Frost & Sullivan: Embedded Controllers Gaining
Popularity With the 64-Bit Microprocessor
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Jan. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- The chaos that you may have experienced
this Christmas to get the Nintendo 64 Game System was just a small taste of what's in the future
for embedded controllers. These microprocessors (MPU) and microcontrollers (MCU) are
meeting the increasing demand for higher performance when it comes to video games, data and
voice communications.
According to recent strategic research from Frost & Sullivan, the World Embedded Controller
Market is being driven mainly by the demand for new applications. Semiconductor analyst Robert
Worden says, "The embedded controllers have quite simply become the miniature engines of the
modern technological revolution."
Embedded controllers are defined as either a MCU or a MPU used in an embedded application.
An embedded controller application is not likely to need reprogramming, such as a child's toy or a
microwave. A non-embedded application, such as a PC or a workstation, is easily reprogrammed
as software upgrades become necessary.
This market is growing as consumer demand for products and services increases. The market is
divided into five segments, including the 4-bit, 8-bit, 16-bit, 32-bit, and the 64-bit embedded
controllers. The 64-bit segment has seen the largest growth, with a compound annual growth rate
(CAGR) of 53 percent.
Applications for the 4-bit MCU products, ranging from personal pagers to computer mice. This
market is declining due to consumers' expectations of product performance. 4-bit product
designers are moving towards the 8-bit embedded controllers as the price of the higher
performance device declines.
The 16-bit embedded controller can handle digital technologies, such as cell phones, video disks
and global positioning satellite (GPS) systems. Consumers want and expect greater intelligence and
horsepower in these products, and the 16-bit delivers.
Embedded controllers like the 32-bit MCUs and MPUs are used in such products as watches
(with GPS-capability) and digital video games. Other products such as web browsers, servers,
and telephone switching equipment have all contributed to the growth of the 32-bit embedded
controller industry.
The highest demand, however, has been for the 64-bit MPU. In this market the main end users are
home video game systems manufacturers. The Nintendo corporation has alone consumed in
excess of 1 million 64-bit MPUs for its Nintendo 64 Game System.
The market depends on consumers and their needs at any given time in the market. There is a
constant need to improve the product due to the competitive nature of this market. This drive is
causing newer, less expensive and more powerful devices to be designed roughly every 18
months.
The companies participating in this market include: Advanced Micro Devices Inc., Advanced
RISC machines, Atmel Corporation, Cirrus Logic, Inc., Daimler-Benz AG, Dallas Semiconductor
Corporation, Digital Equipment Corporation, Fuijitsu Limited, Fujitsu Microelectronics Inc., GEC
Plessey Semiconductors, Harris Semiconductor Corporation, Hitachi Ltd., Hitachi America, Ltd.,
Holtek Microelctonics Inc., Hyperstone Electronics GmbH, Hyundai Electronics Industries Co.
Ltd., Integrated Device Technology Inc., Intel Corporation, IBM, ITT Semiconductors Group,
LG Semicon America Inc., LSI Logic Corporation, Matsushita Industrial Co., Ltd., Microchip
Technology Inc., Mitsubishi Electric Co. Ltd., Motorola Inc., National Semiconductor
Corporation, NEC Corporation, OKI Eelectronic Industry Co. Ltd., Philips Electronics (N.V.),
Realtek Semiconductor Corporation, S-MOS Systems, Samsung Semiconductor Inc., Sanyo
Electric Co. Ltd., Semiconductor, Seiko- Epson Corporation, SGS-Thompson Microelectronics
Inc., Sharp Corporation, Siemens AG Germany, Texas Instruments Inc., The Western Design
Center Inc., Toshiba America Electronic Components Inc., Toshiba Corporation, VLSI
Technology Inc., Winbond Electronics Corporation, Zylog Inc., Adaptec Inc., Advanced RISC
Machines Ltd., AKM Semiconductor Inc., Axis Communications Inc., C'boat Semicondutor Ltd.,
Cimetrics Technology, Dialog Semiconductor LTd., Fujitsu Microelectronics, Inc. (FMI)
Integrated Circuits Division, GEC Plessey Semiconductors, Hewlett Packard Company, Hitachi
America, Ltd., Hughes Microelectronics, Hyperstone Electronics California, Hyundai Electronics
America, Lucent Technologies Inc., Lucky Goldstar, Matra MHS S.A., Micro Linear Corp.,
MIPS Technologies Inc., Mitsubishi Electronics America Inc., NEC Electronics, Inc., NKK
Corporation, OKI Semiconductor Corp., Omron Electronics Inc., Panasonic Industrial Company,
Philips Semiconductors, Phytec MeBtechnik GmbH, Quantum Effect Design, Samsung
Semiconductor, Inc., Sanyo Semiconductor Corporation, SGS-Thomson Microelectronics, Inc.,
Sharp Electronics Corporation, Siemens Components, Inc., Siliconix Inc., Standard Microsystems
Inc., Symbios Logic, Inc., Temic Semiconductor, Temic Telefunken microelectronic GmbH
Semiconductor Division, Togai Infralogic Corporation, Toshiba America Electronic Components
Inc., V3 Semiconductor, WSI Inc., Winbond Electronics (N.A.) Corp., and Z World Engineering.
Frost & Sullivan is an international marketing consulting company that monitors the semiconductor
industry for market trends, market measurements, and strategies. This ongoing research is utilized
to update a series of research publications such as #5122-22 World Embedded Controller
Market and to support industry participants with customized consulting needs. Free executive
summaries of all Frost & Sullivan reports are available to the press. SOURCE Frost & Sullivan |
