CONTRACTS
DataPath, Inc.— Has been awarded $1.9 million to continue
providing field services for DataPath Deployable Ku Band
Earth Terminals (DKETs) at a communications hub in Iraq.
The DKET systems were built and installed by DataPath. The
US military uses these systems as satellite-communications
(satcom) hubs, as they deliver high-bandwidth capabilities
on the battlefield. The contracting authority for the award,
which exercises options on an existing contract, is US Central
Command (CENTCOM) based in Tampa, FL.
Telegesis UK Ltd.— Has won an order to supply its Zigbee module
products to TBN Energoservice of Russia. TBN is implementing
a wireless water automatic-meter-reading (AMR) system based
on ZigBee radio technology. The system uses ZigBee mesh networking
software and silicon delivered in module form via the
ETRX2 module produced by British Company Telegesis (UK)
Ltd. The Telegesis ETRX2 ZigBee modules are based on silicon
from Ember Corp. (www.ember.com).
Euclid TechLabs, LLC— Has been awarded three Phase II Small
Business Innovative Research (SBIR) grants by the Department
of Energy for fiscal year 2009 to 2010. The first of these is for
development of a high-power, 26-GHz RF source based on
a “power extractor” cavity developed by Euclid. This cavity
is driven by relativistic electron bunch-trains. The device has
applications as a power source for the high-energy electron
linear accelerators used in research, medicine, and industry.
The cavity also can be used as a power source for radar and
communications systems. The second project targets the use
of thermal and electronic control of ferroelectrics’ dielectric
properties to provide frequency adjustment for dielectricloaded
RF accelerating structures.
FRESH STARTS
Broadcom Corp.— Has joined the WirelessHD consortium as
a promoter company with a mutual goal of helping to enable
wireless connectivity for streaming high-definition (HD)
content between consumer-electronics devices and displays.
WirelessHD is a worldwide organization dedicated to the
advancement and enhancement of the WirelessHD standard,
which has specified the unlicensed, globally available
60-GHz frequency band to enable wireless uncompressed
high-definition, high-quality video and data transmission.
To help position WirelessHD as a leading organization for the
advancement of standards used in the wireless home audio
and video technology space, Broadcom will develop advanced
solutions that lower the cost of wireless video distribution.
In other news, Broadcom has acquired AMD’s digital TV
(DTV) business. The acquisition will enable Broadcom to
scale its DTV business and—in conjunction with its existing
products— offer a product line that covers all segments of the
DTV market. In connection with the acquisition, Broadcom
will pay approximately $192.8 million in cash in exchange
for AMD’s DTV assets. The closing is targeted to occur during
Broadcom’s fourth quarter ending Dec. 31.
The Alberta Centre for Advanced Microsystems and Nanotechnology
Products (ACAMP)— Small or large companies and entrepreneurs
who want to bring nanotechnology products to world markets
can access technical and business services thanks to ACAMP
in Edmonton’s Research Park. The center is supported by
$11.5 million in total funding with contributions of $8 million
from the Alberta government and $3.5 million from Canada’s
Western Economic Diversification. The center will support the
province’s growing nanotechnology sector in packaging and
assembly, business and product development, and marketing.
ACAMP will identify commercial market opportunities
in global markets and promote Alberta’s nanotechnology
capabilities nationally and internationally.
Telit Wireless Solutions—The M2M mobile technology division
has been awarded PTCRB certification for its UC-
64-G module. PTCRB certification is an industry operator
requirement to sell GSM cellular communication products in
selected European countries and the Americas. This is Telit’s
first UMTS/HSDPA module to receive PTCRB certification.
The UC864-G is a 3.5G wireless data module designed to
be compatible with GSM/GPRS, UMTS/HSDPA, and EDGE
cellular networks.
TriQuint Semiconductor—Has been recognized by Northrop
Grumman Corp. Electronic Systems (NGES) with an award for
bulk-acoustic-wave (BAW) innovation. TriQuint also received
a Strategic Supplier Award for its dedication to the success of
NGES programs. TriQuint was recognized for the development
of BAW S-band, tuned-coupled-resonator-filter (TCRF)
modules. These devices were designed and manufactured at
the company’s Bend, OR facility. TriQuint also received a Strategic
Supplier Award for support provided by the company’s
Richardson, TX design and manufacturing center.
MITEQ, Inc.—Has announced the appointment of TriTex Technical
Sales, Inc. as the company’s exclusive sales representative
in Texas. TriTex Technical Sales will represent MITEQ’s
component division of products, which include amplifiers,
mixers, frequency multipliers, passive power components,
switches, attenuators, limiters, phase shifters, IF signal
processing components, oscillators, synthesizers, integrated
multifunction assemblies, and fiber-optic products.
Standex—Has acquired privately owned BG Laboratories, a
manufacturer of custom-designed magnetic inductors and
various types of transformers including Modem and Scott-T
transformers for the aviation, aerospace, and military end
markets. The cash transaction was valued at approximately
$1.6 million. Binghamton, NY-based BG Laboratories
will be integrated into Standex International’s Engineered
Products Group as part of Standex Electronics, which has
headquarters in Cincinnati, OH.
BitWave Semiconductor—Closed $10 million of additional
financing in an initial Series B funding round. The financing
was provided by BitWave’s existing investors: Apex Venture
Partners, TVM Capital, and ECentury Capital Partners. The
funding will be used to realize the commercialization of the
BW1102 Softransceiver RFIC as it moves into full volume
production during the fourth quarter of 2008.