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November 24, 2008...Nichia Corporation and Sharp Corporation have entered into a patent cross-licensing agreement covering LEDs (light-emitting diodes) and laser diodes. The agreement allows each company to use the patents related to LEDs and Laser diodes in Japan and other major countries around the world. Nichia points out that it produced the first 1 cd blue LED in 1993 and then produced the first white LED in 1996, which is the combination of a blue LED and a YAG phosphor. Both rely on gallium nitrided technology.
Additionally, the related patents cover blue-violet laser diodes (LDs) which have been used in the increasingly popular Blu-ray disc format. While laser diodes (specifically red) have long been used for CD and DVD playback, it has only been recently that blue-violet LDs have become important in consumer electronics. LEDs have also become ubiquitous in electronics such as backlighting for PDAs, mobile phones, and LCD TVs and displays. In addition, white LEDs have started to be adopted in general lighting applications. The specific patents and terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Nichia notes that it and Sharp will be aiming to create even higher-performance LEDs and laser diodes to respond to expanding market demand. Nichia News Release
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Emcore Deploys First CPV System in China with the XinAo Group
CompoundSemi News StaffNovember 24, 2008...Emcore Corporation of Albuquerque, New Mexico USA, announced the deployment of a concentrator photovolataics (CPV) system in China with the XinAo Group, one of China's largest energy companies. A 50 kilowatt(kW) test and evaluation system is fully installed and operational as part of an earlier agreement. The system is already producing power in accordance with specifications. Compound semiconductor-based multi-junction solar cells operating at 500x concentration, power the system. Emcore says that it and XinAo continue to have discussions about the possible construction of a joint-owned CPV system manufacturing plant in China. The plant would produce CPV systems designed and certified by Emcore. Dr. John Iannelli, Corporate Chief Technology Officer and General Manager of Emcore's Solar Power Division stated, "We are pleased to introduce the first CPV terrestrial power system in China in partnership with the XinAo Group and look forward to pursuing other solar power opportunities in China's emerging renewable energy market."
In early October, Emcore notes that it was granted access permits for its 850-kW commercial solar park installation in the Extremedora region of Spain. In addition, Emcore expects several other pilot sites to be deployed by the end of the year. Emcore says that it is continuing its investment to develop a next-generation system design with enhanced performance (including a module efficiency of approximately 30%) and much improved cost structure.
According to Emcore, the new design (Generation III) is scheduled to be in volume production by the second half of calendar 2009. Emcore reported that it has recently responded to several requests for proposals from public utility companies using Gen-III products as its baseline. Emcore says it expects to get positive feedback on the proposals before the end of 2008. Emcore News Release Fullspectrum project breaks European CPV Record
CompoundSemi News StaffNovember 24, 2008...Scientists working on the Fullspectrum project have developed photovoltaic (PV) multi-junction (MJ) solar cells which are able to convert 39,7 % of the energy of sun light into electricity.
Fullspectrum is an integrated project involving 19 European public and industrial research centres from seven EU Member States, as well as Russia and Switzerland. Fullspectrum is coordinated by the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Instituto de Energía Solar and started in November 2003 with an overall budget of € 14,7 Million of with the European Commission financed € 8.4 Million.
The researchers announced after their final workshop today in El Escorial, Spain, that 39.7 percent is the highest percentage conversion efficiency ever reached in Europe,
The main barrier to large-scale deployment of PV systems is the high production cost of electricity, due to the significant capital investment costs. Research is engaged to reduce manufacturing costs and to raise the efficiency of the cells. The scientists point out that silicon-based conventional PV cells converting only a fraction of the spectrum attaining about 17 percent conversion efficiency.
The project's multi-junction solar cells are reportedly able to catch more sun light energy due to their composition of different materials, including gallium, phosphorus, indium, and germanium. As the researchers point out, multi-junction solar cells are expensive and have been used primarily applications in space. However, concentrating sunlight 100s of times allows significantly reduced cost. The project will look at concentrating sunlight well above 1000 times the natural solar power flux. Fullspectrum News Release
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JDSU Acquires Circadiant
CompoundSemi News StaffNovember 19, 2008...JDSU, a test and measurement solution provider based in Milpitas, California USA, has acquired Circadiant, another test and measurement solution provider. With the acquisition, JDSU will have access to Circadiant's Hydra platform, a 10 GigE Long Reach Multimode (LRM) and 10 GigE SFP+ test systems, and Circadiant's OST platform for testing optical components, modules, and systems using real-world conditions. Additionally, JDSU gains Circadiant's close customer relationships with leading network equipment manufacturers, optical module vendors, and semiconductor companies. Terms of the acquisition were not released.
Circadiant says that JDSU will broaden the availability of its industry-leading SFP+, 10GigE and other stressed signal test solutions. The SFP+ transceiver is an emerging standard specified by a multi-source agreement (MSA) between manufacturers. JDSU says it allows greater port density (the number of transceivers per inch along the edge of a mother board) than other transceiver configurations. JDSU contends that SFP+ is becoming the 10 GigE optical interface of choice because it enables lower cost and even higher port density network interface cards.
“To capitalize on the economic benefits of developing SFP+ modules, equipment manufacturers require test solutions that evolve accordingly,” said Bill Mortimer, vice president and general manager in JDSU’s Communications Test and Measurement business segment. “Circadiant has technology and products that not only meet this challenge but complement the JDSU optical transport test portfolio and offer important test capabilities our customers are asking for.”
JDSU News Release KLA-Tencor To Reduce Workforce
CompoundSemi News StaffNovember 19, 2008...KLA-Tencor Corporation, a supplier of process control and yield management solutions for the semiconductor and related nanoelectronics industries based in Milpitas, California USA, announced that the company plans to reduce its global workforce by approximately 15 percent by June 30, 2009, in response to market conditions. The company says that the reduction is one of many cost-reduction actions it is taking to lower the its quarterly operating expenses to about $165-170 million by the end of fiscal year 2009. KLA-Tencor currently estimates that as part of the with the workforce reduction, it will incur an initial charge in the range of approximately $15 million to $20 million, mostly related to estimated severance costs. Also the company anticipates incurring additional restructuring charges, severance costs and other related expenses in connection with the workforce reduction at least through the remainder of fiscal year 2009. However, the company says it is unable to estimate the total of the related costs.
“Our employees are the heart of our organization, so it is with considerable reluctance that we are proceeding with this necessary reduction,” said Rick Wallace, chief executive officer of KLA-Tencor. “We will continue to monitor the demand environment and make the necessary adjustments to weather this downturn, help optimize our profitability, maintain our strategic focus and strengthen our competitive position.” Company News Release Sunovia and EPIR Improve Growth of Single-Crystal Cadmium Telluride on Silicon
CompoundSemi News StaffNovember 19, 2008...Sunovia of Sarasota, Florida and EPIR of Bolingbrook, Illinois USA, announced substantial improvements in their process of growing high-quality single-crystal cadmium telluride on silicon. Sunovia contends that the achievement is the foundational precursor for creating ultra-high-efficiency multi-junction solar cells at lower costs than current multi-junction photovoltaic (PV) approaches. The companies boast that the process improvements involve increasing single-crystal growth rates by over 500 percent. According to Sunovia this allows for lower processing times per wafer and more PV cells per deposition chamber per day. The companies also believe this breakthrough will accelerate their demonstration of an initial 20MW manufacturing system for ultra high efficiency, low cost solar cells. Additionally, the companies contend that the manufacturing system can be duplicated for much less than the typical cost for solar cell manufacturing systems today.
Sunovia and EPIR reported that deposition uniformity was greatly improved with crystal quality distributions reduced closer to the 55 arcsecond X-Ray rocking curve width previously reported.
Sunovia and EPIR’s CdTe-on-Si technology is currently being funded and developed to produce high-sensitivity, long-wavelength infrared (IR) imaging technology with much larger formats and substantially lower costs than currently employed technologies. Sunovia News Release
Carlisle Energy Services and Solyndra, Inc. to Deliver Photovoltaic Systems for Commercial Cool Roofs
CompoundSemi News StaffNovember 19, 2008...Solyndra, Inc., a maker of proprietary photovoltaic systems for commercial rooftops, has signed a long-term sales contract worth up to $320 million with Carlisle Energy Services. Carlisle Energy Services is a newly formed division of Carlisle Construction Materials, a maker of single-ply energy efficient roofing materials. Solyndra points out that the multi-year sales contract adds to its previously announced order backlog.
Solyndra will construct the solar panels for these contracts at its facilities in Fremont and Milpitas, California. Carlisle Construction Materials produces its insulated cool roofs out of highly reflective and emissive materials, which lower daytime air conditioning electricity usage by reflecting away sunlight and heat. Solyndra says its PV system benefits from installation on a cool roof because of the reflected, direct, and diffuse light.
According to John Altmeyer, CEO of Carlisle Construction Materials, "The Solyndra PV system is a natural fit for our ENERGY STAR-certified, cool roof systems. When installed on Carlisle's white reflective TPO roofing membrane, the output of Solyndra PV system increases up to 20%. Further, the installation of a Solyndra system is exceptionally quick and economical, and can be easily accomplished by a roofing contractor along with the installation of an insulated cool roof. "
Carlisle is in the process of installing a commercial-scale Solyndra PV system on its TPO manufacturing facility in Tooele, UT.
Solyndra News Release Covage Selects Infinera for Nationwide Optical Network in France
CompoundSemi News StaffNovember 18, 2008...Covage, an optical network provider in France, has selected the Infinera DTN optical system for a nationwide network across France to support its wholesale telecom business. The Infinera DTN optical system reportedly offers speed and flexibility fulfilling Covage's mission of bringing greater competition to the French telecom market.
Covage, which is involved in the acquisition, development and operation of "Open Access Next Generation Networks" in France, provides wholesale bandwidth services to telecom operators. Covage is jointly owned by Axia Networks France, a wholly owned subsidiary of Axia NetMedia Corporation, and VINCI Networks, a wholly owned subsidiary of VINCI Construction France. It currently has interests in 12 regional networks and is building a national optical backbone to interconnect its regional networks and offer cost-effective carrier services to its customers nationwide.
Infinera explains that its use of photonic integration enables Covage to put more optical capacity in a smaller footprint than on competitor systems, helping reduce operating expense. Also, Infinera's system allows the separation between the line-side modules and the client-side modules that enables Covage to offer many different services from the same system. Infinera News Release Our news features are reported
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