Cree Demonstrates High Quality 150-mm Silicon Carbide Substrates
DURHAM, N.C. -- Cree, Inc. (Nasdaq: CREE), announced today that it has achieved a major breakthrough in the development and wide scale commercialization of silicon carbide (SiC) technology with the demonstration of high quality, 150-mm SiC substrates with micropipe densities of less than 10/cm2. The current Cree standard for SiC substrates is 100-mm diameter material.
SiC is a high-performance semiconductor material used in the production of a broad range of lighting, power and communication components, including light-emitting diodes (LEDs), power switching devices and RF power transistors for wireless communications. The significant size advancement of single crystal SiC substrates to 150-mm can enable cost reduction and increased throughput, while bolstering the continued growth of the SiC industry.
“Cree’s achievement of 150-mm SiC substrates further demonstrates Cree’s leadership in SiC materials technology,” said Dr. Vijay Balakrishna, Cree Materials product line manager. Steve Kelley, Cree chief operating officer, added, “We expect that 150-mm substrates can reduce device cost, boost manufacturing output and expand our product range”.
About Cree
Cree is leading the LED lighting revolution and setting the stage to obsolete the incandescent light bulb through the use of energy-efficient, environmentally friendly LED lighting. Cree is a market-leading innovator of lighting-class LEDs, LED lighting, and semiconductor solutions for wireless and power applications.
Cree’s product families include LED fixtures and bulbs, blue and green LED chips, high-brightness LEDs, lighting-class power LEDs, power-switching devices and radio-frequency/wireless devices. Cree solutions are driving improvements in applications such as general illumination, backlighting, electronic signs and signals, variable-speed motors, and wireless communications.
For additional product and company information, please refer to www.cree.com
This press release contains forward-looking statements involving risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown, that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated. Actual results may differ materially due to a number of factors, including the risk we may be unable to develop and release commercial products with characteristics comparable to the development results described above; the risk we may be unable to manufacture these products with sufficiently low cost to offer them at competitive prices or with acceptable margins; the rapid development of new technology and competing products that may impair demand or render Cree’s products obsolete; and other factors discussed in Cree’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 27, 2010, and subsequent filings.