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January 3, 2008...Cree Inc., based in Durham, North Carolina USA, announced that the company has appointed Frank Plastina, the current president, CEO, and director of Tekelec, to be on Cree’s board of directors. Plastina has served as CEO of Tekelec, a provider of telecommunications network systems and software, since February 2006.
He previously held several executive positions including executive chairman, and later president and CEO at Proxim Corporation, a maker of wireless infrastructure equipment. Chuck Swoboda, Cree chairman and chief executive officer commented, “Frank's experience and insight as CEO of a company accelerating the transition to high-performance, efficient, converged networks will expand the breadth and strength of our Board. This transformational insight should be very helpful to Cree as we pursue our strategy to replace traditional lighting solutions with energy-efficient, environmentally-friendly LED lighting.” Cree News Release
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Micromem Produces First Fully Functioning MRAM
CompoundSemi News StaffJanuary 3, 2008...Micromem Technologies, a startup MRAM developer based in Toronto, Canada, announced that it has successfully manufactured foundry grade fully functioning MRAM cells. According to the company, the foundry of the functioning MRAM comes after a three-year research and development proof of concept phase and a foundry phase to make the device more manufacturable and scalable. Micromem indicated that during the foundry phase, the company began what it called the Reticle Design and Test Plan. From the Test Plan the company has generated a large data set.
Micromem said that the initial review of the data set proved that the MRAM Test Plan was successful, and the performance data will lead the company to a scalable optimized MRAM design. "The positive results of this initial foundry phase are a further validation of the work protected by our patent applications," Joe Fuda, Chief Executive Officer of Micromem Technologies Inc. said.
"One additional positive outcome of this initial foundry phase is the market opportunity afforded Micromem Technologies Inc. resulting from the high sensitivity performance of our thin film Hall Cross Sensor component of our MRAM cell structure," said Steven Van Fleet, Program Director. "This has afforded the Company an opportunity to increase our product portfolio with a high sensitivity, low cost Hall Cross Sensor." Company News Release M.E. Mueller Institute for Structural Biology Selects Veeco Bioscope II AFM
CompoundSemi News StaffJanuary 3, 2008...Veeco of Woodbury, New York USA, which produces nanoscience instruments in addition to its MOCVD equipment, announced that the M.E. Muller Institute for Structural Biology (MSB) at the Biozentrum in Basel, Switzerland, has selected its BioScope(TM) II Atomic Force Microscope (AFM). MSB said it placed the order for the atomic force microscope during the fourth quarter of 2007 to aid in its cutting edge life sciences research program.
Veeco says that its innovative, BioScope II AFM was engineered specifically to aid advanced bioscience research. According to Veeco, the device can be integrated with inverted optical research microscopes while allowing the use of novel in-situ techniques for measuring biological samples in three dimensions. The BioScope II is ideal for a wide array of advanced bioscience applications, including: spatial identification of protein molecules and cellular structures, investigations of cell response to mechanical stimulation and nano-manipulation, and in-situ pharmacological studies of live cells. The design, which allows multimodal imaging and measurements, enables researchers to specifically target the correlation of nanoscopic measurements with advanced optical/fluorescence microscopy.
The MSB's Professor of Structural Biology, Ueli Aebi, commented, "Veeco's BioScope II is ideal for our research because of the strong features of the tool, such as the superior integration of optical microscope methods, the powerful software and the flexible controller. In addition, we have had good prior experience with Veeco's product portfolio and their on-going customer support." Veeco News Release
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Sigurd to Expand China Operation and Acquire OceanOne SemiconductorJanuary 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. 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 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 Our news features are reported
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