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 andin 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 SolutionsThe 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 SemiconductorHas 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.
StandexHas 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 SemiconductorClosed $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.