News Article
JDSU becomes cell supplier
While production experience is a key weapon for III-V cell-making incumbents, other seasoned compound semiconductor manufacturers are joining the market, the latest of which is JDSU.
The Milpitas, California, optoelectronic expert says that the same division responsible for producing its well-known optical communication lasers is now developing photovoltaic cells.
In its 2009 annual report the company groups its cells together with fiber-optic systems for delivering and measuring power. “JDSU has developed CPV cells to be available both as chips and in receiver assemblies, for solar power,” it wrote. JDSU says that the tens of thousands of photovoltaic power converters it has manufactured demonstrate the reliability of its cells. It acquired that technology in 2005 when it purchased Photonic Power Systems, and has since been offering it as a lightweight, interference-free, safe and resilient way of delivering electrical power. Now competing with New Mexico based Emcore in both optical communications and solar cell production, JDSU is the second major compound semiconductor name to crash the CPV market this year. The first was GaAs cellphone power amplifier manufacturer RFMD, which officially unveiled its collaboration with NREL in July.
In its 2009 annual report the company groups its cells together with fiber-optic systems for delivering and measuring power. “JDSU has developed CPV cells to be available both as chips and in receiver assemblies, for solar power,” it wrote. JDSU says that the tens of thousands of photovoltaic power converters it has manufactured demonstrate the reliability of its cells. It acquired that technology in 2005 when it purchased Photonic Power Systems, and has since been offering it as a lightweight, interference-free, safe and resilient way of delivering electrical power. Now competing with New Mexico based Emcore in both optical communications and solar cell production, JDSU is the second major compound semiconductor name to crash the CPV market this year. The first was GaAs cellphone power amplifier manufacturer RFMD, which officially unveiled its collaboration with NREL in July.
