Japan's Sharp sets up SoC design center in Camus

Japan's Sharp sets up SoC design center in Camus
By Semiconductor Business News
February 12, 2001 (1:24 p.m. EST)
URL: http://www.eetimes.com/story/OEG20010212S0104

CAMAS, Wash. -- Sharp Microelectronics of Americas (SMA) here today announced it has been designated as the company's main IC design center for system-on-a-chip (SoC) and microcontroller products.

SMA's parent company, Osaka, Japan-based Sharp Corp., will make a significant investment in the IC design center over the next five years in order to help develop new products in these segments.

The decision to operate a design center in North America is a departure for Sharp, which previously developed all products in Japan. Camas, Wash.-based SMA will now be responsible for the design of 8-, 16-, and 32-bit controllers and SoC products for the entire company.

"SMA's designation as North America's [microntroller/SoC] design center responsible for future product roadmaps is a major strategic change for Sharp and demonstrates the importance of the America's market to Sharp's component business," said John Marck, president of SMA.

SMA, which curr ently employs 200 people, expects to double its design and system engineering teams, and add approximately 20 people to the marketing staff.