellular/PCS ICs; multimedia ICs and modules. Discrete components include laser diodes and variable capacitance diodes. The company's broad range of communication ICs includes devices for fiberoptic and radio communications applications, infrared receiver ICs and devices for wireless communication; monolithic microwave ICs used in cellular telephones; and GaAs MMICs used in RF and microwave communications. In addition to its semiconductor product offerings, the Component Solutions Business Division also markets AIT tape drives, libraries, and tape cartridges; and lithium ion batteries to OEM customers.

Many of the applications for Sony's diverse product line are in computers, peripherals and communication products. The product line is based on four types of semiconductor technology -- CMOS, BiCMOS, Bipolar and gallium arsenide. SigmaRAM is a trademark of the SigmaRAM Consortium.

SigmaRAM is a trademark of the SigmaRAM Consortium.