Nortel Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
CompoundSemi News StaffJanuary 14, 2009...Nortel, a long-time leader among wireless network providers and long time compound semi company, has announced that it is filing for Chapter 11, bankruptcy. Additionally the company said that it will seek creditor's protection
under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act ("CCAA") in Canada.
Certain of the Company's EMEA subsidiaries are expected to make consequential filings in Europe. Nortel says its normal day-to-day operations are expected to continue without interruption, and that it remains 100% focused on serving customers worldwide through continued R&D investments and support of its product portfolio to fulfill customer needs. The Company's affiliates in Asia, including LG Nortel and in the Caribbean and Latin America, as well as the Nortel Government Solutions business, are not included in these proceedings and are expected to continue to operate in the ordinary course.
Flextronics will continue to be a key supplier after the proceedings. NNL reports that it has agreed to purchase US$120 million of existing inventory from Flextronics by July 1, 2009 and to make quarterly purchases of other inventory and to terms relating to payment and pricing.
And at least for the next 30-days, the Export Development Canada (EDC) has agreed to allow Nortel to have access to its performance related support facility for at least the next 30 days. Nortel says that over the next 30 days it will continue to work with EDC to establish a longer-term relationship that is acceptable to both Nortel and EDC.
Nortel News Release
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HRL Becomes First Compound Semi Fab Member of Semiconductor Industry Association
CompoundSemi News StaffJanuary 15, 2009...HRL Laboratories, a compound semi foundry in Malibu, California USA, reports that it has become a charter member of the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA). SIA, the premier association representing the U.S. semiconductor industry, has more than 70 member companies, and reportedly accounts for nearly 90 percent of semiconductor production in the United States. HRL Laboratories is a corporate research and development laboratory owned by Boeing, and it is reportedly the only compound semi fabrication facility to participate as a charter member in SIA since its founding in 1977.
Since 1960, HRL has reportedly served the DoD, U.S. government agencies, and major contractors in providing microelectronics foundry services for military and aerospace applications.
Only 19 of the member companies including HRL are part of the Defense Microelectronics Activity program that took over the Trusted Access Foundry Program Office of the National Security Agency. The Defense Microelectronics Activity organization assesses and verifies the integrity of the facilities and processes used to design, produce, manufacture, and distribute critical national-security microelectronic components.
HRL says that it became a charter member in SIA to take part in meetings and voice its opinions on how the country’s Defense Microelectronics Activity affects the rest of the industry. It reportedly received its initial accreditation in 2007 as a Trusted Foundry for the Department of Defense from the Trusted Access Foundry Program Office of the National Security Agency. Then in 2008, HRL received its reaccreditation from the Defense Microelectronics Activity, which has since taken over the program.
HRL News Release January 15, 2009...Alfalight, a maker of high-powered diode lasers based in Madison, Wisconsin USA, has released a 0.65 W, 808 nm single-emitter pump diode laser. The company says that the device, packaged on a small form factor 3-mm Q-mount, extends the benefits its Wavelength Stabilization Technology (WST) to high-efficiency, temperature-stable DPSS micro-laser applications such as pico-projector and laser display systems. Alfalight's proprietary WST technology uses an integrated grating on the laser chip to provide a pump wavelength locked on the narrow absorption band of the micro-laser gain medium without the need for energy-inefficient temperature control circuitry. Alfalight claims that because the WST pump laser has an efficiency matching standard pump technology it is a superior pumping solution for the micro-laser market that can boosting power efficiency and stability for both existing and new micro-laser designs.
"By scaling down the emitter size of our highly successful, high-power WST diodes, Alfalight now provides a pivotal pumping solution that immediately impacts the expansive opportunity for micro-laser suppliers to the consumer projection and display market," said Ron Bechtold, vice president, Sales and Marketing. "Customers can now utilize Alfalight 808 nm wavelength-stabilized technology to improve performance, while extending both the operating temperature range and the battery life of micro-green lasers." Company News Release
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Mitsubishi Electric Introduces Ka Band Plastic Package Low Noise GaAs HEMT
CompoundSemi News StaffJanuary 15, 2009...Mitsubishi Electric Corporation of Tokyo, Japan announced that it has developed a Ka band plastic package low noise GaAs high electron mobility transistor (HEMT), the MGF4963BL. The company says it is ideal for low noise amplifiers in 18-20GHz band direct broadcast satellite (DBS) reception systems and very small aperture terminal (VSAT) systems. Shipment for the HEMTs will reportedly begin on February 25, 2009.
Satellite communication systems have traditionally used mainly Ku band DBS systems with a downlink of 12GHz and an uplink of 14GHz. With the recent development and spread of high-speed data links and high-definition.
According to Mitsubishi Electric, Ka band DBS systems are more suitable for high-speed and high-volume data communication with a downlink of 20GHz and an uplink of 30GHz, than the conventional Ku band systems used by satellite communication systems. The company points out that especially in North America, the service area for DBS systems that deliver high definition TV (HDTV) content is expanding.
The company says that the MGF4963BL is a plastic package HEMT that is more cost effective than ceramic packaged models with top-level low noise and high gain characteristics that allow it to be used in both the first stage and the second/third stages of amplifiers. The company indicates that the device offers a more affordable HEMT to help deliver HDTV content via Ka band DBS. Company News Release Opnext Completes Acquisition of StrataLight Communications; Makes Management ChangesJanuary 12, 2009...Opnext, Inc., an optoelectronic component maker based in Eatontown, New Jersey USA, reports that it completed the acquisition of StrataLight Communications, Inc. after the close of business on January 9, 2009.
StrataLight stockholders received 26,545,455 shares of Opnext common stock and $30,000,000 in cash. The former StrataLight shareholders own approximately 29 percent of the outstanding capital stock of Opnext.
"We are pleased to announce the completion of the acquisition of StrataLight Communications. The addition of StrataLight's 40G and 100G products, along with their expertise in subsystem design, positions Opnext as a leader in 40G solutions and will enhance our portfolio of 100G products in the future," said Harry Bosco, President and CEO of Opnext, Inc.
Harry Bosco announced that he would be retiring as of April 1, 2009. as president and CEO of Opnext, and Giles Bouchard would become president and CEO. Bosco will become chairman of the company's board of directors after April 1, 2009. Charles J. Abbe and Phil Otto have reportedly joined the Opnext board as directors, effective immediately. Mr. Abbe retired as president and chief operating officer and a director of JDS Uniphase Corporation in 2001. Mr. Otto is the CEO and director of Schilling Robotics, Inc. and was a director of StrataLight.
"I am also pleased to welcome Shri Dodani, President and CEO of StrataLight, to the Opnext leadership team. Since we entered into the merger agreement on July 9, Shri has collaborated with Gilles Bouchard, COO of Opnext, on integration planning efforts," stated Mr. Bosco.
Company News Release BluGlass signs Exclusive Distribution Agreement With ITOCHU Plastics Inc.
LIGHTimes StaffJanuary 12, 2009...BluGlass, an Australian company with GaN-based LED manufacturing technology, has signed ITOCHU Plastics Inc., to be the company's exclusive distributor of the technology in Japan. BluGlass contends that its technology allows the production of gallium nitride based (GaN) semiconductor wafers considerably cheaper than existing processes.
The company notes that its GaN-based wafers are used in LEDs for general lighting devices that are considerably more energy efficient than traditional incandescent or fluorescent bulbs and tubes.
"This is a breakthrough in the commercialization of our next generation lighting technology," said BluGlass chief executive officer Mr Giles Bourne. "We have been talking to CIPS, since August and they, together with BluGlass, have successfully introduced BluGlass technology to the Japanese market." Bourne explained that the distribution agreement would involve payments for the plant equipment and an ongoing licensing fee.
Mr Bourne said the company is also attempting to set up similar agreements in different markets around the world. BluGlass News Release Content continues for LIGHTimes SecondPage members... Microsemi Announces DSCC Qualification On Diode Arrays For Defense And Aerospace
CompoundSemi News StaffJanuary 12, 2009...Microsemi Corporation, a manufacturer of analog/mixed signal ICs and semiconductors, announced recently that DSCC qualification has been granted on a family of twelve high conductance ultrafast switching diode array products. The diodes are available for both through-hole and surface mount applications and are made in several standard hermetic package configurations. Each part type utilizes multiple 1N4148 ultra high speed switching diode chips manufactured in Microsemi's JANS wafer fab. The company says that the rugged construction is particularly well suited for defense and aerospace applications which demand high reliability under severe environmental conditions.
"Our customers have expressed strong demand for these arrays, so we are pleased to be able to add them to our already extensive QPL listing," said Kare Karlsen, Microsemi Executive Vice President of Military and Aerospace Products, adding "Our Lawrence, Massachusetts facility is now in full production on these devices."
Microsemi News Release New Power Diode to Make Hybrids More EfficientJanuary 12, 2009...Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) reported on Thursday that it has devised a power diode that can withstand temperatures exceeding 400 C. Such diodes usually have gold or platinum electrodes on a diamond substrate, according to an article at CrunchGear.com. Unfortunately the gold or platinum has the problem of reacting with the substrate and peeling off thereby disabling the diode. Researchers at AIST, the new diode, which uses ruthenium electrodes instead of gold or platinum, can operate for 1,500 hours at 400 C where as, the conventional electrodes with gold or platinum have to be cooled down to 250C. The researchers said that the device can only handle a current one ampere so far. They speculate that once the device is optimized, the diode could be installed in a hybrid vehicle with requiring a cooling system. So the energy that would have gone into the cooling system can go back into driving the electric motor to turn the wheels faster. Emcore Responds to Allegations and Fulfills SEC Rule
CompoundSemi News StaffJanuary 7, 2009...Emcore, a maker of gallium arsenide multi-junction solar cells which has faced a class action lawsuit on behalf of stockholders, has responded to allegations of SEC regulation violations. The lawsuit and a separate investigation have focused disclosure issues surrounding the company's drop in order backlog.
The company notes that it filed its form 10-K with the U.S. Securities and Exchange commission on December 30, 2008.
Emcore notes that in the form it has outlined cost reduction methods to improve the company's future liquidity. Emcore points out that its cost cutting initiatives include a realignment of the its businesses, structural cost and headcount reductions, reduction of capital spending, a greater emphasis on managing working capital, liquefying auction rate securities and pursuing certain asset sales including the recently completed sale of non-core equity interests for approximately $5.7 million in cash.
Emcore also noted that in October it secured a $25 million line of credit and made a corresponding announcement at that time. Emcore says that it is making this latest announcement to comply with NASDAQ rule 4350(b)(1). This rule is due to a recent audit opinion concerning the company's qualification for NASDAQ listing. Company News Release Heliovolt Cuts Jobs as it Shifts to Manufacturing
CompoundSemi News StaffJanuary 7, 2009...Heliovolt, a thin-film solar cell maker based in Austin, Texas USA, has announced what it is calling a "modest" layoff. The company indicated in an Austin American Statesman article that the layoff was the natural result of the company's shift from a development company to a manufacturer. The producer of copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) flexible thin-film solar cells that can be placed directly on building materials, opened a 122,400-square foot plant in October 2008.
The job cuts were "a natural consequence of the transition of the company from being development-oriented to ramping up for manufacturing operations," company founder and chief executive B.J. Stanbery said. "We have had to rebalance our work force in a tough economic environment where we need to be careful with our cash."
The company says it will have its factory qualified to begin production later this year.
Falling oil prices have put a serious damper on investment in solar in the later half of 2008. The article said that some industry experts predict that an oversupply resulting from the lower oil prices will cause an industry shakeup sometime in 2010.
A company spokesperson for Heliovolt said in the article that about 15 jobs were cut from the seven-year-old company. Our news features are reported
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