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Technology Stocks : Rambus (RMBS) - Eagle or Penguin -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: sylvester80 who wrote (56998)	10/7/2000 8:28:22 PM
From: jim kelley	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 93625

OKI was about 2.3% of the DRAM market last year.

To: sylvester80 who wrote (56998)	10/7/2000 8:28:31 PM
From: mishedlo	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 93625

General thoughts on Infineon news by: stk_hawk 10/7/00 1:44 am Msg: 169264 of 169266 My understanding of today's Infineon news is: Infineon is claiming that Rambus is using a latch-up protection circuit, that Infineon claims to have a patent on, in their Direct RDRAM core design. This core design was distributed to all of the memory manufactures that licensed RDRAM. Here are some general thoughts (I am no expert so take this for what it is worth, nothing. Do your own DD): - Latch-up circuits are used in virtually every CMOS design. It is not specific to RDRAM designs. It is specific to CMOS technology. - Latch-up is not specific to DRAM memory designs. It is an issue for all types of CMOS designs (memory, logic, ect, ect). - All semiconductor companies use some form of latch-up protection in their CMOS designs. I do not believe Infineon has the only Latch-up solution. It is very likely that different companies use different techniques. However, most large semiconductor companies do have cross-license agreements that allow them to share techniques for solving the problem. - The latch-up problem is one in which the CMOS transistors in a circuit can get locked into a state where they are drawing excessive current. The device essentially lock-ups and fails to function. The current drain can be so large it actually destroys the package. It was a big problem in the early days of CMOS technology but it is well understood today and is not much of an issue. The problem has been solved for a long time. - I do not believe this is a situation where Infineon is claiming their patent invalidates the Rambus patents due to prior art. Instead, Infineon is claiming that Rambus is using an Infineon patent in their RDRAM core which Rambus is not licensed to use. This is a VERY IMPORTANT distinction because this is NOT prior art that would invalidate the Rambus patents. If you doubt this, ask yourself what does latch-up have to do with Rambus patents on RDRAM, SDRAM, or DDR? Nothing. It is not prior art. They are two separate issues. It does NOT invalidate the Rambus patents. - Since this is not prior art that would invalidate Rambus Patents, it will NOT get the other resisting memory mfg's off the hook. In other words, it does not help Micron, Hyundai, ect. If Infineon can prove their claim, it only improves their bargaining position with Rambus. IMO, the best case scenario for Infineon is that Rambus and Infineon would have to cross license each other with no license fee or royalty from Infineon. (I do not believe this will happen, but IMO, that would be the best case scenario for Infineon.) - Since Rambus does not actually build the silicon, even though they may reference a latch-up circuit in their design that Infineon claims to own, the courts will have to decide if the licensing burden is on Rambus or on the DRAM mfg that builds the IC. Maybe our lawyer friends can point to some precedence on this. Since Rambus charged money for those designs, the courts will also have to decide if that is problem even though they do not manufacture it. Again, maybe our lawyer friends can point to some precedence. - It is not clear to me if all the DRAM mfg's have to use (or are using) the same latch-up protection circuitry in their RDRAM core. I do not know how specific the RDRAM core is. A key question is how much flexibility the DRAM mfg's have. Latch-up is an area where they may have quite a bit of flexibility. A lot of potential loop holes here. In conclusion, I do not believe the Infineon patent claim can invalidate the Rambus patents. At worst, it will allow Infineon to negotiate a better deal with Rambus. Even if Infineon proves their claims, I believe Rambus will be able to design around any Infineon patent in the future but Infineon will definitely be in a better bargaining position if they can prove their claim. Time will tell, but I feel this news has not changed the fundamental story.