CONTRACTS
OEwaves—Has received an award from DARPA to investigate GMTI radar feasibility for the WASP unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Using the Whispering Gallery Mode (WGM) optical resonator technology, OEwaves developed and demonstrated a compact and lightweight transmit/ receive capability. The firm’s microwave photonic technology simplifies the architecture of conventional microwave techniques by addressing the need to substantially reduce size and power requirements.
Giga-tronics, Inc.—Has received a $1.1-million order from the Naval Air Warfare Center in Lakehurst, NJ for its model 8003 Precision Scalar Analyzer. The analyzer combines a 90-dB dynamic range with the accuracy and linearity of a power meter in a single instrument.
Northrop Grumman Corp.—Has been awarded a contract to supply new radar systems for installation on 10 German navy ships. Under the contract, Northrop Grumman will install its new-generation Sperry Marine VisionMaster FT radar systems on 10 additional German navy ships. Two of the vessels will be fitted with the company’s dual-channel radar technology. The company will also provide training, spares, installation, engineering, and project-management support.
Orbit Technologies Ltd.—Has received an order to supply Telespazio with marine satellite-communications systems, which will be installed on board oil and gas industry platforms worldwide. The systems consist of the 1.15-m Ku-band Orsat-G systems and the 2.4-m AL-7108 C-band systems. They feature advanced RF capability, enabling high-speed broadband data transmission/reception even under the roughest conditions at sea. Telespazio is a joint venture of Finmeccanica and Thales.

FRESH STARTS
NXP Semiconductors—Has opened the high-performance RF product creation center (PCC) in Billerica, MA. This facility will focus on the design of the RF and microwave integrated circuits (ICs) used in applications like defense and aerospace, industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) satellite receivers, and broadband communications.
Ozmo Devices—Has completed its series D funding round in the amount of $10.8 million. Atlantic Bridge Ventures led the round with participation of existing investors Granite Ventures and Intel Capital. This milestone comes after the recent addition of Bill McLean as President and Chief Executive Officer earlier this year and Ozmo Devices’ recognition by Gartner as a “Cool Vendor in Semiconductors.” In addition, Brian Long, Partner at Atlantic Bridge, will join the Board of Directors.
EnOcean and Texas Instruments—Have expanded their cooperative agreement to provide wireless solutions for building automation. The companies will jointly create solutions that enable self-powered wireless sensor networks. To further optimize its product portfolio, EnOcean will integrate TI components in its energy-efficient wireless modules. EnOcean’s batteryless wireless technology harvests energy from its surroundings—motion, light, or differences in temperature, enabling ecologically minded, self-powered wireless applications.
Empower RF System—Has opened its second Regional Design Center located in Lake Forest, CA. This center came online within a year of the opening of the company’s first regional design center in Holbrook, NY. The investment in the center is part of the company’s strategic growth plans and focuses on attracting and retaining additional engineering resources residing in Southern California, providing sales and technical support to targeted communications customers, and supporting advanced technology-development activities.
AT4 wireless, Inc.—Has expanded its ISO 17025 scope to incorporate 3GPP Conformance Testing capabilities for LTE User Equipment. This new ISO-accredited test scope for LTE covers E-UTRAN radio access as well as the EPC network layers. Under this accreditation, AT4 wireless, Inc. is offering full RF, RRM, protocol, and all relevant accredited testing services in accordance with 3GPP LTE tests, which are selected by the global certification programs of GCF/ PTCRB. Additionally, AT4 wireless, Inc. has expanded its ISO 17025-accredited cellular test scope to include 3GPP Conformance Protocol testing for GERAN/UTRAN Rel99 – Rel7 (GSM/EDGE/UMTS/HSPA+).
Tektronix, Inc. and Fluke Corp.—Have donated $100,000 to DeVry University for a five-year scholarship program. In the program, $20,000 will be awarded each year in $1000 scholarships to 20 students—each in the name of Tektronix and Fluke.
Vaunix Technology Corp.—Will be represented by Semi Test Solutions (STS) in northern California. Semi Test Solutions provides sales representation for companies that manufacture test and measurement equipment, RF and microwave active and passive components, and OEM products for the semiconductor, telecommunications, commercial, industrial, medical, and military-electronics markets.
WiMAX Forum and Femto Forum—Have announced the publication of the first WiMAX femtocell standard, which allows vendors to start developing standardized femtocells and associated network equipment based on the IEEE 802.16e radio interface and profiles. The WiMAX Forum aims to start certifying compatible products in early 2011 to guarantee efficient and effective interoperability between different vendors’ access points and core network equipment.
Agilent Technologies, Inc.—Has introduced four curriculumbased, university-level teaching solutions developed to save time for educators while helping them get the most out of their equipment. The solutions cover programming, RF design, and telecommunications. Each teaching solution is comprised of undergraduate engineering courseware that has a mix of teaching slide sets, problem-based student labs, and industrystandard measurement equipment. More information is available at www.agilent.com/find/TeachInstrumentation.