compound semiconductor news digest
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Sofradir receives EUR 2.5 million
LED vs. Fluorescent
contract to supply additional infrared
Lighting – Are LEDs set
to take over the hazardous
detectors for the European earth
area lighting market?
observation mission, GMES
27 Jan 2010
Sentinel-2 - 26 Jan 2010
Recent developments in LED lighting
technology have increased functionality and
reduced “whole-life” costs through their
greater power efficiency and the reduced
Sofradir, a leading developer and on the three-band SWIR detector we need for maintenance. This makes them
manufacturer of advanced infrared detectors custom-designed for the GMES Sentinel-2 more suitable to use in hazardous areas.
for military, space and industrial mission,” said Philippe Bensussan, chairman
applications, announced today that it has and CEO at Sofradir. “Getting the go ahead Marc Fernandez, a market research analyst
been awarded an additional EUR 2.5 million to supply more IR detectors of this caliber for with IMS Research, comments in a report
contract to provide a second batch of 15 the Sentinel-2 satellite is a clear on hazardous area equipment “In the past,
micron pitch multi-linear shortwave infrared demonstration of the confidence our LED lighting has been seen as an expensive
(SWIR) arrays for the space-borne Global customers have in our products and marks alternative to fluorescent lighting, but with
Monitoring for Environment and Security another step forward for Sofradir in the space recent developments many lighting
(GMES) initiative. GMES is a joint market. We are delighted with the outcome.” manufacturers and suppliers are increasingly
undertaking of the European Commission considering it. It is thought a “greener”
and the European Space Agency (ESA). Sofradir will start delivering flight models for option; as there is less maintenance
the two Sentinel satellites by mid 2010. required, and is more power-efficient than
The new order follows a previous EUR 6.7 Sofradir is involved in a growing number of fluorescent lighting.”
million contract awarded to Sofradir by satellite and space missions, covering
Astrium SAS, a worldwide supplier of applications such as earth mapping, Fernandez continues, “Growth in its use in
satellite and space equipment, to custom- environment and disaster monitoring, the hazardous area equipment market will
design a three-band SWIR for the GMES meteorology and planet exploration. be driven by the increasing adoption of
Sentinel-2 mission. The high levels of Sofradir’s MCT IR detectors are in orbit in maintenance-free lighting, and by the
reliability and performance Sofradir achieved the Helios IIA and IIB, French military earth replacement of existing lighting with new
with the first batch delivered to Astrium observation satellites the latter of which was forms of luminaries.
brought about a decision for Sofradir to launched last December. Performance tests
supply more units. These IR detectors, conducted in early January show that the IR A survey of end users
based on Sofradir’s Mercury Cadmium detectors are performing very well. of hazardous area equipment carried out
Telluride (MCT) technology, are replacing a Sofradir’s IR detectors are also being used by IMS Research shows that a large
competing technology previously used in on the European Space Agency Venus proportion of respondents intended to
European space projects. The multi-linear Express satellites and the French MoD increase their usage of LED lighting in three
SWIR arrays are for the Multi-Spectral SPIRALE satellites. years. Whilst this take-up of LED lighting is
Instrument (MSI), an earth observation significant, it should be noted that a larger
instrument onboard each of the Sentinel-2 Its detectors for Japanese space agency proportion of respondents still currently
satellites. (JAXA) SGLI/G-COM (Second Generation used and planned to use fluorescent
GLI/Global Change Observation Mission) lighting. This suggests that LED technology
“This subsequent contract is a direct result are presently in the Engineering Model still has a long way to go against its
of the high levels of satisfaction we received phase. established competitor.”
Keithley Instruments’ Solar Cell Testing Survey Shows Priorities and Best
Practices in Test Methods - 28 Jan, 2010
A recent survey of solar cell/photovoltaic device researchers and downloading at no charge from Keithley’s website at:
manufacturers working in government, university-based, and
http://www.keithley.com/data?asset=52794.
corporate labs and manufacturing facilities indicates distinct
differences in testing methods and priorities among respondents Across all geographies, the survey indicated the industry is focused
from Asia, North America, and Europe. on improving device efficiencies as the dominant development
priority. “Reducing manufacturing cost” was the second most
Keithley Instruments, Inc. conducted the study during Summer important among the respondents, as might be expected, although
2009 using a by-invitation-only online survey generating 564 substantially less significant than the need to boost device and
responses. A white paper summarizing the results is available for panel performance.
January/February 2010
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