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January 19, 2009...Cree of Durham, North Carolina USA has entered into an exclusive license agreement, subject to some exceptions, with Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (MCC). Under the terms of the agreement, MCC has been given the right to manufacture and sell freestanding gallium nitride substrates. MCC was also given the right to enter into similarly scoped sublicenses, subject to certain conditions.
Cree will receive a combination of guaranteed payments and royalties on the sale of GaN substrates over the lifetime of the agreement. Other terms of the license agreement, including amount of upfront payment, were not disclosed.
"GaN substrates are important products in the optoelectronics business at MCC. By entering into this exclusive license agreement with Cree, MCC will expand the GaN substrate business for optical and electrical devices," Yasuji Kobashi, general manager of MCC's optoelectronics business stated. "MCC will be able to accelerate R&D and production for high-quality GaN substrates with different crystalline orientations." Cree News Release
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Fraunhofer ISE Achieves 41.1% Efficiency for Multi-junction Solar Cells
CompoundSemi News StaffJanuary 19, 2009...Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE have again achieved a record efficiency. This time the researchers achieved 41.1 percent conversion efficiency for its solar concentrator cells. Its achieved this efficiency when the mult-junction solar concentrator cells received sunlight concentrated 454 times. The 5 mm? cell was made with GaInP/GaInAs/ Ge (gallium indium phosphide, gallium indium arsenide on a germanium substrate).
The researchers use metamorphic growth and a special technique to overcome a lattice mismatch between gallium indium phosphide and gallium arsenide.
The cells are made out of thin Ga0.35In0.65P and Ga0.83In0.17As layers on GaAs or Ge substrates. The researchers point out that unlike conventional solar cells, the semiconductors in these cells do not have the same lattice constant (distance between the atoms in a crystalline structure). The researchers at Fraunhofer ISE have succeeded in overcoming this obstacle. They reportedly managed to localize the defects in a region of the solar cell that is not electrically active. As a result, the active regions of the solar cell remain relatively free of defects. The solar spectrum is divided into three equally large spectral regions on different material layers with each generating the same amount of current.
Fraunhofer ISE is reportedly working together with the company Azur Space in Heilbronn as well as Concentrix Solar GmbH in Freiburg to make this technology competitive as soon as possible.
Fraunhofer ISE News Release SMI Opens Application Lab for ZnO Deposition
CompoundSemi News StaffJanuary 19, 2009...Structure Materials Industries (SMI) of Piscataway, New Jersey USA, has opened its application lab facility for deposition of Zinc Oxide and its alloys. SMI notes that it has a decades-long history in development of Zinc Oxide and its alloys and has built considerable capabilities in its in-house applications lab, including 4 ZnO deposition tools, thermal and laser annealing stations, and other support services. According to the company, the tools are used predominantly in support of customer development needs and deposition tool purchasers.
SMI contends that that in GaN-based LEDs, especially UV LEDs, only ZnO alloys will effectively allow UV light out while maintaining conductivity. ZnO allows effective engineering of the index of refraction, the bandgap, band alignment, and so on. SMI says that ZnO conductors are applicable to CdTe and CIGS photovoltaics as well as conventional LEDs. Other applications of ZnO are in nanowire structures are have great potential as sensors and possibly even a new type of laser, and thin film transparent, and power transistors at relatively very low cost. In addition the company says that ZnO or its alloys - can be used as a phosphor layer in a device structure, such as a white light LED. SMI News Release
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Solyndra Opens European Headquarters
CompoundSemi News StaffJanuary 19, 2009...Solyndra Inc. based in Fremont, California USA, reports the opening of its European headquarters in Hlzkerchen, Germany. According to the company, the European headquarters opening was in response to high demand in Europe for the systems to be used on commercial rooftops.
Managing Director and Vice President for Europe, Middle East and Africa Sales of Solyndra GmbH, Clemens Jargon, will be responsible for overseeing the company's sales and service operations throughout European countries. Solyndra notes that it has active PV markets such as Germany, Spain, Italy, Greece, and France. The company uses cylindrical thin film modules designed specifically for commercial rooftops.
“The commercial rooftops of Europe are an immense opportunity for the generation of solar electricity and are of growing importance with favorable incentive support in many countries,” said Solyndra CEO and founder Dr. Chris Gronet. “This move strengthens our ability to serve our customers in the region and allows us to play a greater role in the evolution of the European energy market towards a more sustainable future.”
Company News Release 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 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 Alfalight Releases 808 nm, 0.65 W Pump Diode Laser
CompoundSemi News StaffJanuary 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 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 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... 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.
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