Tag Archives: Small Times Magazine

Oct. 4, 2006 — Nanoexa, a South San Francisco, Calif., nano-based clean energy company, and Decktron, a lithium battery and display company, jointly announced a definitive agreement to develop and transfer into commercial use new lithium battery technology originally developed at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory.

The goal of the agreement is to commercialize next generation rechargeable lithium battery technologies from Argonne’s Battery Technology Department. Together, the organizations intend to introduce into the marketplace batteries with increased power output, storage capacity, safety and lifetime to be used in high-rate applications such as hybrid/electric vehicles, power tools, and radio control devices.

“The recent news about laptop battery safety has exposed the limitations of current rechargeable battery technologies. One of the primary goals of Argonne’s battery technology is to dramatically improve lithium battery safety,” said Michael Pak, CEO of Nanoexa, in a prepared statement. “Argonne’s R&D expertise in developing lithium battery materials as well as their deep relationships with the world’s automotive makers will create a powerful opportunity for our company. We look forward to expanding our strategic relationship with Argonne even further.”

Oct. 3, 2006 — NanoInk Inc., an emerging growth technology company specializing in nanometer-scale manufacturing and applications development for the life science and semiconductor industries, announced it has entered into an exclusive license from Georgia Tech Research Corporation for the thermal control of deposition of ink in NanoInk’s NSCRIPTOR Dip Pen Nanolithography (DPN) system.

The NSCRIPTOR DPN system is a fully integrated hardware and software system optimized for the DPN process of writing stable nanoscale patterns of molecular “ink” onto a sample substrate via a coated stylus tip. The technology and covered by the exclusive agreement involves a heating process which strengthens the core DPN technology.

“The license will make Thermal DPN available world-wide in a highly regarded commercial platform, giving the country an immediate benefit from the Navy’s investment in our nanoscience research,” added Paul E. Sheehan and Lloyd J. Whitman, the inventors of the thermal DPN technology at the Naval Research Laboratory, in a prepared statement.

Oct. 3, 2006 — Integral Vision Inc. of Wixom, Mich., announced that it has received an additional order for its SharpEye inspection system from a MEMS display manufacturer. This customer currently uses several SharpEye systems in the manufacture of displays. Integral Vision’s products provide for detection of display defects to assure quality in the manufacturing process.

“We are pleased to see progress with the implementation of our SharpEye inspection system at this large manufacturer of MEMS displays,” said Charles J. Drake, chairman and chief executive officer, in a prepared statement. “We believe that this customer may provide orders of significant quantities over the next several quarters. Additionally, three other companies involved in the manufacture of MEMS and LCD displays have informed us of plans to place orders for our products in the early part of the fourth quarter.”

Oct. 3, 2006 — UMC, a global semiconductor foundry, and Singapore’s Institute of Microelectronics (IME), have sealed a partnership to jointly develop Radio Frequency modeling solutions for 90nm technologies. The cooperation is intended to result in the development of new methodologies that are applicable for advanced technologies at 90nm and beyond.

The newly formed joint development program encompasses two areas of research: high frequency noise characterization and modeling for RF applications at nanometer process technologies, as well as circuit modeling verification and validation flow development based on IME’s RF circuits and tests.

Progress in these areas could help facilitate the development of a Mixed Mode (MM)/RF circuit and a modeling validation methodology for advanced system-on-chip (SoC) applications. These resources could help accelerate design-in and reduce risk for customers developing SoCs that incorporate RF applications for wireless segments such as 3G, WLAN and Bluetooth.

The joint efforts will take place at UMC’s 300mm Fab 12i in Singapore. Fab 12i was Singapore’s first 300mm fab, and features advanced automation systems and equipment such as state-of-the-art single wafer processing. The partnership will give IME access to Fab 12i’s facilities and resources.

Oct. 3, 2006 — NeoPhotonics Corp. of San Jose, Calif., announced it is introducing its next-generation line of GPON transceivers, compliant with the ITU-T G.984.2 Class B+ standard, to augment its portfolio of FTTx Biplexer and Triplexer modules.

The new line includes both a biplexer and a triplexer module for fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) customer premises equipment and a biplexer module for the central office or optical line termina.

The triplexer module includes an integrated high end video receiver which meets stringent requirements, such as class leading CNR performance at low optical input levels down to -8 dBm, combined with low distortion levels at full channel loading.

In addition, the device supports high RF output power levels, adheres to stringent range and tilt specifications and comes with either RF connector or RF pins. The module also features a microprocessor and supports advanced monitoring and control functions to enhance overall network performance. Together the CPE and OLT devices provide a complete solution to GPON system manufacturers.

NeoPhotonics Corp. is a developer and manufacturer of advanced integrated optical modules and subsystems designed to improve the performance and lower the costs associated with backbone and access optical networks. They integrate active and passive components enabled nanomaterials and nanoscale design and fabrication technologies.

Oct. 2, 2006 — Dendritic Nanotechnologies Inc. and the National Cancer Institute have entered into a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract valued at $850,000. The project will use Dendritic’s Priostar dendrimers to develop a new generation of targeted diagnostic and therapeutic delivery technology for the early detection and treatment of epithelial ovarian cancer. Annual U.S. expenditures for medical treatment of ovarian cancer are approximately $1.5 billion.

This marks the first time that dendrimer nanostructures will be used as both a diagnostic tool and a vehicle to deliver higher concentrations of therapeutic agents to cancerous cells. Current chemotherapy methods are often toxic to normal healthy cells and cause serious side effects as they perform their life-saving function of destroying diseased tissue. It is anticipated that dendrimers could be able to deliver therapies with precision and at a lower toxicity that minimizes damage to adjacent healthy cells.

Dendritic’s Priostar dendrimer delivery system will be combined with a magnetic resonance imaging agent to create an improved product for detecting and monitoring cancerous tissue. A second product will be developed by combining the Priostar dendrimer with approved cancer-fighting drugs to improve and deliver the therapy for ovarian epithelial cancer. Dendritic expects this project will result in the filing of an Investigational New Drug application for the diagnostic imaging technology, and a subsequent application for the therapeutic technology.

Sept. 29, 2006 — Cascade Microtech, a Beaverton, Ore., maker of wafer-level measurement products, announced it has made significant technological advancements to its line of Infinity probes, offering finer pitches (down to 50 um), smaller contact area and higher frequency operation (up to 220 GHz).

The company says its Infinity probes with finer pitches and smaller contact area allow manufacturers to accurately probe smaller pads. Cascade says they are ideal for probing mixed signal devices for wireless communication applications.

Cascade also says the probes ensure accurate and repeatable measurements to 220 GHz with pitches ranging from 50 to 150 micrometers. Bias tee options are also available. These probes are frequently used for semiconductor process characterization and test of ultra-high frequency interconnects and devices such as amplifiers, mixers, oscillators, multipliers and switches used in automotive collision avoidance systems, satellite telecommunications, radio astronomy, spectroscopy, surveillance, and medical imaging.

The Infinity probe is available in 40, 50, 67, 110, 140, 170 and 220 GHz versions, and comes in 50, 75, 100, 125, 150, 200 or 250 um pitches. Pricing starts at $895.

Sept. 28, 2006 — Raymor Industries Inc., a Montreal, Quebec, developer and producer of single-walled carbon nanotubes, nanomaterials and advanced materials, announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Raymor Nanotech Inc., has received an initial order for the supply of single-walled carbon nanotubes from a major US firm who is one of the 30 companies that form part of the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

The company said this initial order will be completed and shipped during the next fiscal quarter. Raymor said the client, who was not named, has the capabilities and experience to help integrate Raymor’s nanotubes into end-use products, such as composite components for aircraft. This initial order is for the purposes of qualifying Raymor as a supplier of nanotubes and is not of a material importance from a financial perspective. However, Raymor said that it does expect that upon qualification, such a client will be able to generate significant demand for its single-walled carbon nanotubes.

Sept. 27, 2006 — A collaboration of alternative energy companies announced that they are demonstrating an electric SUV at the California Air Resources Board Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Technology Symposium, being held September 25 to 27 in Sacramento, Calif.

The full-size electric SUV is being road demonstrated by Altair Nanotechnologies Inc., along with its partners Boshart Engineering and Phoenix Motorcars.

The vehicle incorporates a 100 kW UQM electric drive system that result in high torque (over 400 ft-lbs), wide constant power speed range (up to 5000 RPM top speed), and an optimized system efficiency of over 94%. Altair develops nanoscale materials for batteries in cars and other applications.

The demonstration electric SUV is an early model of the commercially available vehicle, targeted for volume delivery in Spring 2007. The companies say the vehicle is planned to be capable of road speeds up to 95 mph, a driving range that is configurable up to 200 miles, a battery recharge time potential of less than 10 minutes, and an acceleration of 0 to 60 mph in less than 10 seconds.

Sept. 27, 2006 — NanoSight Ltd., a provider of instruments for the optical detection and real time analysis of sub-micron particles, announced it has secured investment to support its current sales drive and develop new capabilities in nanoparticle analysis in the sub-500 nm region.

NanoSight has received $473,000 from Strathdon Investments plc. This latest tranche is the second in a round of investment totalling $946,000 led by Strathdon and including the South West Venture Fund and a private investor.

The company has recently announced the launch of the NANOSIGHT LM10, a nanoparticle characterization system that enables highly accurate visualization of individual nanoscale particles in suspension. The system allows the user a simple and direct qualitative view of the sample under analysis from which independent quantitative estimation of particle size and size distribution can be immediately obtained.