Strategy Analytics Predicts 76 Percent Growth of GaAs Market Through 2011
CompoundSemi News StaffMay 2, 2007...Strategy Analytics says it expects that the GaAs market will expand by 76 percent
from the end of 2006 to the end of 2011. The prediction is part of the previously
released report outlining the five year outlook for the industry entitled, “GaAs
Industry Forecast: 2006-2011.” According to the report, wireless applications
will be the primary growth driver for the GaAs industry. The report predicts
that it will accounting for 79 percent of total GaAs MMIC demand in 2011. The
report says that WiFi applications will become the second biggest market for
GaAs components. Asif Anwar, Director of the Strategy Analytics GaAs and Compound
Semiconductor Technologies service said that as Si LDMOS continue to lose market
share, GaAs hetero junction bipolar transistors will rule the power amplifier
market regardless of the power amplifier approach taken.
“GaAs device demand from the Wi-Fi market will grow at a CAAGR of
28 percent through 2011,” noted Stephen Entwistle, Vice President
of the Strategic Technologies Practice at Strategy Analytics. “GaAs
will govern PA functions as the market moves to 802.11n. GaAs HBT PAs and GaAs
pHEMT switches will also dominate Wi-Fi PA-switch modules.” Strategy
Analytics says it expects to see modest compound annual growth rates of 6 percent
to 11 percent in GaAs demand from consumer, millimeter wave, and fiber optic
markets through 2011. Company
News Release Emcore Reports First Fiscal Quarter Preliminary Financial Results
CompoundSemi News StaffMay 2, 2007...Emcore Corporation reported preliminary results for its first quarter of fiscal
2007 ending December 31, 2006. The Albuquerque, New Mexico USA, company reported
revenues of $38. 5 million for the quarter, an 8 percent increase year over
year and a 9 percent increase sequentially. Fiber optics revenues were flat
for the quarter at $25.3 million year over year and down from $28 million in
the previous quarter. The CATV business revenue was up to $13.2 million, a 23
percent increase in revenue compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2006 and
a 79 percent increase over the previous quarter. Operating expenses increased
due to the purchase of Opticomm Corporation, the 27 percent equity investment
in the World Water and Power Corporation, and the launch of the terrestrial
solar cell division.
“As mentioned previously, the sale of our interest in GELcore and
the sale of the Electronics Materials and Device division have provided us with
the capital to invest in our terrestrial photovoltaic strategy and expand our
fiber optics business. Our strategic investment in WorldWater and Power and
expansion into China are just two examples of these initiatives. We have obtained
a significant number of new satellite and terrestrial orders in our Photovoltaic
division that we believe will help improve operational performance in fiscal
2007. We expect a much stronger second half for the Company and based on increased
strength in our CATV and broadband product lines, we expect improved gross margins.”
stated Reuben F. Richards, Jr., Chief Executive Officer. First
Fiscal Quarter 2007 Preliminary Financial Results
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May 1, 2007...Shuji Nakamura, the blue LED breakthrough artist, and a team of researchers
at the University of California Santa Barbara’s (UCSB) Material Research
Lab has reached another milestone in non-polar GaN LED development. The group
made news earlier in the year by producing a non-polar GaN Laser, which like
its LED counterpart should be more efficient and last longer. A complete discussion of the group’s latest breakthrough in output power
and external quantum efficiency of non-polar LEDs will be in Physica Status
Solidi-Rapid Research Letters (Vol.1 iss. 3, pgs A44-A46).
The researchers were able to create a more efficient and brighter non-polar
indium gallium nitride (InGaN) LED. Previous attempts have been hampered by
the defect density in the growth of non-polar GaN.
The breakthrough came partially as a result of Misubishi Chemical Corporation
providing a low defect density non-polar GaN substrate. Content continues for LIGHTimes SecondPage members... Mimix Broadband Introduces an Image Reject MixerMay 1, 2007...Mimix Broadband has introduced a 10.0 to 34.0 GHz image reject mixer. It comes
in a 4x4mm QFN surface mount plastic package that is RoHS compliant. The XM1001-QH,
provides 6.0 dB conversion loss, has image rejection of 20.0 dB across the band,
and offers excellent linearity. The device is suited for millimeter-wave point-to-point
radio, LMDS, satellite communications and VSAT applications. Company
News Release Ascent Solar Chairman to Take More Active Role in Production Ramp
CompoundSemi News StaffApril 30, 2007...Ascent Solar of Denver, Colorado USA, a thin-film CIGS technology company,
reported that its chairman, Dr. Mohan Misra, will also serve as the company’s
chief strategy officer. Additionally, Mr. Ashutosh Misra, a member of the board
of directors, will transition from his current consulting role to a full-time
role as senior vice president for operations and corporate affairs. As part
of his new role as chief strategy officer, Dr. Mohan Misra, will help guide
the company as it prepares for its initial commercial production. Dr. Misra
did pioneering work in thin-film photovoltaics at Lockheed Martin in the mid
1980s. He is also credited with founding ITN Energy Systems and Global Solar
Energy Inc. He also developed roll-to-roll manufacturing equipment and processes
that are in use today.
Ascent Solar is currently building a pilot production plant which plans to
have an annual capacity of 1.5 megawatt (MW). The pilot plant is reportedly
on schedule to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2007. Initial operations
for the plant are planned for early 2008. Company president & CEO, Mr. Matthew
Foster indicated that Dr. Misra will help the company quickly ramp up its pilot
scale production to support and validate a planned expansion to 25MW by the
end of 2009 and ultimately to 100MW scale production levels and above. Mr. Foster
stated, “I believe that our team is one of the most experienced in
the world and provides us the knowledge base necessary to meet some very challenging
manufacturing milestones.” Company
News Release Skyworks Delivers Solid Quarter
CompoundSemi News StaffApril 30, 2007...Skyworks Solutions Inc., of Woburn, Massachusetts USA, has reported second
fiscal quarter financial results that are in-line with expectations. The revenue
for the quarter, $180.2 million, was up 5 percent from the same period a year
ago. The net income for the quarter of $17.6 million, more than tripled compared
to a year ago when it was only $4.6 million. The company posted $13 million
in GAAP operating income, a 420 percent improvement over the period a year ago
when it was $2.5 million. "Skyworks' second fiscal quarter results
demonstrate the strength of our new business model and reflect our efforts since
exiting the baseband product area two quarters ago. We have since focused exclusively
on our core analog and RF businesses and have improved profitability more than
three-fold year over year," said David J. Aldrich, Skyworks' president
and chief executive officer. "Our earnings leverage will become even
more evident as we ramp several key, high profile programs over the next several
months."
During the quarter the company expanded its linear product portfolio with 15
new products, it received production orders for a front-end solution to support
a new multimedia and music platform, the company’s Helios RF subsystems
were integrated into several popular cell phone models, and the company introduced
its new Helios WEDGE Transceiver. Company
Q2 Fiscal 2007 Financial Results Emcore Awarded NASA Contract for Spacecraft Solar Cells
CompoundSemi News StaffApril 30, 2007...Emcore reported that its Photovoltaics Division was awarded a $2 million contract
from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Jet Propulsion
Laboratory (JPL) to design, manufacture, test, and deliver solar panels for
the Mars Cruise Stage Spacecraft. The spacecraft is reportedly designed to take
the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover to Mars. If all goes according to plan,
the spacecraft will communicate with the entry vehicle, which will deliver the
rover to the surface of Mars. The launch of the spacecraft is planned for the
fall of 2009.
Emcore will utilize its latest 28.5 percent efficient solar cells to provide
1kW end of life (EOF) power to the spacecraft. The spacecraft will operate at
1.6 times the distance from the son that the earth is from the son (1.6 Astronomical
Units). Emcore points out that unlike their terrestrial counterparts, the solar
cells used in the spacecraft will be radiation hardened. "Emcore Photovoltaics
Division continues to grow at a rapid pace, and has recently secured more than
a dozen new production programs for fully integrated space solar panels. Our
recently completed expansion provides Emcore with the capacity to meet the most
challenging requirements of our space and terrestrial customers. Emcore remains
committed to manufacturing the highest quality, best performing solar power
products in the industry. Satellite manufacturers and solar array integrators
continue to rely on Emcore as their only independent source that meets all of
their satellite power needs," added Reuben F. Richards, Jr., President
and CEO of Emcore. Emcore
News Release Reconditioned Semiconductor Equipment Supplier ClassOne Gets New Facility
CompoundSemi News StaffApril 26, 2007...ClassOne Equipment, of Decatur, Georgia USA, a supplier of reconditioned semiconductor
equipment reported that the company opened a new 40,000 square foot sales, marketing,
and technical support facility. According to the company, the new facility will
provide a place to store and showcase equipment while also provide a place to
expand the company’s sales, administrative, servicing, and support facilities.
The new facility is located 15 miles from Hartsfield Airport in Atlanta. The
company says that the new location effectively quadruples the space of the previous
facility. The new location also houses a 10,000 square foot lab space for refurbishing,
showcasing, and demonstrating equipment to customers. The company allows customers
to “test drive” equipment in the lab, but also includes a three
month warranty, and a 30-day right of return on each piece of equipment. Company
News Release Asahi Glass Develops Insulator for High Frequency Devices
CompoundSemi News StaffApril 26, 2007...Asahi Glass of India has developed a new paint-type insulating material that
can be used as an interlayer dielectric for high-frequency devices including those made with
gallium nitride (GaN) and gallium arsenide (GaAs). According to the company
the material can be easily painted on by the spin coating method and it remains
stable at up to 350 degrees Celsius. The material, a fluoropolymer, reportedly
has much greater thermal stability that previous fluoropolymers.
Asahi was able to develop the material with lower permativity than that of
the polyimide-based insulating materials. Asahi explains that because of the
material’s low permativity it can greatly reduce wiring capacitance, raise
the operation frequency of devices, and slash power consumption. These capabilities
make it ideal for use in communication and cellular phone IC’s. Company
News Release IXYS Awarded California Innovation Award
CompoundSemi News StaffApril 26, 2007...IXYS, a pioneering company in power electronics development based in Santa
Clara, California USA was among 15 top companies honored with a California Innovation
Award. Over 300 companies spanning a gamut of high tech fields, were initially
nominated for the California Innovation Award. Then California Innovation Corridor
partners reportedly narrowed the field to a list of about 75 Innovation All-Star
Candidates. Then from the list of about 75 candidates 15 companies were chosen
to be winners of the awards for innovation. The awards cap off the California
Tech 100 event—the “first-of-its-kind” statewide conference
that has brought together a unique ensemble of angel investors, venture capitalists,
CEOs, educators, and workforce talent professionals focused on celebrating California’s
success as an innovation hotbed. California Innovation Corridor partners, managed
by the California Space Authority (CSA), a statewide nonprofit organization,
and administered through the Labor Workforce Development Agency (LWDA), chose
the final recipients.
Autobytel, Inc. in Irvine, DJO Inc. in Vista, FormFactor, Inc. in Livermore,
Symantec in Cupertino, QAD in Carpinteria, Kintera, Inc. and QUALCOMM in San
Diego, NETGEAR in Santa Clara, and Callidus Software and Covad Communications
Group, Inc. in San Jose. The City of Sunnyvale had four local companies winning
the award: Kyphon, Juniper Networks, Network Appliance, Inc., and Trimble. California
Space Authority News Release TriQuint Revenues Surge Upward for Q1 2007
CompoundSemi News StaffApril 26, 2007...TriQuint reported strong growth for the first quarter of 2007 ending March 31,
2007. Revenues grew 26 percent over the previous quarter and an impressive 186
percent over the same period a year ago. Ralph Quinsey, president and CEO stated,
“The first quarter of 2007 was a solid quarter for TriQuint with better
than seasonal revenue performance, improved gross margin percentage and earnings
above the midpoint of our guidance.” He added, “We recorded strong
design win activity for handset products in the quarter, increased revenue in
the space market and continued strong quote activity in the military market.”
TriQuints accomplishments for the quarter include booking $7.4 million in R&D
supported by military and other contracts. The largest part of the contracts
comes from year three of TriQuints DARPA GaN development project. The company
reported a record number of handset design wins for the quarter, and it began
shipments of power amplifier modules to a new top five handset customer. Additionally,
the company retired $218.8 million of convertible subordinated notes upon maturity.
Despite the strong quarter, TriQuint remains cautious for its second quarter
outlook predicting only flat to slight growth in revenue. Company
Q1 2007 Earnings Our news features are reported
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