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I was planning to use some Toshiba motor driver chips (TB6612FNG) in a PCB design because that chip is listed in Seeed's Open Parts Library and used in several

by hugs 10y ago

I was planning to use some Toshiba motor driver chips (TB6612FNG) in a PCB design because that chip is listed in Seeed's Open Parts Library and used in several SparkFun and Adafruit boards. Wondering if I should hold off, design for a different chip, or just assume everything will be fine...

jacquesm 10y ago
Most likely Toshiba's chip business will survive either as a stand alone company or by selling the division to another company. The usual effect of such a move is that there is an immediate focus on profitability. If the chip you are looking at is strategic to Toshiba at the moment and a big driver of revenues then probably you would not have to worry, if it is niche and so low volume you might be better off looking elsewhere. I've done enough hardware projects to utterly hate the fact that when the design is finalized you will see that dreaded 'out of stock' marker next to a critical component and if you're lucky you can find enough parts to finish your run. If you're unlucky you end up stranded so I feel your pain.
Danieru 10y ago
The Japanese government is not about to let a major company like Toshiba stop operating. Not over an issue driven by a foreign company. The plan I heard was for the semiconductor side to be sold. That might be something you care about.
- hugs 10y ago
  Yeah, the article hints at that (re: selling the memory chip business). Does the memory chip business include all chips or really just memory chips? (Probably can't expect this level of detail from a Bloomberg article.)
Arizhel 10y ago
Profitable and successful parts of otherwise failing companies do not simply disappear. They either get spun off into separate companies, or sold. There's been a lot of consolidation in the semiconductor market in the past several years, for instance with Texas Instruments acquiring National Semiconductor. Those products don't just disappear, they continue on, but with a new logo.
drzaiusapelord 10y ago
Toshiba is an Asian-style super company. It makes everything from robot dogs to nuclear power plants. In even a worst case scenario you'd just see it semi-conductor division split off into its own company. The same way we'll probably see Samsung spin-off considering its recent financial woes. I believe HTC, while not a powerhouse, has split its VR division from the primary cell phone division as to not have its dying cell phone market hurt its VR ambitions. I suspect globalization naturally doesn't like super companies and Asian economies with such companies are probably looking at a splitting sooner than later.
kalleboo 10y ago
Worst case, Toshiba's chip business ends up part of Renesas along with with chip businesses of NEC, Hitachi, Mitsubishi...

by hugs 10y ago

jacquesm 10y ago

Most likely Toshiba's chip business will survive either as a stand alone company or by selling the division to another company. The usual effect of such a move is that there is an immediate focus on profitability. If the chip you are looking at is strategic to Toshiba at the moment and a big driver of revenues then probably you would not have to worry, if it is niche and so low volume you might be better off looking elsewhere. I've done enough hardware projects to utterly hate the fact that when the design is finalized you will see that dreaded 'out of stock' marker next to a critical component and if you're lucky you can find enough parts to finish your run. If you're unlucky you end up stranded so I feel your pain.

Danieru 10y ago

The Japanese government is not about to let a major company like Toshiba stop operating. Not over an issue driven by a foreign company. The plan I heard was for the semiconductor side to be sold. That might be something you care about.

hugs 10y ago
Yeah, the article hints at that (re: selling the memory chip business). Does the memory chip business include all chips or really just memory chips? (Probably can't expect this level of detail from a Bloomberg article.)

Arizhel 10y ago

Profitable and successful parts of otherwise failing companies do not simply disappear. They either get spun off into separate companies, or sold. There's been a lot of consolidation in the semiconductor market in the past several years, for instance with Texas Instruments acquiring National Semiconductor. Those products don't just disappear, they continue on, but with a new logo.

drzaiusapelord 10y ago

Toshiba is an Asian-style super company. It makes everything from robot dogs to nuclear power plants. In even a worst case scenario you'd just see it semi-conductor division split off into its own company. The same way we'll probably see Samsung spin-off considering its recent financial woes. I believe HTC, while not a powerhouse, has split its VR division from the primary cell phone division as to not have its dying cell phone market hurt its VR ambitions. I suspect globalization naturally doesn't like super companies and Asian economies with such companies are probably looking at a splitting sooner than later.

kalleboo 10y ago

Worst case, Toshiba's chip business ends up part of Renesas along with with chip businesses of NEC, Hitachi, Mitsubishi...