UK firm granted patents for new semiconductor, LED production technology

IQE is a global supplier of advanced epitaxial wafer products and wafer services to the semiconductor industry. The firm's subsidiary, NanoGaN, has won patent rights in the UK and Japan for new technology which can be used in creating high-quality blue and green semiconductor lasers and ultra high brightness LEDs for solid state lighting. One of these patents protects the company's means of producing high quality, free-standing gallium nitride substrates, critical for manufacturing high quality blue and green semiconductor lasers and ultra high brightness LEDs for solid state lighting (SSL). The other pertains to manufacturing of semiconductor devices directly onto the nanocolumn platform. IQE says that the new innovations will allow lighting products to be created more quickly and cheaply in future. Dr Drew Nelson, group ceo and president said: "Adding these new patents to our existing portfolio, combined with strong internal practices to protect intellectual property and know how, play a vital role in ensuring IQE's position as a global leader in the manufacture and supply of advanced semiconductor wafer products for the wireless, optoelectronic and solar industry sectors." IQE acquired NanoGan in October 2009 for £3.6million to accelerate research into laser advances and solid state lighting. Prof Wang, (right) the ceo of NanoGaN and inventor of the nanocolumn technology became chief scientific advisor to IQE. Professor Wang is widely acknowledged as a world leading advanced materials scientist with significant commercial and advisory experience.