Printed Electronics Now Breaking News

New Energy Advances Engineering and Fabrication of Commercial-Scale Prototype

Kerry Pianoforte — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:17:00 -0500

New Energy Technologies, Inc., developer of MotionPower technologies for generating sustainable electricity from the kinetic energy of moving vehicles and SolarWindow technologies capable of generating electricity on see-thru glass windows, announced that engineers have successfully completed the most important engineering and fabrication steps required in the development of the company's MotionPower-Heavy technology for generating electricity from the motion of heavy commercial vehicles, including trucks, long-haul rigs, and buses.

"These engineering advancements enable us to begin in-house tests of the first ever commercial-scale prototype of our MotionPower-Heavy device, and mark a major development milestone," explained Meetesh V. Patel, president and CEO of New Energy Technologies, Inc. "I'm eager to advance these trials
to include field-testing in real-world installation sites, similar to
field-tests conducted for our MotionPower-Auto technology for generating electricity from moving cars."

Earlier, the company's MotionPower-Auto technology underwent durability field-tests at the Four Seasons Hotel in Washington, DC, a prominent Burger King quick-service franchise during the busy Labor Day long weekend in Hillside, NJ, and a Holiday Inn Express in Baltimore, MD. These field tests were undertaken following advanced prototyping and in-house testing of the MotionPower-Auto system. Following these important field tests, engineers were able to achieve a 25-fold increase in the system's capacity to capture energy from moving cars and light trucks.

Similarly, engineers anticipate advancing in-house testing of New Energy's MotionPower-Heavy technology to include field tests at commercial sites where the motion of heavy trucks, long haul rigs and buses can be used to generate sustainable electricity.

New Energy's MotionPower-Heavy technology is designed to capture the 'kinetic energy' of a heavy commercial vehicle when it comes to a stop. The system subsequently converts this otherwise unused energy into valuable electricity. Heavy-duty trucks have up to 25 times more kinetic energy than a typical car traveling at the same speed.

First Solar Signs Contract with PG&E for 300 MW PV Solar Power Project

Kerry Pianoforte — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:14:00 -0500

First Solar, Inc. announced a power purchase agreement to supply Pacific Gas and Electric Company with renewable electricity from a 300 megawatt (AC) utility-scale photovoltaic solar power facility that First Solar is developing in Southern California.

The Desert Sunlight project, to be located near Desert Center in eastern Riverside County, CA, will have a total capacity of 550 megawatts, enough to power approximately 160,000 area homes – or about 480,000 residents. The other 250 MW portion of the project is already under contract to Southern California Edison. First Solar's power purchase agreements with PG&E and SCE
are subject to the approval of the California Public Utilities Commission.

First Solar will build the Desert Sunlight project using its industry
leading thin-film photovoltaic solar modules and providing its project development, engineering, procurement and construction capabilities. With construction expected to start by the end of 2010 and completion as early as 2013, the project will displace 300,000 metric tons of CO2 per year, the equivalent of taking 60,000 cars off the road. It will also create approximately 430 construction jobs. The project's permit application has been fast tracked by the Bureau of Land Management.

"First Solar is one of the few companies that has all the capabilities required to realize very large, utility-scale solar projects like Desert Sunlight, which are important in helping our customers and California reach the state's renewable energy goals," said Rob Gillette, First Solar CEO.

First Solar has 1,700 megawatts of utility-scale power projects with power purchase agreements in North America.

First Solar Signs Contract with PG&E for 300 MW PV Solar Power Project

Kerry Pianoforte — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:14:00 -0500

Aerosol Jet Deposition System for Multi-Chip Packaging to be Featured at IMAPS Device Packaging ...

Kerry Pianoforte — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:12:00 -0500

Optomec announced that Mike O’Reilly, Optomec’s Aerosol Jet product manager, will give a presentation on Aerosol Jet Deposition Technology for High Density, 3-D Interconnects for Multi-Chip Packaging at the IMAPS Device Packaging Conference on March 11, 2010. The conference will be held from March 9-11 at the Radisson Fort McDowell Resort and Casino in
Scottsdale/Fountain Hills, AZ.

Optomec and Vertcial Circuits Inc. have partnered together in developing a complete solution which addresses evolving 3-D semiconductor packaging complexities. Optomec’s patented Aerosol Jet technology is a maskless, non-contact material deposition system used to enable 3-D semiconductor packaging.

O’Reilly’s presentation will discuss the results of printing high density, 3-D interconnects printed on stacked die multi-chip packages which incorporate streaming video, communications and memory modules. Such packages are critical for meeting the increasing functional requirements of SmartPhones, personal entertainment, and other mobile devices.

O’Reilly’s presentation will explain how the Aerosol Jet system is used to deposit silver nanoparticle ink interconnects along the staircased sidewalls of staggered multi-chip die stacks.

Applied Materials Announces Increased Cash Dividend and $2 Billion Share Repurchase Authorization

Dave Savastano — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:04:00 -0500

Applied Materials, Inc., the global leader in nanomanufacturing technology solutions for the semiconductor, flat panel display and solar industries, today announced that its Board of Directors has approved a 17% increase in the quarterly cash dividend to $0.07 per share, payable on June 16, 2010 to stockholders of record as of May 26, 2010.

Previously, the quarterly cash dividend was $0.06 per share. Applied's Board also approved a new stock repurchase program authorizing up to $2 billion in repurchases over the next three years ending in March 2013.

“Applied’s strong financial position and operating cash flow enable us to invest in growth opportunities throughout our businesses as well as return cash to stockholders,” said Mike Splinter, chairman and CEO. ”Today’s dividend increase reflects our confidence in the company’s near and long-term prospects for growth and profitability. The buyback program provides a flexible means to return excess cash to shareholders.”

As of Jan. 31, 2010, Applied Materials had approximately 1.34 billion shares of common stock outstanding.

Dyesol to Collaborate with Pilkington North America on BIPV

Dave Savastano — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:53:00 -0500

March 8, 2010
www.dyesol.com

Dyesol Inc., a 100% subsidiary of Dyesol Industries Pty Limited, is collaborating with Pilkington North America to develop opportunities in the building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) market place utilizing Pilkington’s TEC series of transparent conductive oxide (TCO) coated float glass and Dyesol’s dye solar cell (DSC) materials and technology.

The global market for flat glass is forecast to be approximately 6 billion m2 for 2010 and growing at 5% per annum. Initially, the collaboration will seek to address the non-view glass market, known as spandrel, which accounts for 40% of the total flat glass market. Beyond spandrel, addressing the larger view glass market is also a key objective and that is expected to be supported by a number of other regional collaborations, particularly programs to introduce new dyes and DSC systems.

Dyesol has a clearly defined strategic objective to partner with best-in-class commercialization partners who have access to global markets in the sectors of steel, glass, auto and electronics. The collaboration with Pilkington is entirely consistent with this strategic objective.

“Pilkington believes it is time to begin developing the next generation of photovoltaic power,” said Pilkington's Stephen Weidner, senior vice president of building products for North America. “BIPV is an emerging market segment with great opportunity for utilizing our TCO technology to bring photovoltaic power into building design.”

“The collaboration with Dyesol has the potential to bring a significant change in the value of architectural glass as we know it today. No longer will glass be viewed solely for its insulation and aesthetic properties, but for its power generating potential as well,” Weidner adds.

“Pilkington is the world leader in the production of TCO glass. In fact, Dyesol and their customers have been utilizing Pilkington’s TEC product for many years. This collaboration presents an ideal platform for co-developing and optimizing products that work together to improve DSC performance,” says Marc M. Thomas, CEO of Dyesol Inc. “With at least 40 per cent of all electrical energy consumed in the U.S. used in the built environment, the market opportunity is enormous.”

Dr. Gavin Tulloch, the global managing director and co-founder of Dyesol Ltd. comments, “DSC technology can best be described as ‘artificial photosynthesis’. It uses an electrolyte, a layer of titania semiconductor (a pigment used in white paints and toothpaste) deposited on transparent conductive oxide glass, metal or polymer substrates which is then soaked in a ruthenium based organic dye. Light striking the dye excites electrons which are injected into the titania to become an electric current many times stronger than that found in natural photosynthesis in plants.

Dyesol’s technology has lower cost and embodied energy in manufacture than competing technologies, produces electricity more efficiently over the normal light spectrum and the glass based products can be directly incorporated into buildings by replacing conventional glass.”

Innovalight Hires Michael Johnson as CFO

Dave Savastano — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:47:00 -0500

Innovalight, Inc., a privately-held firm selling silicon ink-based high efficiency solar cell materials and technology, today announced that it has hired Michael Johnson as chief financial officer.

Johnson brings more than 30 years of experience to Innovalight. His career spans companies such as Baron Data Systems, Ascend Communications, CacheFlow, Inc., Amber Networks and more recently, he has been instrumental in several very successful initial public offerings that raised more than $500 million in new capital.

He has also executed some of Silicon Valley's most notable transactions that created very successful exits for investors to the tune of approximately $2 billion as well as mergers valued at over $4 billion.

"Innovalight represents one of the most exciting growth opportunities in renewable energy I have seen to date," said Johnson. "I am delighted to be part of the executive team bringing such innovative and profitable technology to the solar energy market," he added.

Innovalight's proprietary materials and processes allow crystalline silicon solar cell manufacturers to dramatically boost output capacity and solar cell performance, as well as reduce costs with a simplified additional step to already installed manufacturing lines. The opportunity is significant: crystalline silicon solar cell technology accounts for 77% of the commercial solar panel market today, according to Navigant Consulting, Inc., a leading solar industry research firm.

"Mike brings extraordinary talent to Innovalight at just the right time as we scale our business," said Conrad Burke, president and CEO. "His track record in helping build great companies and creating value is well known in Silicon Valley," he added.

Innovalight has a development roadmap to ultimately bring conversion efficiencies of solar cells to over 20% using its platform for silicon ink and processing technologies. Innovalight has filed for more than 60 patents filed for silicon ink and high efficiency solar cells using silicon ink processes.

New Bundesdruckerei Product Presented at CeBIT 2010

Dave Savastano — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 10:48:00 -0500

A new product from Bundesdruckerei GmbH is launched at CeBIT 2010: the Visotec Expert 600 document verification device. This device can be used both by public bodies, such as border police, and by companies in the private sector to check the authenticity of ID documents quickly and reliably.

False identities are no longer a problem just for border police. The private sector is also being increasingly confronted by this topic. A growing number of drivers rent cars, for instance, using false ID data and then fail to return the car. Or some buyers use false ID data to sign hire purchase agreements with electric goods stores for expensive articles without ever paying. This costs the private sector millions every year.

Bundesdruckerei has now developed a new reading and verification device for these two target groups - for both the public and private sector. Visotec Expert 600 supports staff and helps them to visually check the authenticity of ID documents quickly, conveniently and reliably. The device can be used to read different types of documents, such as ID cards, passports and visas, and to check different formats (credit-card format, passport, foreign oversize format). The Visocore Inspect software additionally checks whether the electronic components of the document are authentic.

Visit Bundesdruckerei's booth in the Public Sector Parc, hall 9, booth D 80.

Bundesdruckerei Presents New Mobility Concepts

Dave Savastano — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 10:51:00 -0500

Mobile data services are leading to a flood of new applications and online services. At this year's CeBIT, Bundesdruckerei is demonstrating the role which innovative NFC technologies and eID card concepts could have in mobile application scenarios.

"We believe that citizens should be able to use secure Internet transactions no matter where, no matter when. The idea of sensibly linking mobile phones, which we all use, and a document like the new ID card, which we all carry, could lead to a new dimension in data security and identity protection also in the field of mobile applications," Ulrich Hamann, CEO of Bundesdruckerei GmbH, comments on his company's latest visions for the future.

From a technological point of view, it seems as if the application examples can in fact be easily implemented. That's because just like when it comes to the secure transfer of data between eDocuments and reading devices, contactless infrastructures with Near Field Communication (NFC) also work in the frequency range of 13.56 MHz. This means that people wishing to use services, such as the Call a Bike concept presented together with Deutsche Bahn, will only need their new ID card and a modern NFC mobile phone in order to be able to start all the required data transfers using a PIN. With a maximum range of just 10 centimeters between the transmitter and the receiver, the risk of unauthorized data access is just as low as with stationary devices.

Looking too far into the future? Certainly not. Even now, suppliers of network equipment are getting ready for mobile data volumes to explode. That means that new mobility concepts are also one of the most important future topics for the high-security industry.

Applications, such as the SecuStart project presented by Bundesdruckerei where innovative eID card systems are also used to protect against car theft, or the scenario where mobile data transfer can be used to reserve a place at an electric charging station, are just the beginning of a long series of conceivable possibilities.

Nobody is currently willing to forecast precisely if and when it will in fact be possible to use NFC mobile phones to read the new ID card which at Bundesdruckerei is the prime focus of all sample applications. There is still considerable controversy among international coordination committees regarding the harmonization of binding security standards.

SOMARK Accepting Pre-Orders for Labstamp 3.4.10

Dave Savastano — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 11:11:00 -0500

SOMARK Innovations, Inc., a company specializing in advanced lab-animal identification systems, is accepting pre-orders for their Labstamp, a machine that applies automated tail tattoos to mice for laboratory identification. The Labstamp applies permanent, alpha-numeric IDs in 30 seconds.

“With Labstamp, we’ve developed an alternative to ear tags, ear punches/notches or hand tattoos,” said Mark C. Pydynowski, SOMARK president. “You can learn to use the machine in 10 minutes, creating IDs that are reliable and permanent.”

Labstamp consists of an applicator machine and a modular restraint cartridge, which uses non-invasive grippers to immobilize the tail. The user restrains the mouse, adds a disposable ink slide, applies tail oil, slides the restraint cartridge into the applicator machine, enters the ID and presses start.

“Labstamp takes the human variable out of the mouse ID process,” says Ramos Mays, SOMARK chief science officer. “That means users can create consistent, reliable IDs, and it also means that the process is safer for animals.”

Labstamp is scheduled for release for commercial use in late 2010.

ECD Announces 2.4-MW Rooftop Solar Project in Portland

Dave Savastano — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 11:08:00 -0500

Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (ECD), the leading global manufacturer of thin-film flexible solar laminate products for the building integrated and commercial rooftop markets, today announced it has been selected by ProLogis and Portland General Electric (PGE) to deliver 2.4MWp of UNI-SOLAR® laminates for installation on seven ProLogis distribution warehouses in Portland, Gresham, and Clackamas in Oregon.

The solar power systems will be installed by Northwest Solar Solutions on rooftops leased from ProLogis. U.S. Bank and PGE have formed SunWay 3, LLC to own and operate the system and to secure state and federal solar tax credits to help finance the project. Construction will take place in the spring and summer of 2010.

This rooftop solar installation is ECD's second project with ProLogis and PGE. The new project will use the same type of UNI-SOLAR light weight, flexible solar laminates that were featured on the previous 1.1 megawatt rooftop project that ProLogis and PGE brought online in 2008. Taken together, the two projects produce enough energy to power approximately 388 households annually.

"We are pleased to again be working with both Energy Conversion Devices and PGE," said Drew Torbin, vice president of renewable energy for ProLogis. "Once completed, the 906,000-square-foot project will become the largest rooftop solar system in the Pacific Northwest."

Mark Morelli, ECD's president and CEO, said, "This announcement is another indication that we are gaining traction as we transition our business model to focus on large-scale, multi-rooftop projects. We have worked with ProLogis on projects in France and Spain, and we are always pleased to do repeat business with this valued customer. We look forward to completing this installation for PGE and working with ProLogis on many more projects."

PowerID Releases New, Improved Line of BAP RFID Products

Dave Savastano — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 11:05:00 -0500

PowerID Ltd., the industry leader in battery-assisted, passive (BAP) RFID technology, announced today the release of two new, improved versions of tags into its BAP RFID product line.

PowerID’s product line now includes the following new tag versions:

• PowerM-604 family: A ruggedized, long-life metal-mount tag, targeted at tracking items such as reusable pallet containers (RPCs), unit load devices (ULDs), shipping containers, and roll-cages. The tag has a lifetime of five years and features IP67 encasing.

With an open space read range of up to 200 feet (about 60 meters), the PowerM is the longest-range passive metal UHF RFID tag available today.

• PowerP-703 family: The new credit-card sized people tracking tag is plastic-coated on both sides for durability. Customized printing is available upon demand.

All PowerID tags are compliant with the EPCglobal Class 1, Generation 2 protocol and with the ISO 18000-6C standard. PowerID tags are deployed today in various high volume applications, including race timing, reusable pallet container tracking, and vehicle tracking. These applications demand RFID performance that standard passive RFID labels fail to provide.

“During the past 18 months, we have significantly expanded our presence in a number of segments by focusing on our customer needs, namely high performance RFID BAP labels,“ said Erez Kahani, PowerID’s CEO. “We anticipate that our new label line will be embraced by the market as our previous labels have been and look forward to providing value to our customers as we have in the past.”

UPM RFID Technology Helps Sonoco-Alcore Better Serve Its Paper Core Customers

Dave Savastano — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 11:05:00 -0500

Sonoco-Alcore, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sonoco with 30 tube and core plants and six paper mills in Europe, is using UPM Raflatac DogBone RFID tags in its fiber-based cores to help customers reduce costs through advanced inventory tracking.

RFID technology allows Sonoco-Alcore to provide customers the ability to reduce costs associated with lost inventory and manual labour many companies currently use for inventory tracking. By embedding RFID tags in roll cores, customers of Sonoco-Alcore can follow rolls through the supply chain process with real-time tracking and location information. Sonoco is using the technology to produce its Intellicore engineered carriers.

One market already using Sonoco's Intellicore carriers is décor paper. RFID tags are embedded in the cores during the winding process and tested to ensure 100 percent functionality.

“This technology is a value-add to our products that can provide cost savings to our customers. It allows for easy tracking and management throughout the product’s life cycle,” says Eddie Smith, vice president, Sonoco Europe.

"Printing houses can benefit in many ways by using RFID technology. Paper roll traceability at core level enables continuous printing through several phases without losing important paper type and quality information of the material. Material leftovers from the previous run can be re-used for new printing work. In savings this can result in over 10% savings in material costs," says Mikko Nikkanen, business development director, UPM Raflatac, RFID.

M�hlbauer Patent Confirmed by Singapore Court of Appeal

Dave Savastano — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 12:08:00 -0500

The Singapore Court of Appeal has agreed that Mühlbauer AG has made out its case for infringement of Mühlbauer's patent against Manufacturing Integration Technology Ltd (MIT) in respect of MIT’s CAERUS device.

The Singapore Court of Appeal also found Mühlbauer's patented invention to be both novel and non-obvious over the prior art. Accordingly, the Court of Appeal accorded protection to Mühlbauer's valuable contribution to the state-of-the-art.

The subject matter of the proceedings was in respect of patented modules and methods for inspecting, picking up and placing electronic components (dies) onto substrates or tape and reel packaging which are integrated in the latest Mühlbauer die sorter and flip chip equipment.

These machines embody the inventive concept of the Mühlbauer patent which is to have a genuinely concurrent inspection of a die through a pivoting part having two pickup heads. This concept is well-known in the industry as “double flipper." The MIT CAERUS device infringed all 10 claims of Mühlbauer's patent as acknowledged by MIT during the trial in the Singapore High Court.

The Singapore Court of Appeal, after having thoroughly considered the merits of the case and all arguments exchanged between Mühlbauer and MIT, decided that Mühlbauer's patent is valid. The Court of Appeal also granted Mühlbauer a certificate of contested validity in respect of Mühlbauer's patent in Singapore. Further, the Court of Appeal found that Mühlbauer did not make any groundless threats of patent infringement proceedings against MIT.

“We at Mühlbauer are very happy about this positive court decision for Mühlbauer and its valued customers,” said Thomas Betz, board member of Mühlbauer. “The underlying technology can be considered as a well-protected asset in Mühlbauer’s flip chip technology portfolio. It provides our customers significant advantages in their production floors. Mühlbauer is committed to defend its IP worldwide and to further invest into the continuous performance increase of its flip chip systems based on this innovative and unique die handling and inspection concept.”

Konarka Announces Business Collaboration and Strategic Investment with Konica Minolta

Dave Savastano — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 13:42:00 -0500

Konarka Technologies, Inc., an innovator in development and commercialization of Konarka Power Plastic, a material that converts light to energy, announced the company has signed a comprehensive R&D collaboration and strategic investment agreement with Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc. The companies reached agreement to start full-scale collaboration in April in the joint development and distribution of organic thin-film photovoltaics. Under the agreement, Konica Minolta has invested $20 million in Konarka.

"Konica Minolta positions the organic thin-film photovoltaic business as one of the most promising in the environment and energy field, next to the organic light emitting diode (OLED) business, where our photographic film manufacturing technology is leading mass production," commented Masatoshi Matsuzaki, CEO at Konica Minolta. "We are pleased to be collaborating with Konarka, the first and world leader to commercialize organic thin-film photovoltaics because of its state-of-the-art polymer technology and its mass production facility in New Bedford, MA."

The companies will organize respective strengths in materials, optical and coating technologies as well as joint development, aiming to improve organic thin-film photovoltaic performance including higher conversion efficiency, longer life and lower manufacturing costs, to realize mass production of next-generation photovoltaics. Currently, Konarka's roll-to-roll process simplifies manufacturing scale-up, has significantly lower capital and labor costs than previous generations of solar cells and can be produced using existing coating and printing equipment.

Upon successful results of the joint development milestones, the companies are expected to establish a joint venture company in Japan to produce organic thin-film photovoltaic panels. Konica Minolta will be Konarka's lead Asian business partner headquartered in Japan.

"We are delighted that Konica Minolta recognizes the value of Konarka's patent-protected thin film solar material that is lightweight and flexible, uniquely lending itself to a wide range of applications where traditional photovoltaics are not effective," commented Howard Berke, executive chairman and co-founder of Konarka. "With our collaboration efforts, Konarka and Konica Minolta are well positioned to deliver efficient, next-generation photovoltaic panels to meet the growing demand for personal and commercial solar energy solutions around the world."

Konarka will be exhibiting with its key product application partner, Toppan Forms, at PV Expo Japan 2010, March 3-5, 2010 in Tokyo, Japan, booths 31-32.