May 14, 2012 — Asia-based ASM Pacific Technology (ASMPT) Group, a supplier of semiconductor assembly, bonding, and packaging equipment, will integrate with the SIPLACE organization in Europe. ASMPT acquired SIPLACE as a business unit under the name ASM Assembly Systems in 2011. SIPLACE
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May 11, 2012 — The Innovation Award Laser Technology 2012 recognized 3D metal micro-structuring laser technology from Schepers, excimer laser design for OLED and LCD display fab from Coherent, and a laser brazing head technology from Precitec Optronik.
Stephan Brüning, responsible for R&D laser applications at Schepers GmbH & Co KG, was awarded the €10,000 Innovation Award Laser Technology 2012 prize at this week’s International Laser Technology Congress (AKL). His team was recognized for their work in "3D micro-structuring of large-scale metal surfaces for embossing and printing applications with high-power ultrashort-pulse lasers." Brüning also has been awarded the title of Fellow of both AKL and the European Laser Institute (ELI).
The 2nd place for the award went to a team led by Coherent’s Rainer Pätzel focused on excimer lasers for active-matrix liquid crystal display (LCD)- and organic light-emitting diode (OLED)-based flat-panel displays (FPDs). Coherent’s high-power 308nm excimer laser with pulse repetition rate of 600Hz and stabilized output power of 1.2kW provides fast cycle times for excimer laser annealing (ELA) on Gen-6 FPD panels, increasing throughput over typical Gen-4 tools. In ELA, a laser processes amorphous silicon (a-Si) into low-temperature polysilicon (LTPS), increasing electron mobility by more than 100x. The laser line beam has a final homogeneity of 1.8% to allow 10-20 overlapping irradiations of each location with the same fluence when scanning the substrate. Coherent’s state of the art cylindrical optics deliver a homogeneous line beam with dimension 750 mm X 0.4 mm for Gen-6 ELA, creating a display backplane with very homogeneous 50nm film of polysilicon of approximately 0.3um2 grain size providing 150cm2/Vs — 2 orders of magnitude higher than the electron mobility of an amorphous silicon backplane. The output power of 1.2 kW was achieved by spatially merging and temporally synchronizing two high-power UV-oscillators, each capable of 1 Joule energy/pulse and 600 Hz pulse frequency. The VYPER dual-oscillator laser platform (photo above) was combined with a novel beam delivery concept for beam forming, mixing, homogenizing and projecting the incoming laser beams into one homogeneous line beam.
Third prize went to a team led by Precitec Optronik’s Markus Kogel-Hollacher for a 3D-capable co-axial laser brazing head with integrated seam tracking.
The Innovation Award Laser Technology is a European research prize awarded at two-year intervals by the associations Arbeitskreis Lasertechnik e.V. and the European Laser Institute (ELI), conferred on an individual researcher or on an entire project group, whose exceptional skills and dedicated work have led to an outstanding innovation in the field of laser technology. The scientific and technological projects in question must center on the use of laser light in materials processing and the methods of producing such light, and must furthermore be of demonstrable commercial value to industry. Jury decisions are based on:
- Proven commercial benefit
- Innovative quality of the resulting laser beam source, laser manufacturing process or laser system
- Scientific / technological quality of the underlying research
- Creative approach to technology demonstrated by the designated individual or project group
- Importance of the contribution of the applicant’s work to the overall innovative process
More information about the awards and this year’s winners can be viewed at www.innovation-award-laser.org.
Article courtesy of our sister publication Industrial Laser Solutions. Visit http://www.industrial-lasers.com/index.html for more information.
May 9, 2012 — SEMI presented US Congressman Dave Camp (R-MI) with its 2012 North American Government Leadership Award at the annual SEMI Washington Forum. SEMI’s award recognizes policymakers who show leadership and support for the US microelectronics and photovoltaic manufacturing value chain.
Congressman Camp represents the 4th District of Michigan and has served in the House of Representatives since 1991. In 2009, Representative Camp became the Chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means, which oversees all tax legislation in the House of Representatives.
SEMI cited Camp’s leadership in extending the research and development tax credit, and efforts to make that credit permanent; support for free trade agreements, including the passage of the U.S-Korea Free Trade agreement; and support of domestic solar energy and solar energy manufacturing.
The SEMI North American Government Leadership Award was established in 2004 to recognize policymakers in the United States that promote pro-innovation policies. Recipients of the award are selected by the SEMI North American Advisory Board, and the award is presented in conjunction with the SEMI Washington Forum, one of the organization’s annual executive meetings with elected legislators and Federal officials in Washington, D.C.
SEMI is a global industry association serving the nano- and microelectronics manufacturing supply chains. For more information, visit www.semi.org.
May 8, 2012 — SEMI-GAS Systems, ultra-high-purity gas source and distribution system maker, and a division of Applied Energy Systems Inc, will outfit the University of Nebraska – Lincoln’s new Nanoscience Metrology Facility. Researchers will use the labs for metrology of semiconductor process development, including wafer etch, photolithography, and thin-film deposition.
The 32,000sq.ft. center will host nanofabrication, electron microscopy, scanning probe microscopy and other synthesis and characterization units. It is funded in part by a grant from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). SEMI-GAS’ high purity products and Applied Energy Systems’ field services will be used throughout the new labs and cleanrooms at the facility.
They will install numerous fully automatic Centurion gas cabinets, automatic switchover gas panels, wall-mount systems and manual manifolds, as well as an exhaust scrubber and hazardous gas detection system. Applied Energy Systems will support all of the SEMI-GAS equipment with an extensive installation and gas piping project, which includes installing high-purity single-wall and coaxial gas lines from the source systems to their designated points-of-use: a reactive ion etch and krypton fluoride laser, among other tools.
With the equipment installed, certified technicians from Applied Energy Systems’ will perform quality and safety checks, including analytical testing and line labeling. The final phase, in conjunction with University of Nebraska – Lincoln, will include system validation, equipment commissioning, and personnel training.
In late 2011, Applied Energy broke ground on its new SEMAT Center, a 2-story, 16000sq.ft. facility for SEMI-GAS Systems.
Semi-Gas Systems provides High Purity Gas Distribution Systems. Learn more at http://semi-gas.com/.
May 8, 2012 — US President Barack Obama toured the University at Albany – State University of New York (SUNY) – Albany Nano-Tech Complex at 12EST today, speaking about the economy in the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering’s (CNSE) NanoFab Extension Building.
Semiconductor foundry GLOBALFOUNDRIES will help host the presidential visit, which had to move from GLOBALFOUNDRIES’ new Fab 8 to the college for logistical reasons. CNSE is a global education, research, development and technology deployment resource dedicated to preparing the next generation of scientists and researchers in nanotechnology. It hosts myriad private-public partnerships with academia and research organizations partnering with global semiconductor equipment and materials suppliers, as well as chip makers. Also read: A day at Albany CNSE: Leading-edge techs, innovation vs. efficiency
GLOBALFOUNDRIES CEO Ajit Manocha will speak during the event as well. Since breaking ground on Fab 8 in 2009, GLOBALFOUNDRIES has created more than 1,300 new direct jobs with the project, drawn from local talent in the region and national and international sources. In addition, the project has created an additional 4,300 construction related jobs and established the largest private Project Labor Agreement in history, generating hundreds of millions of dollars of economic development throughout upstate New York. Fab 8 began production in January 2012, and should ramp to volume production this year.
In January, President Obama visited Intel’s Ocotillo semiconductor manufacturing location in Chandler, AZ, touring Fab 42, which is under construction. The visit carried a similar theme as today’s — advanced manufacturing jobs in America, and improving education to develop future technological leaders from America. Obama is emphasizing the connection between education, innovation, and manufacturing in supporting investment and bringing jobs back to the US, which the administration touts as "insourcing."
"The true engine of job creation in this country is the private sector. There are steps we can take as a nation to make it easier for companies to grow and to hire — to create platforms of success," said Obama at CNSE (via @Obama2012 on twitter). He listed ways to accelerate the US economy, including tax breaks for clean-energy companies and small business owners, support for veterans in the job market, and encouraging US-based manufacturing and exports. "American manufacturers are creating new jobs for the first time since the 1990s," he said, and asserted that half of America’s largest companies are considering moving manufacturing operations from China to the US. "Even when we can’t make things cheaper than other countries, we can always make them better."
From the White House: "The President’s visit to the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering at SUNY-Albany demonstrates the important role that partnerships between universities and companies can play in accelerating education, innovation and U.S. manufacturing investment."
The President has proposed a $1 billion investment for a "National Network for Manufacturing Innovation consisting of up to fifteen institutes, each serving as a hub that will help to make US manufacturing facilities and enterprises more competitive and encourage investment in the United States." The White House says that these "hubs," like CNSE, will bring large companies, small and medium enterprises, research organizations and universities, federal agencies, and states together to advance key manufacturing technologies with broad applications. In March, the Administration announced that it "will invest $45 million in existing resources to launch a single pilot institute through a competitive award to be announced later this year."
May 7, 2012 — Low-cost direct light-emitting diode (LED)-backlit liquid crystal display (LCD) TVs were introduced in March 2011, targeting share in the entry/mainstream LCD TV market currently dominated by cold-cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL)-backlit TVs.
Samsung Electronics has launched its first direct LED-backlit TVs, the EH series, in the US, and LG Electronics will follow soon with its LS3400 series.
Also read: Cheaper LED backlights require LED, plate materials changes
LED-backlight penetration in the LCD TV market has been lower than expected, especially in the entry/mainstream segment: 9 points lower than DisplaySearch’s 2011 forecast overall. LED technology for backlights was more expensive than anticipated, limiting consumer purchases. Edge backlight designs were not able to meaningfully reduce the cost premium over CCFL backlighting, though the concept has helped TV makers maintain revenues against a severe market overall.
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| Figure 1. Trends for LED-Backlit TV Price Premium and Penetration. SOURCE: Q1’12 Quarterly LED Backlight Report. |
Now, TV makers are focusing on new types of direct LED backlighting to capture a broader swath of consumers, adding value to the entry/mainstream segment just as edge LED backlighting added value to the premium segment TVs. At the same time, the CCFL industry is experiencing shortages in rare earth metals, stressing already-tight cost structures. There are fewer new CCFL-backlit models this year. DisplaySearch expects the price premium for direct LED-backlit TVs over CCFL-backlit TVs to decrease quickly.
In the Q1’12 Quarterly LED Backlight Report, DisplaySearch forecast that LED backlighting, with help of low-cost direct designs, will achieve 100% penetration of the LCD TV application by the end of 2014, killing CCFL designs. Low-cost direct LED backlighting (~20% share in 2014) will take share away from CCFL backlighting, not from edge LED backlighting. At the same time, edge LED backlighting will continue to incrementally replace CCFL backlighting. Low-cost direct LED backlighting will saturate after CCFL-backlit TVs leave the market and maintain its market position in the entry/mainstream segment.
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| Figure 2. Forecast for TV Panel Shipments by Backlight Type. SOURCE: Q1’12 Quarterly LED Backlight Report |
These changes to the TV market will affect the market for CCFL in other displays, such as monitors. In Q1’12, revenue from CCFL for TVs is estimated to be 81% of total CCFL revenue, as reported in the Q1’12 Quarterly LED Backlight Report. It is not an exaggeration to say that the current CCFL supply chain depends solely on the shipments of TVs. If demand for CCFL in TVs disappears, then it will be hard for the CCFL industry to maintain its supply chain, because the other applications account for only 19% of total demand. Therefore, we forecast that after CCFL-backlit TVs leave the market, most CCFL-backlit monitors will face EOL as well.
Learn more at www.displaysearch.com.
May 4, 2012 — The Heterogeneous Technology Alliance (HTA), a team of European technology institutes, is focusing on high-performance organic electronic circuits through 2 projects: COSMIC to develop p- and n-type organic thin film transistors (OTFTs) for complementary logic, and POLARIC for shrinking critical dimensions (CD) of OTFTs.
OTFTs face limited device performance and volume production methods. Recent progress has enabled air-stable, printable, n-type semiconductor materials, making it possible to combine p- and n-type thin film transistors into complementary logic. This could enable breakthrough application of printed electronic circuits that perform comparably to silicon-based complementary metal-oxide semiconductors (CMOS).
Also read: Organic Electronics Workshop: TFTs, FETs, and a seeing microphone by Michael A. Fury
The COSMIC (Complementary Organic Semiconductor and Metal Integrated Circuits) project will develop p- and n-type OTFTs and integrate them into complementary logic, aiming for processing tolerances in organic integrated circuits (ICs): better noise margins, higher complexity, improved yield, and lower supply voltage demand. The researchers will demonstrate an analog-to-digital converter coupled to a temperature sensor, introducing OTFTs in the sensors and actuator market. They will also build a silent authentication tag, comprising an organic RF receiver, with potential for item-level, secure tracking of goods using realistic protocols.
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| Schematic from COSMIC. |
Also read: High interest in low-end printable electronics by Katherine Derbyshire
The POLARIC (Printable, Organic and Large-Area Realisation of Integrated Circuits) project is mainly focused on increasing organic electronics’ performance by shrinking the CD of the OTFTs. Small critical dimensions make organic ICs compatible with high-throughput transistor fabrication methods, like roll-to-roll (R2R) nanoimprint lithography. This high-resolution patterning technique produces transistor channel lengths below 1µm, increasing organic electronics’ performance. Researchers plan to demonstrate an active-matrix liquid display and RFID tag.
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| VTT’s vision for a flexible display backplane, POLARIC project. |
The organic electronic building blocks and manufacturing platforms gained from COSMIC and POLARIC will be propagated to all areas of printed electronics — sensors, memories, batteries, photovoltaics, lighting, etc.
The HTA is a novel approach to creating and developing micro technologies, nano electronics, and smart systems. It combines the capabilities and facilities of CEA-Leti and CEA-Liten, CSEM, Fraunhofer Group for Microelectronics, and VTT, structured to facilitate technology transfer to European and international companies. Visit www.hta-online.eu for more information.
Participants in the COSMIC project: Fraunhofer EMFT (coordinator, Germany), Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique (France), IMEC (Belgium), STMicroelectronics SRL (Italy), TNO (Netherlands), Technische Universiteit Eindhoven (Netherlands), Technische Universitat Berlin (Germany), Friendly Technologies LTD (UK), Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche (Italy), Universita di Catania (Italy), and Flexink (UK), Polymervision B.V. Learn more at www.project-cosmic.eu.
Participants in the POLARIC project: VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland (coordinator, Finland), 3D-Micromac (Germany), AMO (Germany), BASF (Switzerland), CSEM (Switzerland), Cardiff University (UK), Fraunhofer EMFT (Germany), IMEC (Belgium), Imperial College London (UK), Joanneum Research (Austria), micro resist technology (Germany), Obducat Technologies (Sweden), and Asulab, a division of The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd. (Switzerland). Learn more at www.polaricproject.eu.
May 3, 2012 — The top 3 large-area LCD polarizer makers — LG Chem, Nitto Denko, and Sumitomo Chemical — are widening their market share (area basis) lead over other makers, achieving 77% market share in 2011, according to Displaybank’s Polarizer Market and Industry Trend Analysis report. Displaybank is now part of IHS. This 3-leader market dynamic will continue for some time, Displaybank reports.
LG Chem held the top ranking, with 27.4% market share. This is down from LG Chem’s 30.7% market share in 2010. Nitto Denko had 25.9% market share in 2011 (27.3% in 2010); Sumitomo Chem. held 23.6% (22.5% in 2010).
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| Figure. Large-area TFT-LCD polarizer market share by maker (area basis) in 2011. SOURCE: Displaybank “Polarizer Market and Industry Trend Analysis.” |
LG Chem has a stable customer in LG Display, and benefits from high TV and monitor polarizer demand. LG Chem has entered the 3D film-patterned retarder (FPR) market, pulling from its polarizer expertise and exclusively supplying more than 98% of the global FPR market. The company is beating out DNP of Japan for FPR business.
Nitto Denko and Sumitomo Chemical both increased tablet PC and smartphone polarizer segments in 2011, and are focusing on developing and supplying AMOLED TV polarizer.
Polarizer prices fell in 2011, with TV polarizer costs especially dropping 1-2% from 2010 levels. Sluggish demand from Europe and North America contributed to the price decline.
Displaybank forecasts that 2012 large-area TFT-LCD polarizer demand area will hit 317.6 million square meters, increasing by 5% year to year (Y/Y). However, prices will fall 5% Y/Y, making the revenue forecast $7.642 billion.
IHS (NYSE: IHS) provides information, insight and analytics in critical areas that shape today’s business landscape. Learn more at www.ihs.com or visit www.displaybank.com.
May 3, 2012 – BUSINESS WIRE — Intematix Corporation, phosphor and phosphor component developer for light-emitting diodes (LEDs), debuted ChromaLit Contour remote phosphor architecture. ChromaLit Contour is shaped to enable internal and external convection airflow, cooling LEDs in 60, 75 and 100W-equivalent omni-directional lights.
Intematix also offers A Lamp reference designs for these systems.
Intematix’s ChromaLit remote phosphors separate the phosphor substrate from the blue LED instead of coating the LEDs with phosphor directly. This reportedly reduces LED costs by 25% and improves color matching and light quality.
ChromaLit Contour exceeds Energy Star and China Quality Certification lighting requirements with uniform, glare-free and diffuse light; 330° lighting distribution; standard color rendering options up to CRI 90; choice of color temperature from 2700K to 5000K; and color matching. Any blue LED can be used with the remote phosphor architecture.
ChromaLit Contour in 60W, 75W and 100W incandescent equivalent configurations can be seen at LIGHTFAIR in Las Vegas, May 9 -11, booth 2949.
Intematix Corporation is a materials developer making customizable, patented phosphors and remote phosphor components for high-quality, energy-efficient LED lighting. To learn more about the company, please visit www.intematix.com.
May 2, 2012 — Global semiconductor sales hit $23.3 billion in March 2012, up 1.5% from February 2012 and down 7.9% from March 2011, reports the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA). “Sequential growth resumed across all regions, especially in Europe and Japan, in March,” said Brian Toohey, SIA president. Sales in Europe grew 3.8% in March; Japan increased 1.2%. There were “pockets of relative out-performance,” noted Barclays Capital analysts, such as DSP, MCU, MPU, and NOR Flash. NAND and Logic saw less promising numbers.
Figure. Worldwide semiconductor revenues (year-over-year % change). SOURCE: SIA.
| Table 1. March 2012 month-to-month semiconductor sales ($B) | |||
| Market | Last Month | Current Month | % Change |
| Americas | 4.41 | 4.46 | 1.0% |
| Europe | 2.72 | 2.83 | 3.8% |
| Japan | 3.38 | 3.42 | 1.2% |
| Asia Pacific | 12.44 | 12.60 | 1.3% |
| Total | 22.95 | 23.31 | 1.5% |
Q1 chip sales reached $69.9 billion, declining 2.2% from Q4 2011 and down 7.9% from Q1 2011 ($75.9 billion). Seasonal moderate growth is expected to continue in Q2, with momentum in chip sales building as 2012 progresses, Toohey said, warning that macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainties could flare and disrupt forecasts. Generally improved macroeconomic conditions are supporting the current outlook, along with increasing semiconductor content in diverse applications, and recovery in the semiconductor/electronics supply chain after Thailand’s late-2011 floods.
Year-over-year comparisons should turn positive in May or June, commented CJ Muse at Barclays Capital. Also read: Chip sector sets up for high demand in H2
| Table 2. March 2012 year-over-year semiconductor sales ($B) | |||
| Market | Last Year | Current Month | % Change |
| Americas | 4.73 | 4.46 | -5.7% |
| Europe | 3.34 | 2.83 | -15.4% |
| Japan | 3.61 | 3.42 | -5.2% |
| Asia Pacific | 13.63 | 12.60 | -7.6% |
| Total | 25.31 | 23.31 | -7.9% |
| Table 3. Three-month moving average sales ($B). | |||
| Market | Oct/Nov/Dec | Jan/Feb/Mar | % Change |
| Americas | 4.36 | 4.46 | 2.2% |
| Europe | 2.78 | 2.83 | 1.7% |
| Japan | 3.59 | 3.42 | -4.7% |
| Asia Pacific | 13.10 | 12.60 | -3.8% |
| Total | 23.83 | 23.31 | -2.2% |
All monthly sales numbers represent a three-month moving average.
The Semiconductor Industry Association, SIA, represents the US semiconductor industry, with over 60 companies that account for 80% of US semiconductor production. Learn more at www.sia-online.org