Semiconductor today

Themed ‘Innovation and Collaboration: Powering Sustainable Exponential Growth’, SEMICON Europa 2024 is gathering industry experts at Messe München in Munich, Germany (12–15 November) for insights into the latest innovations and trends in sustainability, mobility, healthcare, materials, packaging, fab management and workforce. Co-located with electronica, it features keynotes from the electronics design and manufacturing ecosystem, academia and governments...

Molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) system maker Riber S.A. of Bezons, France says that it has sold an MBE 49 GaN production system (for delivery in 2025) to a European customer that aims to enhance its capacity for producing gallium nitride (GaN) components for next-generation high-brightness and low-energy displays. The MBE 49 GaN system is specifically configured for plasma-assisted GaN epitaxy on 200mm silicon wafers, offering a cutting-edge solution for manufacturing aluminium gallium nitride (AlGaN) and indium gallium nitride (InGaN) devices...

At the IEEE Energy Conversion Congress & Expo (ECCE 2024) in Phoenix, Arizona (20–24 October), gallium nitride (GaN) power IC and silicon carbide (SiC) technology firm Navitas Semiconductor Corp of Torrance, CA, USA is introducing IntelliWeave, a patented new digital control technique for improving next-generation AI data-center power supply unit (PSU) efficiency...

The Northeast Microelectronics Coalition (NEMC) Hub has announced $1,038,133 in grants to 13 companies through its Powering Regional Opportunities for Prototyping Microelectronics (PROPEL) manufacturing program, which was launched in June. Funded through the federal US CHIPS and Science Act, the program supports NEMC Hub members (particularly startups and small companies) and helps them to move microelectronics projects from early-stage concepts through to production of validated devices by offsetting costs associated with hardware lab-to-fab development...

At the Société des Ingénieurs de l'Automobile’s SIA Vision 2024 international congress in Paris, France (16–17 October), ams OSRAM GmbH of Premstätten, Austria and Munich, Germany has launched EVIYOS HD 25 gen2 as the latest generation of its EVIYOS LED technology...

Lynred of Grenoble, France — which designs and manufactures infrared (IR) sensors for aerospace, defense and commercial applications — has completed its biggest space contract so far, worth tens of millions of euros. After beginning in 2004 with Lynred conducting pre-development technology studies followed by a design and production phase in 2011, the firm recently delivered to Thales Alenia Space the last of 26 IR detector flight models destined for the more than 20-year operational lifespan of the MTG (Meteosat Third Generation) mission, a European Space Agency (ESA) program that aims to revolutionize storm prediction and enhance weather forecasting...

The US Department of Commerce have signed a non-binding preliminary memorandum of terms for Infinera Corp of San Jose, CA, USA — a vertically integrated manufacturer of open optical networking systems and optical semiconductors — to receive up to $93m in direct funding as part of the CHIPS and Science Act. This proposed direct funding, when combined with investment tax credits available under the CHIPS and Science Act, could result in more than $200m in total federal incentives as well as potential state and local incentives...

Specialty semiconductor and performance materials producer 5N Plus Inc of Montreal, Québec, Canada says that solar cells produced by its subsidiary AZUR SPACE Solar Power GmbH of Heilbronn, Germany are enabling the Europa Clipper, NASA’s largest spacecraft ever built for planetary exploration. The spacecraft took flight on 14 October with the mission to determine whether Jupiter’s icy moon Europa has the potential to support life...

Wolfspeed Inc of Durham, NC, USA — which makes silicon carbide (SiC) materials and power semiconductor devices — says that Thomas Seifert and Woody Young have been nominated to its board of directors. Their nominations will be considered at the 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, scheduled for 5 December...

For its fiscal first-quarter 2025 (to 30 August 2024), semiconductor production test and reliability qualification equipment supplier Aehr Test Systems of Fremont, CA, USA has reported revenue of $13.1m, down 21% on $16.6m last quarter and 36% on $20.6m a year ago...

Specialty semiconductor and performance materials producer 5N Plus Inc of Montreal, Québec, Canada says that its subsidiary AZUR SPACE Solar Power GmbH of Heilbronn, Germany has completed its previously announced 2024 production capacity program ahead of schedule and expanded its capacity by 35%, surpassing its initial 30% increase target. By the end of 2025, AZUR intends to increase its solar cell production capacity by a further 30%, with minimal additional investments as most of the equipment has been purchased and delivered...

SuperLight Photonics of Enschede, the Netherlands — a spin-off from the University of Twente that is developing a wideband laser light source for measurement and detection applications — has announced the strategic investment of Hamamatsu Ventures to drive long-term synergy in laser innovation. ..

The US Department of Commerce and Wolfspeed Inc of Durham, NC, USA — which makes silicon carbide (SiC) materials and power semiconductor devices — have signed a non-binding preliminary memorandum of terms (PMT) for up to $750m in proposed direct funding under the US CHIPS and Science Act. In addition, a consortium of investment funds led by Apollo, The Baupost Group, Fidelity Management & Research Company and Capital Group have agreed to provide an additional $750m of new financing...

To make electric mobility accessible to a broader market by combining affordability with high performance and efficiency, Infineon Technologies AG of Munich, Germany is introducing the HybridPACK Drive G2 Fusion, establishing a new power module standard for traction inverters in the e-mobility sector. The HybridPACK Drive G2 Fusion is the first plug’n’play power module that implements a combination of Infineon’s silicon and silicon carbide (SiC) technologies. This provides a balance between performance and cost efficiency, giving more choice in the optimization of inverters...

Gallium nitride (GaN) power IC and silicon carbide (SiC) technology firm Navitas Semiconductor Corp of Torrance, CA, USA has announced GaNSlim, a new generation of highly integrated GaN power ICs that will further simplify and speed the development of small-form-factor, high-power-density applications by offering the highest level of integration and thermal performance...

Over the past few years, major companies around the world have been investing in 8-inch silicon carbide (SiC) production lines, and these investments are now gradually becoming operational, notes market research firm TrendForce in a recent summary...

South Korea-based Seoul Semiconductor Co Ltd and its affiliate Seoul Viosys says that the Unified Patent Court (UPC) has issued a judgment ordering a sales ban, recall and destruction of products infringing Seoul’s ‘No Wire’ (WICOP) patent in eight European countries...

The cancellation of Apple’s project at the beginning of 2024 has shaken confidence in micro-LED technology, leaving the industry at a critical juncture. As delays continue and organic light-emitting diode (OLED) technology advances, the value proposition of micro-LEDs is shrinking, notes market analyst firm Yole Group. In response, companies are rethinking their strategies — some are slowing down or stopping, while others are accelerating their efforts, taking advantage of less competition. Alliances are forming along geographic lines, with about 30 fabs or pilot lines still moving forward...

Netherlands-based independent deep-tech venture capital fund PhotonVentures has received investment from national financing and development institution Invest-NL and a group of new private investors, with Invest-NL contributing €5m. This not only strengthens the fund’s capital base but also underscores the importance of the photonics industry for the Netherlands, as well as its competitive position in Europe and globally, says PhotonVentures. Integrated photonics is one of the key technologies in which Europe, and particularly the Netherlands, plays a significant role. To maintain this position, substantial investments from both the private and public sectors are essential, it adds...

TriEye Ltd of Tel Aviv, Israel — which claims to have pioneered the first CMOS-based shortwave infrared (SWIR) image-sensing solutions — and HLJ Technology of Hsinchu, Taiwan — which was founded in 2001 and provides vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) and photodiode solutions for consumer electronics, optical connectivity, and automotive markets — have announced the joint demonstration of a VCSEL-powered SWIR sensing and imaging solution...