Positioning and shifting of technology focus for integrated device manufacturers by patent perspectives

• Position and position shifting of technology focus on IDM companies are examined.
• Some IDM companies claimed to join foundry business located in foundry oriented area.
• A positioning map of competitive analysis is provided in patent perspectives.
• Patents not only show a company's capability but also imply their business strategy.

The relationship between integrated device manufacturers (IDMs) and contract chip makers (foundries) in the semiconductor industry has changed over the past three decades. An increasing number of IDM companies have diversified or branched off as foundry companies, whether officially or privately. This paper explores the technology focus of IDM companies and the shifting of that focus by examining the shifts in focus of productivity, quality, and integrated measurement of selected IDM companies between 1981 and 2010 by patent perspective. The results of this research reveal that AMD, one of the more notable companies to have established a pure foundry company from an IDM company, is located in the foundry-oriented area. Additionally it shows that, although Micron and TI have not officially announced their intentions to diversify or branch off as foundry companies, the two are located in the foundry-oriented area as a means of showing their competitive positions with regard to joining the foundry business.