Around the Circuit

Nitronex, a designer and manufacturer of gallium nitride on silicon (GaN on Si) RF power transistors for the wireless infrastructure, broadband and military markets, has qualified its new, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility. The move from Raleigh to Durham began in first quarter 2007 and was finished in the second quarter, with qualification testing completed in October. The completed qualification verifies that Nitronex has successfully replicated the process developed in Raleigh at the new Durham fab and is prepared for volume production. The successful qualification completes the relocation of the company into its new 85,000 square-foot R&D and manufacturing facility. This move enhances Nitronex’s current and future manufacturing capacity and capability, while also providing additional space for expanding research and development efforts.

FCI, a supplier of high speed, high density connectors and interconnect systems, and Amphenol, a provider of high performance backplane interconnect systems, have entered into second source agreements covering three connector product families: FCI’s ZipLine™ connector system, and Amphenol’s XCede™ and Crossbow™ interconnect platforms. ZipLine is a high-density connector system with over 80 differential pairs per linear inch on a 25 mm card pitch. This dense packaging also allows extra space for signal routing on the backplane and improved airflow for cooling. The XCede and Crossbow platforms are the high-performance backplane connectors that achieve over 20Gb/sec in a complete system.

Elcoteq SE, an integrated electronics manufacturing services company with original design manufacturing capabilities in the communications technology field, announced that it has become the global manufacturing partner for Telsima, a developer of WiMAX-based broadband wireless access and DCME voice-compression solutions. Elcoteq has started volume manufacturing of Telsima WiMAX CPEs StarMAX 2100 series at its facility in Bangalore, India.

Agilent Technologies Inc. and Multiprobe Inc. announced their intent to expand the companies’ strategic partnership. As a result, Multiprobe’s Multiscan Atomic Force Prober (AFP), a high-resolution nanoprober, will be sold and supported by Agilent to customers in Asia and Japan. This arrangement strengthens the existing relationship between the two companies and expands Agilent’s product offerings to include the industry’s leading solution for failure analysis in semiconductor devices.

Palomar Technologies, a provider of precision automation equipment, process development and assembly services for microelectronics, announced a partnership with Vision Manufacturing Inc. (VMI), a contract electronics manufacturer. Through VMI, Palomar Microelectronics will offer printed wiring board (PWB) and surface-mount technology (SMT) services for its customers to supplement the process development, prototyping, and low volume assembly services Palomar Microelectronics provides.

Protium Technologies Inc. and Vanu Inc. have signed a teaming agreement formalizing their business relationship. Under terms of the agreement, Protium will continue to design, develop and manufacture a line of RF front-end equipment to meet the requirements of Vanu’s software-defined radio architecture. Protium has been partnering with Vanu on the commercial delivery of its software radio solution that simultaneously operates GSM, CDMA and other standards.

RF Micro Devices (RFMD), a designer and manufacturer of high-performance radio frequency systems and solutions, announced it is providing its RF3161 quad-band large signal polar modulation (LSPM) EDGE power amplifier (PA) module for the Huawei (Shenzhen, China) U120E 3G multi-mode (UMTS/EDGE) handset. The highly integrated RF3161 is packaged in a compact 6 x 6 x 1 mm package. RFMD anticipates new, incremental EDGE enabled handsets will feature its RF3161 as well as its high efficiency RF3159 linear EDGE PA.

Contracts

Raytheon Network Centric Systems has selected Tyco Electronics Corp. as a key supplier on the Multi-Function Radio Frequency System (MFRFS). Raytheon has developed MFRFS as the common radar for Future Combat Systems manned ground vehicles. This teaming integrates Tyco Electronics’ advanced MIL600 connector as the main I/O connector on the Raytheon MFRFS’ processor unit. The connector complies with MIL-DTL-83527 and EN3682 and incorporates Tyco Electronics’ miniature expanded-beam optical technology.

Lockheed Martin Systems Integration awarded a $0.7 M contract to Phase Matrix Inc. to develop an X-/Ku-band digitally tuned oscillator for the US Air Force’s B-2 Spirit stealth bomber. The oscillator will be used to help modernize the B-2’s electronic systems. Phase Matrix expects to receive orders for additional spares once qualification of the oscillator has been satisfactorily completed. Phase Matrix’ new compact, high-performance digitally tuned oscillator uses low phase noise, fast-settling voltage-controlled oscillators that are digitally linearized to provide high frequency accuracy over the frequency band and temperature range. This high-resolution digitally tuned signal generation module offers low post tuning drift and high purity.

MFG Galileo Composites (Sparks, NV), a specialist in the design and manufacturing of custom composite radomes and reflectors, has secured funding for a second Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) assignment to advance technology for ground-based radomes. The “Research and Development for RF Performance of Ground-Based Radomes” proposal was submitted in response to the Elusive Surface Target Engagement Technology, DARPA/Federal Business Opportunities Broad Agency Announcement 07-15, and selected by DARPA on September 26, 2007. This latest project is a follow on to the company’s earlier research and development work for DARPA that primarily addressed durability and maintainability aspects of radome performance. The objective of the follow-on project is to explore new methods that will increase radome RF performance characteristics while decreasing maintenance costs for end users in military, defense and commercial applications.

Financial News

Tundra Semiconductor Corp., a developer of systems-interconnect technologies, reported financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2008, which ended October 28, 2007. On October 23, the company provided updated revenue guidance for the quarter in the range of $17 M to $18 M. Revenue for the second quarter of fiscal year 2008 was $17.9 M, a 19 percent decrease over the second quarter in fiscal year 2007, and an 11 percent decrease from the first quarter of fiscal year 2008.

Merrimac Industries Inc., a designer and manufacturer of RF microwave components, subsystem assemblies and micro-multifunction modules, announced sales from continuing operations for the third quarter of 2007 were $6.6 M, an increase of $1.1 M or 20.2 percent compared to the third quarter of 2006 net sales of $5.5 M.

Tower Semiconductor Ltd., an independent specialty foundry, announced its revenue for the third quarter of 2007 was $56.6 M, representing an increase of 10 percent when compared to revenue of $51.5 M reported in the third quarter of 2006.

New Market Entries

Superconductor Technologies Inc. (STI), a provider of high-performance infrastructure products for wireless voice and data applications, announced it signed a binding definitive agreement for a joint venture with Hunchun BaoLi Communications Co. Ltd. (BAOLI) (Hunchun City, China) to manufacture and market STI’s SuperLink® interference elimination solution for the China market. The joint venture will be called Hunchun BaoLi Superconductor Technology Co. Ltd. (HBST) and will be registered in Jilin Province. Products will be manufactured initially in Shenzhen and ultimately in the Commercial Cooperation Zone located in Hunchun City, Jilin Province. The sales and marketing division will be based in Shenzhen. Under the terms of the agreement, STI will provide an exclusive license in the China market of the enabling technology and BAOLI will provide the manufacturing expertise and financing.

Vanguard Microwave Solutions is a new startup company specializing in the design and manufacture of ultra-wide bandwidth passive components up to 65 GHz. Vanguard was formed by a group of engineers with a combined experience of more than 50 years in designing, manufacturing and testing. The company currently offers ultra-broadband directional couplers, 90° and 180° hybrid couplers and power dividers, and will design custom components. Find Vanguard Microwave on the Web at www.vanguardmicrowave.com.

Personnel

The Radio Club of America (RCA) presented Louis J. Meyer, director of technical marketing, radio frequency (RF), at Andrew Corp., with its 2007 Alfred H. Grebe Memorial Award for outstanding achievement in designing quality electronic components and equipment on November 16 during the 98^th Anniversary RCA Awards Banquet at the New York Athletic Club, New York City. The Radio Club of America is the world’s oldest radio communications society, founded in 1909 in New York City to promote cooperation among those interested in the advancement and scientific study of radio communications. Meyer is being honored for exemplary contributions to the field of RF communications, which spans industries as varied as missile defense systems to wireless communications. Meyer’s 45-year career was spent largely at Decibel Products, a Richardson, TX-based firm specializing in antenna design and manufacturing for the cellular marketplace, which Andrew acquired in 2003. He holds two patents in telecommunications technology, and is currently vice chair of the Telecommunications Industry Association sub-committee TR-8.11, Antenna Systems.

Ion Beam Milling Inc. announced that it has appointed industry veteran Carmen Losanno vice president of sales. Losanno will lend his 45 years of experience to drive Ion Beam Milling’s strategic direction, growth, new business development and all worldwide sales efforts. He joins Ion Beam Milling from Advanced Reproductions, where his last position was vice president of sales.

Rohde & Schwarz today announced the appointment of Christopher A. French as vice president and general manager of Rohde & Schwarz Canada. French is responsible for the overall management of Rohde & Schwarz Canada’s operations, including sales of test and measurement equipment, broadcast transmitters, and aerospace and defense products.

Aeroflex/MicroMetrics, a manufacturer of RF/microwave diodes and passive semiconductor devices for commercial and military communications, announced that Joseph G. Bukowski has recently joined its engineering team in its MicroMetrics Semiconductor Division, Londonderry, NH, as a senior applications engineer. Bukowski brings over 30 years of practical RF and microwave circuit design experience and knowledge utilizing silicon and GaAs-based semiconductors. His particular area of expertise is based in broadband and high power control circuit designs involving PIN diode switches, attenuators and limiters. He is the co-author of several technical microwave publications and US product design patents.

SUSS MicroTec, a supplier of precision manufacturing and test equipment for the semiconductor and related markets, has appointed Wilfried Bair to the position of vice president strategic business development. Initially he will focus on further developing the company’s 3D packaging and 3D integration product portfolio. An expert in 3D technology applications, Bair has many years of management and business development experience in the semiconductor industry throughout Europe, the US and Asia.

Fairchild Semiconductor, a global supplier of high performance products that optimize system power, recently appointed Justin Chiang senior vice president of the newly formed Power Conversion, Industrial & Automotive Product Group. This new organization includes Fairchild’s Power Conversion, High Voltage and Automotive product lines and will focus on leveraging the group’s extensive expertise in developing advanced power supply and power management solutions for this fast growing market segment. Chiang formerly served as Fairchild’s vice president of system power within the Analog Products Group. Prior to joining Fairchild he held a variety of technical and senior management positions with Raychem Corp. and Tyco Electronics.

Applied Wave Research (AWR), a developer of high-frequency electronic design automation tools, announced that Rick Bottomley has joined the company as its chief financial officer (CFO). In his new role, Bottomley will be responsible for the company’s global finances, accounting, and fiscal planning activities, as well as helping to evaluate business opportunities and strategies. He joins AWR with over 20 years of experience across all facets of financial management in the high-tech industry.

Elcom Technologies Inc., a designer and manufacturer of a wide range of RF solutions for the defense and commercial market, announced the appointment of Jim Davis as chief executive officer, reporting to the board of directors. His primary charter is to exploit Elcom’s early success derived from its modular RF digital architecture and synthesizer technology. Uri Yaniv will continue his role as CTO and chairman of the board.

Ansoft Corp. announced the retirement of Thomas A.N. Miller, the company’s CFO, effective December 31, 2007. Miller, who is one of the company’s founders and has served as CFO since February 2004, will be succeeded by Shane Emswiler, Ansoft’s vice president of finance. Emswiler is a certified public accountant that joined Ansoft in September 2004 from Ernst & Young, where he was a senior manager in the assurance and advisory practice.

Rep Appointments

RECOM, a power supply specialist for DC/DC and AC/DC converters, has appointed Allied Electronics as its new distributor for the North American market. Allied Electronics is a small order, high service level distributor of electronic components with 56 sales branches across the United States and Canada. In addition to the 175 lines of on-board DC/DC, AC/DC converter and switching regulator products offered in the new printed catalog, Allied Electronics will now also have fast access to the extended RECOM portfolio of over 10,000 different products.

ANADIGICS Inc., a supplier of wireless and broadband communications solutions, announced that it has selected Rochester Electronics to be its authorized distributor of discontinued products. Rochester Electronics works with 30 semiconductor manufacturers to provide a reliable aftermarket source for discontinued products. Rochester will continue filling orders for ANADIGICS customers when products reach end-of-life status and beyond. All ANADIGICS products distributed by Rochester Electronics are supplied factory direct.

Richardson Electronics, a global distributor of RF and wireless electronic parts and components, announced today the extension of its distribution agreement with Wavecom SA to include North and South America. The strategic partnership will expand Richardson’s distribution of Wavecom’s Wireless CPU(r) products and wireless communications solutions.

Kaben Wireless Silicon Inc., a designer of wireless semiconductors specializing in frequency synthesizers, advanced filtering and RF and mixed-signal designs, announced that it has joined the Jazz Semiconductor IP Partners program of Jazz Semiconductor and has been qualified as a Silicon-proven IP provider. The Application-specific IP Providers program from Jazz is intended to help its foundry customers speed time to market, reduce development risk, lower development costs and improve return on investment by qualifying semiconductor IP providers and design partners that have pre-tested and validated their methodologies for compatibility with Jazz Semiconductor.

EMC Technology and Florida RF Labs has appointed several new manufacturers’ representatives. In the US, the partnership has added Custom & Wireless Sales to cover Northern California. Internationally, they have added Hi-Tech RF & Microwave Solutions to cover the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg; YE International to cover Russia and the Baltic States; LKC Oy to cover Finland; and Consulting Conexion Lider to handle Spain and Portugal. For a full list of contacts and current sales representatives, visit www.emct.com or www.rflabs.com.

Sivers IMA AB, a manufacturer of microwave sources such as ultra-wideband VCOs and FMCW microwave front ends, has added five new organizations as its sales channels. In the US: Sertech is its representative in Pennsylvania, Delaware and Southern New York state; T & E Repco in Florida; Grant Technical Sales in Arizona, New Mexico and El Paso County in Texas; and Thorson West in Northern California. Kaytronics EXIM PVT. Ltd. with offices in Hyderabad and Bangalore is the company’s representative in India.

Atlantic Microwave Ltd., a microwave equipment and component manufacturer, is addressing developing markets in the Pacific Rim and Australia regions with the appointment of key sales representatives in Australia and South Korea. In Australia the new representative is Stanford Technologies Ltd., 737 Burwood Road Hawthorn, Victoria 3122 Australia, Tel: +61 (0) 3 8862 6336, Fax: +61 (0) 3 9804 0202, e-mail: grant@stanford.net.au. In Korea, the new representative is Phoas Co. Ltd., Room 1002, Anyang K-center, 1591-9, Burim-dong, Dongan-gu, Anyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea 431-815, Tel: +82 31 384 1094, Fax: +82 31 384 2177, e-mail: phoas@chol.com.