| LED Business News: Cree, Intermolecular, Epistar, Lumileds, Mouser, Toshiba, and Bridgelux 30 Apr 13 |
| Cree announces another good financial quarter while new or amended partnerships dominate the LED component business headlines around the Lightfair event. |
| Hitachi Cable enters the GaN-template LED substrate market using HVPE 29 Apr 13 |
| Mass production of GaN template wafers based on sapphire substrates could free LED manufacturers' MOCVD reactors for more LED production and lower component cost helping drive the deployment of SSL. |
| Plessey announces shipment of GaN-on-Si LEDs using 6-in wafers 08 Apr 13 |
| Plessey's first silicon-based LEDs are relatively-low-output designs targeting the indicator and control-panel-backlight market, but the company says it will quickly deliver LEDs for general-lighting applications. |
| Aledia progresses on microwire-based silicon LEDs, announces funding 27 Mar 13 |
| Startup makes LEDs on 8-in silicon substrates using microwire technology and has received a EUR 10 million investment to commercialize the technology. |
| Manufacturing LEDs on large diameter substrates: What’s the holdup? (MAGAZINE) 26 Feb 13 |
| A transition to 6- or 8-in wafers will ultimately deliver lower-cost LEDs, although as Marcus Weddle discusses, the industry must overcome technical and logistical challenges. |
| Sumitomo Electric to make GaN substrates with Soitec technology (update) 22 Feb 13 |
| Sumitomo Electric will invest in Soitec’s Smart Cut technology in order to produce large-diameter GaN substrates. Meanwhile, Soitec has licensed HVPE growth technology to GTAT. |
| Aixtron appoints Martin Goetzeler as new CEO 22 Feb 13 |
| The former CEO of Osram will take the reins at the Aixtron, which makes equipment for the deposition of LED materials. |
| MHA Lighting takes unique approach to LED fixture design with Rods with Holes technology (MAGAZINE) 20 Feb 13 |
| A UK-based LED lighting manufacturer is using a unique light-waveguide approach in which LED light is shone sideways into acrylic rods. In turn, these light-emitting rods provide a uniform light distribution, explains Tim Whitaker. |
| SEMI publishes HB-LED standard relating to sapphire substrates 15 Jan 13 |
| Several SEMI task forces have been developing standards related to LED manufacturing, and the first of these, describing specifications for 150-mm-diameter sapphire wafers, has now been approved. |
| Toshiba announces GaN-on-Si LED production start 17 Dec 12 |
| Toshiba will begin mass production of white LEDs on 200-mm silicon wafers this month based on technology that it licensed and jointly developed with Bridgelux. |
| China will develop a global leader in the LED manufacturing space (MAGAZINE) 14 Dec 12 |
| Despite what some judge as a failing effort for China in the LED manufacturing segment thus far, Ella Shum of Strategies Unlimited believes that China will deliver a top-ten player. |
| Infrared thin-film chip from Osram Opto achieves efficiency record 10 Dec 12 |
| Osram Opto Semiconductors has improved its thin-film infrared chip technology to achieve high performance in the laboratory, including 72% wall-plug efficiency and 67% external quantum efficiency. |
| Marl partners with Anglia to boost LED supply-chain offering 26 Nov 12 |
| A deal with component distributor Anglia will allow UK manufacturer Marl to offer rapid design, prototyping and manufacturing services, all under one roof. |
| Chinese LED maker plans major investment in Taiwanese chip company 16 Nov 12 |
| San’an Optoelectronics intends to invest around $80 million to obtain a 19.9% stake in Formosa Epitaxy. |
| Moldable optical silicones enable LED lamps and luminaire designs (MAGAZINE) 30 Oct 12 |
| Silicone materials can withstand high heat and help deliver higher lumen density in SSL product designs while simplifying the manufacturing process and enabling more complex architectures, explains Hugo da Silva. |
| Design considerations for enhancing LED efficiency (MAGAZINE) 23 Oct 12 |
| Understanding LED design, manufacturing, and packaging can allow lighting manufacturers and designers to deliver optimal solid-state lighting, explains Thomas Davenport of Synopsys. |
| Hyperion Geocrystal enters volume production of 8-in sapphire cores for LEDs 16 Oct 12 |
| ARC Energy's CHES furnaces enable Suzhou Hyperion Geocrystal to enter volume production of sapphire cores and wafers, for high-brightness LEDs, ranging from 2-8 mm in diameter. |
| Epistar produces GaN-on-Si LEDs using Azzurro template wafers 15 Oct 12 |
| Epistar, Taiwan's largest manufacturer of packaged LEDs has decided to trial silicon-based wafers. The company is hoping to take advantage of cost savings in the backend of the LED manufacturing process to in turn broaden SSL deployment. |
| SSL industry celebrates 50th birthday of visible LED light 10 Oct 12 |
| LEDs are ubiquitous now, but fifty years and a few days ago they were completely unheard of until General Electric scientist Nick Holonyak Jr invented a visible red laser that was the precursor to the modern LED. |
| AkzoNobel expands capacity for LED materials 28 Sep 12 |
| The company will boost its output of key metalorganic chemicals that are used in the deposition of LED semiconductor materials. |
| Semiconductor industry moves toward automated LED production on 6-inch wafers (MAGAZINE) 13 Sep 12 |
| Driven by market demand, the semiconductor industry progressed toward consensus on building-block standards for automating LED production on 6-in wafers at the Semicon West conference, explains PAULA DOE. |
| Long lead times hamper SSL sales and broader deployment (MAGAZINE) 11 Sep 12 |
| LED lighting manufacturers can minimize supply chain issues by focusing on supplier fulfillment, selecting sources, and service standards explains RAY SJOLSETH. |
| DOE releases cost model for manufacturing of LED packages 11 Sep 12 |
| The DOE has developed a model that allows companies to assess the effect of changing different aspects of their LED manufacturing process flow, for example using different substrates or introducing new manufacturing equipment. |
| SEMI delegation discusses SSL policy with DOE 11 Sep 12 |
| By demonstrating that LED-based SSL delivers excellent ROI on taxpayer investment, SEMI hopes to secure increased levels of funding to support LED manufacturing in the US. |
| Plextronics partners with Holst Centre on roll-to-roll OLED processing 29 Aug 12 |
| Designed to take the next step toward production of flexible OLED lighting and signage using roll-to-roll processing, Plextronics has formed a partnership with the Holst Centre. |
| DOE announces SBIR/STTR funding deadlines for GaN manufacturing projects 22 Aug 12 |
| The US DOE has sponsored another round of Small Business Innovation Research and Technology Transfer funding opportunities, with subtopics in bulk GaN substrates, epitaxial growth and device redesign. |
| Osram settles with Samsung, expands China LED operations 18 Aug 12 |
| Osram is building a new LED packaging facility in Wuxi, China and jointly announces with Samsung settlement of their worldwide patent dispute. |
| Soraa will lead DOE funded research on GaN LED substrates 08 Aug 12 |
| The DOE's transformational-energy agency ARPA-E has selected GaN-on-GaN startup Soraa to lead a project on the development of bulk GaN substrates. |
| Toshiba plans silicon-based LED production; Azzurro installs Veeco MOCVD 31 Jul 12 |
| Veeco Instruments announced that Azzurro Semiconductors has commissioned a new Veeco MOCVD reactor for silicon-based LED production while Toshiba plans to begin mass producing silicon-based LEDs this fall. |
| Philips provides OLED outlook at The LED Show 31 Jul 12 |
| At The LED Show pre-conference workshop, Philips Lighting highlighted the similarities and differences between LEDs and OLEDs. The presentation also emphasized methods by which OLED cost may be reduced dramatically. |
| Azzurro receives EUR 2.6 million grant for GaN-on-Si LED wafer development 24 Jul 12 |
| The European Regional Development Fund and the Free State of Saxony award EUR 2.6 million to Azzurro Semiconductors for gallium-nitride-on-silicon wafer research. |
| Seoul Semiconductor claims 5x lumen density with non-polar LEDs (Updated) 13 Jul 12 |
| Seoul Semiconductor has announced that it will introduce LEDs based on non-polar technology, which it claims will deliver over 5x the lumens per unit area of conventional LEDs. |
| Soitec and Silian partner on HVPE LED template-wafer manufacturing 10 Jul 12 |
| Soitec and Silian will jointly develop GaN LED template-wafer manufacturing technology using an HVPE process that the companies say can lower component costs and spur SSL deployment. |
| Lattice Power, Plessey press forward with GaN-on-silicon LED production 18 Jun 12 |
| Lattice Power says that it is in volume production of high-power gallium nitride LEDs grown on silicon substrates, while Plessey appears to be not far behind. |
| LED makers broaden product lines to match application requirements (MAGAZINE) 11 Jun 12 |
| While LED makers have consistently delivered efficacy breakthroughs, the industry leaders are now launching broader product portfolios with varying packages trying to match component characteristics to specific applications, reports MAURY WRIGHT. |
| LED wafer bonding is enabling when used properly (MAGAZINE) 07 May 12 |
| LED manufacturers must choose the appropriate materials and processes to fight low yields, writes THOMAS UHRMANN of EV GROUP. |
| High-purity gases have a key role in LED manufacturing (MAGAZINE) 07 May 12 |
| The availability of a reliable, stable supply of high-purity gases, including ammonia, nitrogen and hydrogen, is a key requirement for a high-volume LED manufacturing facility, according to ANISH TOLIA and IAN TRAVIS. |
| LED Fabrication News: Linde, Kaistar, Aixtron, Aucksun Opto, SAFC Hitech, GT Advanced 27 Mar 12 |
| Linde has secured a gas-supply agreement with Kaistar, Aixtron has opened a training center in Suzhou and sold 5 MOCVD systems, SAFC has expanded precursor production in Taiwan and GT has announced a $12M order for sapphire wafers. |
| LED manufacturers reduce cost with automation, larger wafers, new materials (MAGAZINE) 15 Mar 12 |
| The LED Manufacturing track at Strategies in Light presented methods for reducing cost and improving yield of LED components, as LAURA PETERS reports. |
| Nitride Solutions closes funding round to develop AlN substrates 16 Feb 12 |
| A Kansas company has received $2.5 million in series A funding to commercialize its process to grow high-quality, low-cost aluminum nitride substrates. |
| Soraa unveils GaN-on-GaN LEDs and MR16 lamps 15 Feb 12 |
| Silicon Valley start-up Soraa is manufacturing LEDs using a unique GaN-on-GaN process, and has used these to build high-performance MR16 lamps that are its first products. |
| LED Chip News: SemiLEDs, Intematix, Plessey, GT, Rubicon 14 Feb 12 |
| SemiLEDs has produced high-efficiency UV LEDs, Intematix claims to be the leading phosphor supplier in China, Plessey has acquired GaN-on-silicon technology, GT sells large-diameter sapphire to Silian, Rubicon has secured a contract for 6-inch sapphire. |
| Veeco announces year-end results, tool sales; Aixtron introduces leasing option in China 14 Feb 12 |
| Veeco Instruments has announced lower revenues in the last quarter of 2011 despite new tool orders from Taiwan and Korea. Aixtron has partnered with a financial firm to provide leasing options on MOCVD equipment. |
| SIL 2012: LED cost reduction to come from manufacturing 09 Feb 12 |
| The manufacturing conference at Strategies in Light focused on methods for reducing cost through the manufacturing supply chain. |
| MOCVD cools down, LED downstream processing heats up 03 Feb 12 |
| Requirements for LED processing equipment are changing from cost driven to more technology driven decisions, a clear trend to more complex and more efficient manufacturing, according to Thomas Uhrmann and Thorsten Matthias of EV Group. |
| Soitec acquires Altatech, makes progress with GaN wafers 02 Feb 12 |
| As well as completing its acquisition of Altatech Semiconductor, which makes wafer-characterization equipment, Soitec has developed large-diameter GaN wafers with Sumitomo Electric. |
| Osram Opto unveils R&D results from GaN LEDs grown on silicon 16 Jan 12 |
| Prototype LEDs fabricated from GaN-based layers grown on 150-mm-diameter silicon substrates are similar in performance to standard production devices grown on sapphire. |
| Cree targets luminaire system cost with new XLamp XB-D LED 11 Jan 12 |
| With the small-footprint XB-D LED, Cree intends to lower the cost, in terms of lumens per dollar, for SSL lamp and luminaire designs. |
| EV Group and Eulitha collaborate on nanopatterning tool for LED manufacturing 10 Jan 12 |
| EV Group has announced a joint development agreement with Eulitha AG, whereby the companies will combine their expertise in nanolithography to develop a full-field exposure tool for patterning sapphire substrates. |
| Barclays Capital highlights 10 LED manufacturing themes for 2012 10 Jan 12 |
| Barclays Capital says that 2012 will be a subdued year for the LED industry, but there expects opportunities for MOCVD sales as companies upgrade their equipment. |
| SEMI forecasts reduced MOCVD purchases in 2012 05 Jan 12 |
| Following several years of rapid capacity expansion and strong government incentives, a 40% decline in worldwide MOCVD purchases in 2012 will reduce overall LED equipment spending for the first time in over five years, according to SEMI. |
| Philips Lumileds' Iain Black to address LED manufacturing challenge at SIL 19 Dec 11 |
| Focusing on SSL in the general-illumination market segment, Iain Black from Philips Lumileds discusses the challenge of diverse applications from the LED manufacturer's perspective, providing a preview of his Strategies in Light keynote address. |
| STRATEGICALLY SPEAKING: Chinese LED manufacturing – more than just LEDs 01 Nov 11 |
| Significant investments and subsidies have enhanced Chinese companies’ capabilities to produce not only LED chips and packaged devices, but also materials and equipment used in LED manufacturing, as TOM HAUSKEN explains. |
| Rubicon ships 200,000th 6-inch sapphire wafer 26 Oct 11 |
| Rubicon Technology says that it has shipped over 200,000 six-inch sapphire wafers to LED manufacturers worldwide. |
| LED wafer and automation standards are on the fast track, ready for more industry feedback (MAGAZINE) 19 Oct 11 |
| Thanks to SEMI’s HB-LED manufacturing standards program, the industry is taking the first steps towards agreement on basic issues such as wafer dimensions and equipment interfaces to enable low-cost automated production, explains PAULA DOE. |
| LED R&D results: Osram demos 200 lm/W red LED at 40 mA, Intematix hits 98 CRI 17 Oct 11 |
| Two impressive performance marks were recently set in company laboratories: Osram fabricated a red LED with an efficacy of 200 lm/W at 40 mA, while Intematix demonstrated a CRI of 98 using a blend of three phosphors. |
| Optogan opens Europe’s second-largest LED chip-production site 14 Oct 11 |
| Optogan has opened an LED chip-production facility in Landshut, Germany to complement its manufacturing plant in St. Petersburg, Russia. |
| SEMI announces formation of India SSL special interest group 22 Sep 11 |
| A special interest group focused on SSL in India will address LED materials, equipment and manufacturing issues. |
| LED manufacturing-execution systems: sometimes less is more 14 Sep 11 |
| While an MES for LED fabrication offers a vast array of functional possibilities, PHIL WALKER’s advice is start with an out-of-the-box solution. |
| Semicon West delivers technology update on LED manufacturing (MAGAZINE) 12 Sep 11 |
| A day-long LED session at semiconductor tradeshow Semicon West addressed efficiency droop, MOCVD developments, new packaging schemes, and epitaxial layer transfers, reports MAURY WRIGHT. |
| Advanced analysis and control systems could multiply yields in LED manufacturing processes (MAGAZINE) 12 Sep 11 |
| Significant yield enhancements in LED fabrication can be achieved by the integration of yield analysis, fault detection and classification, and run-to-run process control, says MICHAEL PLISINSKI. |
| Precision tools support critical PSS metrology from R&D through high-volume LED fabrication (MAGAZINE) 12 Sep 11 |
| The different capabilities of the atomic-force microscope and the white-light interferometer are well suited to the metrology demands of high-brightness LEDs built on patterned sapphire substrates, explains XIAOMEI LI. |
| Veeco opens tech center in Taiwan, Epistar qualifies Veeco’s MOCVD tool 31 Aug 11 |
| Veeco Instruments opened its Taiwan Technology Center in Hsinchu, close to several customers including Epistar, an HB LED manufacturer that recently qualified Veeco’s MaxBright multi-reactor MOCVD system for high-volume production. |
| Bruker introduces dimensional metrology tool for PSS wafer production 15 Aug 11 |
| The new Dimension Edge PSS atomic force microscope from Bruker Corporation delivers precise 3D profile information to control advanced patterned sapphire substrate processes for LED manufacturing. |
| Translucent offers alternative path to GaN-on-silicon 11 Aug 11 |
| A commercially available “virtual” GaN substrate provides a silicon wafer with engineered epitaxial layers upon which gallium nitride-based LEDs can be fabricated. |
| SEMI report projects incredible LED fab growth in China 11 Aug 11 |
| This 38-page report forecasts that GaN epiwafer production capacity in China will grow 300 percent from 2010 to 2012. |
| Bridgelux hits 160 lm/W in lab with LEDs produced using GaN on silicon 09 Aug 11 |
| Using gallium nitride on 8-in silicon wafers, Bridgelux is achieving LED efficacy in the lab on par with LEDs produced on sapphire or silicon-carbide wafers. |
| Strong demand fuels expansions at Thermal Technology and EVG 01 Aug 11 |
| Thermal Technology is tripling its manufacturing floor space to allow a ramp-up in production of sapphire-crystal growers, while EV Group is doubling its manufacturing area used to produce wafer bonders and lithography systems. |
| LG Innotek walks-the-walk with huge LED production plant 25 Jul 11 |
| LG Innotek has installed over 10,000 LED luminaires throughout its LED manufacturing complex in Paju, Korea. |
| ESI announces LED scribing, testing, and packaging systems 18 Jul 11 |
| At the Semicon West trade show, ESI announced a scribing system that maximizes LED light output, a packaging system that utilizes a laser to drill vias in the die, and a tester than can handle 48,000 LEDs per hour. |
| Aixtron plans China training center, introduces new MOCVD reactor
08 Jul 11 |
| Aixtron and SINANO signed an agreement to open a training center in Suzhou Industrial Park, China, while Aixtron has also introduced its largest MOCVD reactor to date. |
| IMEC and Siltronic partner for GaN-on-Si LEDs 02 Jul 11 |
| With a 5-year goal of manufacturing nitride-based LEDs on large-diameter silicon substrates, Siltronic has joined IMEC's gallium-nitride-on-silicon program. |
| Nitride Solutions raises $1.8 million to produce AlN substrates 01 Jul 11 |
| A developer of aluminum nitride substrates, Nitride Solutions, will use $1.8 million in financing to optimize its substrate manufacturing technology and begin manufacturing and sales this year. |
| China to have largest number MOCVD reactors in 2012 30 Jun 11 |
| By the end of 2012, China is expected to be the global leader in MOCVD ownership with over 1000 tools according to a newly updated report from Displaybank. |
| AkzoNobel to build production plants for MO precursors 28 Jun 11 |
| AkzoNobel is greatly expanding its production capability of trimethyl gallium and trimethyl indium metal-organic precursors for LED manufacturing. |
| Rubicon, GT Solar ramp production of large-diameter sapphire wafers 27 Jun 11 |
| Rubicon Technology is beginning volume production of 6-inch and 8-inch sapphire wafers at its state-of-the-art facility in Penang, Malaysia, while GT Solar has invested $27 million to triple its sapphire production capacity in Salem, Mass. |
| Sapphire crystal grown in China weighs nearly 100 kg 16 Jun 11 |
| A Chinese crystal-growth company has produced a very large sapphire crystal using equipment from Thermal Technology. |
| Automated defect-data analysis allows comprehensive yield management in LED manufacturing (MAGAZINE) 31 May 11 |
| Automated, systematic analysis of defects during LED wafer manufacturing should reduce the time needed to identify and resolve the underlying problems, according to authors from PHILIPS LUMILEDS and KLA-TENCOR. |
| LED fabrication roadmap targets packaged LED prices of $2.20/klm by 2015 (WEB EXCLUSIVE ARTICLE) 26 May 11 |
| LED lighting is still not as aggressively priced as necessary to make it a viable option in the lighting market. The cost, currently at $18/klm, will need to make a significant drop by 2015 in order to meet market needs, writes PAULA DOE. |
| GT Solar gains orders, files lawsuit against ARC Energy
11 May 11 |
| Sapphire crystal-growth furnace manufacturer has filed a lawsuit against rival ARC Energy and has also reported more orders from Taiwan and China. In further sapphire-related news, Rubicon’s revenue increase 29% sequentially. |
| Strong results for Veeco, more MOCVD sales for Aixtron 27 Apr 11 |
| Veeco continues to see strong orders from China and other regions, while Aixtron has reported more reactor sales in Taiwan. |
| High-voltage LEDs offer optimum solution for indoor retrofit lamps (MAGAZINE) 26 Apr 11 |
| High-voltage (HV) LEDs have a turn-on voltage that is closer to the mains supply than conventional high-current LEDs. This eliminates components, notably the driver, and offers other advantages, as Epistar’s ALEXANDER WANG explains. |
| Manufacturing software is key as LED production volumes grow (MAGAZINE) 26 Apr 11 |
| As LED demand grows rapidly, automation software and process control can get more from current manufacturing lines, and this can be as important as getting new lines up and running quickly, as PHIL WALKER explains. |
| Rensselaer researchers boost green LED efficiency 25 Apr 11 |
| Research at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute leverages a nanoscale pattern to boost the optical efficiency of green LEDs in the lab. |
| California funds project to develop LED fabrication processes 12 Apr 11 |
| Applied Materials has received funding from the California Energy Commission and the US Department of Energy to develop improved LED manufacturing processes. |
| Samsung and Sumitomo Chemical to make sapphire substrates for LEDs 28 Mar 11 |
| Production of sapphire crystals and wafers for LED manufacturing is expected to commence in Korea in 2012. |
| LED Manufacturing News: ULED, Optogan, Beiji Haotian 22 Mar 11 |
| United LED has placed a multi-tool order for Veeco MOCVD systems, Optogan has placed a multi-system order for Oxford Instruments’ etch and deposition systems, and Aixtron is supplying five MOCVD systems to Beiji Haotian Technology Co., Ltd. |
| Osram Opto expands LED capacity with 6-inch conversion 07 Mar 11 |
| Osram Opto Semiconductors will convert its InGaN-based LED chip-manufacturing facilities in Germany and Malaysia to use 6-inch wafers, achieving a two-fold expansion in capacity. |
| Monocrystal supplies 8-inch sapphire substrate to LED maker 18 Feb 11 |
| An unnamed LED maker is researching the use of 8-inch sapphire for LED manufacturing, while a supplier of crystal-growth systems has received multiple orders from Asia. |
| HB-LED manufacturing technology looks on track to meet cost demands of general lighting market (MAGAZINE) 12 Feb 11 |
| Technical breakthroughs and manufacturing improvements should keep the LED industry on track to improve performance and reduce costs at an appropriate rate, but this is not a done deal, as ERIC VIREY, PHILIPPE ROUSSEL, PAULA DOE and TOM PEARSALL describe. |
| LED phosphor suppliers are affected by China's rare-earth export quotas (MAGAZINE) 12 Feb 11 |
| LED phosphors typically incorporate rare-earth elements, and manufacturers need to ensure that they have an adequate supply of these critical materials, as TIM WHITAKER reports. |
| Sapphire wafer supply and demand remain in the balance (MAGAZINE) 10 Feb 11 |
| Sapphire wafer prices rose sharply during 2010, particularly for 2-inch material, but crystal growers are adding capacity and LED makers are looking at larger wafers. TIM WHITAKER reports. |
| Veeco reports results, unveils MaxBright MOCVD system 09 Feb 11 |
| Veeco continues to receive LED manufacturing system orders from China, and has launched a high-capacity MOCVD system to cash in on the anticipated demand for 5000 systems in the next five years. |
| Metal-organic precursors and other LED materials 04 Feb 11 |
| Like sapphire wafers and phosphors, metal-organic precursors are essential materials for the LED manufacturing process. |
| Rubicon Technology demonstrates 12-inch sapphire wafers 26 Jan 11 |
| Sapphire substrates are now available at various diameters up to 12 inches, should any LED makers wish to investigate the possibility of manufacturing on such giant wafers. |
| STRATEGICALLY SPEAKING: How many MOCVD reactors is too many? 25 Jan 11 |
| An unprecedented level of orders for MOCVD reactors could create a glut in the LED market, but is unlikely to have much effect on high-end LED suppliers, says TOM HAUSKEN and Strategies Unlimited staff. |
| Lextar lights up 6-inch LED wafer 11 Jan 11 |
| LED manufacturer Lextar Electronics claims to be the first LED maker in Taiwan to demonstrate blue-light emission from a processed 6-inch-diameter LED wafer. |
| Philips Lumileds mass-producing LEDs on 150-mm wafers 20 Dec 10 |
| Lumileds says that it is now producing millions of GaN-based LEDs weekly on 150-mm-diameter wafers, allowing the company to increase its production capacity for power LEDs. |
| Cree opens LED chip manufacturing facility in Huizhou 13 Dec 10 |
| Cree Huizhou Solid State Lighting Co., Ltd., the company’s first LED chip manufacturing base in China, has opened just over a year after the project was announced. |
| SemiLEDs shares commence trading on NASDAQ after IPO 10 Dec 10 |
| SemiLEDs will invest funds generated from its IPO to expand its production capacity in Taiwan and to carry out R&D related to LED chip production on 6-inch wafers. |
| Rubicon grows profits as sapphire-wafer prices rise 07 Dec 10 |
| With an imbalance of supply and demand for sapphire wafers in the LED market, Rubicon Technology has benefited from substantial price increases and has also significantly enhanced its production capacity. |
| Azzurro Semiconductors secures financing to accelerate expansion
25 Nov 10 |
| The German company will use its new financing to build a facility in Dresden to make GaN-on-silicon epitaxial wafers. |
| LED chip design and manufacturing news 19 Nov 10 |
| Epistar, the SMASH project, Sumitomo Electric, National Tsing-Hua University and Verticle are included in this week's LED chip design and manufacturing news roundup. |
| SEMI forms high-brightness LED standards committee 18 Nov 10 |
| An industry association is planning to develop manufacturing standards that will help the LED industry reduce costs and accelerate market penetration. |
| LED manufacturers expand portfolios of lighting LEDs 08 Nov 10 |
| Several LED manufacturers, including Cree, Nichia, Osram Opto and Philips Lumileds, have introduced new LEDs for lighting applications. |
| Epistar red LED chips set efficacy record in the lab 08 Oct 10 |
| LED chip maker Epistar claims to have achieved a record efficacy of 168 lm/W for red-emitting AlGaInP LED chips. |
| BrightSpots LED Forum focuses on LED manufacturing, cost and performance 04 Oct 10 |
| A panel of industry experts will investigate LED design and manufacturing issues during a two-week online panel discussion beginning October 4th. |
| Neo-Neon orders additional MOCVD systems for LED production 07 Sep 10 |
| Vertically-integrated LED and lighting manufacturer Neo-Neon International Ltd as ordered more systems to boost its production capacity at its China facility. |
| Nichia claims record efficacy for 1A operation 06 Sep 10 |
| Electrical and optical optimization both figure highly in Nichia's 135 lm/W design. Epistar has also reported impressive chip results. |
| More MOCVD capacity and 6-inch growth at Lextar 27 Aug 10 |
| The Taiwan-based LED manufacturer Lextar Electronics had a successful quarter and is busy building new facilitates and expanding its MOCVD growth capabilities. |
| BrightSpots LED Forum to focus on LED design and manufacturing 26 Aug 10 |
| A panel of industry experts will investigate LED design and manufacturing issues during a two-week online panel discussion in October. |
| TSMC invests in LED manufacturing line 17 Aug 10 |
| The board of TSMC, the largest silicon IC foundry, has allocated over $100 million towards building an LED production line. |
| SemiLEDs files for $172.5 million US IPO 09 Aug 10 |
| A filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission indicates that SemiLEDs plans a $172.5 million initial public offering of stock. |
| Rubicon quarterly financials portend a transition to 6-in LED wafers 09 Aug 10 |
| Sapphire substrate specialist Rubicon Technology announced positive second quarter financial results and a $71 million agreement for 6-in substrates for LED wafers. |
| mLED Ltd spins out of Strathclyde with microLED focus 12 Jul 10 |
| Dense arrays of miniature LED light sources called microLEDs hold promise in micro-display applications ranging from general lighting to neuroscience, microscopy, and communications. |
| DOE announces funding opportunity for SSL manufacturing 28 Jun 10 |
| Projects are sought that will achieve significant cost reductions in LED manufacturing, to make LED-based lighting more cost-competitive. |
| University of Duisburg-Essen orders Aixtron reactor for nanowire research 24 Jun 10 |
| NaSoL research project will use the MOCVD system to develop a new generation of nanowires for solar cells and LEDs |
| TMG suppliers increase capacity to serve LED market 22 Jun 10 |
| As LED demand continues to grow, materials suppliers are keeping pace by adding more capacity for vital chemicals such as Trimethyl Gallium. |
| Epistar expands with Huga investment and Win Semiconductor partnership 09 Jun 10 |
| Epistar, already the largest LED chip manufacturer in Taiwan will take a stake in the second largest manufacturer Huga, and GaAs foundry Win Semiconductor will invest as well. |
| Sharp to expand production of blue LED chips 19 May 10 |
| Sharp will start production of blue LED chips at a second facility in Japan during 2010, boosting its production capacity to five billion units a year. |
| Surge in LED demand prompts new chip fab plans 28 Mar 10 |
| TSMC breaks ground in Taiwan, SemiLEDs lays foundation in China, and De Core Nanosemiconductors plans fab in India. |
| MOCVD system supplier Aixtron reports strong 2009 growth 11 Mar 10 |
| With a strong order book going into 2010, Aixtron believes it can double its 2009 revenue figure of EUR 302.9m. |
| Focus on Fabs & Growth (MAGAZINE) 03 Feb 10 |
| Reflecting the growing level of demand in the LED industry, particularly for backlighting applications, a number of companies are investing in capacity expansions. In some cases, this involves building or acquiring new fabrication facilities, or forming joint ventures and partnerships with other companies. |
| Aixtron builds new R&D facility to support LED market 28 Jan 10 |
| A planned investment of EUR40 million will provide Aixtron’s LED-manufacturing customers with improved performance and reduced cost of ownership. |
| Hitachi Cable develops 55-lumen red LED chips 08 Jan 10 |
| The Japan-based chip and epiwafer manufacturer has developed a fine-line electrode structure to improve light extraction. |
| IFC provides sapphire maker Monocrystal with $10 M loan 29 Dec 09 |
| Financing from the IFC will enable Monocrystal to expand its production capacity for large-diameter sapphire crystals used in LED manufacturing. |
| Osram LED chip plant in Penang now in operation 10 Dec 09 |
| Described as the world's most modern LED chip plant, Osram Opto Semiconductors' new facility in Penang, Malaysia is now up and running. |
| 3M claims record efficacy for green LED 23 Nov 09 |
| 3M has combined its color-converting material with a blue LED chip to produce a green emitter with an efficacy of 181 lm/W at 350 mA.
|
| SemiLEDs to open state-of-the-art production facility in China 16 Nov 09 |
| After an investment of $96 million, SemiLEDs new facility in Guangdong Province will have a capacity of 20 million power LED chips per month. |
| Azzurro transfers GaN-on-Si technology to Osram 13 Nov 09 |
| Osram Opto Semiconductors is apparently conducting R&D on the growth GaN-based LEDs on large-diameter silicon substrates, using technology developed by Azzurro Semiconductors. |
| Cree to open LED chip production facility in China 10 Nov 09 |
| Cree has signed an agreement to increase in its manufacturing presence in Huizhou, China, with its first overseas chip facility. |
| Obducat takes part in EU project SMASH 05 Nov 09 |
| With a budget of EUR 11.5 million, the SMASH project will investigate growth of LED structures on nano-structured templates and the development of LEDs based on nano-rod emitters. |
| High-efficiency lighting needs high-efficiency manufacturing 12 Oct 09 |
| Modern LED manufacturing facilities benefit from sophisticated planning and design tools, and consideration of “reduce, re-use, and recycle” options, such as the conversion of existing semiconductor facilities. This enables projects to be completed faster, with minimized environmental impact, and with an improved bottom line, writes Don Carkner. |
| IQE to acquire UK developer of GaN wafer technology 05 Oct 09 |
| The acquisition of NanoGaN will enable IQE to accelerate commercialisation of advanced blue/green lasers and solid-state lighting products. |
| Lattice Power demonstrates high-power InGaN LEDs grown on silicon 15 Sep 09 |
| A Chinese LED start-up has demonstrated that InGaN-based LEDs grown on Si substrates by MOCVD can have similar performance to devices grown on conventional substrates. |
| Aixtron lifts sales guidance on LED market recovery 03 Aug 09 |
| Equipment manufacturers such as Aixtron have seen a surge in orders due to demand from customers looking to manufacture LEDs for use in LCD TV backlights. |
| IMEC launches industrial affiliation program on GaN-on-Si technology 16 Jul 09 |
| With industry partnership, IMEC is aiming to lower the cost of GaN technologies and develop high-efficiency high-power white LEDs.
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| SemiLEDs' new facility boosts LED chip production capacity 09 Jul 09 |
| A new facility in Taiwan will boost SemiLEDs’ monthly production of power chips to 15 million per month. |
| WEB EXCLUSIVE: Semiconductor supply chain sees big potential for cost reductions in LED manufacturing 11 Jun 09 |
| Improvements in LED manufacturing processes, learning from the lessons of the mainstream silicon semiconductor industry, could have a big impact on the LED industry, writes Paula Doe of SEMI. |
| Rubicon grows giant sapphire crystal 20 Apr 09 |
| At 200 kg, the “super boule” represents the next generation of sapphire growth technology and sapphire products. |
| Photonic-crystal LED reaches 73% light-extraction efficiency
20 Mar 09 |
| A thin, 700-nm gallium nitride-based LED was used in the experiment, say Philips researchers.
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| Epistar expecting to launch AC-LED products in 2009 11 Mar 09 |
| Using technology licensed from ITRI, Epistar expects to introduce AC-driven LED chips in the second quarter of 2009. |
| LG Innotek and Chinese start-up acquire LED growth systems 09 Feb 09 |
| Companies in Korea and China have bought new systems for the growth of GaN-based LED materials. |
| Opinion: Researchers hype GaN on silicon success
30 Jan 09 |
| Stories suggesting Cambridge University researchers have solved all the barriers to low-cost LED lighting are overblown, we believe. |
| Researchers use streamlined polarization to boost performance of LEDs 14 Jan 09 |
| RPI researchers have developed a polarization-matched LED that exhibits an 18% increase in light output and a 22% increase in wall-plug efficiency.
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| WEB EXCLUSIVE: First class thermal management for LEDs 13 Jan 09 |
| Beadlight uses Electrolube’s thermal transfer material to manufacture LED reading lights for aircraft seats. |
| WEB EXCLUSIVE: Optical in situ monitoring in LED device production 18 Dec 08 |
| The most significant issue in LED MOCVD growth today is precise control of the wafer temperature throughout the whole growth process. |
| WEB EXCLUSIVE: Water jet-guided laser improves LED efficiency 05 Dec 08 |
| Water jet-guided lasers address challenges surrounding the creation of metal heat sinks for HB-LEDs. |
| RPCVD technology offers low-cost growth alternative for GaN-based LEDs 05 Nov 08 |
| By eliminating ammonia and using large, low-cost substrates, a new growth technology could offer a challenging alternative to conventional MOCVD processes, writes Giles Bourne. |
| Business News: Neo-Neon, Epistar, SemiLEDs, Aluwave 16 Oct 08 |
| Neo-Neon is to start making LED chips, Epistar has filed a patent lawsuit against Huga, SemiLEDs has bought lithography tools from Ultratech, and Aluwave and OLP have developed a light system using LED and fiber optics. |
| Taiwan LED companies lead demand for sapphire wafers 07 Oct 08 |
| More than half of the 4.6 million 2-inch-equivalent sapphire wafers used for LED growth in 2007 were consumed by Taiwanese companies, says a new report. |
| IMEC and Taiyo Nippon Sanso collaborate on green LED manufacturing 03 Oct 08 |
| A European research institute and a Japanese materials and equipment supplier will seek to improve green LED performance for applications such as LED manufacturing. |
| LED chips set new R&D records
23 Sep 08 |
| Over the summer, both Philips Lumileds and Osram Opto Semiconductors unveiled some pretty impressive lab results for power LEDs. |
| Luxtaltek orders Obducat system for photonic crystal LEDs 21 Aug 08 |
| Obducat has received an order worth $3.55 million for lithography systems used in the mass production of photonic LEDs. |
| LED market predicted to grow 20+ percent/year, says Rubicon CEO 11 Aug 08 |
| At Rubicon Technology’s recent 2Q08 earnings conference call with industry analysts, the company's president and CEO discussed the future of the LED market.
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| Bridgelux begins volume shipment of fifth-generation LED chip 05 Jun 08 |
| Bridgelux says that it has developed advanced chip technology and low cost-per-lumen products without resorting to complex, low yield thin-film techniques. |
| Oxford Instruments acquires HVPE developer TDI 11 Apr 08 |
| Technologies and Devices International’s technology will enable Oxford to expand the range of products it already supplies to the HBLED market.
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| WEB EXCLUSIVE: Meeting the production challenges of high-brightness LEDs
30 Mar 08 |
| One highly effective way to reduce LED manufacturing costs involves switching from wet scrubber exhaust abatement systems to combustion-based abatement technology, explains Mike Czerniak of Edwards. |
| JPSA awarded Korea patent for LED wafer scribing 08 Jan 08 |
| A new technique using laser-based scribing systems can result in faster processing and higher yield. |
| SDK to increase AlGaInP LED chip capacity 19 Dec 07 |
| Showa Denko aims to produce 200 million AlGaInP LED chips per month by the end of 2008. |
| Goldeneye reduces process steps with EpiChip LED 13 Dec 07 |
| A process to produce a thin-film "epi-only" chip without the need to bond to a submount could result in a simplified and lower cost LED manufacturing process. |
| TDI awarded HVPE patent for bulk GaN growth 21 Nov 07 |
| A new US patent describes HVPE equipment to make low-cost bulk GaN and AlGaN substrates.
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| Quanlight reports test results for dilute nitride LEDs 22 Oct 07 |
| Red LEDs manufactured using a novel material system have much better temperature stability than traditional devices, according to Quanlight. |
| Rubicon files for $100m IPO 14 Sep 07 |
| The maker of sapphire substrates for LEDs plans to raise to fund its planned capacity expansion. |
| Japanese researchers develop UV LED emitting at 227.5nm 13 Sep 07 |
| Researchers at Riken and Saitama University have developed a viable LED with an extremely short wavelength. |
| BluGlass awarded $5m in government funding 11 Sep 07 |
| A company that hopes to commercialize a low-cost process for the production of gallium nitride LED wafers has received Australian government backing. |
| Cree plans to triple white XLamp LED capacity 23 Aug 07 |
| Cree plans to increase it manufacturing capacity for lighting LEDs at its Cotco subsidiary in China. |
| Lumileds phosphor technology expected to simplify binning 07 Aug 07 |
| Lumiramic phosphor technology developed by Philips Lumileds should reduce the number of fine bins offered for each specific CCT for white LEDs. |
| UK-based NoveLELS project earns government backing 27 Jul 07 |
| Enfis is leading a consortium of companies with funding from the UK government to develop efficient LED-based sources and establish a UK capability for LED chip and array production. |
| SDK expands blue LED chip capacity to 200 million per month 18 Jul 07 |
| Japanese blue LED chip supplier Showa Denko is making further investments to ramp up its production capacity. |
| Osram breaks ground for LED chip plant in Penang 18 Jul 07 |
| For the first time, Osram is allowing its central chip-making technology to be exported overseas, to a new facility in Malaysia. |
| Osram reports record lab results for red, green chips 28 Jun 07 |
| In the lab, Osram has measured outputs exceeding 180 lm at 1 A for green chips and more than 300 lm at 2 A for red chips. |
| BluGlass produces first blue emission from GaN on 6-inch glass 07 Jun 07 |
| The development of deposition techniques for high-quality LED material on large glass wafers could ultimately result in significant cost reductions for LEDs. |
| Quanlight raises $3 million to fund new LED materials 24 May 07 |
| A start-up in San Diego is using the dilute nitride material system to enable red LEDs that could have improved performance compared with today's LEDs. |
| GaN-on-glass process could yield 48% savings for LED epitaxy 12 Apr 07 |
| A cost of ownership model for a deposition process developed by BluGlass Ltd could result in significant cost savings for LED manufacturing. |
| Panasonic grows power LEDs on GaN substrates 07 Mar 07 |
| Panasonic is to introduce white LEDs based on blue chips grown on GaN substrates, eliminating many of the problems associated with LED growth on sapphire. |
| Aonex and Kyma develop improved GaN growth substrates 28 Feb 07 |
| Joint development work hopes to yield large-area GaN wafers for improved growth of devices including LEDs. |
| Showa Denko develops hybrid growth process for GaN-based blue LEDs 22 Feb 07 |
| A Japanese company can now grow LED material on 4-inch sapphire wafers, and intends to build a new factory to produce LEDs. |
| MOCVD systems respond to demand for higher LED productivity and yield 18 Feb 07 |
| Manufacturers of equipment used to grow LED layer structures have introduced new systems capable of depositing even more material in a single run, in response to customer demand for higher throughput and more cost-effective production. |
| Cyberlux acquires LED technology developed at UCSB 16 Jan 07 |
| Cyberlux has acquired Hybrid Lighting Technologies in a deal including a worldwide exclusive license for technology to improve LED efficiency. |
| ZnO nanowire research could result in cheaper LEDs 11 Jan 07 |
| The demonstration of p-type ZnO nanowires using a low-cost chemical vapor deposition technique could eventually result in less expensive LEDs. |
