Defining Blue
Identity, purpose and cause: Teaming to provide an "industry voice"

As a follow on to his role as lead instructor of CompoundSemi Online's Classic "Nitride 101" Video, Bob will provide an overview of the technology and manufacturing involved to produce Nitride-based blue spectrum LEDs and LDs, pointing attendees to about two pounds of handout materials that should bring anyone up to reasonable fluency.

As the first Nitride expert from Russian to emigrate to the USA, Michael Shur is a noted pioneer catalyst in blue spectrum and GaN-based electronic development. His new "Introduction to Solid State Lighting" textbook is just out, so he literally "wrote the book." This presentation focuses on the realities of what it takes to truly replace traditional white light sources with energy-saving solid state solutions.

Today's blue spectrum devices came to the forefront because of major breakthroughs in the Group III Nitride material science. This quick survey will provide an application and market assessment of the present and future market for Nitride-based devices, including present R&D activities, major applications and market forecasts by application.

A brief history of the compound semiconductor "Rollercoaster Ride" - what drove the growth and development of the complex manufacturing tools in use today, and a look at current market trends and how these machines will evolve to meet the needs of the Blue Spectrum industry over the next decade.

"Going for the gold" in blue spectrum terms means striving to achieve the perfect substrate, yet GaN appears to be lagging its photonic and ultra-high speed contemporaries in both size and consitency. This overview will provide the foundational information to sort through the terminology describing the differing types of GaN wafers being used today. We'll also see that although the start was slow, rapid progress is being made at numerous sites with the production of true GaN wafers and GaN boules of 2- to 4-inch diameters.

Once limited to a narrow range of colors, LEDs to now span the entire spectrum, and blue spectrum solutions are reaching cost-effective brightness and efficiency levels worthy of replacing traditional white lighting sources with solid state white LEDs. Sandia, on behalf of the Department of Energy (DoE), is helping lead LED advancements to support the USA's national initiative to dramatically reduce energy consumption and environmental pollution, and enhance the quality of the human visual experience.

Burt offers his sometimes serious, sometimes humorous take on competition, cooperation, intellectual property, and why business deals may happen in the bathroom... but rarely in the courtroom

The USA's Department of Defense continues to be a major catalyst for blue spectrum development. Among the many programs throughout the services is SUVOS (Semiconductor UltraViolet Optical Sources), a Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA) initiative, the initial goal of which is to develop efficient, high power, multiwavelength UV gallium nitride-based semiconductor emitters and to employ these devices in an integrated, ultralightweight portable system for bioagent warning and detection.

RPI's Lighting Research Center is helping advance blue spectrum LEDs and LD as the enabling technology behind a number of critical medical and health applications. Their efforts are "Lighting the Way" for senior adults as well as retina and cancer patients.

Noble Johnson, Palo Alto Research Center (PARC)

Nitride laser diodes operating near 400 nm (generally referred to as "blue" but more accurately in the "violet") are a commercial reality enabling the next generation of systems for high-density optical data storage and other applications. From this "sweet spot" in the violet, the nitride materials are being developed for both shorter wavelengths (i.e., the ultra-violet) or longer wavelengths (e.g., towards the green). Both present significant challenges and exciting opportunities.

Alan Thompson, Sr. Tech Editor, CompoundSemi News and Robert Walker, Managing Dir, Vincera Ventures

In an interactive forum, hear brief capability overviews from representatives of the top infrastructure suppliers, covering starting substrates (SiC, sapphire, native and "universal"), epiwafer foundries, and final packaging and test.

Introduction and brief overview of the first wave of companies involved in leading edge applications for blue spectrum LEDs and LDs.

With roots in the early days of SiC in the mid '80s, Cree has remained an innovative... and intriguing pioneering company, bringing progressively brighter and stronger blue spectrum LEDs and LDs to bear on a demanding market. As a founding partner, John shares the sustained vision that continues to keep Cree in the forefront in its long-term, and often hard-fought efforts to develop and commercialize leading edge GaN-on-SiC devices.

Whether it's lighting the State Theater in Munich, enhancing the guests' well-being in an Austrian alpine hotel or creating art from industry in a former power station with LED light tiles creating associations with glittering emeralds, sapphires and rubies, it's all about possibilities...

Keith Scott, SSL Market Development, Lumileds Lighting, a Joint Venture of Agilent and Philips

When strong parents lend their support to a joint venture's vision, it can be a big boost for the trend from indication to illumination. The result of such a well-resourced approach are products that simply could never be done before...

Dueling paradigms: Fitting Solid State Lighting into the Standard Socket or Fitting the Socket to the Standard SSL? Both approaches may have their place, but the key is making the customer happier than they expected...

Srinath Aanegola, Prgm Mgr, White Systems, GELcore, a Joint Venture of GE Lighting and Emcore

An overview of benefits and challenges associated with a near-UV based approach for solid state illumination.

There's a lot of 'noise' out there, and a limited amount of "airtime" available. Here's a "How To" session that will pay off when it comes to helping a company make the cut... including the importance of "a good hook" and secrets to making the reporter's job easier. Dallas' "Dean of Broadcast Journalism" will bring his experience and humor to this instructive session.

This unique perspective, from a former analyst who has "crossed The Street" will help clue others in about how to sort through which information is truly valuable, balanced against what companies can actually say.

Today's leading manufacturers of red spectrum laser diode-based DVD equipment are driving tomorrow's blue laser-based systems... Hear where the standard-setters, are headed. The collective challenge to blue LD developers is: "What do we need... Why do we need it... and Where (and When) are we going to get it?

Introduction and brief overview of a second wave of companies involved in leading edge applications for blue spectrum LEDs and LDs.

"Phosphors & Coatings" and "LEDs 2002" -- Intertech
Related Industry Annual Tech Meetings:  ICNS, ICSCRM, MRS, OMVPE and MOVPE conferences
-- Alan Thompson, CompoundSemi Online
Additional conference reports and speakers to be announced

The acclaimed pioneering blue spectrum "breakthrough artist," Shuji Nakamura and his UCSB colleague, Steve DenBaars, will provide a glimpse into the future of blue spectrum materials and device development with a behind scenes look at what's actually underway in UCSB's Nakamura Laboratory.

Award winners will be available in a panel format for "the nuggets"

Introduction and overview of the applications and companies involved, in a series of brief presentations.