Akros 社 Pete Klessel 氏とのインタービュー

Q1 Please, briefly describe Akros Silicon to our readers.

Akros Silicon is a provider of leading edge power management ICs that offer superior efficiency performance, and advanced features to facilitate remote and intelligent network-based energy management. Our solutions help manufacturers of electronic equipment create more efficient and advanced products at reduced costs, while enabling end users the ability to reduce energy usage.

Q2 What characterizes Akros’ products over those of the competition?

Akros’ breakthrough and proprietary GreenEdge? digital isolation technology enables unprecedented integration by eliminating the traditional isolation barrier to create a Power System-on-a-Chip (Power SoC) solution. Each SoC replaces “bag of chips” designs with flexible and efficient platform solutions that shrink the design footprint and lower the bill-of-material costs ? all while delivering enhanced end-to-end system capability.

Q3 Can you please summarize your development roadmap for us?

Our roadmap includes SoC products designed around our core competency of high efficiency analog coupled with our isolation capabilities. Our SoC solutions are the industries most integrated PoE solutions. These allow not only cost and space saving benefits, but the SoC approach also offers the best solution for demanding designs requiring better network power management. Our AS18xx family of devices include the GPIO across the isolation barrier with primary side A/D and I2C communication. This is the only device of its kind to enable total network power management. Future devices will include more integrated isolated power convertors, with industry leading efficiency and cost savings.

Q4 What are your main target markets in Japan?

Main targets in Japan include customers focused on superior power management of appliances controlled by digital networks. Japan is a world leading country in moving towards more efficient power networks. Appliances powered over network cables are growing in both higher wattage and market segments. The Akros product family is the most aligned with present and future requirements of leading customers with demanding design requirements with restricted power budgets.

Q5 Of those targets, are there any specific segments where you particularly see potential for growth in Japan?

Power over Ethernet market segments including IP Cameras, IP Phones, Wireless Access Points (WAP), Base Stations and Industrial applications are our main worldwide customer segments. For Japan, we see an expansion into other applications, including Solid State Lighting, building control for heating and air-conditioning, security and medical systems. One of our new Japanese customers in the lighting space actually coined the term “Lighting over Ethernet.”

Q6 What are your expectations for the Japanese market in general?

Japan is one of the leading countries in energy saving with intelligent power management. So we see a tremendous opportunity in this market for networked controlled power sources.

Q7 What are your expectations relative to Akros’ partnership with Global Electronics?

Global Electronics has the technical resources to help our Japanese customers meet their design targets. Our partnership with GEC is one that will help Japanese technology companies focus on their complex product development with little concern over the power requirements.

Q8 Please, feel free to send a brief message to our Japanese customers.

To our customers, we would like to say thank you for having chosen Akros Silicon products for their power design needs. We will keep striving to help our customers in their future development of new exciting products.