Air-cavity plastic package technology has mainly been commercially in the production of relatively expensive ceramic packaging for semiconductor installation. Since this technology doesn't create stress or interference of dielectric properties it is appropriate for use in RF & microwave devices.
As the demand for the entire spectrum of wireless communication including satellite broadcasting and communication multiplies, this package has received a fair degree of attention by the industry. The reason? The advent of this packaging means GaAs Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits (MMICs), the core part of the communication system, can now be produced much more cheaply.
However, existing air-cavity plastic packaging runs into problems when B-stage epoxy is used as an adhesive or sealant. In detail, when the packaging is being sealed, the sealant remains in a gel state for a for a protracted period until pressure inside the sealed space vanishes, so hindering the flexibility of the process.
There is a further problem. It was the material companies which hold the the intellectual property rights on sealants, such as epoxy, that took the initiative in developing the technology, not the MMIC manufacturers or assemblers.
CTInc. Semiconductor succeeded in developing a differentiated air-cavity packaging technology, cutting costs, and enhancing reliability and productivity. CTI improved package structure, productivity, and yield by utilizing a high-viscosity liquid epoxy which becomes strongly adhesive after being rigid as a sealant.
In addition, they developed an automated procedure and air-packages of various structure through careful selection of materials and the harmonization of heat treatments, and made progress in their degree of automation, rate of material self sufficiency, productivity, and reliability.
Air-cavity plastic packaging represents an advance since it uses a new sealant. It gives flexibility to package structure in the semiconductor assembly process, thus allowing the creation of a variety of product forms, enhancing productivity, and reducing costs. Above all, information on reliability obtained through extreme environment tests will serve to garner acknowledgement for this technology from related industries and help to expand its range of application.
As the demand for GHz area GaAs semiconductors is expected to rise domestically and abroad due to the commercialization of PCS (Personal Communication System) technology, the savings achieved through replacing ceramic package with this product will spur the use of related products.

CTIS (Communications Technology Inc. Semiconductor) 591-4, Sungbon-li, Daeso-myun, Eumsung-goon,
Choongchung book-do, Korea
TEL : 82-446-879-3000
FAX : 82-446-879-3020

In contrast with general hospitals which are equipped with or on the way to being equipped with total medical information systems, clinics, usually the first institution someone will go to when in need of medical attention, are way behind in the trend.
To give clinics an equivalent level of information access and processing, Medidas Co. has developed Ysarang, a total medical information system specifically designed for clinic use. The computerized system manages files, processes insurance claims, and performs other functions pertinent to clinic management through multimedia technology. With Ysarang, a clinic can install an electronic chart system to enable its operation to be monitored and managed more easily and simply.
In addition, Medidas has developed PACS (Picture Archiving Communication System) which converts medical care images into digital data. Furthermore, it is possible for a clinic to access medical opinions in some of the world's top hospitals through using PACS in a PC hook-up with an electronic chart system.
The Tele-Medicine system, through the public phone service, can make communication possible between a specialist in a public hospital and a general practitioner in a clinic. In this way the latter can get support by, for example, consulting on data, or in dealing with a patient who needs emergency treatment.
Ysarang also aids Medicom, a national project to process insurance claims electronically. Ysarang assists Medicom through the Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) which was commercialized in Oct. 1996. Twenty clinics are now on the EDI, and the number will likely rise to 150 by the end of this year. Medidas has also considering cooperating with Korea's private doctor system.
At the moment, Medidas's system is designed for common usage, but it will to be specialized for use by every department of medicine such as surgery, pediatrics, orthopedics, etc. New systems are also in the works for a herb clinic and a dental clinic.

Medidas Co., Ltd.

Medison B/D 6th Fl., 22-5, Chungmoro-5ga,
Jung-gu, Seoul, Korea
TEL : 82-2-266-7800
FAX : 82-2-264-2388

Film manufacturing in textile printing is mainly a hands-on activity. The laser film plotter developed by Hanmec Textile Inc. enhances productivity by automating the design, drawing separation, and actual printing of patterns on to the woven fabric.
The manufacture of precision film is extremely important because the quality of the final product and material so printed is determined by the film manufacturing procedure. However, manufacturing precision film through a manual procedure is not easy.
Hanmac's plotter simplifies the complicated film manufacturing procedure with the help of a computer assisted design (CAD) program. The plotter automatically produces image on film by converting an image designed and colored in on the computer screen into bitmap data and then projecting the textile design by laser onto film and then applying the film onto a drum. The number of companies which manufacture CAD software for design, drawing, printing, and advertising is increasing worldwide.
Until the beginning of last year, it was only Italy, Belgium, and Germany where laser film plotters could be produced through the application of computer-imaging to the operation of production equipment. The development of a laser film plotter at a cost 40% lower than foreign products will help Korean textile firms produce samples quickly.
The plotter develops 1,500rpm against the 900rpm normally produced by foreign equipment, indicating an improvement in productivity of 40 percent. The drum is 1,250mm in width, wider than the 1,200mm of foreign products, so enhancing interchangeability on Korean textile production lines.
Traditional equipment, which used a D.C servo motor, had a variety of problems such as producing dust, noise, and abrasion. However, Hanmac's product uses an A.C servo motor, a world first, has none of the previous problems and makes maintenance easy. The company has also applied for a patent on its magnetic-air compressed vibration prevention system, preventing minute vibrations produced during high-speed revolution of the drum.
The size of annual laser film plotter market in Korea is about $ 60 million.
Hanmac's product performs well and much cheaper than competing products. Hanmac plans to launch this product on the $600 million world market.

Hanmac Textile. Inc.

402 Dong-il Techo Town, 826 Kuro-3dong, Kuro-gu, Seoul, Korea
TEL : 82-2-839-5625
FAX : 82-2-839-5626

A DVD player can change your room into a virtual movie theater, boasting some 500 horizontal lines of resolution and 5.1 channel Dolby digital surround sound. This next-generation multimedia player can hold 135 minutes of movie on one side of a 12cm disk.
Leading electronic companies worldwide competed to develop and commercialize DVD.
In August 1996 the international standard of DVD player was finally confirmed and the first DVD player was commercialized by a Japanese company in November 1996. In Korea, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. launched its own DVD player on the market in the same month.
DVD player technology utilizes both system integration and core device technology. There's no doubt that control of the leading edge of these two technologies has become vital in the kind of cut-throat competition which has ensued for dominance in the world market for DVDs.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. invested $25 million in a program to develop a DVD player which lasted two years and involved 159 researchers. Consequently, Samsung was granted the patent after successfully developing DVD core technology, original annular mask-type DVD/CD compatible optical pickup technology, as well as system integration technology. The Company also garnered through its efforts international standard digital signal compression, high precision deck mechanism, servo controller, and high density optical disc technologies.
In particular, the superiority of original annular mask type DVD/CD compatible optical pickup technology is acknowledged worldwide. The application of these technologies is not only confined to the DVD Player. This will be the core technology in the upcoming multimedia era, and can be directly applied to not only the DVD ROM drive, but also to the rewritable type DVD RAM drive expected to be commercialized early next year. It is anticipated it will form the core technology of next-generation optical disc systems after year 2000.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. will next release a NTSC/PAL compatible model having as features a Dolby AC-3 decorder and a video/CD support. With products such as these, they plan to seize the competitive edge in the DVD market.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

416, Maetan-3dong, Paldal-gu, Suwon, Kyungki-do, Korea
TEL : 82-331-200-3131
FAX : 82-331-200-3160

A telescopic spreader is that essential part of the grab of crane which fastens onto a container prior to hoisting. Its price and related technology are the determining factors in the saleability of container cranes.
Spreaders operate in severe working conditions, often experiencing strong impact and vibration through collision with ships or container boxes. In case of breakdown, it becomes impossible to operate the crane and may precipitate accidents such as the fall of a container. Accordingly, its performance and reliability is of the essence. Clients have often asked crane manufacturers to build-in the telescopic spreader of a well-known manufacturer, because of the manufacturer's credibility.
In the past, local companies imported foreign spreaders or manufactured them under technology transfer agreements. However, there has been a strong call for multi-functional spreaders with unique functions as the technology of automatic operations has improved.
The telescopic spreader made by Samsung Heavy Industries Co., Ltd., represents a simplified structure and assembly. Its expansion and contraction time is only 26 seconds compared to 40 seconds for foreign products. Its automated use means enhanced efficiency and speed in operation, increased safety, and a reduction in the number of parts by 20 percent.
In variance to the H-type structure adopted for spreaders in the rest of the industry, Samsung Heavy adopted a box-type structure resistant to twist, so enhancing durability and making the spreader lighter by 15 percent. Costs were cut tremendously by being able to skip the usual procedure of machining the spreader's telescopic beam, a feat of Samsung Heavy's expertise in high precision manufacturing.
By adopting a hydraulic motor and chain drive in the telescopic device the number of parts were reduced by 20 percent compared with competing products which use a hydraulic cylinder and rope drive.
Working efficiency was enhanced by speeding up the expansion and contraction operation by 30%. The improved design meant the spreader could be re-oiled at longer periods. The cushioning effect of a pad eliminated fatigue fracture caused by impact. Special attention was paid to the convenience of users by reducing and consolidating the number of parts in all moving mechanisms including the twist lock device, thus reducing rate of breakdown and enabling users to maintain it easily.
Spreader loading guide technology developed by Samsung Heavy Industries Co., Ltd, will further the progress of automation in container terminals. Its ultimate objective is to usher in the era of unmanned automatic crane operation.

Samsung Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.

13th Fl., Dongnam Tower, 890-25, Daechi-dong,
Kangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
TEL : 82-2-3458-7560~5
FAX : 82-2-3458-7501~3

The mission's activities are focused primarily on providing opportunities for technological cooperation and joint ventures between Korean and American companies. They include: presentations on topics such as "Introduction to the Korean Investment Environment"; a seminar on comparisons between selected industries in both countries; presentations from each participating company on its background and interest in technological cooperation; and organizing one-on-on meetings with the aim of stimulating technological cooperation.

KOTRA decides on the eligibility of applicants from both countries to participate in the event. Selection is determined according to their area of specialization, which should accord with those fields in which American technology enjoys a comparative advantage. For the first TechPlaza held in Silicon Valley, California, computers, software and multimedia were among the fields chosen for technological cooperation. The second TechPlaza in Chicago showcased automobiles, machinery, electric/electronics and medical equipment. The third in New York encompassed measuring instruments, telecommunications, environment technology and advanced materials. The forthcoming TechPlaza will focus on industrial fields relating to the environment, telecommunications, biotechnology, aerospace, fine chemicals, and automobile parts. Each of the previous three TechPlazas received extremely positive reviews from both sides, and the experience and know-how gained through staging these events are expected to contribute greatly to the success of future events. Over each of the three Korea-U.S. TechPlazas held to date, a total of 94 enterprises from Korea and 414 from the U.S.A. took part in one-on-one meetings for the purposes of technological cooperation, and a significant number of technological exchanges between the two countries resulted.

At TechPlaza '96, many lively one-on-one negotiations between participants led to a total of 85 preliminary agreements on technology transfer, joint ventures, technological cooperation and exports to the U.S.A.

The Match-Making Conference for Technological Cooperation, a series of one-on-one meetings organized by the mission between interested companies, will be held in New York, October 27-28.

by Chae Keun-Lim