First-Ever Hydrogen Generation
Device that Runs on Water

Samsung Electro-Mechanics displays the cartridge in use for the fuel-cell handsets during KES 2007

Samsung Electro-Mechanics has developed the first-ever small hydrogen generation cartridge in use for the fuel cell of handsets.
The 40-cc hydrogen generation cartridge, capable of producing a maximum of 3W of electricity, can extract hydrogen from water.
The device, developed for the first time in the world, was exhibited during the Korea Electronics Show 2007 (KES 2007), held at the KINTEX in Goyang, north of Seoul from Oct. 9-13.
The fuel cell, fitted with the cartridge, can last 10 hours twice as long as the existing secondary battery.
Once water in the cartridge is used up, the cartridge can be replaced with a new one, so handset users do not have to charge their secondary battery.
Assuming that customers use handsets for an average of four hours daily, it means that they need to replace the cartridge with a new one once in every five days.
The product is not harmful to the human body nor is there any risk of explosion because it extracts hydrogen from water.
Since the product supplies only hydrogen as its fuel, it can be attached to all Plolymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC), and the supply of hydrogen can be controlled freely.
The size of the latest product can be reduced by half compared to the Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (DMFC) type fuel cell batteries since the former does not require the separate mechanical device, Balance of Patent.
Samsung Electro-Mechanics applied for some 30 patents related to the device.
The company plans to take the lead in the market by combining the hydrogen-generating device with diverse mobile gadgets, including PDAs and digital cameras.
According to a study by Nomura Research Institute, the global fuel cell market is projected to achieve an average growth rate of 300 percent from 250 billion won in 2008 to 600 billion won in 2010 and 1.65 trillion won in 2012. nw
Samsung Unveils World's Thinnest IC Substrate
Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co. has developed the world's thinnest semiconductor substrate that is 20 percent more compact than the best existing one.
Substrate is a supporting material on which circuits are formed or fabricated. It acts as a bridge between semiconductors and the main boards of various electronic appliances including computers.
Samsung Electro-Mechanics developed substrate at 0.08 millimeters is thinner than a regular sheet of paper and can be used to stack up to 20 layers of flash memory and static random access memory chips.
The company said samples are being sent to semiconductor manufacturers around the world for test. If proven effective, it plans to begin commercial production later this year.
At present, the thinnest substrate is the 0.1 millimeter model made by Samsung Electro-Mechanics in 2005.
Samsung Electro-Mechanics has been the world's top producer of semiconductor substrates for the past three years, with a global market share of 20 percent.
"The interval between the new substrate circuitry is 20 micro-meters,"a company spokesman said. "It's made by using the latest innovative production methods developed by the company."He added that Samsung used special copper clad tape laminates as the basic material for the new product. nw

The world's first hydrogen generation device that runs on water. (right photo) Samsung Electron-Mechanics President and CEO Kang Ho-moon. ( far below) the world's thinnest IC substrate