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Editorial: Perspective on TriQuint's Acquisition of WJ Communications
... Two historically pivotal USA-based companies in the compound semi industry have officially become one. While some merely look at the recently completed acquisition of WJ Communications of California by TriQuint Semiconductor of Oregon as further consolidation of the wireless communications space, there's much, much more to the story....
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June 4, 2008...Mentarix Pt. Ltd of Singapore, a solar photovoltaic component startup, has received its first round of financing. BAF Spectrum, a venture capital firm based in Singapore, which specializes in clean technology businesses, has bought a 30 percent stake in the company. Mentarix says it plans to utilize quantum dot nanotechnology and photonic technology, to increase solar photovoltaic cell operating efficiency by at least 20 percent from their relative baseline. According to Mentarix, the technology is applicable to both traditional crystalline silicon cells, thin film cells based on cadmium telluride/cadmium sulfide (CdTe/CdS), copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) and amorphous silicon. Mentarix plans to develop and produce a thin film that is attached on to the existing solar cells to change the incoming sunlight characteristics so it is more easily absorbed the underlying solar panels.
Mentarix points out that its strong and experienced founding team will work with other experts from the Nanyang Polytechnic in Singapore to assist in developing and commercializing the products. “BAF Spectrum shares our long-term vision in building a vertical solar-hydrogen industry business to power the world energy need. I admire their commitment and willingness to take risk at the current prototyping stage, “ said Mr. Chee Khar Chit, founder and CEO of Mentarix. Mentarix News Release Nextreme Thermal Solutions and Princeton Lightwave to Jointly Develop Next Generation Imaging Sensors
CompoundSemi News StaffJune 4, 2008...Netreme Thermal Solutions, Inc. and Princeton Lightwave, Inc. (PLI) have entered into an agreement to jointly develop a SWIR focal plane sensor using extremely efficient thermoelectric cooling. Nextreme Thermal Solutions, Inc. of Durham, North Carolina is a microscale thermal and power management product developer and maker. Princeton Lighting, Inc. of Cranbury, New Jersey USA, is a leader in producing short wave infrared (SWIR) sensors and lasers for the defense industry.
According to Nextreme, the unique solution will combine its unique thermal bump technology and Princeton Lightwave's indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) focal plane arrays. The combination will dramatically reduce power consumption and weight, and improve overall performance. Nextreme explains that detector performance is usually limited by thermally-generated noise, and thermally generated noise can be reduce by cooling. Nextreme says that these features will allow wide deployment of more efficient, and lighter weight and more sensitive SWIR sensors for night vision systems, weapon-sights and laser-based ranging and tracking devices.
“Nextreme’s technology and assembly platforms for thermoelectric devices together with PLI’s low dark current, high performance 2 D focal plane arrays have great potential for achieving significant efficiency improvements over conventional techniques,” said Sabbir Rangwala, V.P. Product Development at PLI. “Their technology offers a path for innovative integration within PLI sensors in order to provide superior performance with power efficient cooling.” Nextreme News Release
Digi-Key Corporation Agrees to Distribute and Provide Customer Service for TriQuint Products
CompoundSemi News StaffJune 4, 2008...Digi-Key Corporation of Thief River Falls, Minnesota and TriQuint Semiconductor, Inc. of Hillsboro, Oregon USA, jointly announced that they have entered into a global distribution agreement. TriQuint Semiconductor supplies high-performance modules and components for wireless handsets, base stations, broadband communications, space, and military products.
Under the terms of the agreement, Digi-Key Corporation, a broad-line distributor of electronic components and accessories will select the products, stock the products and feature the products in its print and online catalogs. TriQuint products featured in Digi-Key’s catalogs can be purchased directly from Digi-Key. TriQuint indicated that it hopes Digi-Key will help it supply its products and customer service to customers from all areas of industry and commerce. Mark Larson, Digi-Key president and COO commented, “TriQuint’s demonstrated commitment to quality and reliability, plus its wide range of industry-leading RF products, complements Digi-Key’s commitment to provide its customers with the best possible service.”
Digi-Key News Release Fraunhofer Institute Orders Aixtron MOCVD Tool for Multi-Junction Solar Cells on Silicon
CompoundSemi News StaffJune 4, 2008...Aixtron AG, a maker of MOCVD equipment based in Aachen, Germany, announced that the Fraunhofer Institut für Solare Energiesysteme (Fraunhofer ISE) has ordered its 300mm Close Coupled Showerhead CRIUS epitaxy reactor.
Fraunhofer ISE, located in Freiburg, Germany, reports that it will use the system for the research and development of GaAs-based multi-junction solar cells on Si.
“Within the scope of the BMBF project "III-V-Si" we will receive Aixtron’s Close Coupled Showerhead system,” said Dr. Frank Dimroth, head of the III-V-Epitaxy and Solar Cells group. “Fraunhofer ISE operates an AIX 2600G3 Planetary Reactor for more than 10 years and has achieved excellent results on this tool. Now we would like to start a second development pathway focussing on single large wafer processes on Si. We have been working with Aixtron and closely monitored the evolution of growth technology for the preparation of compound semiconductor thin films on silicon wafers. This is a challenging task but we are confident that the CRIUS tool will meet our requirements of low memory effect, high uniformity and throughput with the requisite economics for solar cell production.” Aixtron News Release
Semisouth Laboratories Receives $4.9m for Phase III of Silicon Carbide Advancements
CompoundSemi News StaffJune 2, 2008...Semisouth Laboratories of Austin, Texas USA, received $4.9 million from the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio for the advancement of silicon carbide (SiC) power semiconductor devices. The award is Phase III of a previously won, five-year Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) award for the advancement of SiC power devices for harsh environment applications. Semisouth successfully delivered on previous task orders focused on the design and reproducible manufacture of silicon carbide based power semiconductors. Phase III reportedly focuses on design advances, device reliability and manufacturing qualification for these SiC devices in preparation of their use in critical military applications.
According to Semisouth, the Phase III award funds the development of prototype reference designs of high-temperature, high-performance applications. Semisouth notes that one of the target applications is AFRL’s More Electric Aircraft (MEA) initiative. Semisouth says that initiative requires high-efficiency and high-temperature transistors that can only be realized with SiC. Dr. Jeffrey B. Casady, SemiSouth Chief Technology Officer, remarked, "Many of the DoD applications are limited by energy efficiency. In MEA applications, removing size and weight is absolutely critical for mission integrity. The energy-efficient, rugged nature of silicon carbide based power electronics enables smaller, lighter, and faster aircraft. Both the design and production work for this award are performed in our Mississippi facility." Semisouth Laboratories News Release Comtech Receives $2.0 Million Orders to Support Blue Force Tracking Program
CompoundSemi News StaffJune 2, 2008...Comtech Telecommunications Corp. of Melville, New York USA, reported today that its Maryland-based subsidiary, Comtech Mobile Datacom Corporation, received orders totaling $2.0 million under its IDIQ contract with the U.S. Army Communications Electronics Command (CECOM). The orders are for the support of the Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below -- Blue Force Tracking (FBCB2-BFT) program, a battle command real-time situational awareness and control system. Comtech did not reveal the name of the customer.
The company received orders to provide its Model MT-2011 Mobile Satellite Ground and Aviation Data Transceivers to support ongoing FBCB2 operations. Also, the company will provide added satellite network bandwidth and technical support and testing of Comtech's next-generation satellite aviation transceiver. Comtech Mobile Datacom Corporation of Germantown, Maryland provides satellite-based packet data communication systems and location and messaging services through the use of advanced communication and network technology. Comptech Telecommunications News Release Norwegian Orchestra is First to Take Advantage of Blu-ray Audio
CompoundSemi News StaffJune 2, 2008...Music lovers will soon have a new platform for unmatched sound recording and reproduction, Blu-ray. Blu-ray technology, which uses a blue laser made from a gallium nitride (GaN) laser diode, was originally designed to hold high definition movies. However, it also allows the recording of multiple audio formats on a audio only Blu-ray disc. A Norwegian orchestra is the first Blu-ray audio to be released to the public. A Norwegian recording studio called 2L is releasing the Blu-ray audio CD entitled “Divertimenti” . It is reportedly the label’s 50th record release and it marks the twentieth anniversary of the Trondheim soloist whose concert in Selbu Church is captured on the CD.
2L says that the Blu-ray technology makes use of five separate sound tracks and a complex recording and mixing process with very sophisticated equipment. 2L explains that each instrument is clearly positioned, creating a multidimensional listening experience of utmost clarity, unlike anything available before. Since few so far have the proper home equipment to actually play Blu-ray discs, the release also includes a SACD disc that is playable on all standard CD players and computers.
2L News Release Skyworks' PAs Support Qualcomm’s Future Handset Designs
CompoundSemi News StaffJune 2, 2008...Skyworks Solutions of Woburn, Massachusetts USA, reports that several of its new front-end solutions support Qualcomm's newest code division multiple access (CDMA) and HSDPA enhanced data for GSM evolution (HEDGE) reference platforms. The SKY77166, 450 megahertz (MHz) power amplifier (PA) for CDMA handsets and wireless local loop (WLL) applications is reportedly in a Qualcomm reference design for a future handset. Skyworks revealed that its SKY77183 (3 x 3 mm PA for the cellular band) and the SKY77184 (3 x 6 mm dual-band PA for cellular and PCS bands with integrated coupler), the company’s first PAs with full bypass mode are also in Qualcomm’s newest reference designs. Also, the SKY77336 PAM - designed in a compact 5 x 5 mm form factor for quad-band cellular handsets for GSM, GPRS and EDGE is part of the Qualcomm reference designs for future handsets.
"We are delighted to be working with Qualcomm on several exciting and upcoming handset platforms, particularly given their innovative radio architectures and technology leadership position," said David J. Aldrich, president and chief executive officer of Skyworks. "When combined with our core front-end capabilities, together we plan to deliver feature rich, best-in-class solutions to a number of the world's leading handset OEMs and smartphone suppliers." Skyworks News Release
Wal-Mart to Try Solar Concentrator Cells
CompoundSemi News StaffMay 28, 2008...Wal-Mart will be trying out solar power at one of its locations soon with the concentrator solar cells from Menova Energy Inc. The Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation (MRI) and Wal-Mart Canada announced that they are pursuing a project with Menova Energy that would provide up to $5.9 million to support the demonstration of the company's Power-Spar solar concentrator technology. The project is to install and test the technology on the roof of a Wal-Mart store in Ontario, which is yet to be selected or constructed. Under the project proposal, Ontario would provide Menova Energy a $2.8 million forgivable loan awarded through the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation’s Innovation Demonstration Fund.
Also under the proposal, Wal-Mart Canada would provide up to $3 million to support the testing and installation of the technology on one of the its store roofs. Wal-Mart Canada hopes to use the technology and the knowledge from the testing to help meet its long-term sustainability goal of using 100 percent renewable energy at all of its locations.
"This is an example of Ontario’s growing world leadership in solar energy," said Menova Energy president David Gerwing. "The Menova technology was developed in Ontario and will remain in Ontario thanks to the forward looking policies and commitment from this provincial government." Menova News Release RFMD and Selex Galileo Sign Supply Agreement
CompoundSemi News StaffMay 28, 2008...RFMD of Greensboro, North Carolina USA, has taken over the contracts of Filtronic, the company it acquired in February. RFMD and Silex Galileo announced the two companies have signed a strategic supply agreement that expands upon a former agreement signed in 2001 between Selex Galileo and a division of the former Filtronic Compound Semiconductor Ltd. According to RFMD, the supply agreement is expected to include several compound semiconductor-based components, including GaAs pHEMT MMICs. The pHEMT MMICs will support electronically scanned (ESCAN) radar and Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar applications.
RFMD says it will increasingly aid Selex Galileo in its delivery of current and future defense electronics programs. The companies anticipate the supply agreement to be valued at approximately $20 million through 2013. RFMD said it plans to expand its aerospace & defense business in Europe and strengthen its commitment to support European aerospace & defense customers with compound semiconductor components developed and manufactured in its Newton Aycliffe, UK-based subsidiary.
Bob Van Buskirk, president of RFMD's Multi-Market Products Group, speaking at the signing ceremony, said, "Selex Galileo is one of Europe's leading defense electronics suppliers, and they are a highly valued customer for RFMD. As the industry leader in the development and manufacture of compound semiconductors and the industry leader in the design and manufacture of RF components, RFMD is uniquely positioned to support Selex Galileo's stringent requirements for high-performance semiconductor components." RFMD News Release Our news features are reported
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The
McDonald Report
Commentary & Perspective...
Perspective on TriQuint's Acquisition of WJ Communications
Jo Ann McDonald, founding editorMay 28, 2008...Two historically pivotal USA-based companies in the compound semi industry
have officially become one. While some merely look at the recently completed
acquisition of WJ Communications of California by TriQuint Semiconductor of
Oregon as further consolidation of the wireless communications space, there's
much, much more to the story.
Back in March, TriQuint elected to acquire WJ Communications for $72
million. Both companies traded on the USA's Nasdaq stock exchange. At a special
meeting of WJ shareholders held recently in San Jose, the acquisition was approved
and the approximately 132 remaining members of WJ's team will evidently remain
in tact as a wholly owned TQ subsidiary. The members were apparently enticed to remain, thanks to a nice
new TQ stock option inducement. What WJ brings to TQ's current offerings in
technology will blend nicely, of course, and indeed the merging of the two makes
one less wireless GaAs player in a continually tightening field. It also adds
some simple but cool RFID technology to TQ's ever growing lineup of products.
Beyond the technological synergy, this is the classic cultural fit.
What makes this particular acquisition special is the history of the two companies.
Way back when... WJ Communications was much, much more than the relatively small
company it was up to the point of the acquisition. Back when it was Watkins-Johnson
and affectionately called, simply, "WJ"... hence, the origins of "WJ", it was considered the giant of the original GaAs-based microwave
technology companies. It had the GaAs-based microwave technology upon which so much of our CS industry is
now firmly based. Alas... as some of us have painfully learned, some giants
continue to rule, seemingly forever... and some don't.
The original "WJ" was to the early compound semiconductor field what
Fairchild Semiconductor was to the early days of the silicon semiconductor field.
(I know. I was there!) Everyone who was anyone in the fledgling
field of compound semiconductors back in the original days of the emergence
of the compounds (circa late 1970s and early 1980s, which then meant "advanced"
microwave technology) worked for WJ. That's when the term "MMICs"
came into being. For you relative newbies to the field, MMIC stands for Monolithic
Microwave Integrated Circuit. As it was explained to me back then, compound
semi ICs looked that looked very unlike silicon ICs. They built them in higher
and higher stacks, upwards, kind of like Hong Kong real estate. And they were
all analog devices that were "tweaked". Not as scientific nor digital
as today, but really fun to make. (Heck, everything seemed more fun back then.)
My introduction to WJ was via some of those who were to become the first to
fledge from WJ to form Pacific Monolithic. As a young (and very cute) tradepress
reporter for EE Times and a notoriously good pitcher, WJ let me occasionally
play on their softball team. (EE Times didn't have a softball team.) And I got
invited to their company picnics too. You got to know a company in a whole different
light when playing softball at night in Silicon Valley, and you got to know
the employees even better over mugs of beer as Silicon Valley softball nights
wore on.
So, despite the subsequent years of WJ getting smaller and smaller, and knowing
the individual employees less and less, I've always had a soft spot for WJ,
which admittedly is largely credited to their generosity in letting me play
softball and treating me to beer. Not too long after that, TriQuint came on
my radar screen with a similar corporate culture of generosity, warmth, inclusiveness
and ability to have fun at social outings. At that time TriQuint and Vitesse
were the emerging GaAs giants and you could see that WJ was gradually losing
ground to these upstarts.
Like I said earlier, WJ's history can be likened to Fairchild Semiconductor,
which today isn't anything like the original "rust bucket" company
it was in Sunnyvale in the "Hey Daze" of Silicon Valley. Back then,
Motorola in Arizona was stealing Fairchild employees right and left, and Fairchild
was sending spies to the San Jose Airport to see who was being lured away. As
the years wore on and companies like Motorola, National Semiconductor and Intel
robbed all the Fairchild national treasures and started their climb to the dominance
they subsequently enjoyed (and continue to enjoy) the original Fairchild became
history. Over the years, former WJ MMIC gurus left to do their own thing as
well, and the original WJ became history. Meanwhile, up in Oregon, TriQuint
became a GaAs MMIC powerhouse.
Back in the '80s, boy could TriQuint make its presence known! And the beauty
of TriQuint in subsequent years, under the leadership of Ralph Quinsey, did
what few have been able to do. It has remained a compound semiconductor powerhouse,
despite the trying times we've all felt or seen over the last few years. I always
believed that when any consolidation dust settled, TriQuint would remain standing
tall when others fell by the wayside. There's simply something about a company
that bases itself in sound leadership and corporate honesty and openness, especially
one that partakes on a growth path that sticks to its core values and offerings
and embarks on sensible gradual expansion that you just know it will
survive, and eventually thrive.
That brings us to current times and the vast changes that have taken place
in the ever-increasingly international field of wireless infrastructure. The
China wireless market is opening quickly, for example, and things are expanding
again at TriQuint as their Richardson, Texas plant moves to 6" GaAs and
the company further embraces GaN technology. A design center in Silicon Valley
and WJ's current business relationships will definitely come in handy.
As WJ's CEO, Bruce Diamond, put it: "We see great synergy with TriQuint
in the areas of technology, customer relationships and manufacturing efficiencies.
There is very little product overlap and a good cultural fit between our two
organizations. We bring a broad product line of RF building blocks and modules
as well as a talented Silicon Valley based design team to an established leader
in the RF market space.”
As the self-appointed compound semi industry historian, I thought you might
enjoy a flash from the past as to why I too believe the acquisition of WJ Communications
by TriQuint to be a great cultural match.
If you have questions about the
solid state lighting and compound semiconductor industries or have news
or views to share, I'm Jo Ann McDonald, Editor of LIGHTimes and CompoundSemi News.
Feel free to contact me directly, anytime. 
My direct tel at the ranch is
+1-325-463-5345
From time to time Jo Ann may comment on companies in which she holds a
modest investment - be sure to read
her disclosure at some point in time... |
