NEC Researchers Grow Photonic Band Gap Crystals Princeton, N.J.-Researchers at the NEC Research Institute (NECI) and Princeton University have demonstrated a simple and inexpensive way to produce photonic band gap crystals by emulating the growing process for gemstone opals. The crystals are needed for the next generation of photonic devices for telecom and computing. These crystals have the potential for making all-optical ICs that are able to manipulate photonic signals. These photonic circuits will be used to replace the cumbersome and expensive devices that currently control signals over optical networks. According to NECI, the delay, so far, has involved the difficulties in making photonic band gap crystals. The NECI approach begins by emulating a natural process, the formation of gemstone opals. Under certain geological conditions, nature spontaneously forms extremely small silicon spheres, like tiny glass marbles. When millions of these marbles are stacked on top of each other, a natural opal is created. By filling the space between the spheres with a semiconductor and then selectively removing the spheres, an extremely porous material (an "inverted opal") can be made. NECI has employed this "natural assembly" approach to form planar synethic opals directly on a silicon wafer. [neci.nj.nec.com] Lucent Technologies' OFS Business Sold to Furukawa Murray Hill, N.J.-Lucent Technologies has completed the sale of its Atlanta-based Optical Fiber Solutions (OFS) unit to Furukawa Electric Co. Ltd., Tokyo. Furukawa will pay $2.3 billion for the major portion of the business, $225 million less than originally agreed. In an earlier announcement, Furukawa and CommScope will form a venture to operate part of the OFS business. Separately, the sale of the remainder of Lucent's OFS to Corning is underway. Included in the proposed sale is Lucent's interest in two China-based joint ventures. Lucent says the sales are intended to let the company "sharpen" its focus on providing its customers with advanced broadband and mobile infrastructure technology. [lucent.com] WJ Communications Joins Fujitsu in OC-768 Partnership San Jose-WJ Communications Inc. has announced a partnership with Fujitsu Quantum Devices Ltd. (FQD), Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, for the joint development of 40 Gb/s optical products. The first device planned by the partnership is a 43 Gb/s (OC-768 and STM-256) with driver amplifier module featuring an output voltage of 6.0 Vpp. Product from the partnership will be produced at WJ in San Jose and at FQD in the U.S. and Japan. [fqd.fujitsu.com] Adept Technology, Shibuya Kyogo Announce Agreement San Jose-Adept Technology, a maker of flexible automation products, has signed a strategic OEM agreement with Shibuya Kyogo of Japan, an EOL equipment supplier. The agreement calls for the companies to develop high-precision photonic assembly equipment. Adept says the agreement is "another step" in its ongoing strategy to address photonic manufacturing challenges worldwide. [adept.com] NanoTech, PSI, SUNY Developing SOC Wafer-Cleaning Process Albany, N.Y.-Planar Semiconductor Inc. (PSI), Kingston, N.Y.; the New York State Center for Excellence in Nanoelec-tronics (NanoTech) and the University of Albany-SUNY, have announced a joint development program for an environmentally friendly wafer-cleaning process based on rapid pulse harmonic spray technology. The $2 million program is aimed at reducing critical defect sizes of advanced systems-on-a-chip in opto, nanoelectronics and telecom applications. The New York State Center is working on nanoelectronics-based products ranging from emerging microporcessors and memory to micro- and nanosystem-based SOC technologies. The process will be benchmarked and optimized on a PSI 200 mm wafer and 300 mm wafer-compatible cleaning tool that minimizes environmental pressures, while-according to PSI-it "maximizes health and safety considerations...." [planarsemi.com] Nanosys Inc. Receives 1.7M with Initial Funding Round Cambridge, Mass.-Nanosys Inc., a nano-technology company, has closed an initial round of funding with $1.7 million in seed money. In addition to four lead venture capitalists, Dr. Robert M. Metcalfe, 3Com founder who joined the board, was a major investor. Nanosys was founded by Charles Lieber, a Harvard professor who has demonstrated the ability to consistently build nanoscale logic gates and carry out basic computations with assembled nanoscale building blocks. [nanosysinc.com] Hana Microdisplay Technology Earns ISO-9002 Certification Twinsburg, Ohio-Hana Microdisplay Technologies Inc. (HMTI) has received its ISO-9002 certification from the Perry Johnson Registrars. Begun in July 1999 as the first independent liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) foundry, HMTI now assembles over 100 different LCD and 50 package configurations. [hanaoh.com] Digital Optics Corp. Issued Sixth Litho Diffuser Patent Charlotte, N.C.-Digital Optics Corp. has been issued an additional patent, which grants the claim of using controlled-angle diffusers in litho systems, for its Aurora Illumination product line. The company is a supplier of controlled-angle diffuser optics for steppers and also makes and markets photonic chip optical sub-assemblies. [doc.com] |
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