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JDSU Consolidates Manufacturing; Releases Powerful New Pump Laser
CompoundSemi News Staff

May 6, 2009...JDSU announced that it will be closing its gallium arsenide-based vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) fab in Louisville, Colorado USA, which formerly belonged to the acquired company, Picolight. Also in recent news, JDSU is making available its new 5100 series 450mW terrestrial pump laser for the undersea optical networking market. The news of the planned closure was revealed during the company's quarterly conference call. (Ref: Earnings Conference Call for Q3 of 2009).

JDSU announced the sale of its Shenzhen facility in February. Along with the fab closure, a company spokesman said that JDSU would also make unspecified staff cuts. The company hopes to save $35 million per year with closure. JDSU attempted to sell the Picolight fab, but did not find a buyer. The company's San Jose facility can also produce the VCSELs. So as a cost cutting measure, the company says it it will shutting down its former Picolight fab by September of 2009. The new laser is proof that the company has apparently not slowed the R & D and product development, which is the company's lifeblood.

The company boasts that the new pump laser has the highest power available for 980nm pump lasers on the undersea optical market. The lasers will reportedly power undersea optical amplifiers that are needed to transmit fiber optic signals along cables that span thousands of kilometers along the ocean floor, acting as critical trans-continental links for broadband communications. Company News Release

May 6, 2009...The CIOMP, the Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics & Physics, based in P.R. China, has reportedly ordered two new Aixtron MOCVD systems. One is the AIX 200/4 and the other is the AIX 200/4 RF-S. According to Aixtron, CIOMP will use the systems for the development of ultra-high-brightness (UHB) GaN-based LEDs and AlInGaP-based red diode lasers. Aixtron also indicated that the systems will be delivered in the second quarter 2009. Professor and Executive Director of Key Laboratory of Excited State Processes, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mr. Song Hang, commented, "We have formulated a plan to introduce two new advanced MOCVD tools to our new state of the art facilities via a contract with Aixtron AG. They have demonstrated that their overall package of process know-how, technical excellence and support will ensure we have a quick and straightforward commissioning of the new tools in the coming months."

Professor Wang Lijun, who will be responsible for the diode laser AlInGaP-based system, added, "Aixtron's AIX 200/4 will become our principal R&D system and I am confident that it will be the best match to our specific laser fabrication development requirements. It has attractive new features which together with the implemented design innovations will, I believe, optimize the uptime and yield for AlInGaP epitaxial layer deposition." Aixtron News Release

Aixtron and Semileds Report Fabrication of UHB Blue LEDs on 6-inch sapphire Wafers
CompoundSemi News Staff

May 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

Microsemi Acquires Defense & Security Business from Endwave Corporation
CompoundSemi News Staff

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 Says

May 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

First Solar to Supply Modules for Australia's Largest Solar PV Installation
CompoundSemi News Staff

April 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 Staff

April 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

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