SoloPower Launches Flexible CIGS Module Product Line
CompoundSemi News StaffJuly 19, 2010...SoloPower of San Jose, California USA, a maker of of flexible thin-film copper indium gallium diselenide cells and modules, launched its first CIGS-based flexible PV module, SFX1-i.
The SoloPower SFX1-i module was on display at InterSolar 2010, July 13th -15th in San Francisco, California.
SoloPower produces the modules with what it describes as a low-cost, roll-to-roll electroplating process. The SFX1-i module (80Wp, 0.3m x 2.9m, 2.3kg / 5lbs.) represents the first of several products of SoloPower's flexible module product line, which includes the SFX1-i3 module (260Wp, 0.9m x 2.9m, 6kg / 13lbs.), and the SFX2 module (170Wp, 0.3m x 5.8m, 3.6kg / 8 lbs.).SoloPower contends that its roll-to-roll manufacturing process offers unique cost advantages including low capital expenditures, high line throughput and excellent material utilization. The company says that this low-cost production combined with the optimized product design creates an unbeatable value proposition.
"SoloPower's lightweight, flexible, CIGS modules represent a true breakthrough in the solar industry," said Tim Harris, CEO, SoloPower. "The SFX1-i3 lightweight module is optimized for commercial and industrial roofs, allowing our customers to increase their profitability and to complete projects that would not have been possible with other technologies." July 19, 2010...Veeco of Plainview, New York USA, reports that Arima Optoelectronics Corporation of Taiwan has ordered multiple MOCVD systems. Veeco also announced that it has received an order from Neo Neon for its MOCVD system.
Specifically Arima ordered several TurboDisc(R) K465i Gallium Nitride (GaN) and E475 Arsenic Phosphide (As/P) Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition (MOCVD) Systems.
Both MOCVD systems for Arima are for high-volume production of high-brightness LEDs. The E475 systems will be used to produce red, orange, and yellow LEDs. All of the LEDs will go towards TV and display backlighting.
Marco Kuo, President of Arima Optoelectronics, said, "Most of the systems will be installed in Shanxi Province, Northern China, where we have entered into an agreement with the local government to form a new joint venture company to manufacture LEDs for backlight applications."
Neo Neon's order is for its first Veeco TurboDisc(R) K465i MOCVD system to support its LED manufacturing capacity ramp at its JiangMen, China factory. Veeco received the order during the recently completed second quarter.
Dr. Jurgen Yeh, Chief Technology Officer, commented, "Neo-Neon plans to expand our LED wafer output seven-fold over the next three years. We have decided to include Veeco's K465i MOCVD system in our plans due to its proven high productivity as well as the recent uniformity and repeatability advances that Veeco has achieved. " To fund its expansion, Neo-Neon has recently raised NT$2.06 billion (U.S. $64 million) through a share issuance in Taiwan.
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George Lucas' Legal Team Issues Cease and Desist Order to Producers of Laser
CompoundSemi News StaffJuly 19, 2010...The creator of the Star Wars movies, George Lucas, has asked a company called Wicked Lasers to cease and desist production of it extremely dangerous blue laser "toy".
Lucas, who owns the trademarks and copyrights of all things Star Wars contends that the blue laser being sold by Wicked Lasers looks very much like the "Light Sabers" wielded by the Jedi knights in the Star Wars movies.
Lucas owns the Lightsaber trademark.
The device produced by Wicked Lasers is called the Artic Series Spyder III. It is 1 W blue laser created from a Casio projector.
It can cut through materials, burn paper and cardboard and skin, cause blindness, and generally wreak havoc.
However, unlike the an actual lightsaber would function, it cannot cut through anything including instantly cutting people in half.
Officials of Wicked Lasers based in Hong Kong were impressed with the cease and desist letter from the Lucas' legal team. However, instead of complying with the order, the company officials promptly put the letter on sale on Ebay. At last check, the letter had recieved 55 bids and the price had shot up to over $800.
Tragedy Strikes Emcore (Updated)
CompoundSemi News StaffJuly 12, 2010...In an apparent domestic violence dispute, police say a man entered an Emcore Corporation office in Albuquerque, New Mexico and opened fire. He killed two employees then turned the gun on himself. Albuquerque Police Chief Ray Shultz said that the shooting was related to a custody dispute with the 37-year-old gunman's girlfriend, who survived the attack. Shultz identified the shooter as Robert Reza, 37, who had addresses in Rio Rancho and Albuquerque. The shooting left employees fleeing for cover. Police arrived within minutes of being called at 9:30 a.m and locked down the entire southeast side of the city as a precaution. Five officers entered the building within three minutes of the call. The complex was soon surrounded by police vehicles and helicopters circled overhead. Schultz said the gunman had children who live outside Albuquerque and said they were taken into custody by “another agency.”
Emcore produces components enabling voice, video, and data transmission over fiber optic cable. The company also produces GaAs-based multi-junction solar cells for satellite and terrestrial applications. The police stated that no announcements concerning the other victims would be made before Tuesday. The team at CompoundSemi News offers our sincerest condolences to the Emcore employees, and their families for their loss. Strategy Analytics Says GaAs Bulk Substrate Market Defies Recession
CompoundSemi News StaffJuly 12, 2010...Strategy Analytics reports that the GaAs substrate market posted a 10 percent year on year increase in substrate volumes. The company says that the slowdown in early 2009 was followed by a robust recovery in the second half of the year, driven by the demand for next generation cellular handset platforms.
Strategy Analytics says that orders started to filter through in the second quarter of 2009 as end-users looked to re-build stock levels. Additionally the company's models showed that by the end of the quarter that the market started to see robust demand for materials and devices through the GaAs industry supply chain.
The company's report entitled, "Semi-insulating GaAs Substrate Markets: 2009-2014,” forecasts volume demand growing at a CAAGR of 12% through 2014. Strategy Analytics says that the GaAs substrate market is worth $217 million based on an examination of supply chain dynamics, coupled with extensive analysis of end-demand drivers for SI GaAs bulk substrates.
“The strong recovery was helped by an incumbent position in the overall Power Amplifier (PA) market for cellular terminals,” noted Asif Anwar at Strategy Analytics. “This was further helped with the RF (radio frequency) front-end architectural requirements of next generation handsets.”
Mr. Anwar concluded, “Next generation handsets dictate an increase in the ratio of PAs per terminal as well as more complex switching requirements. This helped the market for SI GaAs bulk substrates to maintain recession-defying growth in 2009. It will also underpin growth moving forward.”
Imec Gets New Research Partners
LIGHTimes News StaffJuly 13, 2010...Imec is a multi-partner research and development program for gallium nitride-on-silicon (GaN-on Si) process and equipment technologies for the production of solid state lighting and next generation power electronics on 8-inch Si wafers. Micron Technology, Applied Materials, and Ultratech will actively participate in the IIAP at imec in Leuven, Belgium. The on-site participation enables the partner companies to access to next-generation LED and power electronics processes, equipment and technologies.
Gallium nitride offers higher breakdown voltage and current capacity than silicon. However, GaN-based devices have not achieved the same economies of scale as silicon.
While most LED manufacturing is typically done on expensive 4-inch sapphire substrates,Imec deposits the GaN material on much less expensive 8-inch silicon substrates.
In addition, imec’s GaN-on-Si program is utilizing an Applied Materials mainframe to develop 8 inch GaN-on-Si technology that is compatible with the CMOS fab infrastructure. This is expected to further enhance productivity and result in lowering device cost.
Rudi Cartuyvels, Vice President & General Manager Process Technology at imec stated, “We are excited to welcome 3 major companies to our GaN-on-Si IIAP. Less than a year after the program’s launch in July 2009, we have assembled a strong consortium, including IDMs and equipment suppliers, and we expect more companies to join in the near future. This collaboration reflects the value of imec’s research on GaN-on-Si as a reliable cost-effective solution for next-generation LED and power electronics devices.” Skyworks PA Enables First Commercial LTE Device
CompoundSemi News StaffJuly 12, 2010...Skyworks Solutions, Inc. of Woburn, Massachusetts USA, reports that Samsung Electronics is using its power amplifier (PA) modules for the GT-B3710 – a high speed 4G USB modem. Samsung claims that the device is the world’s first long-term evolution (LTE)-commercialized device. Samsung's 4G modem supports the 2.6 GHz band for LTE service.
The Skyworks PA utilized in the device is the SKY77706 LTE PA module. Skyworks says that the small and efficient module is designed for multiple handset and data card applications. Skyworks also boasts that the PA allows consumers to enjoy the benefits of high-speed data services such as advanced Web TV broadcasting, online gaming and Web conferencing. 4G systems offer higher data rates for data and streamed multimedia than previous generation
“Skyworks and Samsung are pleased to develop LTE technologies for today’s leading handset OEMs, infrastructure suppliers, and operators worldwide,” said Dr. Gene A. Tkachenko, senior director of engineering at Skyworks. “With LTE network commitments increasing worldwide, Skyworks is once again at the forefront of enabling next-generation solutions to help boost network throughput, improve efficiency and performance, and simplify roaming to deliver the ultimate consumer experience regardless of the platform.” Our news features are reported
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