Sony and Toshiba Jointly Develop
0.1 and 0.07-Micron Process Technologies for Next Generation
System LSI
Tokyo, Japan, May 17th, 2001 - Sony Corporation and Toshiba Corporation today announced that they have agreed to
jointly develop cutting-edge process and design technologies for 0.1-micron (µm) and 0.07µm system LSI. The
two companies will work toward speedy development of process and device technologies supporting low power consumption
and high performance, which each will then apply to the creation of competitive products.
The digitization and networking of consumer AV devices require performance enhancement and lower power consumption in
system LSI, as a key component of digital products. These goals can best be met by development of design technologies
supporting micro-fabrication and high-integration technologies for the next generation processing. This will achieve
low power consumption and high performance for cutting-edge system LSI.
Sony and Toshiba independently recognized the importance of improving power consumption and processing speed in their
respective process device technologies, a realization which led to the collaboration announced today.
Integrating their cutting-edge technologies and design know-how for system LSI, mainly for consumer use, will allow the
two companies to focus on the early achievement of 0.10µm and 0.07µm design processes for next generation
LSI. This will open the way to more advanced system LSI, such as highly capable image processor system LSI embedded memory
capacity and low power system LSI with embedded memory for mobile applications, that can be applied to development of
attractive products.
Joint development will start in May 2001 at Toshiba Advanced Microelectronics Center and continue through to the end of
fiscal year 2003 with support of an investment budget of approximately 15 billion yen. About 130 engineers from the two
companies are expected to work on the project.
About Sony Corporation
Sony Corporation is a leading manufacturer of audio, video, game, communications and information technology products
for the consumer and professional markets. With its music, pictures, computer entertainment and on-line businesses,
Sony is uniquely positioned to be a leading personal broadband entertainment company in the world. Sony recorded
consolidated annual sales of nearly $60 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2001. Sony's Home Page URL:
www.world.sony.com
About Toshiba Corporation
Toshiba CorporationÕs wide-ranging capabilities assures its position as a leading company in semiconductors, LCDs and
other electronic devices, and allows it to support its customers around the world with a complete portfolio of
semiconductor solutions. Toshiba has 191,000 employees worldwide and annual sales of over US$50 billion. Visit
Toshiba's website at http://www.toshiba.co.jp.
Press Inquiries:
U.S. contact:
Sony Electronics Inc.
Mack Araki
E-mail: Mack.Araki@am.sony.com
Tel: 1-408-955-5673
Europe, Asia and Japan contact:
Sony Corporation
Aki Shimazu
Tel: 81-3-5448-2200
Email: aki.shimazu@jp.sony.com
U.S. , Europe, Asia and Japan contact:
Toshiba Corporation
Kenichi Sugiyama
Tel: 81-3-3457-2105
Email: kenichi.sugiyama@toshiba.co.jp
