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November 27, 2006...Veeco, a Woodbury, New York-based data storage, power LED, and semiconductor
research company reported that its current CEO, Edward H. Braun, plans to transition
to the role of company chairman during 2007. The company also reported forming a
succession planning committee to search for and select a new CEO. Veeco indicated
that its independent director, Roger D. McDaniel will lead the board’s
succession planning committee. The company also announced that Braun will continue
as CEO until a successor has been found. Mr. Braun commented, "Veeco,
at $440 million in revenue, possesses multi-market, technology leadership in
high-brightness-LED, data storage, semiconductor and scientific research applications.
The Board and I believe it is appropriate for us to focus on CEO succession
planning, and the separation of CEO and Chairman positions will help Veeco achieve
its potential growth to be a $1 billion company in the years to come."
Company
News Release November 27, 2006...Veeco, a Woodbury, New York-based data storage, power LED, and semiconductor
research company reported that its current CEO, Edward H. Braun, plans to transition
to the role of company chairman during 2007. The company also reported forming a
succession planning committee to search for and select a new CEO. Veeco indicated
that its independent director, Roger D. McDaniel will lead the board’s
succession planning committee. The company also announced that Braun will continue
as CEO until a successor has been found. Mr. Braun commented, "Veeco,
at $440 million in revenue, possesses multi-market, technology leadership in
high-brightness-LED, data storage, semiconductor and scientific research applications.
The Board and I believe it is appropriate for us to focus on CEO succession
planning, and the separation of CEO and Chairman positions will help Veeco achieve
its potential growth to be a $1 billion company in the years to come."
Company
News Release
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Hittite Microwave Introduces Linear Mixers with Lo Amplifiers for Cellular, 3G, and WiMaxNovember 27, 2006...Hittite Microwave, a maker of integrated circuits (ICs), modules, and subsystems
for radio frequency (RF), microwave, and millimeterwave applications, has introduced
two new linear MMIC mixers with integrated Lo amplifiers. According to the Chelmsford,
Massachusetts USA-based company, the MMIC mixers are suitable for Cellular PCS/3G,
broadband, WiMAX, and WiBro applications from 0.4 to 4.0 GHz. The HMC585MS8G(E)
is a high IP3 GaAs MMIC mixer with integrated LO Amplifier operating from 400
to 650 MHz. It features high input IP3 of +33 dBm, while requiring only 0 dBm
of LO drive. This high dynamic range MMIC mixer operates with frequencies from
300 to 750 MHz. This allows both high side and low side LO frequency plans.
The HMC585MS8G(E) comes in a RoHS compliant MSOP8G “E” SMT
package. It shares a common pinout with the HMC483MS8G(E), and the HMC485MS8G(E)
family of high IP3 mixers which cover frequencies from 0.7 to 2.4 GHz.
The HMC215LP4(E) is a double-balanced GaAs MMIC mixer with integrated LO amplifier
rated from 1.7 to 4.0 GHz. It features high LO to RF isolation of 32 dB, low
conversion loss of 8 dB, and high input IP3 of +25 dBm. This wideband MMIC mixer
is also housed in a RoHS compliant leadless 4x4 mm QFN “E” SMT package.
This device shares a common pinout with the HMC551LP4(E) and the HMC552LP4(E)
family of double balanced mixers with integrated LO amplifiers which operate
from 0.8 to 3.0 GHz. Both the HMC585MS8G(E) and the HMC215LP4(E) are suited
for upconversion and downconversion applications because of their passive mixer
topologies. They operate from a single +5V supply. Company
News Release Swedish SiC Startup Gets Funding
CompoundSemi News StaffNovember 20, 2006...A startup in Kista, Sweden, TranSiC AB has reportedly raised SEK 4 million
($ 0.6 million, EUR 0,44 million) venture capital in a first round financing led
by Volvo Technology Transfer Corporation of Sweden, and co-led by Midroc New
Technology AB of Sweden. The company develops and manufactures power bipolar
junction transistors (BJTs) in silicon carbide (SiC), under the trademark BitSiC.
The company hopes to eventually profit from the push to make more efficient
hybrid electric vehicles. As the vehicles become more efficient, and the gas
engines become smaller, the electricity conversion technology has to operate
at higher power and higher temperatures. Silicon carbide
components provide the ideal properties allowing high temperature and high power
operation without the requiring heavy, expensive, and elaborate thermal management
systems.
The company is by no means the first to offer silicon carbide transistors,
and components for the hybrid vehicle market. Cree is one of the main companies
in the growing field of silicon carbide components for hybrid electric vehicles.
The company fabricates its components at the Electrm Laboratory in Kista, Sweden.
In addition to allowing higher temperatures, transistors made with SiC switch
faster. The company indicated that it still has to develop suitable packaging
technology, a new series of applications for the BitSiC chips could open up.
TranSiC
News Release Sony Set for November Launch of its Blu-ray Disc Burner
CompoundSemi News StaffNovember 20, 2006...Sony has introduced its new internal BWU 100A Blu-ray Disc burner in Taiwan.
The burner will be sold at the recommended retail price of NT$33,000 (USD$1,006),
according to Digitimes. The device launch is scheduled for the end of November,
but Sony Taiwan told Digitimes that the product is immediately available for
pre-ordering. The BWU-100A can record on Blu-ray Discs with the capacity of
up to 50GB (single-sided double layer discs), according to Sony Taiwan and Digitimes article.
This translates to about four hours of high definition video, ten DVD movies,
or 13,000 MP3 songs.
Pioneer and LG Electronics have also launched Blu-ray burner models during
the previous quarter, the article
pointed out. Sony Taiwan warned that because of the scarcity of the BD pickup
heads in the burners which are also used in the PlayStation 3, their BD burner
will be priced higher than other models. The company said it will initially
only make 500 available for the Taiwan market. Sony Taiwan also indicated that
although it produces the devices itself, it may later release production to
Taiwan-based manufacturers.
Nanometrics Becomes Major Player in Compound Semiconductor Metrology
Scott McMahanNovember 20, 2006...Nanometrics had a formidable IP portfolio even before it recently acquired
Accent Optical Technology in July of this year. (Ref: Coverage).
Accent is one of the largest suppliers of compound semiconductor test equipment.
In addition to offering overlay metrology and FTIR metrology which concern the
silicon world, Nanometrics has a suite of metrology products for compound semiconductors.
In 2002 the company acquired the Waterloo (Canada) operation of Philips Analytical.
Tom Ryan PhD., Product Manager for Compound Semiconductors at Nanometrics Incorporated,
points out that virtually every epi growth facility has some BioRad or Philips
or Accent Products. Accent’s products include photoluminescence mapping,
ECV profiling, Hall, DLTS, and X-ray diffraction.
As a result of the acquisition, Nanometrics is now considerably larger than
Accent. Nanometrics has local support in all the major international markets.
Nanometrics is headquartered in Milpitas, California USA. Since the acquisition,
the company has introduced a photoluminescence mapping system that the company
says is the first to predict Green LED emission at wafer level. The company
also filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Nova Measuring Instruments
for infringement of a patent that was gained through the recent acquisition
referring to optical critical dimension technology or scatterometry. At the
time, John Heaton, President and CEO of Nanometrics said, “When we merged
with Accent Optical, we acquired a number of patents and other fundamental intellectual
property in the field of scatterometry, including the patents that are the subject
of this new complaint. As a result, we are now in a stronger position to protect
our proprietary technology from infringement. We have a responsibility to our
shareholders to continue enforcing all 89 of our patents through the most effective
and appropriate methods.”
The complaint October complaint related to U.S. Patent Numbers 5,867,276, entitled
“Method for Broad Wavelength Scatterometry,” and 7,115,858 B1, entitled
“Apparatus and Method for the Measurement of Diffracting Structures.”
The filing followed the March 30, 2006 announcement of the complaint filed against
Nova Measuring Instruments Ltd. in the United States District Court for the
Northern District of California for infringing Nanometrics’ U.S. Patent
Number Re. 34,783. The patent, “Method for Determining Absolute Reflectance
of a Material in the Ultraviolet Range,” relates to Nanometrics’
ultraviolet reflectometry and optical critical dimension tools. Nanometrics
has also increased its IP portfolio recently through a cross-licensing agreement
with ASML. The agreement gave ASML the right to use the some of Nanometrics’
IP portfolio especially Nanometrics’ technology for Advanced Overlay and
CD Control Metrology Technology. With its new acquisition and strong IP portfolio,
Nanometrics has become an important player in compound semiconductor metrology. Bandwidth Semiconductor Expands Wafer Production With Two Veeco Systems
Compoundsemi News StaffNovember 15, 2006...Bandwidth Semiconductor, a subsidiary of Spire corporation headquartered in
Bedford, Massachusetts USA, confirmed that it ordered two TurboDisc E450 metal
organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) systems from Veeco to ramp production of vertical
cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs), LEDs, and solar concentrator cells.
Mr. Edward D. Gagnon, General Manager of Bandwidth Semiconductor, LLC, said,
"The addition of Veeco’s TurboDisc MOCVD systems is critical
as we scale up our existing MOCVD and related processing facilities to satisfy
production demands. After reviewing competitive systems, it was clear the high
production throughput of Veeco’s MOCVD systems will allow us to meet our
customer requirements for VCSELs, LEDs and concentrator solar cells.”
Company
News Release Emcore Reports on Conclusion of Voluntary Investigation into Stock Grant Irregularities
CompoundSemi News StaffNovember 15, 2006...Emcore Corporation reported that the Special Committee put in charge of the investigation
into the rewarding of stock option grants, did find accounting irregularities,
but concluded that senior management was not involved. Today, Emcore Corporation
announced the results of a voluntary investigation into its historical stock
option grants initiated by senior management. Senior management initiated the
investigation with a recommendation to the board of directors after some accounting
irregularities surfaced.
The Special Committee, an independent counsel, and outside accounting experts,
together reviewed option grants from the time of Emcore’s initial public
offering in 1997 through 2006. The Special Committee’s advisors also reportedly
reviewed more than 250,000 e-mail messages, Board and Compensation Committee
minutes, and other documents, files and data. Additionally, the investigators
interviewed present and former officers and employees of the Company who were
involved in the option grants.
According to the company, the investigation found no evidence that senior management
took any actions in an attempt to defraud. Furthermore, the Special Committee,
which was in charge of the investigation, stated that it was unable to conclude
that the Company or anyone involved in the stock option granting process at
the Company engaged in willful misconduct. However, the grant process was marred
by carelessness and inattention to applicable accounting and disclosure rules.
Additionally the Special Committee cited the company’s failure to maintain
adequate controls concerning the issuance of stock options, as a contributing
factor.
The review of the stock option grants revealed that senior management did not
receive any option grants between the October 3, 2001 and the May 18, 2004 grants,
the period during which the company’s stock was at its lowest point with
an average around $2 and a low of about $1.
The Special Committee found that there were occasions after the grant date
and exercise price was set that administrative changes were made to the grant
lists. The Special Committee found that in 2000 and 2004, even after lists had
been announced as “final” and a grant date set, later adjustments
to the lists sometimes included changes both in the number of options granted
to individuals and in the aggregate number of options granted. In 2000, the
committee found that about 13 percent of the individuals on the list registered
a change in the number options they were awarded. The number of options set
forth on the list increased by approximately 9 percent.
The Special Committee reported, that they did find certain instances when stock
option grants increased in value due to “hindsight.” The committee
used the term “hindsight” to refer to the limited number of occasions
when the number of shares purchased was increased when the stock option grant
was changed to reflect a lower stock price at a date prior to the actual day
the stock option grant was issued. However, the Special Committee found that
this was the result among other things, inadequate controls and practices, and
was not done by senior management. Company
News Release TriQuint Introduces GaAs ICs for Digital Radio and K-Band Satellite Communications
CompoundSemi News StaffNovember 15, 2006...TriQuint Semiconductor, a maker of microwave and millimeter wave products,
introduced three gallium arsenide (GaAs) integrated circuits for point-to-point
radio and satellite communications. The company based in Hillsboro, Oregon USA,
says the new devices offer size, performance, and cost advantages. TriQuint
unveiled the devices at the Electronic 2006 trade fair, which runs November
14-17 in Munich, Germany. According to the company, the new products address
original equipment manufacturer (OEM) needs for frequency upconversion in the
transmit (Tx) and local oscillator chains for digital radio and satellite communications
systems.
TriQuint’s new designs target 18, 23 and 26 GHz applications including
digital radio and K-band satellite communications, and all of its new product
releases are 100% DC and RF tested (on-wafer) to ensure performance compliance.
TriQuint says the offer the high frequency, high performance market robust solutions
that address the need for lower-cost products well suited to current and next-generation
designs. TriQuint also says that the devices are produced with very thick protective
surface passivation, and are therefore able to offer a superior level of environmental
robustness suitable for non-hermetic packages.
The TGC4405 reportedly provides: a high highly integrated design specifically
for upconversion, a local oscillator (LO) frequency doubler, and output RF signal
amplification in a small, single product. TriQuint says its new TGC4402 was
created for to provide upconversion without an integral LO doubler or output
amplifier. Both the TGC4405 and x4402 reportedly employ single-ended designs
that don’t require external baluns. The TGC4403 is a millimeter wave frequency
doubler that includes an output buffer amplifier. Company
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