In brief: Nichia, IQE, Infinera, Advanced Photonix
Nichia has developed a 6 lm white LED that can deliver an efficacy of 100 lm/W at a forward current of 20 mA.
"There wasn t a big technical jump to reach 100 lm/W," explained Gen-inch Shinomiya, managing director of Nichia's R&D engineering division. "We improved our technology incrementally and I believe we can reach the level of 150 lm/W in the same way."
The Japanese company plans to begin sampling the 100 lm/W chip in June and start volume manufacturing later in the year. The first product will be a 5 mm-diameter lamp package.
IQE heads towards profitabilityIQE has posted sales of £20.9 million ($36.5 million) for fiscal 2005, in-line with the January trading update provided by the company (see related story) .
The UK-based manufacturer of epiwafers and substrates recorded a £1.1 million operating loss for the second half of the year, compared with £3.0 million for the first half of 2005.
Commenting on the results, IQE's CEO Drew Nelson remarked: "2005 has proved to be a major turning point for the group, and the return to profitability is clearly in sight".
The company expects to see strong sequential revenue growth throughout this year, with the contract that was signed with a US chip maker in November 2004 (see related story) contributing annual sales of $15 million.
Infinera's chips selected for US networkUS service provider XO Communications will upgrade its 18,000 mile fiber optic network by deploying Infinera's DTN optical system that features photonic integrated circuits.
XO says that the Infinera deployment, which should be completed by the end of the third quarter, will double its network capacity and enable new service offerings in existing metropolitan areas.
Advanced Photonix win tax abatementsUS-based manufacturer of optoelectronic components Advanced Photonix is to receive tax abatement from the City of Ann Arbor in connection with the consolidation of its facilities.
Advanced Photonix, which is consolidating its California and Wisconsin semiconductor micro-fabrication operations into its Ann Arbor facility in Michigan, and moving its head-office to that site, could receive up to $94,000 over the five-year abatement period.
The company says that the relocation and consolidation should be completed over the next 12 months, and could create 68 new jobs in Michigan over the next decade.
