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October 19, 2009...TriQuint Semiconductor of Hillsboro, Oregon USA, reports that it has been awarded a $16.2 million Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) multi-year Gallium Nitride (GaN) R&D contract. The goal of the research is to create complex, high dynamic range circuits for future defense and aerospace applications such as phased array radar through the Nitride Electronic NeXt-Generation Technology (NEXT) program. TriQuint's Principal Investigator, Senior Fellow Dr. Paul Saunier, explained that achieving NEXT program goals could lead to GaN circuits as radically different as today’s computers are compared to those in the 1980s.

The TriQuint NEXT team will include IQE plc, a leading manufacturer of advanced GaN semiconductor wafers. TriQuint will also team with University of Notre Dame Professors Patrick Fay, Debdeep Jena, Greg Snider and Huili Xing to explore alternative wafer materials and circuit designs. University of Illinois Professor Ilesanmi Adesida will assist with work to develop advanced fabrication processes.

Dr. David Fanning, TriQuint’s Program Manager for NEXT, described the segments of the new DARPA contract and key performance milestones. “The initial phase will run two years;pursuing devices that can operate at 300 GHz with essential yield levels of a small circuit. The 18-month Phase II program will push the operating frequency to 400 GHz while increasing yield and circuit size. The third and final 12-month segment will seek to extend the operating frequency to 500 GHz while also substantially increasing yield and circuit size,” he said. TriQuint News Release

NCKU to Collaborate with Taiwan Nitride Material Inc. on AlN R&D
CompoundSemi News Staff

October 19, 2009...National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) signed a joint venture agreement with a privately owned Taiwan Nitride Material Inc. led by its chairman Mr. H.H. Chang, for the production of aluminum nitride (AlN). The parties each agreed to invest a total of NT$ 30 million (US$ 932,000) for research and development of AlN, a semiconductor material often used for heat radiation and insulation in microelectronics and optoelectronics.

NCKU will share 18% of technology transfer from the venture. The university expects to have a revenue of at least NT$ 100 million (US$ 3.1 million) over the next ten years. Prof. Shyan-Lung Chung of the NCKU Department of Chemical Engineering developed the AlN production technique. NCKU says the agreement is the first joint venture in aluminum nitride production in Taiwan. NCKU contends that unlike previous joint ventures between companies and academia in Taiwan, it will remain close partners with Taiwan Nitride Material even after signing the agreement and finishing technology transfer.

"Now it is the time for our earth with an emphasis in energy conservation and less carbon emission. Light emitting diode (LED) provides a right solution to it. That is, LED lighting is replacing iridescent bulbs. However, the life of LED is still of grave concern resulted from overheating of the device," said Mr. Chang, chairman of Taiwan Nitride Material Inc. NCKU News Release

Solarion Claims Record 13.4 percent Conversion Efficiency in Solar Cells on Plastic Film
CompoundSemi News Staff

October 19, 2009...Solarion AG of Leipzig, Germany, a maker of Copper-Indium-Gallium-Diselenide solar cells (CIGS) on a plastic substrate, claims to have reached a record efficiency of 13.4 percent for copper indium gallium diselenide solar cells (CIGS) on a plastic substrate. The cells are reportedly manufactured using an industrial roll-to-roll system. The record cells do not use an anti-reflective coating. Solarion says that the record results were independently verified by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) in Freiburg, Germany.

Alexander Braun, CTO of Solarion AG commented, "This result is not only a world record efficiency for flexible CIGS solar cells manufactured on a plastic substrate in an industrial roll-to-roll coating process, but is also the highest efficiency for any thin film solar cell on a flexible polymer substrate from a roll-to-roll process, regardless of the absorber material.”

Solarion says its patented ion beam process for producing the CIGS absorber allows the reduction of process temperature and thus the use of a flexible polymer substrate. According to Solarion, the flexibility and high efficiency of its solar cells opens up new large-volume applications such as having solar modules can directly integrated into building systems for roofing and facade solutions. Solarion News Release

Coherent, Inc. Acquires Product Lines From StockerYale, Inc.
CompoundSemi News Staff

October 14, 2009...Santa Clara, California- based Coherent, Inc.  has reportedly acquired the North American operations of StockerYale, Inc. in an asset purchase for $15 million dollars in cash. Coherent, Inc. provides photonics based solutions to the commercial and scientific research markets. The acquisition includes all the assets and certain operating liabilities of Stocker Yale's laser module product line in Montreal, Canada and its specialty fiber product line in Salem, New Hampshire.

John Ambroseo, President and Chief Executive Officer of Coherent stated, “In acquiring these two product lines, we gain access to the machine vision market and expand our bioinstrumentation opportunities through the laser diode module business. We also add core fiber technology, which will improve our time to market and enhance both the performance and reliability of our fiber-based product platforms.” Coherent Inc. News Release

Comtech Telecommunications Corp. Wins $1.8 Million High-Power Amplifier Orders for Satellite Terminals
CompoundSemi News Staff

October 14, 2009...Comtech Telecommunications Corp. of Melville, New York USA, reports that its Santa Clara, California-based subsidiary, Comtech Xicom Technology, Inc., received orders totaling $1.8 million for ruggedized, high-power, solid-state power amplifiers (SSPAs). The SSPAs will be incorporated into transportable fly-away satellite terminals used by U.S. soldiers stationed overseas in remote areas. The terminals, which are designed for outdoor use in harsh environmental conditions, transmit in the Ku-band frequency. This frequency allows the use of a broad array of available satellite transponders around the globe. Additionally, the terminals can be packed into two transit cases making for transportable applications.

Fred Kornberg, President and Chief Executive Officer of Comtech Telecommunications Corp., commented, "Comtech Xicom Technology has enjoyed a long history of technology leadership in high-power traveling wave tube amplifiers for satellite communications. This order is another demonstration of our ability to design light weight, efficient SSPA's that meet stringent customer requirements." Comtech Telecommunications Corp. News Release

Dow Chemical Unveils Solar Shingles; Dow Corning Purchases Aixtron Planetary Reactor for SiC Manufacturing
CompoundSemi News Staff

October 12, 2009...Dow Chemical Company unveiled copper indium gallium diselenide-based solar panels in the form of solar shingles. The shingles, called the Dow Powerhouse Solar Shingle, integrates standard asphalt shingles with low cost CIGS thin-film solar cells. The solar shingle systems are expected to be available in limited quantities by mid-2010 and projected to be more widely available in 2011. Dow Solar Solutions (DSS) is among the first to showcase a working prototype of building integrated photovoltaics, a class of solar cells that designers have said could be integrated with various building materials. DSS expects an enthusiastic response from roofing contractors since it says that no specialized skills or knowledge of solar array installations are required.

Jane Palmieri, Managing Director of Dow Solar Solutions, noted, "Consumers reap the benefits of our innovation. This is about providing roof protection and electricity generation all from one product, with lower costs, improved aesthetics, easier installation and long-lasting performance."

In 2007, the Company received $20 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy to develop "building integrated" solar arrays for the residential and commercial markets. Dow Chemical News Release.

In other somewhat unrelated Dow news, Dow Corning, a company jointly owned by Dow Chemical and Corning, is expanding its SIC manufacturing capacity with an Aixtron planetary reactor, AIX 2800G4 WW for 10x100 mm and future 6x150 mm SiC wafers. The reactor is planned to be commissioned in the second quarter 2010. Aixtron News Release

Skyworks Powers LG's Next Generation of Multimedia Handsets

October 12, 2009...Skyworks Solutions of Woburn, Massachusetts USA, reports that its front-end solutions are at the heart of LG's GM200, GR500 and KP500 multimedia handsets. The handsets come with enhanced touchscreen, audio, camera and messaging functionality.

“Skyworks is pleased to support LG with our family of high-quality 3G and 4G front-end solutions, particularly as they launch their suite of next generation, feature-rich mobile handsets,” said Liam K. Griffin, senior vice president, sales and marketing for Skyworks. “As a valued business partner, we look forward to further enhancing our relationship with LG as they increasingly expand their global mobile communications presence.” Skyworks News Release

Cree Adds New Jobs, Manufacturing Capacity
LIGHTimes News Staff

October 9, 2009...Cree Inc., an LED lighting manufacturer based in Durham, North Carolina USA reports that it is expanding its North Carolina manufacturing capacity and is adding North Carolina-based jobs (many of them green), as the market for energy-efficient LED lighting continues to expand. Cree indicated that it expects to add 275 North Carolina jobs during 2009 to fill the needs of the expansion of LED manufacturing capacity and other required staffing at its Durham, N.C., facility. Cree anticipates creating an additional 300 jobs by the end of 2012. Cree also reportedly began manufacturing and assembling LED lighting products with Flextronics in Mecklenburg County, N.C. Initially the products made in this facility are the Energy Star-qualified LR6 recessed LED downlight and award-winning LR24 LED troffer replacement. Cree’s line of LED lights, including recessed downlights and troffer replacements, began North Carolina production in August 2009.

“We are seeing tremendous growth for LED lighting,” said Cree CEO Chuck Swoboda. “Energy-efficient lighting has its roots right here in North Carolina, and Cree is proud to be bringing more green jobs to our state.” Cree News Release

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