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Blue
2003: Behind the Hot Apps
The Blue Spectrum Industry Review |
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Blue
Spectrum Pioneer Awards
| Blue spectrum solid state light emitting diodes (LEDs) and laser
diodes (LDs) made of Group III nitride materials, are revolutionizing
the world of lighting and optical storage. The history of their evolution
is the classic "20 year overnight success" story. The visionaries
who pioneered the commercial applications kept chipping away and,
finally, in 2003 the blue spectrum industry is tapping the Mother
Lode. These awards are a part of this remarkable story. You can also
view the full text of the award
writeup... |
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Educated in Russia, Michael Shur, Ph.D., holds the Patricia W. and C. Sheldon Roberts Professorship in the Electrical Computer and Systems Engineering Department at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, New York USA. Michael’s original contribution was "solid fact," revealing the appropriateness and realities of applying GaN solutions to a myriad of solid state lighting challenges. His Introduction to Solid State Lighting, co-authored by Arturas Zukauskas and Remis Caska, is now THE textbook in this quickly evolving, truly revolutionary field. Michael Shur represents the power and potential of international synergy |
Many brilliant ideas started at Bell Labs, including the epitaxial tool that would eventually lead the compound semi industry toward the growth process that has come to make GaN devices the commercial success they are today. EMCORE began as a Bell Labs spinout, Emcore was founded by Norman S. Schumaker, Ph.D, with his vision to create reproducible, high brightness photonic devices and outstanding electronic devices in volume quantities. Others were quick to follow Emcore’s lead, with most focusing on customized R&D tools, but two companies in particular, Emcore and Aixtron, created progressively larger scale MOCVD reactors that eventually facilitated the mass production of LED and LD devices in all colors of the visible and UV. Norm Schumaker represents the power of reproducibility. Without reliable repeatability, you simply have science. If you have a product people want and need, and you can make it for less than you can sell it, you have the criteria for commercial success. |
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A group of brilliant students studied the prospects of a recalcitrant compound semi material, called silicon carbide (SiC), under North Carolina State University’s famed Bob Davis. A comfortably close wide bandgap material to GaN, the founders of Cree were able to successfully grow their own material and fashion it into progressively more reliable, reproducible blue spectrum devices. The first true, commercial blue spectrum LEDs came from Cree in Durham, North Carolina USA, and found their way into soft, cool, pleasing lighting in eye-sensitive interior environments like elevators and the interior of automobiles. Cree’s technical founders, John Edmond, Calvin Carter, and John Palamour, represent the classic American entrepreneurial ‘Dream Team,’ proving to us all, once again, that dreams really can come true. |
As Director of Optoelectronics Programs at Strategies, Dr. Robert V. Steele, PhD, has co-authored more than 30 multiclient and single client reports on optoelectronic markets, technology and competition, and has pioneered responsible reporting of the evolution of blue spectrum devices. Since 1997 he has provided the annual laser diode market update and forecast for Laser Focus World magazine and the Laser Marketplace Seminar, and is the Chair of Strategies in Light, the company’s annual industry conference on HB-LEDs. Bob Steele represents the importance of patience, accuracy, and objectivity. And he adds that personal touch, which continues to help foster a spirit of inclusiveness, cohesiveness, and cooperation that, distinguishes the international blue spectrum community. |
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Shuji Nakamura, Ph.D., has become one of the most noteworthy and most colorful technology heroes to hit the high tech world for some time. While he may not have "invented" the LED nor blue spectrum LEDs and LDs as you can see by the stories of his fellow CompoundSemi Pioneers, he certainly made today’s devices possible, and popular. And he did it with a persistent faith in his material of choice, GaN, employing a growth process everyone wanted to emulate. Shuji Nakamura represents the power of true innovation when it’s combined with a profound respect for the environment a cause Asians traditionally and naturally embrace. There's something to learn there for all of us... |
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All event and site format, content and technology copyright 2003 by CompoundSemi Online, Inc. |