Category Archives: LEDs

May 21, 2001 — LONDON — A top medical journal in England is taking on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, calling it a ‘servant of the industry.’

In a recent editorial in The Lancet, Editor Richard Horton accused the FDA of endangering the lives of 274 million Americans, saying the agency was compromised by funding from the pharmaceautical industry, according to a Reuters report.

Specifically, Horton cites the FDA’s handling of the bowel drug Lotronex, made b GlaxoSmithKline Plc. The product was approved by the FDA, but after five people patients who were taking the drug died the company withdrew it from the market after nine months.

“This story reveals not only dangerous failings in a single drug’s approval and review process but also the extent to which the FDA, its Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) in particular, has become a servant of the industry,” Horton wrote in the editorial.

Horton alleges that scientists who voiced concern about the drug’s safety were excluded from future discussions about the product.

“The FDA is not only compromised because it receives so much funding from industry, but because it comes under incredible Congressional pressure to be favourable to industry. That has led to deaths,” Horton wrote.

An FDA spokesperson declined comment on the editorial, according to Reuters.

By Candace Stuart
Small Times senior writer

The auto industry has found a new way to make vehicles safer and more energy efficient, but it’s not in the vehicles. It’s underneath them — in the tires and wheels, where small technologies can be imbedded or installed without hindering performance.

Tire makers such as Michelin and Goodyear are aligning with international giants and small-town entrepreneurs to offer technologies ranging from puck-sized pumps that keep tires properly inflated to monitoring systems that alert drivers when tire pressure is dangerously low. The nerve center in each is a MEMS device that measures pressure and temperature. Other MEMS and microsystems relay that information to a dashboard display or an intelligent air pump.

Although the technology has existed for years in niche markets, it’s now poised to become standard fare, much as airbags did in the 1990s. Many airbags also rely on MEMS devices to detect motion, which triggers deployment

“We’ve been advocating for 10 years that tire monitoring would be the next safety issue,” said Charlene Krepiakevich, a spokesperson for the Canadian company SmarTire. SmarTire provides tire monitoring systems to auto suppliers, industrial trucks and the motorsport industries from its headquarters in Richmond, British Columbia.

Underinflated tires are dangerous because they build up heat that can damage the inside tire structure. Undetected, that strain can cause potentially fatal blowouts. Vehicles with underinflated tires also need more fuel, so proper inflation can improve fuel economy and reduce emissions.

The American market for tire monitors is expected to boom in the wake of last year’s revelation that the treads on some Ford Explorer tires would separate, especially when the tires were underinflated. The report of the flaw and deaths associated with it led to a massive recall by Bridgestone/Firestone, the maker of the tires, and prompted Congress to create the TREAD (Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability and Documentation) Act.

The TREAD Act calls for a tire monitor standard to be established by November. By the fall of 2003, all new vehicles must include a tire monitor that meets that standard.

All tires gradually lose pressure. The most basic tire monitors use a MEMS sensor mounted in the wheel or imbedded in a tire valve to measure air pressure within the tire. A signal is sent to a dashboard display, which warns the driver when pressure drops below the recommended level. It also alerts a driver about leaks and punctures.

Most sensors also measure temperature, which can indicate internal wear and an imminent blowout. Other MEMS and microsystems can be added as communication components or to make the device more sophisticated.

Krepiakevich says SmarTire is well positioned to serve the American market, thanks to its alliance with the Norwegian MEMS supplier SensoNor. SensoNor, which was created in 1985 to make MEMS devices for aerospace applications, expanded first into the airbag market and later into tire sensors.

SensoNor has devised a pressure sensor that is robust enough to survive the tough conditions of real-world driving, where dust and other contaminants can gum up the sensors. Its pressure sensor is based on a triple stack method with a silicon diaphragm sandwiched between two layers of glass. The layers are vacuum sealed and customized to include metal conductors, electrical connections and any other components a client needs.

Pressure changes force the diaphragm to bow, producing a mechanical strain that other components can measure. The layering, vacuum sealing and a special transfer molding technique help protect the parts from moisture and corrosion.

“Packaging is a key element,” said Hans Petersen, SensoNor’s vice president of business development. “We have a sealed vacuum cavity where all the active parts fit inside. Others have to put the active components on the diaphragm and then coat it.”

The devices range from three to 25 microns and production is fully automated. A production line of two to three people at the company’s fabrication center in Horten, Norway, can produce about 100 units a minute, Petersen said.

SensoNor began producing its first tire pressure monitoring sensors in 1997 for the European car market. Its sensors are now used in Mercedes, Porsche, BMW and Volkswagen vehicles, and the international supplier Siemens Automotive will begin using sensors in its systems.

Japanese carmaker Toyota also uses SensoNor monitors in its 2001 Lexus models in Japan.

Petersen said drivers in Europe and Japan embraced the technology for safety reasons, but also because it improves a vehicle’s fuel efficiency, an incentive in countries where fuel costs are high. Efficiently running cars also create less air pollution, which is a priority in Japan.

SmarTire and SensoNor joined forces in the late 1990s to develop tire microsystems for passenger cars and light trucks. They plan to roll out a more sophisticated product in the next two months that can detect changes in each individual car tire and relay that using radio frequency transmitters to the driver. SensoNor provides the sensors and SmarTire specializes in wireless transmitters.

Michigan-based TRW Automotive Electronics signed a deal with SmarTire and SensoNor to use their products to develop tire monitor systems for auto manufacturers. TRW also is working with Michelin to promote the systems. Michelin is both an automotive supplier and retailer.

Cycloid Co., a small company in Cranberry, Pa., has taken a different tack to improve tire safety. Cycloid houses a SensoNor pressure and temperature sensor within an air pump that nestles in the wheel. The sensor checks air pressure through a tube in the tire valve. If air pressure is not optimal, the pump automatically adds air through the valve using an air compressor that is powered by the rotating wheel.

“It adds enough to compensate for normal loss or a small leak,” said Tom Zdanowski, director of electronics at Cycloid. “One pump can handle a Neon or a Navigator.”

The company started marketing the pump to the heavy truck industry in the late 1990s and it has been installed on more than 6,000 trucks. Cycloid is working with Ford Motor Co. to include the pump on future Windstar minivans and other high-end vehicles.

Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. has a minority stake in the company but the pump will be compatible with all tires, Zdanowski said.

SensoNor is not the sole MEMS pressure sensor company. Lucas NovaSensor, a Fremont, Calif.-based MEMS pioneer that now is under the umbrella of TRW, provides pressure sensors for Schrader Electronics. Schrader incorporates the sensor and a RF transmitter into tire valves. Its system has been used by Corvette, Peugeot, Cadillac, Renault and Chrysler.

Schrader is based in Antrim, Northern Ireland, and is part of Tomkins PLC in London.

Other competitors include Motorola Co. and the Taiwanese company Pacific International Co. Chicago-based Motorola has worked on a pressure monitoring microsystem for use in run-flat tires. The system warns a driver of any extreme tire pressure loss, while an inner wall in the run-flats allow a vehicle to continue driving for 50 miles. Pacific also supplies the run-flat market.

Tire pressure monitors will be good for consumers, according automotive industry analyst Rod Lache, but not for the tire makers. “Over the long term, it will be a negative,” said Lache, a vice president at Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown in New York.

Proper inflation can extend the life of the tire significantly, he pointed out. Consumers will get more for their money, but retailers will see their tire replacement business slowing down, he predicted.

Dow to cut 4,500 jobs


May 1, 2001

May 1, 2001 – Detroit, Michigan – Dow Chemical plans to cut 4,500 jobs (8% of its work force), which is double its earlier job-reduction estimate. The company said it plans to cut annual costs by $1.1 billion by early 2003, more than double its $500 million projection when the takeover of Union Carbide was announced in 1999.

Dow has previously said that it was cutting 4% of its work force due to cost savings found through the acquisition, including the reduction of overlapping responsibilities. The $7.3 billion deal was completed on February 6.

“Achieving these synergies will be critical to ensure that this merger creates long term value for all our stakeholders,” said Michael Parker, president and CEO, in a recent release. “As we accelerate our aggressive pursuit of both cost and growth synergies, we will create greater value than either Dow or Union Carbide could have realized separately.”

April 27, 2001 – Kyoto, Japan – Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co. Ltd. (DNS) has demonstrated uniform 300mm wafer coatings using less than 1 milliliter of Dow Chemical’s SiLK semiconductor dielectric resin.

DNS reports that this demonstration has established a new benchmark in 300mm wafer coating results which will significantly reduce Cost-of-Ownership (COO) for low-k Spin-On Dielectric (SOD) materials.

The company reported that in order to succeed in reducing SiLK consumption, it applied its proprietary Variable Pre-Spin Plus (VPS+) coating technology already used in volume production for photolithography resist wafer coating.

Dow Chemical estimates that this breakthrough deposition technology, in combination with its 300mm SiLK resin formulations, will reduce the overall COO by 35% from the previous benchmark.

DNS expects to formally announce the 300mm wafer SOC track before the upcoming IEEE International Interconnect Technology Conference in June.

As I surveyed the landscape of column possibilities in my role as a business columnist at The Detroit News late last year, nothing loomed as large as the world’s developing prospects in small tech. Here, it seemed, was an industry that had all the markings present in the embryonic automobile industry a century before.

This, as the TV commercial used to say, was going to be big. Really big.

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Jon Pepper
Passionate pioneering scientists, working in laboratories and clean rooms like auto pioneers labored in garages, were resolving key technological issues in MEMS, microsystems and nanotechnologies. Capital was forming to back the products that seemed to have the best prospects for commercial success. Enterprises were springing up overnight in an attempt to catch the latest wave.

Small tech, it seemed, could be to this decade and the next what high tech was to the last decade and the one before. My choice was to either watch it from 40,000 feet from my perch at the paper, or to hit the ground and join in the excitement full-time.

Now, here I am — and here you are with the first product from the company we created a mere six months ago. Smalltimes.com, under the direction of managing editor Steve Crosby, is designed to be the world’s first portal devoted entirely to fresh news every business day from the growing universe of small tech. Combining exclusive staff-written reports, our own listing of Small Tech stocks, and wire reports culled from every part of the globe, smalltimes.com will evolve to offer even more features that you require in the months and years ahead.

More will come. Our first issue of Small Times Magazine will debut in September with a cover story on how small tech will change the world in life sciences, telecommunications, transportation, defense and a variety of other industries. Small Times Magazine will profile our industry’s pioneers, its up-and-comers, commercial applications that are well within reach, and the most promising innovations on the horizon.

In addition, we’ll demonstrate that small tech is ready for prime time with our premiere trade show at the Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center in Washington D.C. from Sept. 18-21. Small Tech 2001, led by our Vice-President/Events Chris Morrisroe, will feature the leaders in our industry, frank comments from small tech’s end-users, and a bold vision for the future.

All of these initiatives from Small Times Media are geared toward giving shape, voice, language and coherence to a nascent industry that’s been difficult to aggregate. If we do our job right, we will take some of the mystery out of these incredible technologies without losing our sense of awe. We’ll point out the sweeping applications in the marketplace without ignoring the stubborn obstacles that remain. We’ll report on the positive force that small tech promises for our standard of living and our environment while remembering that others who attempt to employ its powers may not be so beneficent.

It should be noted in the interest of full disclosure that our parent company, Ardesta LLC, has a stake in the acceleration of this industry’s development, which is one reason it’s supporting the creation of our company. While Small Times Media’s goal is to ultimately become fully independent, we pledge in the meantime to treat all companies with an equal sense of fairness.

I don’t mind conceding that this endeavor has its daunting moments. We fully understand that we are offering our product to some of the world’s smartest and most forward-thinking people, an audience that we regard as both a challenge and a privilege to serve. We will count on you to let us know where we’re going right, when we’re going wrong, and how we can provide the most essential information possible.

There’s no industry in the world that’s more ripe with possibility, which is why we at Small Times Media are so enthused about getting involved. Starting today, our first small steps begin to track the industry’s great leaps.

It’ll be fascinating to keep pace.

Jon Pepper
President and Publisher
Small Times Media
(734) 994-1106. Ext. 226
[email protected]

April 5, 2001 — SARASOTA, FL — Uniroyal Technology Corporation’s Uniroyal Optoelectronics (UOE) division has begun distribution of two high brightness blue light emitting diode (LED) products.

“Uniroyal Optoelectronics is producing increasingly higher quality products from its Tampa facility, and we are excited by the progress of our Optoelectronics team. In less than two years since the completion of the cleanrooms in our facility, we have developed LED products with brightness levels reaching or exceeding the products currently on the market,” said Robert L. Soran, President and Chief Operating Officer of Uniroyal Technology Corporation.

UOE’s 450nm and 470nm high brightness blue LED die products have a minimum power output of 2 milliwatts in die form which, when conventionally packaged, is expected to result in packaged lamp power levels between 4 and 5 milliwatts. Both LED products combine indium gallium nitride (InGaN) materials on sapphire substrates producing higher efficiencies. The 450nm product is widely used by packagers and lighting designers for “white” light by incorporating a phosphor coating in the packaging design. Applications for this product include flashlights, nightlights, and other unique designs. The 470nm product is used in applications such as outdoor video displays, biomedical applications and instrumentation.

The demand for high brightness LEDs, according to industry sources, grew 54 percent in 2000 and is expected to continue to grow substantially for the next several years.

Uniroyal Technology’s Compound Semiconductors & Optoelectronics business segment includes Uniroyal Optoelectronics, Sterling Semiconductor, Inc., and NorLux Corp. Uniroyal Optoelectronics manufactures high brightness light emitting diodes (HB-LEDs), a rapidly growing market with applications such as traffic signals, indoor/outdoor signage and automotive applications. Sterling Semiconductor is a leading producer of silicon carbide (SiC) substrates, epitaxial thin films on SiC substrates and is developing SiC devices for wireless communications, industrial process control, and power amplification.

New Products


April 1, 2001

Gas monitor
Available in both portable and fixed configurations, the line of environmental gas monitoring systems can detect a range of gases, including CO2, NOx, O2, VOCs, toxics and LEL flammables and fuels. Typical applications include leakage, area, personnel protection and process monitoring.
Neutronics Inc.
Exton, PA
(610) 524-8800

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Flow filtration system
The benchtop Maxim system is intended for the development of tangential flow filtration processes for scale-up, production of small batches of biopharmaceuticals and scale-down investigations. Key components include a 10L glass reservoir with ultrasonic level sensor, high-performance pump, pressure and temperature sensors, retentate flow meter, retentate and drain diaphragm valves and a choice of optional cassette holders. A quaternary diaphragm Quattroflow pump enables smooth, accurate control of flow rates to 1000 liters per hour at feed pressures up to 6 bar (90psi).
Pall Biopharmaceuticals
East Hills, NY
(516) 484-5400

Imaging software
Advanced Evaluating software for the Camsizer digital particle size analyzer precisely measures the shape of particles for characterization of powders and bulk materials. Users can receive information on parameters such as absolute lengths, length/width ratios, symmetry and roundness. New measurement models make it possible for the Camsizer to produce data that closely matches sieving without the need for calibration curves, reference distributions or fitting routines, according to the manufacturer.
Horiba Instruments
Irvine, CA
(949) 250-4811

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Mat dispenser
The Pig Mat Tablet Pack provides a method of storing and dispensing absorbent mats for controlling leaks and spills. The tablet has a pop-up tab for hanging anywhere the mats are needed for easy access and retrieval. The mats absorb oils, coolants, solvents, water and most chemicals. Two versions are available—10 heavy-weight pads or 20 light-weight pads—in two sizes: 14315.5 inches or 20315.5 inches. Each pad is perforated.
New Pig Corporation
Tipton, PA
(814) 684-0101

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Machine leveling mounts
Jacmount Model PRGI INOX adjustable levelers feature stainless-steel studs and bodies with a selection of rubber or neoprene pads to meet specific machinery vibration dampening and isolation requirements. The mounts use a patented interlocking stud that screws into the body, cannot pull out accidentally and provides spherical support with a ±4 degrees range of motion to compensate for sloping or uneven floors. Sizes range from 51mm to 132mm diameter. Price ranges from $25 to $150 each.
Airloc division of Clark-Cutler-McDermott Company
Franklin, MA
(508) 528-0022

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Combination tester
The Ohm-Stat CT-8900 automatic data logger now offers HID and CASI-RUSCO proximity readers. The improved software can inform managers automatically via e-mail of employees who fail a test or else did not test. The product can be used to test smocks, wrist straps or footwear simultaneously and individually. The tester can display the actual values in ohms for 5000 employees in each department.
Static Solutions Inc.
Marlborough, MA
(508) 480-0700

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Wrist strap
The static-dissipative ESD wrist strap is a metal expansion band and buckle encapsulated with a permanently static-dissipative polymer. The band comes in three sizes and is guaranteed to eliminate static failures in cleanroom and manufacturing areas. According to the manufacturer, the buckle band will not flake or cause static electricity failures due to tribogeneration. The product is available in various colors, different cord lengths and different snap configurations.
Static Solutions Inc.
Marlborough, MA
(508) 480-0700

Hand lotion
Formulated to counter the harshness of chemical agents, Aquacream has application for anyone whose hands are exposed continuously to adhesives, coatings and inks. After washing hands thoroughly, the user rubs the lotion in the palms of his hands then spreads it evenly to coat the entire surface of hands, wrists and other areas that may have been exposed to chemical substances. The user then rinses his hands with running water and pats them until thoroughly dry. According to the manufacturer, the treated skin becomes smooth, moist and soft within a few minutes.
ADM-Tronics Unlimited Inc.
Northvale, NJ
(201) 767-6040

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Mini gas detector
The MD-16 is a series of single-channel, wall-mounted continuous detectors that monitor different toxic gases in either low or high PPM levels. The standalone gas monitors are offered in weatherproof NEMA 4X enclosures. Built-in audio and visual alarms are activated in less than eight seconds in the presence of most hazardous gas levels. Auxiliary outputs and LED lights indicate cell failure, power failure and warning alarm. The danger alarm has a relay contact that can activate external devices.
CEA Instruments Inc.
Emerson, NJ
(201) 967-5660

Toxic gas detector
Chlorine and Hydrides gases have been added to the MDA scientific brand XP Chemcassette product. The Chemcassette colorimetric technology is a method of toxic gas detection used in the semiconductor fabrication process. An XP Chemcassette is capable of running for three months without interruption. According to the manufacturer, the hydrides product meets the proposed 3 PPB TLV level of Arsine currently being reviewed by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH).
Zellweger Analytics
Lincolnshire, IL
(847) 955-8200

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Sight flow indicators
Anderson-Midwest sight flow indicators are available for medium-pressure processing. Two models (100MP and 300MP) handle a maximum pressure of 150 psig. Both models are available in 1.5- and 2-inch sizes and feature bronze bodies, tempered glass windows, ABS impellers and Viton gaskets. NPT(F) connections are standard, but BSPP or BSPT threads are optional. The 100MP is priced from $59.50 and has a single window. The 300MP is priced from $78.50 and has a double window for viewing on either side of the connection.
Dwyer Instruments Inc.
Michigan City, IN
(219) 879-8868

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Motorized impeller
The TMK has an external rotor motor mounted inside the impeller, where it takes up minimal space and benefits from the cooling provided by the impeller's airflow. According to the manufacturer, the assembly is dynamically balanced to ensure smooth, vibration-free operation. Five sizes are available, ranging from 11 to 17.7 inches in diameter, and providing flows to 5000 cfm and pressures to 4.5-inch wg. Motors are industrial duty, totally enclosed, with ball bearings, and are 100 percent speed controllable. Most standard and three-phase voltages are available.
Continental Fan Manufacturing Inc.
Buffalo, NY
(800) 779-4021

NIR analyzer
The Luminar 3075 is a diffuse reflectance, on-line NIR analyzer for analytical measurements and control on IBCs where a cable or fiber-optic connection are not applicable, for example. The system practically locates a complete AOTF-NIR high-performance spectrometer right on the moving blending vessel. Vibrations, dust or ambient light have no influence on the system performance. Collected data and spectra can be used to control the blending device and/or transmitted to the system computer or server for reference data logging and further analytical purposes.
Brimrose Corporation of America
Baltimore, MD
(410) 931-7200

Modular conveyor system
The modular concept of the EM conveyor enables simplified engineering and ordering as well as reduced assembly time. With four basic module types to choose from, the system can be used to connect machinery or built together to create larger systems. Modules are available in seven standard configurations in lengths up to eight meters. The modules are delivered in pre-assembled units.
FlexLink Systems Inc.
Bethlehem, PA
(610) 954-7000

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Robot
The turboscara SR6 and SR8 feature a payload capacity of 8 kg (17.5 lbs.), are easy to program and network and feature a pick-and-place cycle of 0.5 seconds. The SR6 has a reach of 600 mm (23.6 in) and the SR8 has a reach of 800 mm (31.5 in). Features include PC-based controls, an on-board vision system, integrated Windows interface and real-time programming. Cleanroom and dustproof models are available.
Bosch Automation Products
Buchanan, MI
(616) 695-0151

Stainless-steel conveyor
The main applications of the XA stainless-steel conveyor systems are for installations in the pharmaceutical, medical device, personal care, food and packaging industries where inspections, ergonomics and thorough cleaning are key requirements. The raised-chain construction offers no crevices where dirt can accumulate. It can be wiped down and the 83mm chain lifts for inspection and cleaning on all straight sections. No drilling is required for body assembly, legs, raised chain bed or bracketry.
FlexLink Systems Inc.
Bethlehem, PA
(610) 954-7000

Thin-film analyzer
Acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) film and thin-film analyzers are designed for measuring chemical and physical properties on a range of substrates and coatings. Applications include thickness of organic lacquer or lubricant on metallic foils, tin-plate, sheet steel, metallized polymers and similar products. The Luminar 2020/3020 is totally insensitive to ambient light, which eases installation requirements in the production environment. The optical design eliminates interference fringes.
Brimrose Corporation of America
Baltimore, MD
(410) 931-7200

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Platens
Cast aluminum bake and chill platens are intended for wafer processing applications. They utilize a high-density mineral-insulated heating element formed to provide a specific heat profile and cast onto 99.7 percent pure aluminum. Cooling tubes of various materials can be run systematically with the heat pattern for uniform chill requirements. According to the manufacturer, temperature uniformity across the surface of the platens can achieve ±1 percent of the maximum operating temperature. Helium leak test specifications of 13108 cc/s are performed to guarantee integrity of the complete assembly.
Durex Industries
Cary, IL
(847) 639-5600

PETG jar
The 150ml size heavy-wall PETG jar features a wide profile shape and an 83-400 thread finish. The jar is available in clear, transparent, opaque and spray frosted finishes and can be custom-colored to meet user specifications. Silk screening and hot stamping are available.
Nadel Industries LLC
Port Chester, NY
(914) 937-5141

Data logger
The Cox Tracer electronic data logger features models with LED or LCD, a humidity model, multiple temperature ranges and a high degree of accuracy and reliability. According to the manufacturer, the price for this multi-featured model has been greatly reduced.
Cox Technologies Inc.
Belmont, NC
(704) 825-8146

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Work gloves
Available in sizes from small to XXL, the breathable leather gloves offer protection from rough objects, sparks and heat. They are abrasion resistant and provide cushioning from blows in heavy-duty work require- ments. Cotton gloves protect workers' hands and delicate product surfaces. Synthetic gloves protect workers against solvents and chemicals, abrasions, cuts and punctures. Other offerings include unsupported gloves and string knit gloves.
CCP Industries
Highland Heights, OH
(800) 553-7979

Electric linear drives
The OSP-EBHD heavy-duty belt-driven linear p actuator provides compact dimensions, modular construction and application flexibility. Featuring a rigid aluminum profile and a fully integrated roller guide, the unit has high load and bending moment capacity in all plains. The product is available in three sizes (25, 32 and 50 mm) and is produced in any stroke length up to 7000mm.
Hoerbiger-Origa Corp.
Glendale Heights, IL
(630) 871-8300

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Filter elements
Custom filter elements can be fabricated using specific materials to absorb gases such as arsine, boron trifluoride, boron trichloride and hydrochloric acid or to trap particles down to 0.1 micron. Utilizing 2.75-inch diameter 3 4.5-inch or 9.5-inch high filter element shells that fit their standard vacuum inlet and exhaust traps, they can be used in any combination. The products feature materials such as stainless steel and copper gauze, molecular sieve to trap gases and vapors, activated charcoal for organic vapors, activated alumina to neutralize acids and absorb oils, Sodasorb for acetic acids, pleated polypropylene 2, 5 and 20 micron and polyester to operate up to 165 degrees Celsius, depending upon pressure.
Mass-Vac Inc.
No. Billerica, MA
(978) 667-2393

March 13, 2001–Munich, Germany–Responding to escalating concerns that the cost of testing complex semiconductor devices may soon exceed the cost of fabrication, Synopsys, Inc. and Agilent Technologies Inc. today announced an agreement targeted at reducing the overall cost of test by bridging the gap between electronic design automation (EDA) test software and automated test equipment (ATE) hardware.

Both Synopsys and Agilent recognize that the future of affordable, high quality manufacturing test lies in strong coordination between ATE companies and EDA tool providers. This agreement establishes a framework for close evaluation of potential innovations in test technology for new and existing worldwide customers as they seek to bring complex system-on-a-chip (SoC) devices to market.

Rapid growth in SoC designs has led to the proliferation of complex, high pin-count devices that are dramatically more difficult and expensive to test. As a result, both companies are facing a strong mandate from customers to resolve this situation. In response, Synopsys and Agilent will explore the ability to make EDA test tools aware of intended ATE environments for SoC devices in order to synthesize the optimal design-for-test (DFT) structure. Moreover, ATE hardware must have the ability to fully use every DFT resource available on the device.

“This strategic alliance, the first of its kind, clearly positions Agilent and Synopsys at the forefront of the system-on-a-chip era where design and test must be linked,” says Tom Newsom, vice president and general manager of Agilent Technologies’ System-on-a-Chip Business Unit. “We aim to provide our customers with huge benefits in time-to-market and cost-of-test savings from our initiatives that shatter the wall between design and test.”

March 12, 2001–Santa Clara, California–IBM Corp. has joined the Extreme Ultra Violet (EUV) LLC industry consortium to support the development of EUV lithography technology. EUV lithography technology is being developed to allow semiconductor manufacturers to etch circuit lines smaller than 0.1-micron, creating future generations of more powerful microprocessors and higher density memory chips. Processors built using EUV technology are expected to reach speeds of up to 10 GHz in 2005 to 2006.

“IBM has over 20 years of experience in developing EUV optics technology and its application to scientific research, and we intend to support EUV’s growing viability as an NGL candidate,” says John Warlaumont, director of silicon technology for IBM. “We are formalizing our relationship with the EUV LLC to help the semiconductor industry further evaluate EUV for use in the production of advanced semiconductors.”

IBM joins the private industry consortium led by Intel Corp., Advanced Micro Devices, Motorola, Micron Technology, and Infineon Technologies AG. These companies have joined forces with the Virtual National Laboratory (comprised of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories, and E.O. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory) to develop EUV lithography technology targeted at increasing computer chip capabilities.

“Six large manufacturers of a wide variety of chips have now committed major resources to the EUV lithography program,” says Sunlin Chou, chairman of the EUV LLC board, and senior vice president and general manager of Intel’s Technology and Manufacturing Group. “IBM’s participation raises our confidence that EUV lithography will succeed both technically and commercially. We look forward to working with equipment and materials suppliers to accelerate the development of the EUV lithography infrastructure.”

The EUV LLC is working directly with Silicon Valley Group Lithography (SVGL) and ASM Lithography to commercialize EUV technology, targeting availability of manufacturing tools in 2005. The EUV LLC has also developed relationships with more than 40 U.S.-based infrastructure companies to ensure that all of the key components can be attained for commercialization.

March 8, 2001–San Jose, California–The critical battle for the future of DRAM technology is being waged in the PC memory arena between DDR DRAM and RDRAM, but San Jose, CA-based market research firm Gartner Dataquest cautions not to expect to see an end to the dispute this year.

Microprocessors with clock speeds measured in GHz are expected to be the norm in the future. Increasing clock speeds have been driven by the demands of the PC, which accounted for about 75% of the DRAM market in 2000, and enabled by advances in semiconductor design and manufacturing. Memory buses cannot supply data fast enough for these new microprocessors, which require data transfer rates of 1.6GB/sec. and higher.

“While microprocessor vendors have continued to increase microprocessor performance, access time to data held in a system main memory has struggled to keep pace, creating a bottleneck to higher system performance,” says Richard Gordon, principal analyst with Gartner Dataquest’s worldwide semiconductors group. “This data transfer rate, or bandwidth, shortfall has led to the development of new DRAM technologies such as RDRAm and DDR DRAM.”

Intel and AMD have been the leading PC microprocessor vendors, reports Gartner Dataquest, but AMD has stopped relying on Intel to provide a lead and is following its own path in support of DDR DRAM.

“Through DDR DRAM, DRAM vendors have seized the only chance they have to keep control of the DRAM technology roadmap, and to avoid the ignominy of becoming little more than silicon foundries for Intel and Rambus,” Gordon says.

To avoid the recurrence of this technology transition debacle, Gartner Dataquest analysts are suggesting that DRAM vendors should make more of an effort to form an industry-wide DRAM alliance–which must include AMD and Intel–to develop a credible technology roadmap. The alliance should strive for transparency between participants to avoid conflict and the possibility of damaging legal action.

“The next couple of years could see a highly fragmented DRAM market in technology terms. The year 2001 is likely to see shortages occur, owing to product-mix issues, so DRAM vendors must plan for flexibility in their strategy for wafer starts,” says Andrew Norwood, senior analyst with Gartner Dataquest’s worldwide semiconductors group. “DRAM vendors should maintain equal support for both DDR DRAM and RDRAM, and be prepared to ramp up volume production for whichever technology the market adopts.”