Sony 2006 Annual Report Download - page 42

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Research and Development
Sony’s high-performance processor, Cell
Research and Development
We view revitalizing our electronics business as a high priority
within our Mid-Term Corporate Strategy. Strengthening technology
and product development capabilities is a major element of this
revitalization and our future growth strategies, and the R&D to
support these plans will remain crucial over the long term.
Key Technological Fields and Concrete Strategies
We have identified three key technological fields for Sony going
forward: platforms for home and mobile electronics; semiconductor
and device technologies, from which our electronics products
derive their distinctive, value-added features; and software.
We are looking to strengthen the platforms for home and mobile
electronics in anticipation of gaining efficiencies in designing system
large-scale integrated circuits (LSIs), the core components of the
high-performance products supporting high-definition (HD) content,
which is expected to find broad acceptance in the years ahead.
In semiconductors, we are developing technologies for consumer
electronics applications for Cell, our high-performance processor,
a key focus of recent R&D investment. In October 2005, we
established the Cell Development Center, under a structure that
reports directly to the CEO, to develop new applications and
products that take advantage of Cell’s outstanding processing
capabilities. We are also reinforcing our technological capabilities
for CMOS image sensors, for which applications are expected to
expand significantly, with the aim of establishing an industry-leading
position as we have done for CCDs. In the area of device technologies,
we are concentrating on Blu-ray Disc-related technologies, such
as blue-violet laser diodes, as part of our effort to realize the “HD
World” concept, a major Sony initiative. In addition, in October
2005 we launched the Display Device Development Group to spur
development of technologies for organic electroluminescent (EL)
materials, much anticipated for use in next-generation displays.
In the software realm, we bolstered our development capabilities
for middleware that enhances interaction between electronics
products and offers better user interfaces, as well as for application
programs, codecs (coder/decoders) and digital rights management
(DRM) software. To implement these measures, in October 2005
we established the Technology Development Group.
R&D Highlights for the Fiscal Year Ended
March 31, 2006
New Agreements
Joint development with other companies has become indispensable
for reducing the risk associated with investing in state-of-the-art
semiconductor and display technologies, as well as for accelerating
the pace of development as competition intensifies globally.
During the period under review, Sony entered into the following
cooperative agreements.
• Organic EL Materials
In November 2005, Sony and Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. announced
plans for the joint development of new organic EL materials for
next-generation displays. The two companies will develop new
high-performance EL materials in order to realize features such as
high luminescence efficiency for lower power consumption, high
brightness and color generation for HD images, high response
times and long durability.
• Semiconductor Manufacturing Technologies
In January 2006, Sony Corporation, IBM Corporation and Toshiba
Corporation announced a five-year joint technology development
effort for advanced semiconductor manufacturing technologies.
Together, we will conduct basic research into manufacturing
processes for circuit widths at a 32-nanometer design rule and
beyond as part of a comprehensive cooperative arrangement.