In brief: JDS Uniphase, Finisar, Rohm
JDS Uniphase buys laser firm
Californian laser and optics company JDS Uniphase is to buy Lightwave Electronics, a maker of solid-state lasers that is based in nearby Mountain View.
Lightwave Electronics makes high-power diode-pumped solid-state lasers used in materials processing, medicine, biological sciences and semiconductor fabrication.
These solid-state lasers are generally pumped with high-power GaAs bars or arrays that emit at around 980 nm.
The $65 million cash deal, which remains subject to some final closing conditions, should see JDSU acquire the 120-employee firm in the second quarter.
Finisar hits optical transceiver milestone
Optical component manufacturer Finisar says that it has now shipped 100 000 4 Gb/s optical transceivers "“ just nine months after introducing the products to the market.
According to Daryl Inniss, an analyst at the market research company RHK, the volume shipments indicate the beginning of the fiber-optic storage market's upgrade to 4 Gb/s technology.
Rohm eyes ZnO LED
Japanese LED manufacturer Rohm is said to have plans to sell blue-emitting devices that are based on ZnO as early as 2007.
According to a report in the Japanese online newspaper Nikkei.net, Rohm will spend around $10 million to develop the technology over the next three years in collaboration with the Institute of Materials Research at Tohoku University.
The ZnO-based LEDs will be ten times brighter than current blue LEDs that are based on GaN emitters, but will cost ten times less than current technology, it is believed.
