Aixtron and Semileds Report Fabrication of UHB Blue LEDs on 6-inch sapphire Wafers
CompoundSemi News StaffMay 4, 2009...Aixtron and Semileds announced that the companies have successfully collaborated on a project to fabricate GaN-based blue LED chips on 6-inch sapphire wafers. Aixtron says that the achieved optical results were encouraging, and the companies have refined the process enough to bring it close to production capability.
According to Aixtron, the 6-inch sapphire wafer process is based on MOCVD and a series of follow-on device fabrication steps through to final test. The LED structure was deposited on a 1000 µm thick 6-inch sapphire substrate using an AIX 2800G4 HT MOCVD reactor in the 6x6-inch configuration.
Dr. Chuong Tran, President and COO of Semileds, commented, "Judging from the uniformity of the 18,000 1x1 mm Vertical LED on Metal Alloy chips from one single wafer, we can clearly see the yield advantage of this larger wafer MOCVD process. One of the contributing factors to yield enhancement is the significantly reduced edge area compared to the area equivalent of nine 2-inch wafers."
Dr. Christian Geng, General Manager Greater China of Aixtron added, "The process obviously works from A to Z. I expect that once the price of a 6-inch substrate becomes competitive many of our customers will convert their AIX 2800G4 HT systems from 42x2-inch to 6x6-inch configuration since it merely requires the exchange of the so-called Satellite Disks." Aixtron News Release
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May 4, 2009...Microsemi Corporation, an RF IC maker based in Irvine, California USA, reports that it has acquired the defense electronics and security (D&S) business of Endwave Corporation. Under the terms of the agreement, Microsemi is acquiring the D&S assets for a total equity value of $28 million in cash plus the assumption of specified liabilities. Microsemi says it can make the D&S business more profitable.
Microsemi plans to combine Endwave's high frequency RF component portfolio with its own, thereby covering the technology spectrum up to 100 GHz.
Microsemi notes that the D&S business has been awarded contracts from several Microsemi customers in recent years to supply the innovative products that the business had developed. These customers include companies such as Boeing, Cobham, L3, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Raytheon. Microsemi says that the acquisition will expand its product portfolio into defense electronics applications such as theater-wide video and voice communications, advanced radar systems, remote sensing and broadband transmission systems. Microsemi says it also plans to expand the newly acquired business into new, related markets such as satellite and space.
James J. Peterson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Microsemi Corporation stated, "Endwave's industry-leading RF technology and its focus on emerging high-growth defense electronics and security applications make it an excellent complement to Microsemi's own product suite." Microsemi News Release Global Handset Shipments Fell at Fastest Rate Ever, Strategy Analytics SaysMay 1, 2009...Market research firm Strategy Analytics reports that global mobile handset shipments plunged 13 percent year-over-year, to reach 245 million units in Q1 2009, the fastest sales decline in the 27-year history of the industry. The company cites de-stocking by cautious retailers and a worldwide economic downturn as the main reasons for the fall.
Alex Spektor, Analyst at Strategy Analytics said, “Our records indicate that Q1 2009 represented the fastest ever decline in annual shipment growth since the modern cellphone industry began in 1983."
Neil Mawston, Director at Strategy Analytics, commented, "Shipment growth contracted for all the top five major vendors, forcing some of them, such as Nokia, to rein in costs and slash thousands of jobs. However, one bright spot was found among the smartphone specialists. Apple, for example, more than doubled its volumes year-over-year due to healthy demand for its wildly popular 3G iPhone."
Samsung was the top performer among the big five vendors during Q1 of 2009, and its market share reached a record high of 19 percent.
In one of the only bright spots in the industry, Apple exceeded expectations in shipping 3.8 million iPhones during the quarter. Company News Release
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First Solar to Supply Modules for Australia's Largest Solar PV Installation
CompoundSemi News StaffApril 29, 2009...First Solar, a maker of CdTe solar cells based in Tempe, Arizona USA,
reports that it will supply photovoltaic (PV) modules to Solar Shop Australia, Pty Ltd. (Solar Shop), for a 1 megawatt (MW) DC rooftop project. The solar power system will be installed on six separate buildings at the Adelaide Showground in South Australia. According to First Solar, the installation will be the largest PV installation in the country. The Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society of South Australia commissioned the rooftop system.
Solar Shop, is an alliance partnership with building and engineering company Build Environs Pty Ltd., will design and construct the 1 MW installation. Construction is anticipated to begin immediately and is expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2009. The electricity from the installation will be used predominantly at the Adelaide Showground site, displacing power generated from conventional sources.
First Solar boasts that it has produced 1 gigawatt of its PV modules since beginning commercial production. In addition, First Solar says it has the lowest manufacturing cost in the industry. According to the company, it has reduced its manufacturing costs to a mere 98 cents.
John Carrington, First Solar executive vice president of marketing and business development said, "This project will take one of Australia’s most abundant resources, sunlight, and convert it into clean, affordable electricity."
Carrington added, "Australia’s policy initiatives have set the stage for the growth of affordable renewable energy, and First Solar’s advanced, cost-effective solar technology is a perfect fit."
First Solar News Release Science Foundation Arizona Announces $4 Million Investment in Solar
CompoundSemi News StaffApril 29, 2009...The Science Foundation Arizona announced $4 million total funding for 5 solar projects. A portion of the money will also help open the Solar Technology Institute (STI).
STI will collaborate with industry and researchers of the University of Arizona and Arizona State University. Richard Powell and Robert Annan, two industry pioneers will lead STI as co-directors. The Stardust Foundation has also added its financial support.
Researchers at University of Arizona (UA) and Arizona State University (ASU) are collaborating on low-cost solar reflectors that can be used in solar concentrator systems.
Global Solar, General Plasma, Prism Solar, ASU and UA are teaming up to improve thin film solar panel performance. Advalue, All Optronics, Aerospace Corporation, and Nanovoltaix will also collaborate on the project to reduce the cost of electricity from these solar panels.
ASU and UA are working with Tucson Electric Power, and TUV-Rheinland, to expand the ASU Photovoltaic Testing Laboratory to conduct more rapid product certification and testing of solar products, and help developing better performing solar products. Other partners include: Sandia National Laboratories, Reliasoft, Salt River Project, Arizona Public Service, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Spire Solar and Solan AG.
Southwest Solar Technologies, the U.S. Geological Survey, UA and ASU, Simmons, Nanovoltaix, and Eusthatia are developing compressed air solar storage technology for when the Sun is not shining.
Arizona Public Service, Salt River Project, ASU and UA will also partner with: Viasol, Bright Source, Creatasoft, and Tucson Electric Power to develop smart electrical grid management software. Science Foundation Arizona News Release NEC Electronics and Renesas to Merge
CompoundSemi News StaffApril 27, 2009...NEC Electronics, Renesas Technology Corp. (Renesas), Hitachi, Ltd., and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation today agreed to enter into negotiations to integrate business operations at NEC Electronics and Renesas. The resulting company will be labeled NEC. NEC Electronics and Renesas provide a wide variety of semiconductor solutions, primarily specializing in microcontroller units (MCUs). NEC notes that it and Renesas have agreed to explore the possibility of business integration in order to further strengthen their business foundations and technological assets while increasing corporate value through enhanced customer satisfaction.
NEC says that it and Renesas will continue to focus on the field of system-on-chip (SoCs) products. NEC Electronics is a leading producer of SoCs for digital consumer electronics, while Renesas is a well established manufacturer of SoCs for mobile phones and automotive applications. NEC says that by reinforcing the each company's respective strengths and development resources the new company will provide globally competitive SoC products.
According to NEC, the integrated company, which will become the world's third-largest semiconductor business,
will reportedly have three major product groups, MCUs, SoCs, and discrete products.
NEC says that it and Renesas will each execute structural reform plans before the merger in order to strengthen their business frameworks. Then, the companies will integrate their operations to achieve synergies and boost profitability. NEC Electronics News Release EpiWorks to Add MOCVD Capacity and Double Cleanroom Space
CompoundSemi News StaffApril 27, 2009...EpiWorks, a supplier of 6-inch HBTs based in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois USA, reported that it has begun Phase I of its production facility expansion.
The company indicated that after the expansion it will be able to produce 100,000 6-inch wafers per year. This follows the 2007 Phase I expansion that boosted 6-inch HBT production capacity to over 50,000 wafers per year. The company notes that phase II of its expansion includes doubling its clean-room space and adding MOCVD capacity to produce over 100,000 6-inch wafers/year. EpiWorks reportedly offers 4-inch and 6-inch electronic wafer production and 2-inch, 3-inch, 4-inch, and 6-inch optical wafer production.
"Because we offer leading technology, quality and customer service while focusing on top-tier customers in a variety of markets, we are optimistic about our customers and our future business together. Thus, EpiWorks is now preparing to meet continued demand beyond 2009," said Dr. David Ahmari, Executive Vice President at EpiWorks. Company News Release Ascent Solar Signs Memorandum of Understanding with Bye Aerospace
CompoundSemi News StaffApril 24, 2009...Ascent Solar of Littleton, Colorado USA has reportedly signed a memorandum of understanding with Bye Aerospace to incorporate thin film photovoltaic (PV) technology into aircraft platforms under development.
George Bye, CEO of Bye Aerospace, commented, “We are planning to utilize multiple sources of energy, and Ascent Solar’s PV technology is an ideal solution for capturing valuable solar energy.” Bye indicated that his company is working in conjunction with its subsidiary company, Bye Energy, Inc., which hopes to adapt alternative energy technology for aviation. “We hope to begin bench testing with Ascent Solar’s thin film PV technology before year end,” Bye said.
Dr. Joseph Armstrong, Chief Technical Officer of Ascent Solar, stated, “Applications such as those being developed by Bye Aerospace are able to utilize the many advantages of our high-performance CIGS on polyimide PV technology such as monolithic integration, low mass and flexibility for conformal installation. These advantages allow our product to adapt to many applications, from aerospace to building integrated PV (BIPV), portable power and consumer electronics, and our work with Bye represents one of many development agreements we have to meet customer needs. Products to support Bye Aerospace will be manufactured from our existing 1.5MW production line.”
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