TORRANCE, CA — Seika Machinery has developed an application for the recovery of data and removal of moisture from cellphones submerged in water.

WASHINGTON -- New orders for manufactured goods rose in September for the fifth time in six months, increasing 0.9%
to $356.1 billion, the US Census Bureau reported today. Durables orders were up 1.4% sequentially.

WASHINGTON – The US International Trade Commission said it would review a judge’s final initial determination issued Aug. 28, in which no violations of certain Tessera patents were found.
 
The complaint, which Tessera initially filed in January 2008, alleges violations against its patents involving importation of certain semiconductors of minimal package size.
 
The complaint originally named 18 respondents. The following remain in the investigation: Acer and Acer America; Centon Electronics; Elpida Memory and Elpida Memory (USA); Kingston Technology; Nanya Technology and Nanya Technology Corp. USA; Powerchip Semiconductor; ProMOS Technologies; Ramaxel Technology; Smart Modular Technologies.
 
The parties are requested to brief their positions on the issues under review; the commission is interested in receiving written submissions that address the form of remedy, if any, that should be ordered.
 
Written submissions and proposed remedial orders are requested by Nov. 13.

SAN JOSE – Third-quarter worldwide semiconductor sales were $61.9 billion, up 19.7% sequentially, the Semiconductor Industry Association reported today. Sales were down 10.1% year-over-year. 

September sales were $20.1 billion, up 8.2% from August.
 
“Global semiconductor sales in the third quarter were above expectations,” said SIA President George Scalise. “September sales were in line with historical patterns, reflecting increased demand from end-users as they began the build for the holiday season. Unit sales of personal computers and cell phones – the two largest demand drivers for semiconductors – continue to run ahead of earlier forecasts. Meanwhile, demand for semiconductors for industrial applications – a sector that had declined sharply – showed initial signs of recovery. Sales increased in all geographic regions.
 
“Amid signs that we are in the early stages of recovery in the global economy, semiconductor sales continue to reflect normal seasonal patterns. Sales are running well ahead of the worst-case scenarios projected early in the year, and we are optimistic that total sales for 2009 will be better than our mid-year forecast,” Scalise concluded.