In brief: Xanoptix, SemiSouth, AWSC, Stratos
Xanoptix, a developer of 3D semiconductor integration technology and high-density parallel optics, has raised $15.2 million in its latest funding round.
“This round of investment will allow Xanoptix to accelerate the deployment of our hybrid integrated circuit technology, allowing customers to begin to realize the large benefits in system performance, size, cost and power dissipation,” said Rob Baxter, Xanoptix chairman and CEO.
Primary investors include William Blair Capital Partners, Euclid SR Partners, Envest Ventures and Optical Partners, LLC.
SemiSouth raises $1.3 million for SiC
SemiSouth Laboratories, a developer of SiC discrete transistors, diodes, circuits and merchant epitaxy, has won four US Department of Defense small business innovations research (SBIR) contracts, totaling $1.3 million.
The first contract involves developing a thicker epitaxial layer for very high voltage products.
“SiC has been always known for high-power density, high voltage products, but we are working in this contract to develop epitaxial layers above 50 microns thick. This opens up SiC applications for single diode/transistor products above 5kV,” said J. Zhang, director of SiC epitaxy.
The other contracts will enable SemiSouth to investigate development of SiC RF transistors for radar applications, and integrated circuits for space-based applications.
AWSC predicts 21 million PA shipments in 2004
Eric Huang, R&D manager of Advanced Wireless Semiconductor Company (AWSC), the Taiwan-based HBT foundry, has projected that AWSC will ship 21 million cellular handset power amplifiers (PAs) this year, according to DigiTimes, an Internet news site.
Huang expects the company to achieve a 3.5% share of the global cellular PA market in 2004, a huge increase from the 1% share last year. AWSC shipped 6 million GSM PAs to Skyworks in 2003, and anticipates this will rise to nearly 14 million this year.
Stratos International looks for a buyer?
Stratos International (formerly Stratos Lightwave), a provider of optoelectronic, fiber-optic, and RF and microwave subsystems and components, has announced that its board of directors has decided to consider various options for the future of the company, including selling it. At present Stratos is continuing normal operations by seeking new business, developing new products and working with customers.
