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Editorial: Morris Young: Compound Semi Pioneer and Visionary
 
... Morris Young has announced that, as of the end of this year, he'll be retiring from the front lines at AXT, but will continue to serve on that company's board of directors (ref: our coverage). Veterans of the compound semi industry know Morris well, but newcomers may not be...
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Boeing-Spectrolab with DOE Funding Achieves 40.7 Percent Solar Concentrator Cell Efficiency
CompoundSemi News Staff

December 6, 2006...The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) reported that Boeing-Spectrolab with DOE funding, produced a multi-junction solar concentrator cell that achieved what it is calling a world record in conversion efficiency of 40.7 percent. The DOE indicated that the achievement sets a new milestone in sunlight-to-electricity performance, and may lead to lower cost systems of only $3 per watt. At this price, such a system could theoretically produce electricity at a cost of 8-10 cents per kilowatt/hour the DOE said. This would making solar electricity a more cost-competitive. Unlike conventional solar cell technology and other efficient multi-junction solar cells, gallium arsenide multi-junction solar concentrator cells use an optical concentrator to increase sunlight’s intensity on the cells.

“Reaching this milestone heralds a great achievement for the Department of Energy and for solar energy engineering worldwide,” Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Alexander Karsner said. “We are eager to see this accomplishment translate into the marketplace as soon as possible, which has the potential to help reduce our nation’s reliance on imported oil and increase our energy security.” DOE News Release

Fairchild's Patent Infringement Jury Trial Rescheduled
CompoundSemi News Staff

December 6, 2006...Fairchild Semiconductor, a maker of power electronics, reported that its jury trial set to begin on December 4th against Power Integrations, Inc., was canceled by order of the Delaware US District Court. The court reportedly questioned if the pending case in the US Supreme Court, KSR vrs. Teleflex, which was argued on November 28, 2006, might impact the Fairchild and Power Integrations dispute. The pending KSR Supreme Court case is related to whether or not the defense of “obviousness” in patent litigation has been improperly restricted by lower court rulings. The Delaware US District Court rescheduled the second phase of the three phase jury trial, which will rule on the validity of Power Integration’s asserted patents to May 7, 2007. Fairchild News Release

Despite a pending jury trial in Delaware, Fairchild Semiconductor brought a counter lawsuit against Power Integrations for infringement of one of its patents in Texas. (Ref: Coverage). In first phase of Power Integrations’ lawsuit against Fairchild, which ended October 16, 2006, the jury ruled that that Fairchild Semiconductor willfully infringed four patents asserted by Power Integrations and awarded approximately $34 million in damages. (Ref: Coverage)

JDSU Ships 10,000th ROADM to Power On-Demand Applications
CompoundSemi News Staff

December 6, 2006...JDSU reports shipping its 10,000th reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexers (ROADM) which allows on demand services such as: video on-demand, IPTV, and online gaming. JDSU points out ROADMs are ideal to add capacity and flexibility for agile optical networks with increasing on-demand services. JDSU explains that because of more on-demand services, network traffic patterns are increasingly unpredictable. For this reason, the service providers and multiservice operators have chosen agile optical networks.

JDSU’s ROADMs boast “point and click” optical bandwidth management, lower operating costs, and fewer maintenance calls. JDSU says that each of the ROADMs shipped by JDSU is capable of carrying and dynamically switching 1.6 Terabits worth of traffic (40x40Gb/s). "JDSU is the only company that has all three of the leading ROADM technologies -- liquid crystal, MEMS and PLC -- and has a broad portfolio covering metro to long-haul networks, which gives us a strong competitive advantage that we pass along to our customers," said Mike Ricci, senior vice president of JDSU's optical communications group. "The proliferation of bandwidth hungry applications is driving the rapid deployment of ROADMs and JDSU is well positioned to meet the needs of innovative network providers servicing the on-demand era." Company News Release

Aviza Gets USA Order for ALD System
CompoundSemi News Staff

December 6, 2006...Aviza Technology, a maker of semiconductor equipment and processing technology, reported receiving an order for its single wafer Celsior atomic layer deposition (ALD) system from a leading US-based DRAM manufacturer. According to Aviza, the undisclosed DRAM manufacturer will utilize the system for fabrication of 90-nm DRAM devices on 200-mm wafers. Aviza’s latest order adds to the company’s extensive orders from Europe, China, and Taiwan. Aviza says that the current ALD system will be used for customers’ 20-mm/300-mm bridge applications.

Subrata Chatterji, Vice President and General Manager, ALD Business Unit of Aviza Technology, Inc., said, "The recent order from the major DRAM company in the U.S. complements Aviza's presence at multiple sites worldwide quite well, and is a testament to Celsior's proven process capabilities for meeting the rigorous technology and productivity requirements needed to manufacture tomorrow's advanced IC devices at the 90-nm and below technology nodes." Aviza will attend the Semicon Japan trade show in Chiba Japan December 6-8, 2006. Company News Release

Goodrich Awarded Air Force Contract for SWIR Sensor
CompoundSemi News Staff

December 4, 2006...Goodrich Corporation was awarded a contract from the U.S. Air Force Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Battlelab (UAVB) at Nellis Air Force Base (Nevada) to develop and fabricate a shortwave infrared (IR) sensor for the Spectre-Finder initiative. According to the company, the initiative’s goal is to rapidly demonstrate the potential of a small, air-launched and recoverable Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS). The company plans to develop the sensing capabilities of the UAS to providing off-board sensing for support of future Air Force Special Operations Command operations. As part of the contract, Goodrich’s SUI team, headquartered in Princeton, NJ, will develop a shortwave infrared (SWIR) camera payload assembly. The technology utilizes a 640 x 512 pixel format indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) focal plane array camera. It has a custom dual field-of-view lens and laser pointer for use in day or night operation allowing reliable imaging and performance in any weather or environmental conditions.

Dr. Marshall J. Cohen, Vice President and General Manager of Goodrich’s SUI team, stated, “We are pleased to have been selected to work on this program, giving us the opportunity to leverage our expertise in indium gallium arsenide SWIR imaging technology to deliver an enhanced sensor assembly to the U.S. Air Force. Our team will be leveraging other InGaAs programs from the U.S. Army, Navy and DARPA to give the Air Force the most sophisticated SWIR camera, maximizing the performance while maintaining a very low weight and compact assembly.” Company News Release

RFMD to Sell Majority of Bluetooth Assets to Qualcomm for $39 Million
CompoundSemi News Release

December 4, 2006...RF Micro Devices Inc. of Greensboro, North Carolina USA, reports signing an agreement to sell the majority of its Bluetooth assets to Qualcomm for $39 million. Qualcomm expects to get next generation Bluetooth technology from the transaction. RFMD says the acquisition will allow the company to increase its focus on its high growth markets such as: cellular transceivers, cellular power amplifiers, wireless local area netork (WLAN) power amplifiers, global positioning systems (GPS), and gallium nitride (GaN) high power amplifiers. Under the agreement signed on December 1, Qualcomm will acquire the majority of RFMD’s Bluetooth assets, including intellectual property, related to RFMD’s next-generation SiW1722 and RF4000 series. However, RFMD will retain the products that represent the majority of it Bluetooth related revenue generation including: its CDMA products SiW1712 and SiW1721, as well as its SoC Bluetooth products, the SiW3000 and SiW3500. RFMD expects to receive proceeds of approximately $39 million in cash with the transaction. The Company expects to record a gain on the sale of these assets.

"The sale of these Bluetooth assets to QUALCOMM will enable RFMD to accelerate its expansion into new markets while streamlining its world class cost structure," said RFMD President and CEO Bob Bruggeworth. "RFMD also looks forward to working with QUALCOMM with products complementary to their portfolio such as cellular PAs and WLAN front-end modules." RFMD News Release

NL Nanosemiconductor to Acquire Zia Laser
CompoundSemi News Staff

December 4, 2006...NL Nanosemiconductor GmBH of San Jose, California USA, a company which produces quantum dot technology for semiconductor lasers, reported that it has acquired Zia Laser Inc., headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico USA. Both companies have secured board and shareholder approval for the acquisition of Zia laser, a spin off from the Center for High Technology Materials at the University of New Mexico in June 2001. "Today we see the clear potential of Quantum Dot lasers to enable optical interconnect and optical clock technology. This solution will open markets for III-V-based optoelectronics to a large audience moving forward,” said Jürgen Kurb, CEO of NL Nanosemiconductor. “In addition, applications such as optical imaging and medical treatment will benefit from specific features of Quantum Dot technology, particularly the broad gain spectrum and unique wavelength range of 1.1 – 1.3 micron.”

“…Our respective technologies drive fundamental performance improvements of semiconductors by delivering lasers for inter-chip and intra-chip timing and signal distribution. This new entity is a powerful blend of our patented technologies, providing our customers with the critical building blocks to spawn a new era of laser driven silicon computer chips,” Kurb added. NL Nanosemiconductor News Release

BOC Edwards Gets ready for Expansion into New Market Segments
CompoundSemi News Staff

December 4, 2006... BOC Edwards, a supplier of vacuum, abatement, chemical management equipment and services, reported that it has opened a new European semiconductor headquarters in Grenoble, France. The company says it made the change in location from Crawley, West Sussex, UK, to Grenoble to be closer to key European customers. The company says it has already started the relocation with the transfer of 50 employees from its application engineering, business management, and sales departments. BOC Edwards also plans to hire for many of the technical positions including engineers, project management, service and support from the local area which is know for its strength in research and development. The company says the move into the new 900m2 office will support its planned expansion into compoundsemiconductors, photovoltaics, and outsourcing services. The new headquarters was officially opened during a ceremony on 20 September 2006. It is located in the Bernin Industrial Zone adjacent to the Crolles fabs.

“BOC Edwards has more than doubled in size over the past decade to well above US$1Billion,” said Olivier Blachier, general manager, Europe semiconductor business, BOC Edwards. “This success has been due to organic growth and a series of strategic mergers and acquisitions, mainly focused on on-tool vacuum, gas and liquid extraction, and treatment technologies,” said Blachier “We intend to increase our presence in key markets such as the photovoltaic industry, compound semiconductor devices and outsourcing services,” he added. Company News Release

Emcore Photovoltaics Division Lands $41 million Extension Order From Satellite Maker
CompoundSemi News Staff

November 29, 2006...Emcore Corporation, located in Somerset, New Jersey USA, reported that its Photovoltaics Division has been awarded a multi-year purchase order to supply multi-junction solar cells for high power geosynchronous communications satellites. The order with a leading manufacturer of geosynchronous communications satellites, is estimated to be worth more than $41 million over 3 years. The agreement is reportedly an extension to an existing multi-year purchase agreement from the satellite manufacturer.

“This purchase order, along with the initial purchase agreement, represents one of the largest multi-junction solar cell procurements from any US satellite manufacturer,” David Danzilio, Vice President and General Manager of Emcore's Photovoltaic Division commented.

Emcore says it will supply its gallium arsenide-based high-efficiency, multi-junction solar cells for approximately ten high power satellites. The solar cells will be produced at Emcore’s muli-junction solar cell production facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Emcore expects to begin production of the solar cells in the January quarter and continue production through 2009 as stipulated in the agreement. The company recently completed a $2.5 million expansion of its Albuquerque solar cell operation. The expansion included a new 20,000 square foot facility which was officially opened on October 30, 2006. Dr. Thomas J. Russell, Emcore’s Chairman of the Board, Reuben F. Richards Jr., Emcore's Chief Executive Officer, US Senator Pete Domenici, US Representative Heather Wilson, and New Mexico Lt. Governor Dianne Denish attended the opening of the new facility.

“We believe that our proven manufacturing capability and technology leadership make Emcore the supplier of choice for demanding satellite power systems. We continue to invest in our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility to enhance our capabilities to meet and exceed the exacting needs of our customers," Danzilio added.

Emcore has been supplying its radiation hardened solar cells for space applications for decades. However, according to Emcore, supplying its 28.5 percent efficiency solar cells with the option of a patented onboard monolithic bypass diode, enables a new class of high power communication satellite for direct to home broadcasts and other advanced services.

The same advanced solar cells in the satellites have been adapted for use in terrestrial solar concentrator applications. These solar concentrator cells have attained efficiencies in excess of 36 percent with the help of sunlight concentrating optics. Emcore predicts that its products will make solar concentrator cells cost competitive in utility scale solar power stations, and other energy distribution applications. Company News Release

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Commentary & Perspective...

Morris Young: Compound Semi Pioneer and Visionary

December 2, 2006...Morris Young has announced that, as of the end of this year, he'll be retiring from the front lines at AXT, but will continue to serve on that company's board of directors (ref: our coverage). Veterans of the compound semi industry know Morris well, but newcomers may not be aware of his tremendous pioneering contributions to our industry.

I first got to know Morris Young while he was still a physicist at Lawrence Livermore National Labs in California when he and his brothers, Ted and Gary, were in the early stages of founding AXT in Fremont, California. That was way back in 1985 when the word "gallium arsenide" was still something people were just learning to pronounce correctly, let alone understand what that mainstay compound semi starting material could actually produce. Prior to his tenure at LLNL, which began in 1979, Morris was a member of the technical staff at AT&T's prestigious Bell Labs from 1975 to 1979. Morris has always been a brilliant materials scientist and when it came to what one could actually do with GaAs (and our industry's other primary starting materials) he easily qualifies as one of our industry's key experts and visionaries.

From the outset, Morris Young adopted the vertical gradient freeze (VGF) method of growing compound semiconductor boules. At the time, not everyone was willing to jump onboard the VGF bandwagon. But from the outset, AXT, which stands for American Xtal Technologies (the "Xtal" standing for "crystal") believed in its commercial potential. In the 1980s the vast majority of the CS business was still military and the emphasis was to develop dual use technologies that could not only help the West "win" the so-called Cold War, but to simultaneously develop commercial products that would utilized the same materials, equipment, and devices that could be turned into successful commercial products. The thinking in advanced circles within the USA's Department of Defense was that, if you developed dual use (military as well as commercial) production lines for products, the costs of manufacturing would drop more quickly, thus making end products considerably more affordable for either sector.

I remember vividly when a DARPA spokesperson explained to me at the time that, despite the fact that mainstream GaAs boule manufacturers were primarily producing product made by the more conventional horizontal growth methods, that VGF was actually the superior growth method and there was nobody more enthusiastic about VGF than Morris Young. As a journalist and not a technical person, I never did fully appreciate the merits of VGF, but just talking to Morris (and having his words supported by a growing number of DoD gurus) made me a believer. One of the things I've admired about AXT throughout its twenty year history is that, through thick and thin, the company has always worked from its core competency: VGF. AXT was the first company to independently commercialize VGF technology.

Morris Young was never afraid of being first at anything that had to do with advancing the compounds. Under his tenure as CEO at AXT, his was the first company to move to 6-inch diameter GaAs substrates. Under his tenure, his was also the first company to take its manufacturing to mainland China, where AXT was able to construct a fab for considerably less investment than in the USA. Additionally, under his tenure, AXT was the first to establish raw material joint ventures in China, where today, the company has five JVs.

What I'll always remember Morris for, however, is his support of the overall industry and his global insight. Always a candid and kind person, Morris Young could always be counted on to provide a lively, topical talk at key industry meetings and conferences, and AXT was always there as a major sponsor when needed, exhibiting, advertising, and sponsoring meetings. That tradition is being upheld with Phil Yin taking the helm at AXT. As announced in my recent column "Bring On The Holidays" Phil has kindly accepted our invitation to co-chair (with Kyma's Keith Evans) our next annual Compound Semi Vision business conference. Compound Semi Vision 2007 will be held June 12-13 in Dallas, Texas.

I had the pleasure of visiting with Morris Young most recently at CS Week in San Antonio, Texas (the combo event of IEEE's annual Compound Semiconductor IC Symposium (CSICS) and IOP's Key Conference, which ran Nov. 12 through 15). Morris looked great. Both of us are now in our 60s, and we compared notes on how the industry's doing after all these years. Consensus is that these last few years have been extremely rough for almost everyone and every company, the solid state lighting folks being the primary exception, but Morris and I agreed that things appear to finally be looking up and he was very optimistic about AXT's future under Phil Yin's direction. As stated formally in the company news release announcing his retirement, Morris commented that... "It has been a joy to work at AXT and lead the company in its growth over the years. It has been a rewarding experience and I believe the company has a very bright future. With its core technology, strategic investments in joint ventures and new management team, I believe AXT is positioned for continued strong growth."

As Phil Yin so aptly stated in that same release... "While I understand Morris's decision to retire, we will miss his leadership in the technology area of our business. The growth and core foundation of the company is the direct result of his hard work and technical abilities, and for that we are very grateful." And as Jesse Chen, Chairman of AXT's Board underscored, "Morris Young is a visionary technologist, a pioneer of the gallium arsenide industry and the person most responsible for the early growth and success of AXT. His experience and wisdom have been tremendous assets to the company." I couldn't agree with them more.

When talking to Phil Yin at CS Week, one of the topics we discussed was the joy brought to the field by those who bring passion to the compounds. I truly believe that Morris Young is one of those people. So I'd like to add to the accolades above and publicly wish him a wonderful retirement by saying... Thank you Morris, for your inspiration, your support, and especially for your years of true passion for the continued advancement of the compound semi industry. You've been a good friend and your contributions over the decades are very much appreciated.

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