Industry News
Aeroflex and w2bi (Wireless to Business Integration) announced that they have entered into an agreement to pool their test expertise and technology for the joint development of a network certification platform for LTE mobile devices. The combination of Aeroflex’s highly successful 7100 LTE test system integrated with w2bi’s Q-GENERIC automated test solution will create a versatile LTE handset certification platform for network operators, device manufacturers and test labs worldwide.
Lockheed Martin has entered into a US Department of Defense Mentor-Protégé Agreement with M2 Global Technology Ltd., San Antonio, TX, a small business supplier to Lockheed Martin’s F-16, F-22 and F-35 programs. Over the one-year period of the Mentor-Protégé relationship, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics will assist and guide M2 Global, a service disabled veteran-owned small business, in the further development and refinement of the manufacturing and management processes needed to better serve its key aerospace, defense and commercial markets.
Peregrine Semiconductor Corp., a supplier of high-performance RF CMOS and mixed-signal communications ICs, and MagnaChip Semiconductor Ltd., an Asia-based designer and manufacturer of analog and mixed-signal semiconductor products for high volume consumer applications, announced that the companies have completed the final qualification phase in the process technology transfer of Peregrine’s UltraCMOSTM SOS (Silicon-On-Sapphire) technology to MagnaChip’s Cheongju wafer manufacturing facility. Peregrine and MagnaChip began the final qualification phase of the technology transfer in July 2008 and released it to production eight weeks ago. The 10-month qualification cycle of UltraCMOS technology is exceptionally short due to its standard CMOS foundation.
The University of California, San Diego (UCSD), provider of a program in microwave and millimeter-wave RFICs and mixed-signal, and Jazz Semiconductor®, a Tower Group company, announced that they have collaborated to develop a two-antenna quad-beam RFIC phased-array receiver covering the 11 to 15 GHz frequency range. First time success was achieved using Jazz Semiconductor’s high performance 0.18-micron SiGe BiCMOS process and its own proprietary models, kit and DIRECT Multiproject Wafer (MPW) program. The chip was designed and tested by the Electrical and Computer Engineering School at UCSD, and was sponsored by the DARPA RF VLSI program, Mark Rosker, Program Monitor.
RF Micro Devices Inc. (RFMD) announced the company has formed a gallium nitride (GaN) Foundry Services business unit to supply high reliability, high performance and price-competitive GaN semiconductor technology into multiple RF power markets. The RFMD GaN Foundry Services business unit will leverage the company’s industry leadership in gallium arsenide (GaAs) manufacturing capacity and cycle times, as well as a range of new customer services, to drive shorter time-to-market and minimize time between initial wafer order and final delivery. RFMD’s GaN manufacturing is interchangeable with its GaAs manufacturing and directly benefits from the scale and demonstrated expertise of RFMD’s industry-leading wafer fabrication capability.
Empower RF Systems, a manufacturer of solid-state power amplifiers and amplifier-based solutions, announced the opening of a Regional Design Center located in Holbrook, NY. The establishment of the Regional Design Center expands the company’s engineering capabilities and will play a key role in product development, device evaluation, customer technical support and business development initiatives. Robert Lauria, Engineering Director and 25-year RF industry veteran, is responsible for leading the Regional Design Center technical team. Bill Liebman manages the overall operation and is also responsible for assigned business development activities.
Phonon Corp., a privately-held corporation, broke ground May 6th to construct a 15,000 square foot addition to its headquarters to provide more space for engineering and to expand manufacturing capacity to support future revenue growth. Phonon Corp. designs, manufactures and markets a broad range of signal processing products for defense and satellite markets including the emerging Homeland Security initiatives for communications, surveillance and information gathering based on surface acoustic wave technology.
Trilithic Inc. announced that it is among the first companies to achieve the coveted and recently released International Organization for Standardization (ISO) ISO 9001:2008 certification requirements. By completing the certification to the ISO 9001:2008 standard, Trilithic demonstrates highly effective business processes, commitment to continuous quality improvement and a focus on customer satisfaction.
TriQuint Semiconductor, an RF product manufacturer and foundry services provider, has been accredited by the Department of Defense (DoD) as a Category 1A ‘Trusted Foundry’ for its 100 mm gallium arsenide (GaAs) facilities in Richardson, TX. Accreditation expands TriQuint’s wide-ranging GaAs circuit fabrication capabilities by including classified programs; a Category 1A designation is the highest awarded by the DoD.
Contracts
L-3 Communications announced that its MPRI division has been awarded a follow-on contract by the US Air Forces Europe (USAFE). This five-year IDIQ contract consists of a base year plus four option years, with a total contract potential of $375 M. Under this contract, L-3 will provide the USAFE with a variety of advisory and assistance services (A&AS), including engineering and technical services; management and professional support; and studies, analysis and evaluation services to maintain and enhance government owned computer software and provide intelligence analysis support. These activities will be provided to the headquarters of the European Command and its subordinate commands throughout Europe.
OEwaves Inc. has been awarded phase II of an earlier contract by Lockheed Martin Maritime Systems & Sensors, in support of a Science and Technology contract from the US Army Research Development and Development Command’s Aviation and Missile Research Development and Engineering Center to develop and demonstrate critical technologies that bridge the gap between existing capabilities and the Army vision for future protection capabilities. In this phase, OEwaves will deliver multiple brass board hardware as part of a complete program with a potential total value of approximately $5 M.
Tahoe RF Semiconductor Inc. announced that it has received an STTR Phase I award from the US Navy for the development of Novel Phase Shifterless RF Phase Array Antenna Systems (N09-T035). The STTR Program provides up to $850,000 in early-stage R&D funding directly to small companies working cooperatively with researchers at universities and other research institutions. Tahoe RF will conduct the development in cooperation with Professor James Buckwalter’s team at the University of California San Diego.
HRL Laboratories LLC announced it received a Phase II, 18-month contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to continue its groundbreaking work on the COSMOS program, or COmpound Semiconductor Materials on Silicon. The goal of the DARPA/Air Force Research Laboratory program is to develop new methods to tightly integrate compound semiconductor technologies with state-of-the-art CMOS circuits in order to achieve unprecedented levels of circuit performance.
Personnel
M/A-COM Technology Solutions announced the appointment of Joseph G. Thomas to Chief Executive Officer. He previously served as President. Thomas has been with the company for 35 years, serving in a number of senior management positions. He has led growth teams addressing multiple markets, ranging from consumer entertainment to strategic defense applications. Prior to joining the company, Thomas was an Engineering Manager with Micro Dynamics in Woburn, MA. In related news, M/A-COM Technology Solutions recently announced the appointment of Conrad Gagnon to Chief Financial Officer. Gagnon has been with the company for more than 25 years and has served in a number of leadership roles in finance, sales and marketing, acquisitions, new ventures and portfolio management. Prior to joining the company, Gagnon was Cost and Budget Manager at Ingersoll-Rand.
ANADIGICS Inc. announced that it has appointed Russ Wagner as Vice President, Operations. Wagner joined the company in September, 2007, as part of ANADIGIC’s acquisition of Fairchild Semiconductor’s RF design team. Wagner brings over 15 years of valuable semiconductor industry experience to the position. At both Fairchild and Raytheon RF Components he was responsible for strategic and tactical management of engineering and product development, operations, foundries and world-class supply chain management.
Akon Inc., a leader in RF microwave components and subsystems for military, space, and commercial applications, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dennis Tuccori as a Director of Sales and Marketing. Tuccori brings with him years of experience working for companies such as Celeritek, Loral-Narda West and Aydin Microwave. He joined Akon in April, 2009. He will be responsible for sales in the United States and Asia.
Ducommun Technologies announced Michael Cronin has joined Ducommun Technologies as a Business Development Manager. Cronin’s primary responsibilities will be the sale of Ducommun’s microwave and millimeter-wave products. Cronin was previously with First Alliance Electronics in Denver, CO as a manufacturer’s representative. His background encompasses progressively responsible positions with National Semiconductor, Front Range Microwave and Vari-L Corp. During this time, he sold RF and microwave products into the aerospace and commercial business. Cronin brings over 20 years of sales and marketing experience.
Rep Appointments
Linx Technologies Inc. announced the appointment of Future Electronics Inc. as a worldwide stocking distributor for its full product line, including RF modules, OEM products, antennas, connectors, ICs, interface modules and development systems. Linx products simplify challenging areas of electronics, such as RF, by providing solutions, which can be quickly and easily applied by engineers of all skill levels. Future’s strong application engineering, marketing and volume OEM orientation will provide Linx with a differentiated partner and the opportunity to better serve customers globally.
Reactel Inc., a manufacturer of RF and microwave filters, multiplexers, switched filter banks and subassemblies to the commercial, military, industrial and medical industries, announced the appointment of Comp-Tech Sales as the company’s exclusive representative in New York and New Jersey. For more information about Comp-Tech Sales, please visit www.comp-techsales.com or telephone Russ Muniz at (201) 288-7400.