Sirenza Microdevices Expands Capacity at Facility in Nuremburg, Germany
CompoundSemi News StaffJune 4, 2007...Sirenza Microdevices, an RF component maker with headquarters in Bloomfield,
Colorado USA, announced that it has expanded its manufacturing capacity at its
facility in Nuremburg, Germany. The company said that the expansion is to support
the growing demand for cable TV and for RF power amplifier modules. According
to Sirenza, the expansion increased the facility’s surface mount assembly
capabilities by about 25 percent, and it raised the facility’s electrical
test capacity by up to 50 percent with the addition of high-speed surface-mount
and aluminum wire bonding equipment. Also the facility’s test capacity
was expanded when the company implemented more RF-amplifier test stations required
to test 1 GHz CATV amplifiers.
“This expansion is in response to the growing demand for Sirenza’s
1GHz CATV amplifiers and for other applications such as RF-driven light sources
for commercial video and TV applications,” stated Jerry Quinnell,
PDI segment interim president. “In addition to our broad portfolio
of 1GHz CATV forward and return path amplifiers, we currently market a complete
family of CATV amplifiers in all the required frequency bands to support world-wide
transmission network standards; additionally we currently market optical receivers
for CATV applications up to 1GHz frequency.” Company
News Release Researchers Predict Indium will Run-Out in l0 Years or Less
CompoundSemi News StaffJune 4, 2007...Unlike silicon, the elements used in compound semiconductors and printed circuit
applications are not virtually unlimited. For this reason, a company called,
IDTechEx, Augsberg University in Germany, and the journal, New Scientist, have
studied the availability of several rare earth elements used in printed circuits.
They have estimated how soon our supplies of them will run out. They predict
that in a mere 5 years or up to 10 years at most, the supply of indium will
be gone. Armin Reller, a materials chemist at the University of Augsberg in
Germany, notes that in January 2003 the price of the metal was about $60 per
kilogram, but by August 2006 had rocketed to over $1000 per kilogram. He said
that the current prices may have already begun to reflect the impending scarcity.
Researchers at the journal, New Scientist, did their own calculations of scarcity,
and they were most concerned about the massive demand for indium gallium arsenide
(InGaAs), and copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) solar cells. Reserves
of both metals are disputed, but in a recent report René Kleijn, a chemist
at Leiden University in the Netherlands, concludes that with current reserves
he estimates that “gallium and indium will probably contribute to
less than 1 per cent of all future solar cells - a limitation imposed purely
by a lack of raw material." On the other hand, IDTechEx says that
InGaZnO transistors will have a relatively insignificant roll in the future
scarcity of the materials because of the extremely small amounts required. New
Scientist News Release Tellabs Renews Triplexer Transceiver Order with LumientOIC
CompoundSemi News StaffJune 4, 2007...LuminentOIC, an optical component manufacturer of Chatsworth, California USA,
reported that it renewed its supply agreement to supply triplexer transceivers
to Tellabs for use in broadband passive optical Network (BPON) through the end
of 2008. Tellabs has reportedly used the triplexer transceivers in optical network
terminals (OPTs) for fiber to the premise deployments since 2004. "To
remain competitive and meet customer demand, we must forge long-term relationships
with key suppliers," said John Brots, Tellabs executive vice president
for global operations. "LuminentOIC has been an innovative supplier
with demonstrated ability to provide us with critical components for next-generation
applications."
Near Margalit, Chief Executive Officer of LuminentOIC, stated, "We
are pleased to continue our long lasting relationship with Tellabs, a recognized
industry leader in triple-play PON deployments, and are committed to providing
highly reliable, complex technologies to mass volume deployments for current
and next-generation PON requirements.” LumientOIC
News Release
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June 5, 2007...TriQuint has introduced two new satellite communications (Sat-Com) high power
amplifiers (HPAs) in a single chip design. According to TriQuint, the new die-level
products, TGA4916 and TGA4906, are reportedly the latest of the company’s
ground terminal sat-com RF amplifiers. The PAs boast better performance, a smaller
footprint, and improved cost effectiveness for the design of sat-com ground
terminal RF chipsets. The RF amplifiers are typically used for data connectivity
for ATMs, supermarkets / retail outlets, hotels, airlines, car rental agencies
– practically anywhere that digital information needs to be exchanged
wirelessly at high speed. TriQuint says that the high power amplifiers, which
are gallium arsenide MMICs, were developed as part of the company’s program
to drive the evolution of VSAT (very small aperture terminal) components for
ground station RF systems. Company
News Release GCS and RFIC Solutions Announce Strategic Alliance
CompoundSemi News StaffMay 31, 2007...Global Communication Semiconductors and RFIC Solutions have announced a strategic
alliance to provide customers with a range of services from product design to
finished parts. Global Communication Semiconductors (GCS), a III-V foundry service
provider for RF and optoelectronic components, will combine its portfolio of
foundry technologies including HBT, PHEMT, and InP with RFIC Solutions’
expertise. RFIC Solutions, a third party intellectual property and design service
provider, will offer its IP and expertise in RFIC and MMIC products made using
GaAs, PHEMT, Silicon and SiGe, CMOS and BiCMOS processes.
"We are pleased to partner with GCS since we have designed many of
our IP blocks using GCS' GaAs HBT and other processes. We are designing power
amplifiers, LNA, mixers, synthesizers, and transceivers for cellular, WiFi,
WiMax, UWB, and Cable TV markets. Many of these markets require advanced GaAs
and PHEMT processes that GCS offers. By partnering with GCS we offer one-stop
shop, high performance, low cost RFIC and module design services,"
said Sanjay Moghe, President and CEO. GCS
News Release BOC Edwards Releases Helios 6 Gas Abatement System for CS MOCVD
CompoundSemi News StaffMay 31, 2007...BOC Edwards has introduced its new Helios 6 gas abatement system for compound
semiconductor MOCVD, tungsten LPCVD, and Si and SiGe epitaxy. The system has six inlets for process gases. It has an additional
inlet for gas box purges and other secondary operations. The system is based
upon BOC Edwards’ inward-fired combustion technology. The company says
its technology delivers unprecedented abatement performance while having the
lowest cost of ownership. The new HELIOS 6 gas abatement solution reportedly
can reduce hydrogen concentrations below the lower explosive limit (LEL) in
flows as high as 200 slm,
"HELIOS 6 gas abatement solution extends the capability of our HELIOS
product line to accommodate higher flow levels and more gas inlets, substantially
lowering the overall cost of ownership," said Peter Holland, regional
business manager, BOC Edwards. "High fuel efficiency and no requirement
for compressed air contribute additional cost savings when compared to alternative
technologies, while our unique combustor is designed to reduce the hydrogen
content to safe levels even at the highest flow rates." The company
now has two abatement devices meant for MOCVD. The previously released Spectra-G
vacuum abatement system is designed specifically for nitride MOCVD. Company
News Release TriQuint to Release RF Product Selection Guide
CompoundSemi News StaffMay 31, 2007...TriQuint, like many companies in the tech field sells numerous radio frequency
(RF) products with complex specifications. Additionally TriQuint has set the
goal of simplifying connectivity. For these reasons, TriQuint of Hillsboro, Oregon,
USA, announced that it will released a Product Selection Guide. The company will
release the Product Selection Guide on June 5, 2007, at the IEEE MTT-S International
Microwave Symposium in Honolulu, Hawaii. The company says that the guide will
offer an overview of the company’s new and existing RF devices for engineers.
Products detailed in the Guide are designed for RF applications such as: wireless
base stations, WiFi, WiMAX, GPS, cellular, digital cable, satellite and optical
communications systems. The Guide was sent as a ‘pre-release’ to
50,000 engineers in the May issue of Microwave Journal. The guide will incorporate
new product releases announced at the Symposium, these include cost effective
packaged products such as their HFET amplifiers that boost efficiency and performance
of base stations.
“Completing a bill of materials just got easier for engineers,”
said Paul Gilgallon, TriQuint Product Marketing Director and chief architect
of the new Guide. “We took all the superb designs RF engineers have
relied on for years, plus some great new products, and put them together in
one volume. TriQuint is working to simplify connectivity in several ways and
our new Product Selection Guide is an example of those efforts. Together with
recently-announced changes in our distribution and representative sales forces,
we’re making it simpler for our customers to buy TriQuint products.”
Company
News Release Microsemi Adds Most Powerful PA for PTP Wireless LAN Access Point Devices
CompoundSemi News StaffMay 29, 2007...Microsemi Corporation, an analog and mixed signal IC maker, announced that
it added its most powerful amplifier for wireless LAN access point applications.
The LX5535, the new Microsemi power amplifier manufactured with InGaP processes,
provides output power of 25dBm and extends the range of wireless LAN access
point devices utilizing the 2.4-2.5 GHz frequency range in 802.11b/g/n applications.
It is designed a two-stage monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) with
active bias and output pre-matching. It uses a single 5V power supply and has
a low forward current of 135 milliamps. It provides a power gain of 32 dB and
it comes in a 0.09mm high, 16-pin 3mm square package.
“As the demand for wireless applications continues to grow, so does
the need for ever more powerful amplifiers that can extend their range,''
said Steven G. Litchfield, Microsemi Executive Vice President and President
of the Analog Mixed Signal Group. "Our new LX5535 amplifier provides
more power, but consumes only 260 milliamps of total DC current in doing so,"
he said. Company
News Release HelioVolt Hires Two VPs to Direct Manufacturing Expansion
CompoundSemi News StaffMay 29, 2007...HelioVolt, the CIGS thin film solar maker of Austin, Texas USA, has hired two
vice presidents to direct manufacturing operations. While the company expands,
Larry Peruffo will serve as vice president of supply chain and David Bown will
serve as vice president of manufacturing operations. HelioVolt hired Larry Peruffo
following his 24 years of service at Applied Materials where he most recently
served as managing director of materials. There, Mr. Peruffo helped established
dramatic manufacturing and supply chain process improvements. HelioVolt indicated
that Mr. Peruffo will help develop a global supply chain that can take advantage
of the company’s FASST manufacturing process. Previously, David Bowen
worked at Essilor Laboratories of America, an ophthalmic optics company. He
helped the company transition from research and development to large-scale production
while serving as VP of operations and technology. HelioVolt says that Mr. Bowen
will guide strategic operations as it expands product development and manufacturing
capabilities in the U.S. and abroad.
B.J. Stanberry Ph.D., HelioVolt CEO commented, “HelioVolt is now
ready to build on its core innovation – our proprietary FASST process
for rapid CIGS thin film manufacturing – to secure economies along the
entire value chain of the production process, from materials through systems-level
engineering,” He added, “The operational, manufacturing,
and global logistics acumen embodied by both Mr. Peruffo and Mr. Bowen will
be an invaluable addition to our already strong team as HelioVolt executes on
its plans for production scale-up and delivery to worldwide markets.”
Company
News Release Micromem Successfully Tests Radiation Hardness of GaAs pHEMTs
CompoundSemi News StaffMay 29, 2007...Micromem Technologies Inc., of Toronto, Canada, reported successful radiation
testing of its gallium arsenide (GaAs) pHEMT (high electron mobility transistor
structures) which were prepared to mimic the bit cell environment of the company’s
Hall Sensing MRAM. The samples were then exposed to cobalt 60 gamma radiation
in a medical device sterilization chamber. Researchers tested the samples after
the radiation exposure and found that their functioning and capabilities were
not altered at even the highest level of the tested radiation exposure. In fact,
the only radiation effects that were noted took place at temperatures below
-70 degrees Celsius. The measurements proved that the pHEMT samples made highly
sensitive Hall sensors that could function despite being dosed with high levels
of radiation. Hall sensors operate by varying their voltage output in response
to magnetic field density. Company
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