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LED Quarterly Insights Series II

LED Quarterly Insights is designed to provide regular, incisive analysis of the crucial technology innovations and commercial opportunities in the highly dynamic LED industry. Delivered once a quarter, each edition of LED Quarterly Insights delivers informed commentary on one of four key challenges facing the LED community. Reports in Series II will focus on the following key areas:

Report 1: High-power LEDs

Publication date: September 2006

The pace of innovation at the high-power end of the LED market shows no signs of slowing down. New performance benchmarks have been set by high-power LED manufacturers, while researchers continue to investigate novel materials and chip technologies to improve lumen output and efficiency. Building on the original LED Quarterly Insights report, this update reviews and assesses the very latest achievements.

Report 2: Organic LEDs

Publication date: December 2006

Organic LEDs offer a low-cost light source for high-volume applications such as display backlights, but concern still surrounds the durability of organic light sources and the manufacture of larger panel sizes. This report reviews the current capabilities of OLED technology, and assesses its long-term potential in the commercial marketplace.

Report 3: LED light engines

Publication date: March 2007

LED suppliers are starting to address the need for integrated lighting solutions that incorporate sophisticated optical and thermal management systems as well as a number of LED light sources. Target applications include general illumination, where such integrated modules can offer greater control over the lighting environment, as well as specialist lighting in industry and medicine.

Report 4: Cost reduction in LED manufacture

Publication date: June 2007

One of the biggest obstacles to widespread adoption of LED solutions for lighting applications is their comparatively high cost. This report evaluates the strategies now being pursued by equipment makers and LED manufacturers to improve yields and reduce production costs.

Each report in the series will provide you with an authoritative and comprehensive review, combining core content on the latest technical innovations with hard-hitting commentary on the strategies that can be adopted by you and your organization to achieve real success in the LED sector. LED Quarterly Insights is essential reading for equipment and materials suppliers; LED device and module manufacturers; and lighting-system developers.

Contact Susan Curtis, Editor, Technology Tracking, for a table of contents and the executive summary. Email: susan.curtis@iop.org

Ordering and pricing

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Note also that LED Quarterly Insights Series I is now available at a reduced rate. See below for more details.

LED Quarterly Insights Series I

The original series of LED Quarterly Insights reports offer a unique insight into the technical and commercial issues in the following key areas:

Report 1: High-power LEDs

Publication date: September 2005

Efforts are still continuing to increase the total lumen output and improve the efficiency of individual LEDs. This report analyses the technical innovations being made at both the chip and module levels, as well as the measures being taken to make high-power LEDs more price-competitive with traditional light sources.

Report 2: Performance and standards

Publication date: December 2005

Sustained growth in the LED industry continues to be hampered by the confusion that surrounds the performance metrics used to characterize LEDs. This issue analyses the measures that are being taken — and must be taken in the future — for the LED community to achieve greater standardization and continued industry growth.

Report 3: White LEDs

Publication date: March 2006

White LEDs are evolving rapidly to meet the need of lighting-system developers. This report will evaluate the strategies now being pursued to address such issues as colour variation between LED die, techniques for measuring colour output, colour shift during operation, and continuing efforts to produce white light more efficiently and with better spectral properties.

Report 4: Packaging and optics

Publication date: June 2006

Packaging and optical design are crucial to maintain device performance and maximize light output. This edition assesses which packaging techniques are most likely to yield practical and affordable LED solutions, and will review new and emerging methods for optical design that will deliver the most efficient lighting systems.

LED Quarterly Insights is essential reading for equipment and materials suppliers; LED device and module manufacturers; and lighting-system developers.

Contact Susan Curtis, Editor, Technology Tracking, for a table of contents and the executive summary. Email: susan.curtis@iop.org

Ordering and pricing

Order LED Quarterly Insights Series I now.

Emerging Markets for GaN Electronics

Publication date: January 2006
Authors: Produced in collaboration with Compound Semiconductor

The last three years has witnessed impressive progress in the performance of electronic devices based on gallium nitride (GaN). GaN-based devices are now living up to their potential for delivering high-power performance over a range of frequencies, and are already appearing in the technology roadmaps of aerospace and defence contractors. However, more widespread adoption of GaN-based technology depends crucially on the cost, which in turn depends on the availability of high-volume manufacturing processes.

This report provides an in-depth analysis of the technical and commercial strategies being pursued by GaN manufacturers as they seek to develop cost-effective solutions for mass-market applications such as wireless basestations, the emerging WiMAX market, and satellite communications. The report includes critical information in each of the following areas:

This report contains crucial information for decision makers in a diverse range of organizations, including developers and suppliers of GaN technology; manufacturers/suppliers of microwave and millimeter-wave components and subsystems; systems manufacturers exploiting microwave and millimeter-wave technology in their products; as well as investment houses and public/private funding organizations.

Download brochure now (67KB PDF)

Contact Susan Curtis, Editor, Technology Tracking, for a table of contents and the executive summary. Email: susan.curtis@iop.org

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Nanomaterials for Next-Generation Energy Sources

Publication date: May 2005
Produced in collaboration with Mike Pitkethly of QinetiQ Nanomaterials

Materials structured on the nanoscale are becoming a critical tool in the development of cleaner and higher-performance energy devices that can also compete on cost with existing power sources. Such nanostructured materials display a range of remarkable properties, ranging from heightened chemical activity through to better charge-storage capabilities and modified electro-optical performance, which are now being harnessed in novel component technologies that meet a growing need for sustainable, affordable and high-efficiency energy sources.

Among the energy devices that could benefit from the unique properties of nanomaterials are fuel cells, photovoltaics, hydrogen-storage systems, supercapacitors and improved rechargeable batteries. In each case, system developers are convinced that nanostructured materials will play a key role in improving performance and reducing costs, both of which are vital for these emerging energy technologies to compete with existing methods for energy storage and power generation.

The good news for developers, and for the manufacturers of specialist nanomaterials, is that public and private funding for novel energy devices is on the rise. Government agencies around the world are investing billions of dollars into alternative energy technologies that will cut greenhouse emissions and reduce reliance on the volatile oil markets, while large electronics firms are developing better energy sources to power increasingly sophisticated portable devices. As both private and public investment grows, this report explores how companies with innovative materials and component technologies could achieve real success in the rapidly evolving energy sector.

The report contains crucial information for decision-makers in the following industry sectors: developers and manufacturers of nanomaterials including carbon nanostructures, nanoparticulates, and nanostructured thin films; suppliers of components and subsystems for fuel cells, photovoltaics and other alternative energy sources; systems manufacturers for automotive, portable-power and stationary-power applications; military/government; industrial/academic R&D laboratories; investment houses.

Download brochure now (654KB PDF)

Contact Susan Curtis, Editor, Technology Tracking, for a table of contents and the executive summary. e-mail: susan.curtis@iop.org

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Commercial Applications for Millimeter-Wave MMICs

Publication date: January 2005
Authors: Dr Jeff Powell and Dave Bannister, QinetiQ

The microwave community is facing up to its next big challenge. Rapid progress over the past 50 years has yielded monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs) that are small and cheap enough to form the fundamental building blocks for the revolution in mobile communications. These MMICs, so called because they integrate active and passive microwave components on a single semiconductor substrate, are now widely exploited in wireless basestations and handsets, with industry figures now estimating the worldwide MMIC market to be worth $2 bn per year.

However, the mass-market appeal of wireless communications has commoditized the supply of these low-frequency MMICs, which typically operate at 1--2 GHz. Manufacturers are under constant pressure to cut their unit prices, while industry demand for microwave components is showing signs of declining, or at least levelling off. As a consequence, many MMIC suppliers are seeking new application areas that will command higher profit margins and drive future business growth.

Extending MMIC technology to millimeter-wave frequencies has emerged as a crucial strategy for device and subsystem manufacturers, since a number of applications exist at high frequencies but only a few products are available in the commercial market-place. Millimeter-wave MMICs, which operate at 20--100 GHz and have corresponding wavelengths of a few millimeters, have already been exploited in the space and defence sectors, but commercial end-users are now driving demand for low-cost MMIC solutions at frequencies of up to 100 GHz.

The challenge for the MMIC community is clear: to deliver packaged and tested millimeter-wave modules that deliver the right performance at the right price. This report explores the technologies now being investigated by researchers, designers and manufacturers to ensure that millimeter-wave MMICs achieve the same industry success as their low-frequency counterparts.

This report contains crucial information for decision makers in a diverse range of organizations, including manufacturers/suppliers of microwave and millimeter-wave components and subsystems; systems manufacturers exploiting microwave and millimeter-wave technology in their products; as well as investment houses and public/private funding organizations.

Download brochure now (519KB PDF)

Contact Susan Curtis, Editor, Technology Tracking, for a Table of Contents and the Executive Summary. Email: susan.curtis@iop.org

SPECIAL DISCOUNT: Order the report today and save £££. Reduced from £995/$1795/€1420 to £595/$995/€795 while stocks last.

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About the authors

Jeff Powell is a Technical Leader in the MMICs and millimeter-wave modules group at QinetiQ. His principle activities include the design of MMIC circuits and packages operating up to 100 GHz, and also circuit design and device evaluation using wide-bandgap semiconductor materials. He has authored numerous academic papers and patents.

Jeff holds BSc and PhD degrees from the University of Birmingham, where he also conducted post-doctorate research on microwave component design and implementation using novel materials such as high-temperature superconductors and ferroelectric thin films. He was also engaged as a lecturer at the University of Birmingham, teaching microwave engineering and advanced electromagnetic theory.

Jeff has also worked as a senior electromagnetic compatibility engineer for a multinational automotive electronics company, which involved design consultancy to improve product compliance for prototype and production components.

Dave Bannister is the Business Stream Manager for the MMICs and millimeter-wave modules group at QinetiQ. He graduated from Portsmouth Polytechnic in 1999 with a Master of Science degree in microwave solid-state physics, and he then joined the Royal Signals Radar Establishment (now part of QinetiQ) in Malvern, Worcestershire. His work at QinetiQ has mainly focused on the design of advanced MMICs for both commercial and military applications, and Dave has published papers on the design of MMICs for wideband electronic warfare systems and Ka-band satellite communications.


Industrial and Medical Applications of Adaptive Optics

Publication date: February 2004
Authors: Professor Alan Greenaway, Heriot-Watt University, and Dr James Burnett, QinetiQ

Adaptive optics has reached a turning point in its evolution. For many years, the technology has been an essential tool for boosting the optical performance of astronomical telescopes and military imaging systems. These high-value installations demand tailor-made adaptive optics systems that are capable of delivering the best possible performance, even though they come with a hefty price tag.

Now, however, the commercial sector is starting to explore the potential of adaptive optics in industrial and medical applications ranging from laser materials processing to ophthalmology. As a consequence, the focus is shifting away from complex, one-off solutions towards cheap, robust adaptive optic components and subsystems that can be easily bolted together by non-expert staff.

The next five years will go a long way to determining whether adaptive optics will become a mainstream technology with credible and sustainable growth prospects. This report explores the commercial and technological challenges that must be addressed by researchers, designers and manufacturers before its transformation into a low-cost, user-friendly technology can become a reality.

This report contains crucial information for decision makers in a diverse range of organizations, including manufacturers/suppliers of optical components and systems; developers/suppliers of optical diagnostic instruments; high-power laser manufacturers; as well as investment houses and public/private funding organizations.

Download brochure now (509KB PDF).

Contact Susan Curtis, Editor, Technology Tracking, for a Table of Contents and the Executive Summary. Email: susan.curtis@iop.org

STOCK CLEARANCE SALE: Order the report today and save £££. Reduced from £995/$1795/€1420 to the following discount rates while stocks last!

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About the authors

Alan Greenaway Alan Greenaway took a Chair in Physics at Heriot-Watt University in 2000, where his research interests now focus on adaptive optics; wavefront sensing applied to optical metrology; optical aperture synthesis; optical propagation; dynamic processes in fluid flow and biomedical applications; ultrahigh dynamic-range imaging; and femtosecond lasers. Prior to that, Alan worked for 12 years at QinetiQ (at that time the Defence and Evaluation Research Agency, DERA) on a range of optics-related problems, and during that time was joint winner of the 1999 John Benjamin Memorial Prize for his invention of a 3-D imaging technique that is now being exploited in commercial products. Alan has also held research positions at University College London, the University of Nice, Queen Elizabeth College and the University of Groningen. He holds a first degree in Applied Physics from Brunel University and a PhD from Queen Elizabeth College. He remains an Honorary Senior DERA Fellow and is also an Honorary Professor at Cardiff University.

James Burnett James Burnett has worked at QinetiQ for 15 years. He is currently leading work on multicore optical-fibre sensors, synthetic aperture imaging in the infrared, and adaptive optics. His work on adaptive optics has included the successful demonstration of an adaptive optics system and the characterization of wavefront propagation statistics over kilometric horizontal paths using a novel wavefront-curvature sensor developed at QinetiQ. James was also a key researcher in optical-fibre interferometry for 10 years, and in particular in the development and application of novel fibre sensing techniques since 1993. He completed his PhD while at QinetiQ on the control of dispersion and birefringence in optical fibre-linked stellar interferometry in the field of synthetic aperture imaging. James has published over 30 scientific papers with 3 granted US patents.

Biomedical MEMS: Clinical Applications of Silicon Technology

Author: Professor Leigh Canham, pSiMedica and QinetiQ
Publication date: Spring 2003

This report focuses on the biomedical applications of silicon-based microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) that require either implantation in the human body or involve in vivo medical treatment. Coverage spans 26 clinical applications and includes reviews of intelligent and adaptive implants and prostheses; "smart" medical instruments; minimally invasive precision surgery; biotelemetry; drug delivery; and biosensors and other physical sensors. There's also an evaluation of developments in IT-related healthcare that are likely to have a profound influence on how in vivo MEMS devices are used in clinical practice.

At the same time, the report provides an exhaustive overview of silicon bioMEMS as an enabling technology. There are detailed evaluations of:

The report is relevant to a diverse audience of senior engineers and managers working within the following organizations: medical device suppliers with little or no knowledge of MEMS technology; specialist MEMS developers/suppliers looking to apply their know-how in biomedical markets; as well as investment houses and public/private funding organizations.

Contact Joe McEntee, Development Editor, Technology Tracking, for a Table of Contents and the Executive Summary. Email: joe.mcentee@iop.org

STOCK CLEARANCE SALE: Order the report today and save £££. Reduced from £995/$1795/€1420 to the following discount rates while stocks last!

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About the author

Leigh Canham is one of the world's foremost authorities on silicon MEMS and their biomedical applications. He has spent the past 20 years conducting research on different aspects of silicon technology - at King's College London and subsequently at the UK's Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA), now known as QinetiQ. He is currently chief scientific officer of pSiMedica, a start-up venture which aims to commercialize silicon MEMS in biomedical applications.

He has made two seminal discoveries in his career to date: that nanostructured silicon can emit light efficiently (1990) and that silicon can be rendered biodegradable (1995). His 100-plus publications on nanostructured silicon are the most highly cited (more than 5000 citations) worldwide on this topic. He holds more than 20 patent applications relating to porous silicon and in March 1999 the University of Birmingham awarded him an honorary professorship for his work on nanostructured silicon.

Smart Optical Materials

Author: Professor Keith Lewis, QinetiQ
Publication date: Summer 2001

The report presents a wide ranging review of developments in smart optical materials (SOMs), defined as materials with optical characteristics that change in a predictable manner in response to external stimuli. A detailed analysis of technical and market drivers and trends is presented for seven classes of SOMs: acousto-optics, electrochromics, electro-optics, magneto-optics, nonlinear materials, organic light emitters, and phase-change materials.

Key application areas are considered in automotive, consumer products, defence, environmental protection, health care, industrial process control, optical data storage and telecommunications. The core content is reinforced with profiles of SOM-related research centres and programmes; an analysis of patenting trends; and an assessment of competition between SOMs within particular market niches.

SPECIAL OFFER: This report is now available for £300 ($550/€430). Pricing includes a FREE electronic subscription to the IOP Publishing journal Smart Materials and Structures until the end of 2004.

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About the author

Professor Keith Lewis is a senior fellow in the photonics division at QinetiQ. He is also responsible for the integration of photonics-based activities across QinetiQ's imaging division.