Category Archives: LEDs

Nov. 30, 2005 — Boston Micromachines Corp., a provider of MEMS-based deformable mirror products for adaptive optics systems, announced that it has been selected by NASA for a Phase 2 contract.

NASA’s Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) awarded Boston Micromachines an approximately $600,000 contract to develop a deformable mirror suitable for space-based operation in systems for high-resolution imaging.

The company says the mirror will be fabricated through a combination of MEMS fabrication techniques using single crystal silicon for all structural components. This mirror is intended to eventually operate in space as part of a future observatory mission for the detection of planets in other solar systems.

In a separate project already underway, Boston Micromachines is providing a high-resolution MEMS deformable mirror for a NASA-sponsored space exploration project led by Boston University. The project’s mission objective is to obtain a direct image of an extrasolar giant planet. Its telescope, which uses Boston Micromachines’ MEMS mirror for wavefront control, is slated to be launched from White Sands, N.M., aboard a NASA sounding rocket in early 2007.

Doru I. Florescu, Veeco Instruments Inc.

Metal-organic chemical-vapor deposition (MOCVD) has steadily progressed from small-scale materials research to a mass production technology, enabling such complex optoelectronic (OE) devices as laser diodes and ultrahigh-brightness light-emitting diodes (UHB-LED). These devices support today’s consumer electronics in a wide range of applications, including optical storage for CD/DVD media and backlighting for cell phone keypads and LCD screens.

The emerging solid-state lighting market, where low-power, long-lasting LEDs are beginning to replace standard light bulbs in high-usage applications, requires performance improvements to drive down the cost of devices while maintaining superior material quality. In the case of gallium nitride (GaN)-based LEDs, brightness and uniformity have become key challenges for epi wafer manufacturers while they simultaneously seek to reduce the cost per die.

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If you have any questions or comments, please contact: Julie MacShane, Managing Editor, SST at email: [email protected]

November 18, 2005 – The markets for materials, tools, and equipment supporting development of nanoelectronics will more than double to $4.23 billion by 2010, led by development activities in five key areas of the electronics industry, including semiconductors and MEMS/NEMS, according to a new report from SEMI.

Nano materials will enjoy 39% compound annual growth, topping $1.13 billion, while nano tools and equipment are seen growing 20% CAGR to $4.22 billion. Nano materials currently make up about 10% of the market, but will double to 20% marketshare ($866 million) by 2010, led by growth in carbon nanotubes and nanoimprint and extreme-ultraviolet lithography.

SEMI points to development activities going on in five electronics industry sectors: semiconductors, displays, hard disk storage, optoelectronics/sensors, and micro/nanoelectromechanical systems (MEMS/NEMS). In displays, for example, carbon nanotube backlights and field emission displays, as well as various polymer and transmission films utilizing nanomaterials, will be commercialized, and will aid the emergence of new manufacturing techniques including ink-jet and screen-printing technologies. NEMS-based memory devices incorporating nanowires and new forms of semiconductor memory also are expected to reach commercialization, noted SEMI.

Among other findings in the report:

— Industries focused on technology hurdles (e.g., semiconductors) typically are more conservative in adopting new technologies, while industries concerned with cost challenges (displays and hard disk storage) are more willing to try new approaches.

— Large R&D investment requirements, market timing, technical requirements, and tough support and service expectations will present high barriers to startups seeking entry in the nanomaterials and tools markets. SEMI thinks their best bet is to license what they develop, or align with key suppliers, to gain access into the marketplace.

— Bigger opportunities for nanomaterials suppliers actually lie outside the nanoelectronics industry: construction, automotive, and industrial chemicals need significant volumes of nanomaterials and don’t require such stringent technical requirements.

— A huge opportunity is beginning to emerge with the integration of nanoelectronics and biology and medicine, expected to last for the next 15-20 years and developing a wide range of new markets.

November 9, 2005 – Samsung has announced a 47 trillion (US$44.9 billion) Korean won (KRW) investment plan aimed at vastly expanding the R&D capabilities of Samsung affiliates in the areas of electronics, mechanics, and chemicals. This plan also envisions the recruitment of some 30,000 new R&D staff by 2010.

The new plan, announced at the 5th Samsung Fair in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, will focus on fortifying and expanding a set of 13 growth engines for Samsung’s technology-related affiliates going forward. These growth engines include business areas, such as high-capacity memory, next-generation display devices, mobile telecommunications, and digital TVs. High potential business areas are also included, such as system LSI, LED and other advanced lighting sources, precision optical devices and electro-mechanical components.

This new investment plan, which is part of Chairman Kun-Hee Lee’s “technology readiness management” strategy, will be a crucial component in helping Samsung to achieve several major business goals by 2010. By that time, Samsung expects to raise the number of its leading-market-share products from the current 21 to 50 products across all affiliates. Additionally, by 2010, Samsung aims to achieve consolidated turnover across all companies of 270 trillion KRW, with a target of 30 trillion KRW in pre-tax income. Samsung’s overall brand value is also expected to reach a target of US$70 B by 2010.

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Nov. 9, 2005 – Nanosys Inc., a privately held company focused on developing nanotechnology-enabled products, announced that it has raised approximately $40 million in a private equity financing.

The round was led by El Dorado Ventures and includes new investors Masters Capital, Medtronic Inc., Wasatch Advisors and others. In addition, previous investors who participated include Alexandria Equities, ARCH Venture Partners, CDIB BioScience Ventures, CW Group, Harris & Harris Group Inc., In-Q-Tel, Intel Capital, H.B. Fuller Company, Lux Capital, Polaris Venture Partners, Prospect Venture Partners, UOB Hermes Asia Technology Fund, and Venrock Associates.

The company said it would use the funding for the ongoing development and manufacturing scale-up of products that incorporate its proprietary, inorganic nanostructures with integrated functionality for multiple industries. Current product development programs include chemical analysis chips for pharmaceutical drug research, fuel cells for portable electronics, nanostructures for displays and phased array antennas, non-volatile memory for electronic devices and solid-state lighting products.

The Palo Alto, Calif.-based company previously raised a $38 million round in 2003, a $15 million round in 2002, and a $1.7 million round in 2001. In addition, the company has secured tens of millions of dollars in non-equity grants and contracts and has a variety of ongoing joint development projects. Most recently, Nanosys began working with Sharp Corp. of Osaka, Japan, on nanotech-enabled displays. In 2004, the company registered to conduct an initial public offering of stock on the Nasdaq market but pulled the IPO in August when the market experienced a downturn.

Nov. 8, 2005 – Power Paper Ltd., a provider of thin and flexible micro-power source technology and devices, announced that it has completed a $30 million fundraising round.

The round was led by funds advised by Apax Partners, which invested $16 million, and Clal Industries and Investments and the Infinity Venture Capital Fund, which together invested $12 million. Previous investor Banc America Capital Partners also participated in the round, investing $2 million.

Established in 1997, Power Paper specializes in developing and marketing technology applications that operate with the thin and flexible, environment-friendly micro-power source that the company has developed. The power source does not require metal casing and can be printed cost-effectively directly onto paper, plastic, or other substrates, using standard printing equipment. The battery technology allows product manufacturers to design a power source that suits a specific product, rather than match the product to the form factor of the power source.

November 4, 2005 – Officials from the US, Europe, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan have agreed to eliminate duties on multichip packages (MCP) beginning in January 2006, praised by industry associations as a gesture of support for fast-growing technology areas.

Semiconductors have been duty-free through much of the world for many years under the Information Technology Agreement (ITA), but the technological advance of incorporating more than one chip inside a package led US, Korean, and European Union customs authorities to reclassify MCPs into a new category that was no longer duty-free. Tariffs on MCPs were levied by the US (2.6%), Korea (2.6%), and the EU (nearly 4%).

“This is a major step forward in our effort to eliminate tariffs on multichip packages and lower costs of semiconductor technology for consumers around the world,” stated SIA president George Scalise.

SEMI pegs MCP revenues at $4.2 billion in 2004 (from zero at the beginning of the decade), and growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25% to $7.9 billion by 2008, well ahead of the 10% CAGR projected for the overall semiconductor industry.

BOSTON, Mass. – The CleanRooms Contamination Control Technology (CCT) Conference and Exhibition 2006 will take place March 15-16 in Boston. The Hynes Convention Center, in the heart of Boston’s historic Back Bay, has been chosen as the venue.

Highlights of the CleanRooms CCT include the Product Pavilion, where exhibitors will demonstrate their latest innovations; the “Best of Show” awards program, where attendees can vote for products or services in four categories; and the latest addition to the CCT conference, the cleanroom Fashion Show, where exhibitors from the apparel industry will model their latest wearable cleanroom products.

Other programs to be presented at CleanRooms CCT 2006 include life-science environments and processes, cleanroom management and maintenance, facilities design/engineering/construction, semiconductor/microelectronics environments and processes, hospital pharmacies and USP 797, and nanotechnology contamination-control issues. In addition, renowned contamination-control expert, Dr. Hans Schicht, who led several standing-room-only sessions at the 2005 CCT conference, will be presenting “Essentials of Cleanroom Technology,” a comprehensive program that covers the numerous considerations involved in the design, construction, qualification and operation of cleanrooms and clean facilities.

For registration information, visit: www.cleanroomsconferences.com. For exhibiting or sponsorship information, contact: Jeff Gallagher ([email protected]; 603-891-9147).

October 27, 2005 – The inventor of the blue LED and a research team from Tokyo U. of Science said yesterday that they have succeeded in producing hydrogen from water through the use of gallium nitride (GaN) crystals, reported the Nikkei English News. If commercializable, this technology is expected to lead to the development of fuel cells that run on water and can be used in a wide range of products, from automobiles to computers.

GaN crystals are being studied for such uses as light sources for next-generation DVD devices. This is part of a research project of the Japan Science and Technology Agency – a program overseen by Shuji Nakamura, who created the blue LED and works as professor of materials at the U. of California, Santa Barbara.

The researchers connected GaN crystals with platinum using wire, then immersed these in water. When light is applied to the GaN, electricity flows through the water and causes it to decompose into oxygen and hydrogen through electrolysis.

The rate of conversion efficiency, which is the ratio of hydrogen produced to the energy used to shine the light, is still a low 0.5% to 0.7%.

“Theoretically, this can be raised to more than 20%,” said Kazuhiro Ohkawa, a professor in the physics department at the Tokyo University of Science, who played a leading role in the research. The minimum conversion efficiency needed for commercialization is said to be 20%.

The team plans to continue work on the project to make improvements.

Oct. 20, 2005 — EV Group, an Austrian maker of nanotech tools, announced the sale of an EVG570 High Volume Hot Embossing System to NIL Fab Inc. of Canada.

NIL Fab is a nanoimprint lithography contract manufacturer that intends to prototype roadmap compliant, low cost analytical devices and other consumer related products.

NIL Fab’s Phase 1 facility is slated to offer prototyping services and low volume production for biosensors, lab-on-a-chip, optics and photonics, magnetic storage, OLEDs and other applications that make use of low cost nanoimprint lithography processes and materials. The fab was established by the Canadian NanoBusiness Alliance in partnership with the National Research Council of Canada.