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Editorial: Chuck Swoboda's Talk at Blue 2004 Was a Smash Hit
... 4am Wednesday, Taiwan Time... The report just in to our editorial offices here in Texas from Taiwan as conference attendees get a little shuteye before the closing day of Blue 2004 on Wednesday, is that our keynote speaker Chuck Swoboda, President and CEO of Cree Inc. of Durham, North...
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Cree Announces Highest To Date Industry Results for High Power Packaged LED Chip at Blue 2004May 11, 2004...In a press release
put on the wires early today, Cree Inc. of Durham, North Carolina USA announced
the topics of Chuck Swoboda's keynote address at Blue
2004, which is currently underway in Taiwan. Our current editorial (on
your viewing left, this issue) reports on the subjects Chuck covered in
his address, and the crowd reaction. Also announced at Blue 2004, Cree proudly
unveiled their recently demonstrated 57 lm/watt of white light from a XB900
class power LED chip operating at 350 mA and 142 lumens from the same device
operating at 1 amp of drive current. Cree stated that they believe that these
are the highest reported results for a high power packaged LED chip to date. Cree Also Announces New Products for the Mobile Market at Blue 2004May 11, 2004...Today was quite a day for Cree, Inc. of Durham, North Carolina USA. In addition
to giving the keynote talk at Blue 2004 in Taiwan (see editorial, this issue)
and announcing the results of their new high power packaged LED chip (see
above headline story), Cree today introduced three new blue spectrum LED
products targeting the mobile appliance market, the UT230 for keypad applications,
the XB500 for flash and the XT290 for LCD backlighting. Additionally, Cree has
expanded the XT offering, used primarily for illuminating mobile phone LCDs,
to include a design that is compatible for a wider range of packaging processes.
All three products are available for immediate delivery. Mike Dunn, Cree's VP
of Optoelectronics, who will be speaking in the final panel at Blue 2004 end
of day Wednesday, Taiwan time, said regarding the new rollout, We believe
the expansion of our blue and green LED product lines will enable more applications
in the mobile appliance market. These new products are in response to the particular
application requirements within the mobile appliance industry. Company
news release Cree's Newer, Brighter XThin Launched Just in Time for Blue 2004May 10, 2004...Right on the heels of Cree's May
4 announcement of extended green LED products, and again, timed perfectly
for that company's participation in our big Blue
2004 event in Taiwan, which is currently underway, Cree Inc. of Durham,
North Carolina USA has announced the newest addition to their XThin product
family, the XT-21. Noteworthy attributes for this newest blue spectrum device
is an increased radiant flux with brightness levels of 21mW minimum, which is
now commercially available in the 460nm blue version. In addition to the XT-21,
the company also offers the XT-16 and XT-18, which were released in mid-January
of 2004. Target markets for the XT-21 are white light applications, including
LCD backlighting for mobile appliances and digital camera flashes. According
to Mike Dunn, VP of Cree's Optoelectronics (who, along with Cree's President
and CEO, Chuck Swoboda, will be speaking at Blue 2004), stated, Cree
continues to drive its R&D efforts to new LED brightness levels for the
XThin family of products. We believe the XT-21 will enable our customers to
deliver world-class surface mount white LEDs for the next generation of mobile
appliances incorporating color LCD displays. White LEDs are the primary choice
for illuminating color LCD displays in mobile phones and digital cameras.
Company
news release Intrinsic Semiconductor Officially Launches SiC Wafer ServicesMay 10, 2004...Meet Intrinsic Semiconductor and
add it to your roster of SiC and GaN wafer product providers. The startup is
based in Sterling, Virginia in the USA and includes some familiar names in wide
bandgap development, including our good friend Katya Tsvetkov, joined Intrinsic
last year as their sales and marketing manager. President and CEO of the Intrinsic
is is Dr. Cengiz Balkas. Not so coincidentally, the last three letters are "SiC"
for silicon carbide, and that's the product line they're launching as of this
week. (Ref: company news
release). Intrinsic Semiconductor falls under the category of a promising,
privately held emerging growth company focused on wide bandgap, compound semi
materials and device technologies, based specifically on SiC and GaN and they're
underscoring their interest in going after high power and high-frequency device
application sectors. Intrinsic has already engaged New Metals and Chemicals
Corporation of Tokyo as its Japanese distributor. Dr. Cengiz Balkas explained
that, "To date Intrinsic has dedicated extensive efforts on developing
a robust and cost effective technology base as well as a distinct intellectual
property position. As a result, we are very pleased to offer competitively performing
SiC wafers to the rapidly developing SiC and GaN materials and device markets.
With its world class team and infrastructure, Intrinsic is positioned to be
a major player in this field. We are committed to becoming the cost and volume
leader servicing the wide bandgap device markets." Tekcore Ramps Blue Spectrum Chip OutputMay 10, 2004...The President of Tekcore Co. Ltd., Nithi M. Nithipalan, has dropped us a personal
note updating CompoundSemi News on his company's completion of their
Fab 2 facility in Nantou, Taiwan. Tekcore is now in the process of starting
up their new MOCVD tools in the new facility and he reports that both Fab 1
and Fab 2, when combined together, have the capability of producing in excess
of 250 million high brightness blue, green, and UV LED chips per month. Their
current production rate, says Nithi, "is now 60KK per month which will
be increased to 120KK per month by Q4, 2004." He also proudly notes that
their new state-of-the-art facility is also geared to accommodate their fully
equipped R&D center which they're calling "Technology Development Center
(TDC)," which will have its own dedicated MOCVD and chip process line.
Tekcore's new product thrusts include Flip Chips, Power Chips, GaN substrates, Si substrates, and Blue Laser Diodes. For more information, simply
contact them at www.tekcore.com.tw or telephone directly to +886-49-2261626. Infinera Emerges from Stealth ModeMay 10, 2004...If you go to the website of what looks
like the hottest new company to come out of stealth mode, Infinera of Sunnyvale,
California USA, what you'll see are bunnies all over the place. Real live human
ones, working really hard, on real products, and they remembered to picture
them with their safety glasses on. (You can't believe how many companies forget
that little detail, and who'd ever want to contract with a company whose bunnies
weren't properly protected!) Seriously, Infinera indeed looks like the launch
of the season and it's focused on InP-based technology, which may well portend
that indeed, InP may be making a comeback. The whole telecom sector, for that
matter. But we say "may" because it's been such hard times for that
sector that we don't want to foster false hope. But this particular company
is taking a fresh approach to optical networking, and it's a digital approach,
calling their core technology DTN which stands for Digital Optical Networking
System. Their first system is based on photonic ICs to enable said "digital
optical networking." On May 3rd, Infinera announced what they feel are
two key technology breakthroughs: the first large scale Photonic Integrated
Circuits, and the first Digital Optical Networking System, the Infinera DTN.
While our regulars within the compound semi community know a great deal about
the technologies they're applying, Infinera's initial company
news release reads like a colorful, energetic primer for those new to the
field, and is a recommended read. And there's no question the company is coming
out in traditional Silicon Valley style. It's a class act. We look forward to
hearing more about and from Infinera and we highly suggest you browse through
their website and get to know their personable
and well-protected bunnies for yourself. Remec Completes Sell-Off of Non-Core Businesses and RestructuresMay 10, 2004...Remec Inc. of San Diego, California USA, which was awarded a government contract
for development of low cost T/R MMICs for application to X and Ku band modules,
has sold what they say is the last of their non-core business by selling its
Fixed Wireless Access Systems (FWA) related assets and manufacturing services
to Axxcelera Broadband Wireless, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Moseley
Associates, Inc., that provides solutions and systems for the global broadband
wireless market. As part of the sale, certain assets and liabilities, including
contracts, employees, and leases will be transferred to Axxcelera. In an unrelated
transaction Remec has also announced that it has also sold its Antenna and Artificial
Intelligence (AI) related assets to the owner of Optimal RF, a California startup
company. The sale of these assets and elimination of the FWA, Antenna and AI
activities and liabilities going forward is expected by the company to strengthen
its financial position and improve its operating expenses with an impact of
less than 1% of revenues. Prices paid for each of the businesses was not disclosed.
"We are pleased to report progress on our previously stated plan of
getting out of any non-core products and markets," stated Bob Shaner,
Remec's Interim Chief Executive Officer. "When we purchased both businesses,
we envisioned a strategic combination with the goal of being active in the emerging
broadband wireless market. However, over the last several years, Remec has experienced
significant growth in our core businesses, integrated subsystems and RF components
in commercial and defense markets, and we remain committed to and focused on
these businesses as in-line with our long-term strategic objectives."
Company
news release. As a result of the new structuring, Remec has reorganized
itself into two entities, both of which are wholly owned subsidiaries of Remec
Inc... Remec Wireless Systems, Inc. and Remec Defense & Space Inc. Complete
details are in the company
news release. Our news features are reported
by the CompoundSemi News staff writers.
For submissions or content suggestions, you can contact us using
editor -at - compoundsemi.com
For more information and to reserve promotion space contact
Info7 -at - compoundsemi.com
or call +1 (512) 257-9888 |
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The
McDonald Report
Commentary & Perspective...
May 11, 2004...4am Wednesday, Taiwan Time... The report just in to our editorial offices here in Texas from Taiwan as conference
attendees get a little shuteye before the closing day of Blue 2004 on Wednesday,
is that our keynote speaker Chuck Swoboda, President and CEO of Cree Inc. of
Durham, North Carolina USA "knocked their socks off" (to use an
apt American phrase) with his candid and lively talk to the +192 attendees
at the closing talk of the first full day of the conference. Given the location
of the event, the audience obviously included many Asian LED manufacturers who
are already shipping a great deal of product to the market.
Chuck deftly combined humor with seriously putting the audience on alert that
Cree won't be a bit shy about defending its impressive blue spectrum IP portfolio...
right down to the level of the retailer chains. The barbed humor was displayed
when this +6 foot 4 inch, self assured and highly confident business leader
picked up a childrens' shoe from WalMart that sported flashing blue lights and
said... "WalMart may have a problem." Then he showed an LED-based
flashlight from another big retailer, and a USB cable with a blue LED in the
end, continually repeating his mantra... "They might have a problem."
His message was, if you don't have licenses for all the aspects of the
blue or white LED, that LED itself might have a problem as it works its way
into the retail scene. Cree essentially drew a line when Chuck underscored that,
like the other pioneering leaders in blue spectrum development, citing Nichia's
recently posted statement
on its white LED patent position (the subject of our April
11th editorial). The part of the statement relating to the retail sellers
reads: "As a matter of course, those who manufacture, import, use and/or
sell white LED's using such fluorescent substances or any products incorporating
such white LED's are strongly warned to pay close and unremitting attention
not to cause any infringement upon those basic patents held by Nichia."
Chuck specifically noted Nichia's recent patent infringement litigation against
Sharper Image as filed in Northern California
US District Court (Case # C 04 1360 demanding a jury trial). Cree's
own LED IP portfolio now includes a key white LED patent it acquired from ATMI
that precedes most all others in this quickly growing field. (Ref: our editorial
coverage, April 21st which links you to the full text of the patent. Obviously
we were right on target pointing out the potential importance of this key patent,
filed back in 1996).
Chuck pointed out that, typically, that isn't a desired approach, but that
Cree is referring to the retail part of the food chain, which doesn't target
the packagers, who are possible customers of Cree's. Like Nichia, the new policy
would instead be directed at the end retailers, like Walmart, who then look
back at the shoe (or flashlight, etc.) manufacturer and say, "Prove
to me you are using fully licensed parts". That policy will, presumably,
force the packagers to change sources to product manufacturers carrying valid
licenses.
Chuck Swoboda impressed the audience and held them almost spellbound, without
a soul leaving the room even though they'd been there since early morning. This
highly intelligent man did it by livening things up when stating that he thought
the current estimate of a 30% market climb was too conservative, given some
of the emerging applications in automotive lighting and LED backlights for large
scale LCDs. Nothing like delivering a message of "more business even faster"
to get everyone excited. He also held their interest presenting his view of
industry trends, which underscored that consolidation is in the wings. As stated
in the press release
Cree issued on Chuck's talk, he was quoted as saying... "A combination
of factors is driving the industry down the path to consolidation and based
on what we have seen in the past, I believe that the companies which are financially
strong, possess clear access to comprehensive IP portfolios and have world-class
technology and development resources are likely to emerge as winners."
He also made it a point to emphasize that consolidation in the GaN-based blue
spectrum sector was natural, given the history in the AlGaP arena to back it
up, and that the market we're looking at is somewhere between huge and
gigantic! The resulting applause said it all. It was the keynote talk
we've all been waiting to hear, and obviously, the keynote talk of the year.
Tune in for more hot from the conference reports in the days ahead from
Bob Walker, Alan Thompson and Tom Griffiths, who are there in Taiwan, helping
make it happen. If you have questions about the
solid state lighting and compound semiconductor industries or have news
or views to share, I'm Jo Ann McDonald, Editor of LIGHTimes and CompoundSemi News.
Feel free to contact me directly, anytime. 
My direct tel at the ranch is
+1-325-463-5345
From time to time Jo Ann may comment on companies in which she holds a
modest investment - be sure to read
her disclosure at some point in time... |