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Editorial: $10M for an LED lightbulb, just in time for the New Year
... How's this for a deal? If your company can create and validate an LED-based screw-in replacement for the standard Edison-type 60-watt incandescent light bulb, the US Congress has mandated a $10M prize for the effort. The prize is designated as one element of the Bright Tomorrow Lighting Prizes, which...
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Teledyne Scientific & Imaging to Acquire Judson Technologies
CompoundSemi News StaffJanuary 1, 2008...Teledyne Scientific & Imaging LLC, a subsidiary of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated of Thousand Oaks, California USA, has agreed to acquire Judson Technologies LLC. Judson Technologies is a maker of infrared detectors and related products. The terms of the transaction were not released. Teledyne Technologies indicated that the conclusion of the transaction is expected on February 1, 2008.
Judson produces high performance infrared detectors utilizing materials such as mercury cadmium telluride (HgCdTe), indium antimonide (InSb), and indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs). Judson also makes dewar and cooler assemblies and other specialized standard products for military, space, industrial, and scientific applications. Judson posted sales of $13.8 million for its fiscal year ended December 31, 2006. After the transaction is completed, the acquired business will be named Teledyne Judson Technologies.
“With the acquisition of Judson, Teledyne will be able to provide a substantially wider range of visible and infrared detectors, integrated subsystems and camera products,” said Robert Mehrabian, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Teledyne. “Judson’s capabilities in detector packaging and the production of dewar and cooler assemblies are highly complementary to Teledyne Scientific & Imaging’s strength in advanced detector materials and the design of large format focal plane arrays and imaging electronics.” Teledyne Technologies News Release January 1, 2008...Sigurd, a semiconductor assembly and testing service provider based in Taiwan, will add $15 million to its investment in its China operation. The Sigurd board of directors voted for the increased investment in its mainland China operation to expand its surface mount technology, according to an article in Digitimes. The company said that the expansion is also to help it meet the needs of its customer, Anadigics, as Anadigics expands its power amplifier production for 3G phones. Sigurd’s board of directors reportedly also approved the acquisition of OceanOne Semiconductor (Ningbo) (previously translated as Yi Yang Technology) at US$6.7 million for power management IC deployment in China. 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
Researchers Develop Nano-Imprint Method for Making Brighter LEDsDecember 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 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 Our news features are reported
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The
McDonald Report
Commentary & Perspective...
$10M for an LED lightbulb, just in time for the New Year
Tom Griffiths - PublisherDecember 30, 2007...How's this for a deal? If your company can create and validate an LED-based
screw-in replacement for the standard Edison-type 60-watt incandescent light
bulb, the US Congress has mandated a $10M prize for the effort. The prize is
designated as one element of the Bright Tomorrow Lighting Prizes, which is part
of The
Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (US House of Representatives, Resolution
6). It was recently signed into law (available as a PDF
download). The awards section starts on page 209 of 310.
There are 3 prizes being awarded. The first award totals $10M and is called the
60-Watt Incandescent Replacement Lamp Prize. The winning lamp will be in
a standard A19 form factor in a single contact medium screw base, produce 900
lumens on less than 10 watts (>90 lm/watt). It addition, it must deliver a CRI of 90+ and a correlated
color temperature (CCT) between 2750K and 3000K. Reliability and commercial
aspects are factored in as well in that it will need to operate with 70% lumen maintenance
during its predicted 25000+ hour life and must be sold in competitive commercial
volumes.
The $5M PAR Type 38 Halogen Replacement Lamp Prize, reads basically
the same, except for the projector-type lamp and should produce 1350 lumens
on less than 11 watts (>123 lm/watt). The "wildcard award" is something
called the 21st Century Lamp Prize and is worth $5M for apparently anything
producing 1200 lumens at an efficiency exceeding 150 lm/watt, with a CRI of
90+ and CCT between 2800K and 3000K. Presumably the judges get to fill in some
more criteria, such as what form factors are useful and such.
The US DOE is charged with scraping up the award funds as "donations"
from any person, government entity or organization, and donors can't
receive any of the awards (which blows the lottery idea I had...). Prizes are
available to US companies, citizens or legal permanent residents, so if you
don't have a subsidiary here, hurry... Once either of the first two prizes is
awarded, the government purchasing office is directed to make plans to start
purchasing those bulbs as replacements for use in all the US government buildings.
The goal would be to have entirely switched to those solid-state lighting alternatives
within 5 years of the respective awards being made. (Note to CFL providers:
If you sell to the US Federal Government, it's time to revise your sales forecasts
down.)
How tough is this going to be?
For years elements in the solid state lighting industry, including myself,
have been working to dial back the consumer expectation of a screw in replacement
for the good old Edison bulb. Frankly, a primary motivation has been to keep
our collective eyes fixed on what LEDs can do that traditional incandescents
can't. Think "ultra-low profile" and "color washing with hidden
sources" as prime examples. Along with that, we've wanted to keep the consumer
market from biting off on the first thing to come along that "looks like
a light bulb", which up until fairly recently could be counted on to make
nightlights look bright in comparison. But the progress we've expected is coming
to fruition and things are looking good. As efficiencies come up there is less
heat that needs to be dissipated "behind the source" and companies
have shown some innovative ways to accomplish that. Heck, if we can read a newspaper
headline from an orbiting satellite (which would seem to be about the same thing
as looking through a photolithography machine from the IC's viewpoint), this
shouldn't be tough to finish. For the non-semiconductor folks, we'll just liken
it to the magic that lets the clock on your PC synchronize itself to within
a hundredth of a second to US National Bureau of Standards atomic clocks, using
the the same internet connection that can be challenged to bring you your email
in as few as 10 minutes. (At least the clock on my DVD/VCR sets itself now!)
How close are we?
Some recent "lab results" announcements suggest
that we may be as little as a year away. While we have love-hate relationship
with announcements of laboratory results, they can be useful if there is a track
record to back it up. Cree is among the positive examples for making good on lab announcements. Cree has been pretty steady in announcing their laboratory results
and consistently delivering on that about 12-18 months later. Similarly Philips
Lumileds last year announced that it had a series of breakthroughs "now
in the lab" that were supposed to lead to a substantial increase in luminous
efficiency. Instead of showing up all at once in a new product, the individual
ingredients appear as evolutionary steps during the course of the year. Those
started appearing last February at Strategies in Light, when Frank Steranka
shared the first results and those have continued to roll out during the course
of 2007. Nichia is great at announcing a lab result for incredibly efficient
LEDs (150+ lumens/watt, if memory serves), although those numbers appeared in
relatively low power devices. They play things very close to the vest and continue
to quietly win their share of the high-end lighting business. That's tough to
do if you're not delivering on those expectations of continuous improvement.
The most recent announcement relevant to these awards came from LED Lighting
Fixtures (LLF), and if they can be used as an example, we're pretty close to
seeing some real leaps towards the goal. LLF's recent laboratory announcement
covered a PAR 38 self-ballasted lamp producing 659 lumens on just 5.8 watts
of wall-plug power. The 113.6 delivered lumens per watts is only 10 shy of that
PAR 38 replacement target, although they will need to double the overall output
reach the 1350 needed. They announced the result with a warm 2760K CCT and a CRI of just over 91, so that part is effectively nailed. How's their track
record? In baseball terms, they've pretty much had one hit on one "at bat"
with their LR6 downlight replacement. Neal Hunter brings his Cree experience
to LLF, so one can assume he knows what's at stake for getting an announcement
wrong. Perhaps more to the point, there is a lot of innovation going on, and
if they don't get there pretty quickly, it's a fair bet that someone else will.
The next 18 months should prove to be an interesting race... If you have questions about the
solid state lighting and compound semiconductor industries or have news
or views to share, I'm Jo Ann McDonald, Editor of LIGHTimes and CompoundSemi News.
Feel free to contact me directly, anytime. 
My direct tel at the ranch is
+1-325-463-5345
From time to time Jo Ann may comment on companies in which she holds a
modest investment - be sure to read
her disclosure at some point in time... |
