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May 23, 2007...Cree of Durham, North Carolina USA, reported that it reached another milestone
in its development of its Zero-Micropipe silicon carbide substrate technology. SiC is a compound semiconductor material used in the production of a range of power,
light and communications components, including power-switching devices, LEDs
and RF power transistors for wireless communication. For the first time, Cree
demonstrated a 100mm (4-inch), Zero Micropipe (ZMP) n-type SiC substrate. Cree
named the SiC substrate product Zero Micropipe because it virtually eliminates
micropipes, a common crystalline defect in SiC. In a project partially funding
by the U.S. Army and the Defense Applied Research Project Agency (DARPA), Cree
was able to dramatically reduce SiC substrate defects. The latest demonstration
takes it a step further, proving that it is possible to eliminate defects in
large-area wafers also.
“Cree’s achievement of a 100-mm ZMP substrate further demonstrates
our materials technology expertise. We expect that ZMP technology can significantly
improve device yields, expand the range of products that can be designed and
produced, and enable manufacturing at higher-volume levels than had been possible
before,” stated Cengiz Balkas, Ph.D., Cree vice president and general
manager for material. Company
News Release SatCon Awarded Air Force SBIR Contract to Develop Generator
CompoundSemi News StaffMay 23, 2007...SatCon Technology, a maker of power electronics and power management devices
headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts USA, reported that it has been awarded
a Phase I Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) contract with the U.S. Air
Force Research Laboratory to develop a high-speed, power dense generator for
airborne applications. The device is to produce 100 to 300 kW and should be
scalable to the MW class for directed energy weapon (DEW) power supplies.
SatCon is currently developing starter/generators, traction motors, and generators
for ground and undersea vehicles. The new generator will be designed for aerospace
applications and will be based on the company’s permanent magnet machinery
design. SatCon points out that the work expands upon the development of a 410
kW hybrid electric vehicle generator the company designed for the U.S. Army
at US Ft. Belvoir. The goal of the project is to create a generator that offers
high-speed capability, rugged design, high power density, and affordable manufacturing
capability. SatCon's President & Chief Executive Officer, David Eisenhaure,
stated, "In addition to opening up opportunities for future military
aircraft power applications, this new SatCon program further solidifies our
push into the hybrid electric vehicle sector for military, commercial, and passenger
applications. SatCon is targeting best in class solutions for the widest possible
range of hybrid electric vehicle and power conversion applications through a
broad array of developments." SatCon
News Release Emcore's New Manufacturing Facility in China Begins Shipping Products
CompoundSemi News StaffMay 23, 2007...Emcore Corporation of Albuquerque, New Mexico USA, a maker of optoelectronic
components and compound semi-based solar cells, reported that it has begun shipping
products from its new, low-cost manufacturing facility in China. The facility,
about 20 miles southeast of Beijing in the export processing zone of Langfang
City, has a 22,000 square foot, Class-10000 clean room for optoelectronic device
packaging. The company says that an additional space of about 60,000 square
feet is available for future expansion. Emcore says it will consolidate and
move the manufacturing of certain cost sensitive optoelectronic device products
to the facility. Dr. Charlie Wang, former Director of Engineering of Emcore
Fiber Optics, has been appointed General Manager of Emcore China. "We
chose this location because of its convenient access to infrastructures and
talent pools of nearby Beijing and Tianjin metro areas. This facility will experience
a very low operating cost in addition to tax and import/export benefits for
being located in an export-processing zone," said Dr. Charlie Wang.
"We will be packaging optical subassemblies for broader applications
of storage-area network, local-area network, cable TV, and telecom markets.
We have already transferred and started the qualification processes for certain
products."
"The establishment of Emcore China is an important accomplishment
as we focus on achieving our goal of profitability. Through our China operations,
we will be able to tap into a vast talent pool of low-cost skilled labor and
engineering resources. This facility, along with a strategic alignment with
our existing contract-manufacturing partners, should enable us to improve our
cost structure and gross margins across product lines within Emcore. We expect
to develop and provide improved service to our global customers using a local
presence in Asia." commented Reuben F. Richards Jr., Chief Executive
Officer of Emcore Corporation. Company
News Release TriQuint Introduces Network Business Unit's Vision to Simplify Connectivity
CompoundSemi News StaffMay 23, 2007...TriQuint introduced its Network Business Unit’s vision to simplify connectivity
in consumer voice, data, music, and video for fixed and mobile environments.
The company indicated that part of the simplifying of the manufacturing process
will come from the creation of gallium arsenide, surface and bulk acoustic wave
(SAW/ BAW) technologies used too integrate multiple functions into smaller,
and more efficient modules. TriQuint also reports that it is packaging more
of its catalog of gallium arsenide die-level MMICs. According to the company,
these give manufacturers surface mount amplifiers and switches. TriQuint says
that previously, die-level components were accessible primarily to manufacturers
who could handle non-packaged components. So with more packaged products, existing
and new customers will have access to a wider selection of manufacturing options.
This in turn will place products integrated with TriQuint components in new
markets. TriQuint also sought to simplify sales channels and tools used to access
company products.
“Our customers want integrated devices for size and cost-constrained
applications, more packaged product options, especially for higher frequency
applications, and a simpler way to get those products. Our vision is about anticipating
these needs and helping them increase productivity. Our customers are developing
next-generation products that will enable connectivity convergence, which is
about ‘networking’ in the human sense; it’s the ability to
work wherever a person is, staying in touch with family, playing games, sharing
pictures, having access to ‘data’ such as digital music, movies,
TV or spreadsheets, and web surfing,” said Brian Balut, TriQuint
Networks Vice President. Company
News Release Veeco Surface Profiler Shipped to PrimeStar Solar for Production Ramp
CompoundSemi News StaffMay 21, 2007...In a separate announcement, Veeco reported that PrimeStar Solar, a maker of
cadmium telluride photovoltaic modules purchased the Dektak 150 Surface Profiler.
The Dektak 150 offers increased resolution for measuring thin films to 10 nanometers
and below to meet the evolving requirements of today's photovoltaic cell applications.
"We chose Veeco's Dektak 150 stylus profiler because it has the great
combination of measurement precision, performance versatility and an attractive
price point," says Dr. Fred Seymour, PV Technology Director for PrimeStar
Solar. "This is important for us since we are aiming to quickly provide
the solar market with very low cost solar PV modules. As we continue our ramp
up for production, we will rely heavily on the Dektak to calibrate our coatings."
Veeco
News Release NSF University Centers Awarded Nanoelectronics Funding Boost
CompoundSemi News StaffMay 21, 2007...Nanoelectronics research projects at six National Science Foundation university
centers across ten United States universities will receive a total of $2 million
in funding from Semiconductor Research Corporation (SRC) and the National Science
Foundation. The joint NSF-NRI supplemental grants were awarded to teams at six
NSF centers in nanoelectronics research, along with their research leaders.
SRC indicated that the goal of the research is to advance the search for replacement
of the basic semiconductor logic structure that has served the world of computers
and integrated circuits for more than 30 years. Specifically, the researchers want to replace complimentary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) field effect transistors (FETs). “Without a breakthrough,
the phenomenal advances in semiconductor capabilities will slow drastically
as we reach the fundamental limits of current technology in the next decade
or so,” said Dr. Jeff Welser, director of the Nanoelectronics Research
Initiative (NRI), a research entity of SRC. (Ref: Coverage).“The IT economy has enjoyed
unprecedented growth during the microelectronics era of the past half-century.
The government and universities have quickly supported the NRI program in order
to pursue discovery of the next logic switch and continued leadership in the
new nanoelectronics era.”
Several companies are taking participating the NRI including: Advanced Micro
Devices, Inc.; Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.,; IBM Corp.; Intel Corp.; Micron
Technology, Inc.; and Texas Instruments, Inc. The companies will assign researchers
to collaborate with the university teams. NRI has the goal of demonstrating
novel computing devices and their feasibility in simple computer circuits during
the next 5-10 years. In order to reach this goal the NSF centers will work closely
with the participating companies NSF
News Release Fairchild Semiconductor Files Infringement Countersuit Against Alpha & Omega Semiconductor Ltd.
CompoundSemi News StaffMay 21, 2007...Shortly after receiving a patent infringement lawsuit from Taiwan-based Alpha
& Omega Semiconductor (AOS), power electronics company, Fairchild Semiconductor, reported
that it filed a counter suit. The counter suit alleges that AOS infringed on several
of its patents regarding the design and manufacturing of specific types of field
effect transistors (FETs). Fairchild alleges that AOS power transistor products
infringe at least four of its U.S. patents, including Nos. 6,429,481;
6,521,497;
6,710,406;
and 6,828,195.
Fairchild seeks monetary damages and an injunction to prevent AOS from selling
or importing the allegedly infringing products into the United States. On May
18 in a company news release, AOS said it had filed a complaint alleging that
Fairchild's products infringed patents AOS had purchased. (Ref: AOS
News Release). Fairchild said it has not been served with that complaint.
Fairchild said it reviewed the patents listed in the AOS’ news release
and believes those patents are either invalid or are not infringed by Fairchild's
products.
"AOS has chosen to take this dispute to the courts and we have no
choice but to respond in kind," said Izak Bencuya, executive vice
president and general manager for Fairchild's Functional Power Group. "We
intend to enforce our intellectual property rights, preferably through negotiated
license agreements, and if necessary through the courts." Fairchild
Semiconductor News Release John Peeler to Serve as Veeco CEO; Edward Braun to Step Down and Remain Chairman
Compoundsemi News StaffMay 21, 2007...Veeco ended its nearly 6-month search for a new CEO. (Ref: Coverage).The
company of Woodbury, New York USA, reported that John R. Peeler will serve as
chief executive officer, succeeding Edward H. Braun. Mr. Braun will remain chairman
of the board. The announcement follows Veeco's November 2006 announcement that
it had initiated a CEO succession search.
Mr. Peeler served as the president of the communications test and measurement
business at JDSU. This was its largest and most profitable business segment,
which earned approximately $600 million per year. Mr. Peeler reportedly brings
nearly thirty years of diversified global management expertise in growing multi-product
equipment and instrumentation technologies. Previously, Mr. Peeler was CEO of
Acterna Inc. which was acquired by JDSU in 2005. Veeco indicated that it expects
Mr. Peeler to join the company as CEO in early July. He will then be appointed
to the Veeco board within thirty days of his start date. Mr. Braun commented,
"John brings a proven track record of leadership, managing complex technology
in high growth markets. His experience will be vital in leading Veeco to new
levels of growth and profitability." Company
News Release Hitachi Develops Tiny Medical-Use LaserMay 17, 2007...Hitachi has developed a new compound semiconductor laser for medical use, a
Nikkei Net article
reported. Hitach says that the tiny device is ideal for diagnostic applications
and is significantly less expensive to make than solid state lasers. It emits
light in the 700- to 730-nanometer range and has a power output of 100 milliwatts.
It can operate at temperatures as high as 80 degrees Celsius.
In these wavelengths, light can pass through the body. Doctors would have to
use fluorescent marker molecules to measure tumors and for other diagnostic
purposes. The light requires a minimum of 30 milliwatts of power for practical
purposes. Previously, this could only be done with costly solid state (not compound
semiconductor) lasers that require cooling. It consumes a mere 0.28 watts and
it measures about 6- to 10-millimeters on a side. Hitachi says currently the
laser costs about 50,000 yen to produce, but they might be able to lower the
price to 100 yen if demand is high enough. Before, solid state lasers were tens
of centimeters on a side, and they cost about 5- to 10-million yen each. Veeco Receives Multiple MOCVD Tool Orders
CompoundSemi News StaffMay 17, 2007...Veeco reported that it has received orders totaling $11 million from worldwide
high-brightness LED manufacturers during the first quarter of 2007 for its K-Series
line of TurboDisc metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) systems. According
to Veeco, the orders were from HB-LED manufacturers in Europe and Asia. The
company points out that its new TurboDisc K-Series MOCVD gallium nitride (GaN)
platform includes the K300 and K465 models, which provide a modular, upgradeable
path to higher throughput, larger diameter reactor chambers. Veeco says they also offer
reduced cost of ownership.
"As our customers continue to ramp their production capacity of HB-LEDs
for growing applications such as automotive, architectural lighting and backlighting
for laptops, these orders are evidence of their confidence in our new K-Series
platform. This new modular system, which is extendable to larger reactors, is
the only automated MOCVD system available, delivering the industry's highest
productivity." Veeco
News Release Albis Ships New Photodiode Array
CompoundSemi News StaffMay 16, 2007...Albis Optoelectronics of Zurich, Switzerland, a subsidiary of Canadian Enablence
Technologies Inc., reported that it has begun shipping a new line of gallium
arsenide (GaAs) photodiode arrays that address the quad SFP standard. The company
points out that the QSFP standard defines an integrated 4-channel optical transceiver,
which provides increased port density and total system savings when replacing
four SFP transceiver modules for Ethernet, FiberChannel, and Infiniband applications.
The new Albis photodiode provides a bandwidth of 5 Gb/s per channel with each
optical aperture having a diameter of 100 micrometer. This reportedly allows
easy optical alignment. The photodiode arrays can be easily assembled using a variety of packaging technologies including wire-bonding and flip-chip
soldering. It comes in a 4-channel version, an eight-channel version, or even
a twelve channel version.
By releasing these 5 Gb/s arrays, the Albis photodiode design library has grown
to more than 30 standard devices, available in any required quantity. The continuous
expansion of our GaAs portfolio is a clear demonstration of our dedication to
the datacom market” states Peter Cairoli, President and Managing Director
of Albis. Albis
News Release 30x2 inch Aixtron System Accelerates EpiValley Blue LED Production RampMay 16, 2007...With the purchase of a CCS 30x2 inch Thomas Swan Close Coupled Showerhead reactor
from Aixtron, EpiValley of Kwangju, South Korea set out to shift their blue
LED production into high gear. Aixtron says that previously the highest volume
reactors for GaN-based LED production were 18 to 24x2 Inch MOCVD systems. EpiValley
was the first company to qualify production of GaN-based LEDs on the Aixtron
tool. According to Aixtron, the company succeeded in a relatively short period
of time to qualify and start mass production using the 30x2 inch Thomas Swan
CRIUS MOCVD System.
The new system adds to the company’s 12 other MOCVD systems in operation.
DJ Park, President and CEO of EpiValley, said: "Using this system we
have a big advantage with respect to quality and productivity, which allows
EpiValley to compete within the huge LED BLU and Lighting market."
Aixtron
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