June 2000

Editorial Notes VIPower POWER MOSFETs POWER BIPOLAR IGBT

Dear Reader, ST is among the world leaders in many standard products and its portfolio ranges from power discretes and standard ICs to non-volatile memories. Within the power discretes market, power transistors represent an available global market close to $6 billion. ST addresses this entire market with four main product lines: bipolar transistors, power MOS transistors, smart power (VIPower®), and Radio Frequency. The Company is fully committed to these products, with extensive and continuous investment in R&D and design, as well as in manufacturing capacity and packaging technology. ST's strategy for power transistors, as with other products, is to move up the value chain by developing application specific standard products, for example power bipolar transistors for horizontal deflection in TVs and monitors, electronic lighting ballasts and power supply applications; power mosfets and igbts for discharge lamps; AC/DC, DC/DC for industrial applications; converters for industrial applications; and smart power devices for automotive engine and body electronic solutions and consumer set-top boxes. A dedicated technical marketing and field application force is in place working directly with customer designers to define the right products for existing and emerging markets. ST's close partnership with its customers, with a strong focus on the end application solution are key factors in the Company's drive to improve its market share and maintain a leadership position in the field of power transistors.