Systems and Components

M-Systems Hands Over Its Keys
M-Systems, which manufactures flash-based portable data storage products, is offering the technology platform behind its DiskOnKey keychain storage product to other vendors to integrate into their own private-label keychain storage offerings. The platform paves the way for faster write speeds, increased security capabilities, memory partitions showing multiple drives and an auto-launch capability. DiskOnKey is available in 16-, 32-, 64-, 128-, 256- and 512-MB capacities. It operates via a standard USB device interface and supports plug-and-play interoperability on the latest Windows, Mac and Linux operating systems.

Intel Goes 3D For Transistor Design
Intel has developed a 3D trigate transistor design it says will achieve 20 percent higher performance than that of traditional planar, or flat, transistors. The trigate structure is designed to extend the TeraHertz transistor architecture that the chip-maker announced last December. The structure is built on an ultra-thin layer of fully depleted silicon for reduced leakage. The design is also compatible with the upcoming introduction of a high K gate dialectric. The trigate technology takes up the same amount of space as planar, and operates at nanometer-sized geometries.

Patent Sublicenses Granted
LG.Philips LCD, a manufacturer in the thin-film transistor LCD technology market, has received the rights to sublicense three LCD patents owned by the French Atomic Energy Commission to third parties worldwide. These patents are related to vertical-alignment mode LCD (VA LCD) technology, which allows the production of LCDs with higher contrast and wider viewing angles. VA LCD is key in the production of larger size displays for LCD monitors and LCD TV applications. The agreement also authorizes LG. Philips, a joint venture by LF Electronics and Royal Philips Electronics, to enforce the patents.

Belkin Outfits Toshiba eSeries Handhelds
Belkin has unveiled a new lineup of PDA accessories for the Toshiba e310 and e740 series Pocket PC handhelds. The $19.99 Belkin USB Sync Charger lets users synchronize and charge their handhelds with the same cable. For those on the road, the kit also includes a USB cigarette lighter adapter that converts the cable into an auto charger. In the protection department are a $7.99 three-pack and a $16.99 12-pack of Toshiba Pocket PC screen protectors. Finally, Belkin also offers a compact, leather flip case for $19.99.

Smart Chip Off the Ol' Block
IBM has been talking about the merits of smart chips for several years now, but that talk is now reality. Big Blue has started embedding the technology into its smart cards and systems for remote management of client assets. The company has announced a new initiative that will leverage its chips,which digitally contain everything from a person's fingerprint or retina-scan data to personal medical records,to help monitor machine performance, track inventory and enhance security for industrial, retail, logistics and domestic e-business applications. The chips can also enable cashless purchases, automatic identification and transmission of equipment performance/tolerance. In addition, IBM recently demonstrated an antifraud system based on smart chips that replace traditional magnetic card-swipe devices.

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