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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
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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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