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Sat, January 28, 2023 | 13:07
Tech
LG to use own chips for Optimus GII
LG電, 팹리스 업체로 변신
Posted : 2013-02-22 16:04
Updated : 2013-02-22 16:04
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By Kim Yoo-chul

LG Electronics will produce its first in-house mobile application processor from the latter half of this year after its research lab recently completed the development of Odin chips.

The company's high appetite for chip-related businesses reflect its desperate efforts to find new revenue sources and to challenge Samsung Electronics and Broadcom.

''LG Electronics is going to mass-produce the Odin processors by using finer 28-nanometer level processing, applying high-k metal gate (HKMG) technology. The processors will be used in LG's next flagship Optimus smartphone ― the Optimus GII ― which will probably be unveiled in this fall's IFA trade fair,'' said an LG official by telephone, Thursday.

The advanced chips will have octa-core functionality, meaning the next LG handsets will be speedier and more powerful.

Because LG doesn't have chip-making facilities, Taiwan's TSMC will manufacture the processors, according to the official.

''Odin is a major god in Norse mythology and the ruler of Asgard. LG Electronics hopes to make big impact on the global mobile application market,'' the official said.

The Odin processor will feature the architecture of big.LITTLE, developed by British chip designer ARM.

The processing based on big.LITTLE addresses one of today's industry challenges of how to create a system on chip (SoC) that provides both high performance as well as extreme power efficiency to extend battery life

The chips based on such architectural features as two quad-core processor clusters ― one based on A15 cores and the other on A7 cores.

''When you want to do energy-intensive jobs such as graphics work or 3D gaming, then the A15 cores will operate. For Web surfing, the A7 cores will better serve,'' said the official.

Company spokesman G.W. Kim said that the firm is already looking into various chip-related products to strengthen its competitiveness in smartphones.

''CEO Koo Bon-joon is injecting more resources in smartphone-related projects to fully revive the business. LG is striving to transform itself into a major fabless chip-making firm by increasing the number of its qualified chip designers and giving authority to associated divisions,'' said the officials.

Fabless means that the company doesn't have the in-house means to fabricate its own chips, but like Nvidia and its Tegra line of SoCs, relies on a third-party foundry chipmaker.

''We want to be much more independent to have power both in parts and finished-goods like Samsung by improving our in-house chips,'' said the official.

''LG has taken the first big steps toward its aim to become a major and reliable fabless chipmaker by successfully completing the development of Odin processor.''

KB Investment Securities said it could be a sign that LG's big.LITTLE concept will be more than vaporware. ''We still doubt that it will see service in smartphones, but it could be a killer chip for next generation tablets.''

Currently, LG is the only firm using its chips in devices.



LG電, 팹리스 업체로 변신

LG전자의 시스템 반도체 사업이 탄력을 받고 있다.

이미 올해 자사의 스마트TV에 독자 개발한 ``H13’’ 시스템온칩 (SOC)을 탑재하기 시작한 LG전자는 빠르면 올 가을 독일 베를린에서 개최되는 IFA쇼에 내놓을 전략 스마트폰인 옵티머스 G2에 자체 개발한 모바일 어플리케이션 프로세서 (AP)를 사용하기로 했다. 

TV와 핸드폰 등 자사의 핵심 사업군에 자체 개발한 시스템칩을 탑재함으로써 SOC 역량을 키우는 한편 삼성전자처럼 완제품과 부품사업의 확실한 이원화를 통해 안정적인 수익원을 창출하고 회사의 유기적 성장을 꾀하겠다는 전략의 일환으로 풀이된다.

LG전자는 이미 인력 규모로는 국내 최대 팹리스 (fabless) 업체다. 이 회사의 시스템반도체 연구소와 디지털 TV연구소 인력은 총 1천여명을 넘어선 상태다. 또 계속해서 연구개발 인력을 확충하고 있다.

구본준 LG전자 대표이사 (부회장)은 기초 기술 역량을 확보해야 완성품도 경쟁력을 갖출 수 있다고 판단, 관련 분야 투자를 늘리는 등 독자 시스템 반도체 설계에 힘을 실어주고 있다.

22일 LG의 한 관계자는 ``하반기 출시될 옵티머스 G2 핸드폰에 자체 개발한 AP가 들어갈 것’’이라며 ``이 AP는 삼성전자의 `엑시노스 옥타’와 마찬가지로 옥타-코어며 통신칩 기능은 제외됐으나 대만의 파운드리 업체인 TSMC가 28나노 하이메탈게이트 (HKMG) 미세 공정으로 생산할 것’’이라고 밝혔다.

이 AP의 이름은 `오딘’이라고 명명된 것으로 알려졌다. 이 관계자는 이어 ``진화하는 디지털 기기의 성능에 맞춰 시스템 반도체 설계 능력을 더 강화할 수 있다면 회사의 차세대 먹거리 창출에도 큰 플러스 요인이 될 것’’이라고 강조했다.

권희원 LG전자 홈엔터테인먼트 (HE) 부문 사장도 20일 기자와 만나 시스템 칩 역량 강화와 관련한 질문에 ``매우 잘 되고 있다’’며 ``관련 이슈에 대해 추가로 설명할 기회가 있을 것’’이라고 말한 바 있다.

오딘 AP는 ARM 기반의 ‘빅리틀(big.LITTLE)’ 아키텍처가 적용됐다. 높은 성능을 필요로 하는 3D 게임이나 그래픽 작업에서는 ‘코어텍스 A15’가 작동하고 웹서핑, 동영상 감상 등 상대적으로 전력소비량이 낮은 작업은 ‘코어텍스 A7’을 이용하는 방식이다.

코어 수는 8개이며 고성능 그래픽프로세싱유닛(GPU)을 통해 풀HD(해상도 1920×1080)는 물론 그 이상의 해상도도 지원이 가능하다. 성능은 뚜껑을 열어봐야 하지만 일단 기본적인 사양과 미세공정은 엑시노스5 옥타와 큰 차이가 없다.

오딘 AP 개발이 완료되면서 앞으로 LG전자는 자사의 스마트폰, 태블릿 등 스마트 기기의 성능을 대폭 향상시킬 수 있게 됐고 연간 AP 구매 비용을 대폭 줄일 수 있게 됐다.

LG의 다른 관계자는 ``자체 AP 개발 성공으로 경쟁 스마트 기기와의 차별화를 꾀할 수 있고 더 빠른 운영체제(OS) 업그레이드 지원이 가능해졌다’’며 ``앞으로도 기초 기술 역량 강화에 더 힘을 쏟겠다’’고 말했다.

그러나 자체 시스템 반도체가 LG전자외 다른 고객군을 확보하지 못하고 있는 것은 풀어야 할 숙제로 꼽힌다. 삼성전자는 AP등 시스템 반도체를 애플을 비롯 중국의 메이저 PC업체 등에 납품하면서 큰 수익을 벌어들이고 있다.

이 관계자는 ``단기적으로는 수익을 내기 힘들겠지만 중.장기적으로는 LG전자의 시스템 반도체를 사갈 수 있는 `큰 손’을 확보하기 위해 노력할 것’’이라고 말했다.

 

 


Emailyckim@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
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