- Samsung has signed an agreement with China’s YMTC to use his hybrid binding technology
- The move prevents violation of requirements in the production of 400-layer nand
- US-China Merchant Tensions May Also Affect Agreement
Samsung Electronics has signed a contract with Yangtze Memory Technologies Co. (YMTC), which allows it to use the Chinese semiconductor company’s binding technology in the production of its 400-layer NAND flash memory.
Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Wuhan, China, YMTC is a subsidiary of Tsinghua Unigroup, which is supported by the Chinese government. It focuses on 3D NAND -Flash Memory, a critical component of storage devices such as SSDs, smartphones and data centers and most famously developed Xtacking technology, a proprietary architecture that improves NAND flash performance and density.
According to Korea’s Chosunbiz The news site, Samsung probably entered into the agreement to avoid a patent present in connection with this “hybrid binding”, which will be an important process in mass production of 400-layer NAND memory.
US-China Trade War a factor?
“YMTC registered hybrid binding patent and was the first to use the relevant technology in the manufacturing process of NAND-Flash Memory. Although YMTC markedly spores behind global memory sincerity management companies such as Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix in the form of market shares, it is quick to catch up with South Korean companies that begin a lot of production of 294-Layer Nand-Flash Memory, ”explains the place.
It is assumed that the agreement will protect both companies from violating each other’s patents. YMTC sued Micron in an American court last year and claimed violation of his nand -tech.
Chosunbiz Quotes a semiconductor industry insider as saying: “In the memory falcon industry, companies sign licensing agreements in advance to avoid patent disputes before the next generation product development and production. While such agreements are a common practice in the industry, concerns are growing about the rapid narrowing of the technology between China and leading companies as Samsung, the top player at Nand Flash Memory Market, is now using patents from a Chinese company. “
EENEWS Analog Points out that there could be more to the deal than just wanting to avoid violation. “It may also reflect that a trade war in the US China can affect YMTC’s ability to sell memory components outside China and that a license or cross-license event for different technologies can benefit YMTC,” the site writes.
Chosunbiz’s Article does not mention SK Hynix, Samsung’s South Korean memory rival, but it is possible – probably even – that it will also have explored or entered into similar licensing agreements with YMTC to ensure hybrid binding technology for its own NAND flash production.
