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Editorial: Blue 2008 (and something else new) Are Bridging the Gaps
... Relative to its adoption into the solid state lighting (or "general lighting") application space, the HB-LED industry is at an extremely interesting juncture. The technology is sound, the value curves are steepening, and the efficacy has reached the tipping point to spur initial adoption in general purpose lighting. So...
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The SSLdesign Summit
Agenda is posted
August
26-27 2008
Weehawken, NJ
NY/NJ Metro Area Mark
your calendars now and don't hesitate to contact us if you would like information
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March 17, 2008...The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) said it will invest up to $13.7 million, over three years (fiscal years 2008 – 2010), for 11 university-led solar photovoltaic development projects. The projects will focus on developing advanced solar photovoltaic (PV) technology manufacturing processes and products as part of President Bush’s Solar America Initiative. The aim of President Bush’s solar initiative is to make solar energy cost-competitive with conventional forms of electricity by 2015. According to the DOE, its funding in addition to minimum university and industry cost share of 20%, add up to $17.4 million that will be invested in these projects.
“Harnessing the natural and abundant power of the sun and more cost-effectively converting it into energy has enormous potential to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide greater stability in electricity costs,” DOE Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Alexander Karsner said. “These projects will not only bolster innovation in photovoltaic technology, but they will help meet the President’s goal of making clean and renewable solar power commercially viable by 2015.”
The DOE says that the projects have the potential of reducing the cost of electricity from PV from current levels of $0.18 - $0.24 per kWh to $0.05 - $0.10 per kWH. Arizona State University, California Institute of Technology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Penn State, University of Delaware, University of Florida, and University of Toledo will receive funding for their proposed solar PV development projects. DOE News Release RoseStreet Labs Energy Opens Full Spectrum Solar Cell Development Center
CompoundSemi News StaffMarch 17, 2008...RoseStreet Labs Energy, Inc. (RoseStreet), a developer of thin-film multi-junction solar cells for the flat panel and concentrator photovoltaic markets, announced the grand opening of its new solar cell development center in Phoenix, Arizona USA. RoseStreet Labs Energy, Inc. is a joint venture between RoseStreet Labs, LLC and Sumitomo Chemical Corporation of Tokyo, Japan. The photovoltaic development center includes a full spectrum photovoltaic pilot production line and a laboratory for solar cell packaging and interconnection.
RoseStreet reports that it collaborates locally with FlipChip International on packaging full spectrum photovoltaics. RoseStreet also indicated that Sumika Electronic Materials, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sumitomo Chemical Corp., will continue to provide support for the manufacturing and development of the full spectrum products. Bob Forcier, Chairman of RoseStreet Energy stated, "Our progress during our first year has been substantial and our momentum is building for the launch of both our thin film multiband and multijunction high efficiency solar cells." RoseStreet Labs Energy Inc. News Release IQE Wins Order for Gallium Nitride Based Wafer Products
CompoundSemi News StaffMarch 17, 2008...IQE plc, a maker of semiconductor wafers, has won an order from US semiconductor manufacturer TriQuint Semiconductor for IQE’s Gallium Nitride (GaN) wafer products. The order is reportedly IQE’s largest commercial order for GaN products to date. IQE says that the wafers will be manufactured at its New Jersey facility and the order is scheduled for delivery throughout 2008. According to TriQuint, it will use IQE’s GaN based HEMT (high electron mobility transistor) wafers to aid development of smaller, more durable, and highly efficient power amplifiers for new commercial and military communications products. The wafers will reportedly be used in TriQuint’s on-going research and in the development efforts and the roll-out of its new products this year.
IQE notes that GaN power amplifiers offer much higher power capability, efficiency, and greater protection against breakdown than existing solid-state amplifier technologies commonly used today. IQE says that they offer significant benefits in performance and lower overall system costs. Mr Alex Ceruzzi, VP and General Manager of IQE’s New Jersey facility commented, “This is a key order for us particularly as our broad product portfolio, which ranges from high volume HEMTs, HBTs and BiFETs to emerging technologies such as gallium nitride epitaxial wafers....”
IQE News Release Osram Opto Reports 10 Percent Higher Efficiency and Twice the Output for New Laser Bars
CompoundSemi News StaffMarch 17, 2008...Osram Opto Semiconductors reports that it has improved the performance perameters of its laser bars as part of the BRILASI research project. The “BRILASI” research project (Brilliant High-Power Laser Diodes for Industrial Applications, FKZ 13N8601) was initiated by the Germany Ministry for Education and Research. The company says that its new laser chips have improved efficiency, output power, lifetime, and beam quality. The company was also able to match them perfectly to each other. Some of the laser chips operate at a wavelength of 910 to 980 nm and achieve an optical output of 120 W under what the company says are “real industrial conditions.” Under these industrial conditions, the laser chips boast a typical efficiency of 70 percent. The fill factor of a bar, the ratio of active width to overall width, is 50 percent. The main applications of these laser bars include pumping of solid-state lasers and direct material processing.
The company said it will also produce laser chips with a a wavelength of 808 nm to 880 nm, a fill factor of 20 percent, and an efficiency of 62 percent at 120 W. Structures with a fill factor of 20 percent that operate at 910 nm to 980 nm wavelength with an output of 80 W complete the range of new more powerful components. Osram says that these lasers will be ideal for optical fiber coupling applications. “With this latest generation of laser bars we will be able to offer much more powerful components”, said Dr. Jörg Heerlein, Head of Product Marketing Lasers at Osram Opto Semiconductors. Company News Release Wide-bandgap Market Could Reach $300 million by 2012, Strategies Unlimited Says (CORRECTED ***)
CompoundSemi News StaffMarch 12, 2008...Mountain View, California-based research company, Strategies Unlimited has released a new report that indicates that the revenues from electronic devices, which use wide-bandgap semiconductors, are now set to grow by 30 percent or more per year through 2012. The company said that after years of development the most growth in the wide-bandgap semiconductor segment will come from gallium nitride (GaN) followed by growth from the silicon carbide (SiC) business. The GaN market growth will mostly come from microwave applications, and the SiC segment will grow primarily from the material’s use in power supplies and motor controls. The company predicts that the aluminum nitride (AlN) device market will not grow significantly. SU says that growth in the wide-bandgap market depends on numerous factors, especially the growth coming from improvement in the substrate materials.
The company says that the projected market growth strongly depends on continuing improvements in substrate quality, price, and availability; new device and package designs; and the ability of system designers to take advantage of the new technology.
SU says that early growth will be dominated by products for microwave power amplifiers, such as for communications, radar, and military uses. Growth in products for power management will take longer, while low-power products for high-temperature environments will not see a significant opportunity through the forecast period. *** THIS STORY WAS CORRECTED: The original story mistakenly said that Strategies Unlimited predicts that the wide-bandgap market will reach $1 billion by 2012 instead of saying it "could" reach $300 million by 2012. Company News Release Sunovia Adds Infrared Division
CompoundSemi News StaffMarch 12, 2008...Sunovia Energy Technologies, Inc. of Sarasota, Florida USA, reports that it has established a new infrared materials and systems integration division for advanced cadmium telluride (CdTe) and mercury cadmium telluride (HgCdTe) infrared imaging and sensor products. The new infrared materials division adds to the company’s LED division and LED fixture division. The company capitalizes on the common materials used in both solar cells and in its infrared technologies, highly efficient cadmium telluride (CdTe) and mercury cadmium telluride (HgCdTe). Sunovia says that it is working with top scientists and experts in the manufacturing processes for these materials in an effort to accelerate the deployment of infrared technologies and advance their next-generation solar cell program simultaneously.
Sunovia said it will first deliver CdTe on silicon for use in infrared sensors for military and commercial markets. The company said it will simultaneously develop CdTe-based solar cells for space and military markets. As manufacturing costs go down (as a result of the company research, then, Sunovia plans to target the commercial, utility and residential markets. Additionally, the company's solid-state lighting division has developed a proprietary product line called EvoLucia, a high-efficiency light emitting diode (LED) light engine and fixture line that boasts of 20 percent lower energy consumption than standard incandescent lights. The company says it will be able to produce an LED with as much efficiency as GaN, but at a lower price. Company News Release Binghamton University Researcher Investigates Laser and Sensor Technology
CompoundSemi News StaffMarch 12, 2008...Researchers in the Binghamton University’s Department of Physics in New York state hope to create lasers that work at wavelengths currently inaccessible. Oana Malis, assistant professor of physics is working with funding from a $300,000 grant from the National Science Foundation and a Cottrell College Science Award of $44,244 from the Research Corporation.
She is looking for new materials that would allow laser light to be generated in currently unattainable mid-infrared wavelengths. She is particularly interested in how the optical properties of gallium nitride, a compound semiconductor material might be used to make lasers that operate in the mid-infrared range. Gallium nitride goes into blue laser diodes and blue LEDs. Gallium nitride is difficult to make and its properies are not well understood. The lasers are reportedly incredibly small, less than a millimeter square and made of hundreds or even thousands of layers of material merely a nanometer or two in thickness. The structured layers and allow them to emit or absorb light in particular ranges.
“These lasers could be used for sensing such as in detecting environmental conditions in a building,” Malis said. “There are defense applications as well.”
She added, “This is an ambitious project. ... It’s the first few steps of the process. Getting to the device level, to an actual laser you can hold in your hand, is a little harder.” Binghamton University News Release TriQuint to Acquire WJ Communications
CompoundSemi News StaffMarch 10, 2008...TriQuint Semiconductor of Hillsboro, Oregon USA, announced that it has reached a definitive agreement to acquire WJ Communications, Inc., a supplier of radio frequency (RF) solutions for wireless infrastructure. Under the terms of the merger agreement, TriQuint will purchase all of the outstanding shares of WJ Communications at $1 per share for a total of about $72 million. TriQuint indicated that the acquisition will not change the company’s earnings for fiscal 2008. After fiscal 2008, TriQuint indicated that the acquisition is expected add to the company’s profits.
Both companies’ boards have approved the merger. The transaction which is expected to close within 90 days will also require the affirmative vote of WJ’s shareholders and the completion of customary closing conditions. After closing, Bruce Diamond, CEO of WJ, is expected to continue with the business to help leading and assist in the integration. TriQuint notes that that acqusition will add WJ’s design expertise at a silicon valley design center to TriQuint’s advanced technologies. According to TriQuint, the merger will expand its presence in the communications infrastructure market.
"We see great synergy with TriQuint in the areas of technology, customer relationships and manufacturing efficiencies. There is very little product overlap and a good cultural fit between our two organizations" commented Bruce Diamond, CEO of WJ. "We bring a broad product line of RF building blocks and modules as well as a talented Silicon Valley based design team to an established leader in the RF market space." TriQuint News Release
Global Solar Energy Opens Larger Tucson Plant
CompoundSemi News StaffMarch 10, 2008...Global Solar Energy of Tucson, Arizona, a maker of thin-film CIGS solar cells announced the official opening of its new, 100,000 sq. ft. manufacturing plant. The plant has a phase one, full-production capacity of 40 megawatts (MW) per year. Global Solar notes that it is simultaneously breaking ground on a 750 KW CIGS solar fields (one of the world’s largest), and is commissioning a 35 MW plant in Berlin, Germany to open in fall 2008.
Global Solar has expanded from its former 33,000 sq. ft. factory to the new 100,000 sq. ft. facility in Tucson and is beginning construction of its 32,000 sq. ft. factory in Berlin, Germany. The company notes that the addition of the two new facilities will increase its annual capacity from 4.2 MW to 75 MW. Global Solar plans an additional 100 MW into production at the end of 2009, bringing its total annual capacity to 175 MW.
Tom Kimbis, acting director at the U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Energy Technology Program, commented, "Production from this facility will help satisfy the strong demand for solar product across the world, while providing local residents of Tucson, already a Solar America City, with jobs in a rapidly-growing, high-tech industry. The addition of the Tucson Global Solar plant will help meet the 2015 goal of the Solar America Initiative of achieving solar electricity cost competitiveness with grid electricity, especially through the use of flexible CIGS thin-film technologies in building-integrated applications." Company News Release UQ Communications Selects Fujitsu's Mobile WiMAX Base Station
CompoundSemi News StaffMarch 10, 2008...Fujitsu Limited of Tokyo, Japan reported that its outdoor base station for mobile WiMAX, BroadOne WX300, has been selected by UQ Communications Inc. UQ says it will use the base station for the development of the its nationwide WiMAX services infrastructure in Japan. UQ Communications is a mobile WiMAX operator in Japan that is jointly owned by KDDI Corporation, Intel Corporation, East Japan Railway Company, Kyocera Corporation, Daiwa Securities Group Inc., and the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd.
UQ Communications says it intends to begin offering commercial WiMAX service in Japan starting in 2009. UQ says it selected the light and energy efficient, and smallest in its class, Fujitsu BroadOne WX300 base station help accelerate the spread of wireless broadband access throughout Japan. In addition to what Fujitsu says is world-class efficiency and performance, the device has a gallium-nitride (GaN) High Electron Mobility Transistor (HEMT) that it developed based on the company’s ultra-high-speed transistor technology. Fujitsu boasts that the unit is the world's smallest outdoor macrocell base station, with a weight of approximately 20 kilograms and volume of 20 liters. Fujitsu News Release Our news features are reported
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The
McDonald Report
Commentary & Perspective...
Blue 2008 (and something else new) Are Bridging the Gaps
Tom Griffiths - PublisherMarch 12, 2008...Relative to its adoption into the solid state lighting (or
"general lighting") application space, the HB-LED industry is at an extremely
interesting juncture. The technology is sound, the value curves are steepening, and the
efficacy has reached the tipping point to spur initial adoption in general purpose
lighting. So what's missing? We would contend that "the industries"
(HB-LED and SSL) have gaps in at some key connection points, and that as those
gaps get filled, we will see that rapid jump along the S-curve from early to
mass adoption just as we have imagined all along. Every "new" technology
has gaps that need to be filled. For early radio and television, there were
business model gaps... how do you broadcast something to everyone, for them
to freely access, and still make the money that allows you to keep doing it?
Hello advertising 2.0! For those novelty items we called "PCs", the
gap was in the software to make it "user friendly". Typing "cd
excel" then "excel.exe" to fire up the old spreadsheet was not
going to cut it for the masses that weren't excited to claim the mantle of "computer
geek". Heck, Ctrl-Alt-Del is pretty much reserved for stubborn users that
still insist on sneaking around manually to why it's taking the machine so darn
long to load a simple web page. For automobiles, it was an electric starter
and reliable tires that changed the game progressively from the strong to the
slightly daring, and on to simply "everyone". (Although one commute
hour in Houston recently was enough to convince me that mass adoption wasn't
necessarily progress).
For the HB-LED industry and its supply-chain, the gap that needs filling
is primarily in how to translate the science of design and manufacturing the
leading edge LEDs into production efficiency. That represents a gap between
the chip and packaged "lamp" makers, and to some degree, between they
and the top level integrators that make the displays, signs, and lighting products.
I can hear the objection, "But things are cranking there, how can you say
there's a gap?" Answering a question with a question might illustrate just
one example. "What are the warranties on the chips and packaged lamps?"
Ouch. There are lots of "good reasons" why those warranties might
be few and far between. "We don't know how the chip will be packaged,"
or, "We don't know how the heat will be managed around the packaged lamp"
and at the system level, it's "We don't know how the drivers will be implemented
to control the current." Don't take this as condemnation or criticism.
When you have to apply equal parts science and mojo (or good ju-ju as they say
in the islands), you've identified a gap.
That's one reason we host the Blue conference in Taiwan each year. Blue
2008, this year being held May 7-8 in Hsinchu, Taiwan, is bringing many
of the regional (and therefore the world) players in chips and packaged devices
together to compare notes and figure out how to deliver what the markets are
asking of them. It's always a high level conference, with lots of CEO, CTO and
"VP of" attendees that are very sharp about getting to the point of what they
are bringing to the party to move the industry forward, as well as gathering
the big picture on where the market is going, and therefore what it needs from
them. As a side note, we're making sure there is time this year to hear from
some of the key "pinch points" in the supply chain, especially in the area of
substrates and equipment, to find out more about some promising developments
that can simplify the manufacturing process, up the throughput and lower the
costs, all in one neat bundle. Program updates are ongoing, but the best thing
to do is to take a look at the agenda
for yourself and you'll understand why you need to be there. (Early registration
discounts end this week...).
Please join us for special thanks to this year's Blue 2008 Diamond sponsors,
Aixtron and Intematix,
and our Sapphire sponsor, Monocrystal,
and to this year's conference co-chairs, Dr. Ji-Yen Chan, Vice President & General
Director, ITRI/EOL, Dr. Bernd Schulte, COO of Aixtron AG and Dr. Robert Walker,
of Sierra Ventures.
For those with intentions in the general lighting industry, as specifiers
or manufacturers, the gaps become even more apparent at two key levels. The
first is between the lighting designers/specifiers and the SSL luminaire manufacturers.Right now,
the latter group is somewhat limited to "Tier 2 & 3" manufacturers
since many of the "big guys" haven't yet deployed a significant LED-based
general illumination lighting product. That's not to say that the two groups
aren't generally well connected if the manufacturer is already in the traditional
lighting industry. When it comes to SSL however, they aren't speaking the same language.
Similarly, we see a veritable chasm between the overall Tier 2 luminaire companies,
most of whom don't yet have intense SSL programs, and the LED "light-engine"
or module integrators. The light-engine, in our usage, is referring to the LED-based
analog of "the socket and bulb" that a luminaire design will be wrapped
around. While the Tier 1 lighting manufacturers have substantial lab resources
dedicated to decoding and applying the mysteries of SSL, many (dare we say 'most')
of the Tier 2 suppliers are in a limbo to wait and see who can bring them solution
elements that they can trust will serve their 40% of the market.
To bridge those two gaps, Solid State Lighting Design which is a rapidly
growing online news source covering solid state lighting componentry, luminaires
and applications, as well as an online partner of CS News, has announced the first
major conference series to bring together the lighting designers/specifiers,
the luminaire manufacturers and the SSL light engine/module integrators. It
will simply be called the
SSLdesign Summit. Venue details are being worked on now, but you'll want
to pencil in August 19-20, 2008 and plan to be in the New York/New Jersey
area. You can expect a quality education and networking event in which you will
hear from respected individuals that will help lighting designers and luminaire
manufacturers to know what to look for and what to ask their suppliers. With
those groups in the same room and focused on the SSL topic, SSL module providers
will be on hand to show, tell and to hear about the new opportunities that are
presented by solving their customers' and end users' needs. The first announced
co-chair for this year's event is none other than Jeffrey I.L. Miller, Principal
with Pivotal Lighting
Design and President of the International Association of Lighting Designers
(IALD). Jeff, and the other co-chairs (more announcements coming soon) will
be guiding the program to truly serve the community to accelerate itself to
the future of lighting. Mark your calendars and stay tuned!
Tom Griffiths is President and Publisher of CompoundSemi Online. He can be reached directly at tg08-1@compoundsemi.com 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... |
