Uniroyal Technology Corporation to Develop Silicon Carbide Semiconductor Diodes With General Electric Corporate Research & Development
Source: Uniroyal Technology Corporation
Sarasota, FL. Uniroyal Technology Corporation (Nasdaq: UTCI) today announced that its Sterling Semiconductor subsidiary has expanded its R&D contract with General Electric Corporate Research & Development (GE CRD) to include the development and evaluation of Schottky diode semiconductor devices.
Schottky diodes are the building blocks of the electronics supporting a wide range of consumer and industrial products, including wireless communications, portable computing and automobiles. They are sold as silicon-based devices in quantities of 500 million units per year in North America alone. Silicon carbide-based devices offer the advantage of being able to operate at much higher voltages and temperatures and with greater efficiencies than silicon devices, allowing for simplified electronic designs and packaging in products that use Schottky diodes.
Under its contract with Sterling, GE CRD will demonstrate Schottky diodes using Sterling s silicon carbide (SiC) wafers and epitaxy, applying GE technology developed in part under previous initiatives such as the "Megawatt" device program sponsored by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The effort is focused on perfecting device design and demonstrating the relationship between device performance and yield to the characteristics of silicon carbide wafers. The R&D contract with GE CRD is a subcontract to a grant awarded to Sterling in 1999 by the U.S. Defense Department to develop silicon carbide wafer production technology under Title III of the Defense Production Act. The GE CRD-Sterling relationship is non-exclusive for both parties.
"Working with GE CRD to develop the Schottky diode accelerates Sterling s product development," said Robert L. Soran, President and Chief Operating Officer of Uniroyal Technology Corporation. "The market outlook for silicon carbide-based Schottky diodes is strong and this cooperative effort enhances Sterling s participation in that market."
Sterling is a leading producer of SiC wafers used to make advanced semiconductor devices with performance capabilities that exceed the limits of semiconductors made on conventional materials, such as silicon and gallium arsenide. Applications include high power, wireless, and optoelectronics devices.
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. NorLux Corp. specializes in the design and manufacture of custom lighting solutions utilizing light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Well-known brand names in Uniroyal s Coated Fabrics and Specialty Adhesives segments include NAUGAHYDE® and NAUGASOFT™ in coated fabrics, and SILAPRENE®, HYDRA FAST-EN® and GUNTHER ULTRA/BOND® in adhesives.
The Company s common stock and warrants trade on the Nasdaq/NMS under the symbols UTCI and UTCIW, respectively.
Statements made herein that are forward-looking in nature within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those related to business conditions and the financial strength of the various markets served by the Company, the level of spending for such products and the ability of the Company to successfully manufacture and market its products. For the latest news about Uniroyal Technology Corporation, call 800-836-4014.
Contact: Uniroyal George J. Zulanas, Jr., CFO Tel: 941-361-2220 or Mark N. Tyler of TT Communications Tel: 212-962-3690 for Uniroyal
Uniroyal
George J. Zulanas, Jr., CFO
Tel: 941-361-2220
or
Mark N. Tyler of TT Communications
Tel: 212-962-3690 for Uniroyal
