Tower Semiconductor Merges with Jazz Technologies
CompoundSemi News StaffSeptember 22, 2008...Tower Semiconductor, an independent specialty wafer foundry based in Migdal Haemek, Isreal has completed its merger with Jazz Technologies. Jazz Technologies is an analog and mixed signal foundry solution provider. As a result of the merger, Jazz Technologies and its subsidiary, Jazz Semiconductor have become wholly owned subsidiaries of Tower Semiconductor. Under the terms of the stock-for-stock transaction, Tower acquired all of the outstanding shares of Jazz. Each outstanding share of Jazz common stock was converted into 1.8 Tower ordinary shares. Each outstanding warrant and outstanding option to acquire Jazz common stock became exercisable for 1.8 Tower ordinary shares, and Jazz’s convertible notes became convertible into 1.8 Tower ordinary shares.
Tower’s name will remain the same and Jazz Semiconductor will be known as Jazz Semiconductor, Inc., a Tower Group Company. Russell Ellwanger, Tower’s chief executive officer, has been named chairman of the board of directors of Jazz. Tower says he will be responsible for developing final details of the merged organizational structure and the integration plan over the next several months. Gilbert F. Amelio will retire as Jazz Chairman and CEO. Amelio will serve as special advisor to Tower’s board of directors.
Ellwanger stated, “Technology leadership and scale are critical in meeting the unique requirements of our customers, and with the merger now complete, we will continue to focus on customer needs for increased capacity, expanded process offerings and industry-leading design enablement services.” Tower Semiconductor News Release September 22, 2008...SolFocus of Mountain View, California USA, announced that its first commercial product, the SF-1000P Concentrator Photovoltaic (CPV) panels, has met the rigorous reliability and safety standards of the California Energy Commission (CEC). Also, the SF-1000P Concentrator Photovoltaic (CPV) panels have been placed on the Eligible California Solar Initiative (CSI) Photovoltaic Modules Renewables Equipment List. The list confirms that the solar equipment has been has passed the CEC’s rigorous tests for safety and performance, and has met the requirements California Public Utility (CPUC). The CEC listing qualifies solar system buyers for rebates against the cost of new installation. SolFocus became the first manufacturer of CPV systems to be listed by the CEC.
SolFocus CPV technology utilizes reflective optics to magnify the light from the sun 500 times onto small, highly efficient solar cells, which use a mere 1/1000th of the expensive solar cell material as traditional solar solutions. SolFocus points out that its CPV panels are made largely with common materials such as aluminum and glass and are over 95 percent recyclable. They boast the lowest carbon footprint in manufacturing. Certification specialist Six 9’s Reliable, L.L.C. worked with SolFocus in achieving the listing with the CEC.
“Not only is this an important achievement for SolFocus as we have reached the phase of commercialization of our CPV systems,” commented SolFocus President Mark Crowley, “but the thumbs up from the CEC is another proof point that CPV technology is a serious, scalable source of clean, renewable electricity.”
Company News Release Fujifilm Introduces New Sensor for Improved Image Quality in Digital Photos
CompoundSemi News StaffSeptember 22, 2008...Fujifilm Corporation introduced what it says is a revolutionary new sensor called the “Super CCD EXR,” that will allow unprecedented high image quality with digital cameras. Fujifilm points out that as the number of pixels on a sensor has increased, noise has increased, and sensitivity of each sensor has tended to decrease. Fujifilm says that its excellent 12-megapixel cameras such as the FinePix F50fd and the FinePix F100fd successfully demonstrated the fact that the company could increasing pixel density, optimizing sensor sensitivity while at the same time controlling noise, blooming, and clipping. The company’s campaign of improving image quality while increasing sensor resolution is part of its “Real Photo Technology” program.
The company says its “Real Photo Technology” program is underpinned by the belief that true image quality is about a combination of many factors like tone, hue, color fidelity, dynamic range, sharpness, and resolution. Fujifilm also points out that it is widely believed that ‘high resolution’ and ‘high sensitivity’ are irreconcilable opposites, and impossible to optimize on the same sensor, particularly for compact cameras, where sensors are necessarily smaller. For this reason, the company says it has made the EXR sensor an essentially switchable sensor; changing its complex electronic behavior to suit the subject, changing its characteristics as the photographer demands, and producing the very best picture without making compromises. Company News Release Ascent Solar's Management Changes
CompoundSemi News StaffSeptember 22, 2008...Ascent Solar, a maker of CIGS solar cells, announced that Mathew Foster, the company’s president and CEO has resigned after the board and its President and CEO mutually decided that a change of leadership was needed. Foster's resignation is effective September 19, 2008. Dr. Mohan Misra, Ascent Solar’s chairman and chief strategy officer, will reportedly serve as the company's interim president resident and CEO until a permanent replacement is found. Ascent Solar says it intends to initiate a search immediately, and Mr. Foster will continue in a consultant capacity focusing on global expansion and business development for a period of one year. The company noted that Dr. Misra will begin transitioning into the role of interim President and Chief Executive Officer immediately. Dr. Misra, who has served as Ascent Solar's Chairman since October 2005 and as its Chief Strategy Officer since April 2007, previously founded and served as the chief executive officer of ITN Energy Systems, Inc. (ITN) since 1994.
“Ascent Solar is transitioning from a research and development company to a manufacturing and commercially focused organization. I am pleased to have been the leader of Ascent Solar during this initial stage, and I felt that new leadership would be better at leading Ascent Solar’s next phase of growth where operational and manufacturing expertise will be critical. I expect Ascent Solar to continue to grow as a leader in the thin film photovoltaics arena,” Mr. Foster stated. Company News Release Market for RF Power Semiconductor Used in Broadcasting is Double its Assumed Size, ABI Research Says
CompoundSemi News StaffSeptember 17, 2008...An ABI Research study says that the market for RF power semiconductors used in broadcasting is much larger than previously suggested.
ABI explained that earlier market estimates were inaccurate because many of the semiconductors have been sold through electronic distribution sales channels. This meant that the researchers had more difficulty in knowing what the parts would be used for. ABI says that these distribution channels have now been factored into the market estimates in its report entitled, “RF Power Semiconductors for Broadcast Applications”. The company says that the explosion of digital broadcasting (both television and Radio) is driving the market. Furthermore, the company expects the market to remain very healthy for the next decade. The phased switchover to digital TV occurring in different countries will likely drive the market growth regionally, the company indicated.
“Historically this market has been viewed as flat and not very exciting,” research director Lance Wilson said. “In general, most RF power semiconductor vendors have overlooked and dismissed it. That, it turns out, is a grave error. To date, this market has never been comprehensively examined, and we found that it is much bigger – approximately twice the size – than suggested by the conventional wisdom.”
“Historically this market favored well-established incumbents,” Wilson added. “But it’s not at all an adverse environment for new entrants if performance and pricing goals are met.” Company News Release Bookham Introduces 5Gb/s DWDM SFP
CompoundSemi News StaffSeptember 17, 2008...Bookham, Inc. has launched a dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) small form-factor pluggable (SFP) module that boasts a transmission speed of 5Gb/s. According to Bookham, the high-speed module will enable customers to expand the performance of SFP-based board designs. The company says it also offers a readily available, cost-effective alternative to 10Gb/s DWDM XFP transceivers. The transceiver is sampling into customer premises now. The transceiver is designed to operate in high-noise, amplified environments, and is targeted at multi-span links for metro networks. The module can deliver output power from +3dBm to +6dBm, has channel spacing of 100GHz, and offers full C and L band coverage. Bookham notes that it has also achieved an uncompensated reach of 400km at 2.5Gb/s with a multi-rate DWDM SFP. The designs are based upon Bookham’s optical engines, the Avalanche Photodiode Receiver and a buried-heterostructure directly modulated laser.
“We are continually developing the performance of our pluggable modules to retain our leading technology position in the pluggable WDM sector and meet the breadth of demands from our customer base,” said VP Telecom Sales, Yves Le Maitre. “Boasting the highest speed and the longest reach in SFP WDM pluggable optics, coupled with outstanding stability and tolerance to low OSNR links, is a great achievement for the design team. We are confident that we can continue to grow our market share in this highly competitive space.”
Company News Release STMicroelectronics' Power MOSFETs Extend Efficiency, Reliability, and Safety
CompoundSemi News StaffSeptember 17, 2008...STMicroelectronics of Geneva, Switzerland,
has reportedly increased the ruggedness, switching performance and efficiency of power MOSFETs for lighting ballasts and in switching power supplies. The company guarantees higher efficiency when using SuperMESH3 technology with lower on-resistance. The company also says the device’s superior dv/dt performance and higher breakdown-voltage margin help provide enhanced reliability and safety.
The first, the 620V STx6N62K3 will be followed by the STx3N62K3, also at 620V, as well as the 525V STx7N52K3, and STx6N52K3. The savings in on-resistance enabled by SuperMESH3 reduce RDS(on) in DPAK packages to 1.28 Ohms in the STD6N62K3 at 620V and 0.98 Ohms in the STD7N52K3 at 525V boosting operating efficiency in applications such as low-energy lamp ballasts. STMicro notes that the MOSFET technology reduces reverse-recovery time (Trr), gate charge, and intrinsic capacitance, and this leads to improved switching performance and higher operating frequencies. According to the company the 100 percent avalanche tested power MOSFETs have strip topology with an optimized vertical structure and one of the best-in-class dv/dt behaviors. They reportedly incorporate zener protection for more robust performance.
Company News Release Strategy Analytics Names TriQuint World’s Leading GaAs Device Maker
CompoundSemi News StaffSeptember 15, 2008...TriQuint Semiconductor, a front-end product manufacturer and foundry services provider, was named a top RF device supplier in Strategy Analytics annual studies ranking the world's leading Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) device manufacturers. Strategy Analytics says that the GaAs device market has grown 17 percent over the previous year. SA says that TriQuint's success in the industry is based upon "strong positions in diverse end markets, a strategy that in some cases is only starting to be emulated by the company's competitors."
Asif Anwar, Program Director of GaAs Service at Strategy Analytics, said, "Strategy Analytics sees TriQuint continuing to grow from strength to strength in 2008, augmented by a strong combination of process technologies and filter and packaging capabilities." Anwar also said that "a couple of smart acquisitions (Peak and WJ Communications) will enhance TriQuint's leadership in higher-margin markets."
Ralph Quinsey, CEO at TriQuint, said, "TriQuint is committed to being a technology leader in the design, development, and manufacturing of GaAs, GaN, BAW and SAW technologies. We are utilizing our industry-leading portfolio to serve a diverse combination of high-growth, high-volume and high-margin markets." TriQuint News Release Veeco Joins CPV Consortium as Charter Member
CompoundSemi News StaffSeptember 15, 2008...Veeco Instruments Inc., of Plainview, New York USA, reports that it has become a charter member of the CPV Consortium. The CPV consortium is an international organization that supports the development and long-term success of the concentrator photovoltaics industry. The company notes that concentrator photovoltaic cells such as multi-junction cells and III-V cells have higher efficiencies than more conventional photovoltaic systems. Solfocus, 3M, Concentrix, Emcore, ISFOC, and Isofoton are also charter members of the consortium.
Sudhakar Raman, Vice President, Marketing of Veeco's MOCVD Operations, commented, “As the world’s leading manufacturer of metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) systems used to make CPV cells, we are pleased to be a charter member of the CPV Consortium. ” Raman added, “CPV cells provide energy conversion efficiencies much higher than traditional silicon cells – approximately 35% today, with planned efficiencies over the next few years moving into the 45% range, as compared to 13-18% efficiency for silicon cells.” Veeco News Release Our news features are reported
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