Kyma Formalizes Research and Development Collaboration with ContractDecember 31, 2007...Kyma Technologies of Raleigh, North Carolina USA, announced that the company signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) between the company and Naval Surface Warfare Center – Crane Division (NSWC Crane). Kyma, a supplier of ultra-high purity crystalline gallium nitride (GaN) and aluminum nitride (AlN) materials and related products and services, has reportedly been informally collaborating over a year on advanced materials characterization analyses of Kyma’s native GaN products. According to Kyma, the three-year CRADA formalizes and expands upon an ongoing effort between it and NSWC Crane. Chuck Pagel of NSWC Crane and Drew Hanser of Kyma are the principal investigators on the research and development project.
Dr. Hanser, who is Kyma’s Chief Technology Officer and Vice President of Business Development, stated, “NSWC Crane’s capabilities include a number of advanced materials and device characterization and analysis tools and associated expertise. Formalization of this important collaboration represents an important step for Kyma towards furthering our understanding of how to bring better materials solutions to our customers.”
Kyma’s Chief Scientist, Dr. Tanya Paskova, will present some of the recent characterization results from the collaboration in her presentation in the Opto 2008 Symposium of Photonics West 2008 , held during the week of January 19th – 24th in San Jose, California. Kyma News Release Avanex Files Arbitration Complaint Against 3S Photonics
CompoundSemi News StaffDecember 30, 2007...Avanex of Fremont, California, a developer of products for fiber optic networks, reported that it has filed an arbitration complaint against 3S Photonics of Marcoussis, France. The complaint filed in New York alleges that 3S breached its contract with Avanex and prematurely terminated the exclusive distribution agreement that 3S had with Avanex.
Avanex cites the allegedly breached agreement as the cause of its lower revenues for the quarter and through the first quarter of 2008.
Avanex sold its Marcoussis-based subsidiary Avanex France SA to its director, Didier Sauvage, and to Global Research Co., held by Alexandre Krivine, in April 2007. The subsidiary, formerly Alcatel Optronics, was renamed 3S Photonics. 3S photonis produces optical modules and components for telecom networks using GaAs and InP technologies at its optoelectronics chip manufacturing plant in Nozay, France.
Avanex said it paid the purchasers nearly $17.3 million in anticipated operating capital, including current liabilities for previous restructuring activities. It maintains a 10 percent interest in the sold businesses as well as privileged commercial partnerships. It also retained the optical interface activity previously carried out in France. Avanex says that 3S agreed to be the exclusive distributor of some of its products, but it alleges that 3S has prematurely ended the exclusive distribution agreement. Avanex News Release
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December 30, 2007...In a collaborative project, researchers from the University of Glasgow, and another group of researchers at the Institute of Photonics at the University of Strathclyde, have devised a method to more quickly and eventually less expensively produce brighter LEDs. The researchers’ method uses nano-imprint lithography to create microscopic holes in the surface of LEDs to increase their luminosity, according to an article by the BBC. Content continues for LIGHTimes SecondPage members... President Bush Signs Law Mandating Incandescent Phase-Out
Scott McMahanDecember 19, 2007...Today, President George Bush Signed H.R. 6, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. In remarks to the press, the President said, "Today we make a major step with the Energy Independence and Security Act. We make a major step toward reducing our dependence on oil, confronting global climate change, expanding the production of renewable fuels and giving future generations of our country a nation that is stronger, cleaner and more secure." He commented, "The bill ... includes revisions to improve energy efficiency in lighting and appliances."
The new federal law provides dramatic and sweeping changes to building requirements, fuel efficiency requirements, and lighting. Among many parts for consumers and businesses, the legislation proposes tax credits for plug-in vehicles and fuel economy standards of 35 MPG for automobiles by 2020. The act gives a big boost to the the solid state lighting industry in the United States by mandating the phase-out of inefficient incandescent bulbs in favor of more efficient lighting solutions such a compact fluorescent and LEDs. Content continues for LIGHTimes SecondPage members... AXT to Supply IQE with GaAs SubstratesDecember 19, 2007...AXT, Inc., a compound semiconductor substrate maker headquartered in Fremont, California USA, has struck a deal to supply IQE semi-insulating gallium arsenide (GaAs) substrates. The agreement to meet IQE's 2008 worldwide substrate requirements is valued at approximately $15.1 million, with an option to purchase an additional $3.5 million of substrates. According to AXT, all substrates ordered under the contract are to be shipped by the end of 2008. IQE ordered primarily 6-inch semi-insulating GaAs substrates.
IQE offers a wafers with a range of products for a wide variety of applications. The wafers and products are supported by an outsourced foundry services portfolio that makes the company a 'one stop shop’ for wafer needs.
"AXT is well positioned to be able to accommodate IQE's increasing demand, particularly in larger diameter gallium arsenide substrates," said Drew Nelson, president and chief executive officer of IQE. "Its expansive manufacturing capacity, unique raw material capability and broad product portfolio make it an ideal partner to support our strong growth plans for 2008." AXT News Release Nanosolar Ships First Commercial Panels
CompoundSemi News StaffDecember 19, 2007...Nanosolar, reports that after five years of product development the company has shipped its first product and has received its first product revenue. According to the company, the complete product development included science research and development, manufacturing process development, product engineering, manufacturing engineering and tool development, and factory construction. The company credits its creative team with the development achievement.
A company spokesperson said in a news release, “We are grateful to everyone who supported us through all these years and the many occasions where there appeared to be mile-high concrete walls in our path; the unusual intensity and creativity of our team deserves all the credit for achieving this major milestone today.”
The company listed the achievements that went into the device’s design including: the world’s first printed thin-film solar cell in a commercial panel product; the world’s first thin-film solar cell with a low-cost back-contact capability; the world’s lowest-cost solar panel – which we believe will make us the first solar manufacturer capable of profitably selling solar panels at as little as $.99/Watt; the world’s highest-current thin-film solar panel – delivering five times the current of any other thin-film panel on the market today and thus simplifying system deployment; And an intensely systems-optimized product with the lowest balance-of-system cost of any thin-film panel – due to innovations in design we have included. Company News Release Setup of Ascent Solar’s New PV Manufacturing Line Proceeding on ScheduleDecember 19, 2007...Ascent Solar of Littleton, Colorado USA, a developer of thin-film photovoltaic modules, delivered and completed installation of all equipment required to finish the integration of its 1.5MW production facility. According to the company, testing, integration, and qualification of the new production line is set to begin in January 2008. The company also noted that product qualification and certifications are scheduled to begin after the line is completely integrated and it achieves initial operating capacities.
Matthew Foster, President and CEO, commented, “We are very pleased to have these complex tools delivered and installed right on schedule. This significant event completes Ascent Solar’s first major milestone and our entire team is excited to now enter the next stage of our commercial development.”
Mr. Foster further stated that “we have also been very fortunate this year in receiving additional capital through a strategic investment from Hydro and conversion of our Class A public warrants. With this additional capital, the company was able to start the development of its high-volume 100MW plant ahead of schedule. We plan to place orders for machine procurement to build our first 25MW line some time in the second quarter of 2008 and we currently envision the 25MW facility completion by year-end 2009.” Company News Release Emcore to Purchase Intel’s Optical Platform Division
CompoundSemi News StaffDecember 19, 2007...Emcore Corporation and Intel Corporation have reached a definitive agreement for Emcore to acquire the telecom-related portion of Intel’s Optical Platform Division for $85 million. Emcore will acquire the intellectual property, assets, and technology relating to tunable lasers, tunable transponders, 300-pin transponders, and integrable tunable laser assemblies. The transaction is subject to regulatory review and certain other closing conditions. The transaction is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2008. Emcore says that the acquisition will enhance its presence in the telecommunications market segment and expand its fiber optics product portfolio.
"This transaction represents an important step for Emcore," said Reuben Richards, CEO, Emcore. "We are excited about this acquisition and the opportunity to continue building upon Intel’s leading tunable laser technology, strong product quality and history of customer service and satisfaction. The acquired assets should drive substantial product cost reduction, and the combined product portfolio should enable Emcore to gain a greater share of customer spending. Emcore estimates these assets will generate $65 million of revenue in 2008, and believes this acquisition will accelerate its path to earnings per share profitability as expected in mid-2008."
According to Intel, the sale of its telecom-related assets allows the company to focus its on core communications and embedded market segments. In addition to this announced transaction, Intel is currently exploring strategic alternatives regarding the enterprise-focused portion of its Optical Platform Division. Company News Release Bandwidth Semiconductor Renamed Spire Semiconductor
CompoundSemi News StaffDecember 17, 2007...Spire Corporation of Bedford, Massachusetts USA, a provider of turnkey solar cell manufacturing equipment, has has chosen to rename its subsidiary, Bandwidth Semiconductor to Spire Semiconductor. Bandwidth Semiconductor has done some pioneering work in gallium arsenide solar cells for space applications. Spire Corporation says that the name change will help its subsidiary be more aligned with its overall solar energy focus on terrestrial applications. The newly named company, Spire Semiconductor, will enter the GaAs solar concentrator cell market, but it will continue to offer its foundry and processing services.
“GaAs solar cell activities are growing at Spire Semiconductor and are supplementing revenue growth from its portfolio of defense, biomedical and consumer products,” said Roger G. Little, Spire’s chairman and chief executive officer. “This operation has held a pioneering position in the field and in the future we intend to place even more emphasis on the solar concentrator cell market. As Spire Semiconductor, this operation will be better integrated with Spire Corporation and share Spire’s vision as a world leader in the terrestrial solar energy industry.” Spire Corporation News Release Novalux Goes Fabless
CompoundSemi News StaffDecember 17, 2007...Laser technology company, Novalux of Sunnyvale, California USA, reports selling its Sunnyvale wafer fabrication facility to an undisclosed Silicon Valley company. The transaction closed November 21, 2007. Novalux currently grows its epitaxial wafers at its main Sunnyvale facility. The company says it will shift fabrication and processing of the laser arrays to large capacity contract fabricators in Taiwan. The company indicated that this step is key to begin mass production of its laser diode arrays. Instead of growing and fabricating the epitaxial wafers at its Sunnyvale facility then sending the the devices to Taiwan contract manufacturers for dicing, sub-mount attachment, and testing, the company will now shift the entire production to contract manufacturers in Taiwan. Novalux will continue to supply the resulting laser arrays to partner companies, including Oerlikon, Young Optics and Seiko-Epson. The partners finish and package the visible RGB lasers for delivery to consumer electronics companies.
"As per our business roadmap, Novalux is evolving into a fab-less, high-volume, low-cost Necsel laser producer for consumer electronics applications," said William Mackenzie, Novalux chief operating officer. "The contract manufacturers we've chosen for wafer processing are sophisticated operations that can mass-produce higher quality, more consistent lasers at a lower cost than we could do locally. This is a critical step toward meeting customer demands for Necsel production parts in early 2008." Company News Release E-Band Communications Gets Funding
CompoundSemi News StaffDecember 17, 2007...E-Band Communications Corporation (EBCC), a developer of ultra-high capacity millimeter wave wireless transmission systems, has raised $10 million in its series B financing round. Reliance Technology Ventures Ltd. led the funding round. The round also included investment from ADC telecommunications, Express Ventures, Hercules Technology Growth Capital, Inc., Investec, and a major wireless carrier. The company leverages a proprietary gallium arsenide-based wireless technology that enables multi-gigabit capacity wireless transmission for customers including wireless service providers.
“E-band is a technology whose time has come,” said CEO and co-founder of E-Band Communications, Sam Smookler. “Uniquely capable of delivering gigabits of bandwidth over the air, E-band is positioned to satisfy numerous high-speed broadband network and access applications. Our newly developed proprietary integrated chipset utilizing leading-edge gallium arsenide high-speed processes enables us to bring the highest performance products to market at the most cost-effective price point.”
“The 70/80 GHz millimeter-wave spectrum, in which we operate, enables E-Band to reach fiber-equivalent wireless transmission speeds ranging from 1 Gigabit per second up to 10 Gigabits per second,” said Saul Umbrasas, co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer. “With the growing adoption of pure IP networks and wireless broadband technologies such as WiMAX and 4th Generation cellular technologies, E-Band wireless systems will be used to concentrate and backhaul the vast amounts of digital IP-based wireless traffic and serve as a substitute for fiber in last mile metropolitan access networks.” Company News Release
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