Alpha Introduces High-performance Indium Phosphide Process; Results Demonstrate Competitive Performance for Fiber-optic and High-speed Ethernet Applications
"InP extends our semiconductor process technology arsenal, which already includes InGaP HBT, GaAs MESFET, GaAs PHEMT, silicon and ceramics," said Ding Day, the Company's Vice President of Process Development. "This enables us to manufacture devices with ft (current gain cutoff frequency) and fmax (maximum frequency of oscillation) above 120 GHz, performance that is essential for high-speed data applications."
InP's thermal properties, threshold voltages and frequency response rate deliver key performance advantages over competing technologies, including the ability to manufacture smaller and more power efficient products. Equally important, InP enables the integration of optical devices and electronic components.
"InP technology pushes the envelope beyond our current InGaP (indium gallium phosphide) capabilities," said Lj Ristic, Alpha's chief technology officer. "We believe that analog circuits for OC-768 fiber-optics, extremely high-speed Ethernet and other high performance wireless applications will be the sweet spot for InP technology, enabling Alpha to effectively penetrate these emerging markets."
Alpha's InP process uses the automated production line at the Company's Sunnyvale, California wafer fabrication facility. Among the first products Alpha intends to develop using InP HBT technology are integrated circuits for the transmission and receive path in 40 Gb/s networks.
About AlphaAlpha Industries is a leading provider of RF integrated circuit-based solutions, including semiconductors and ceramic components, for the broadband and wireless communications markets. Alpha's switches, power amplifiers and discrete semiconductors are used by the world's leading broadband, infrastructure and wireless communications companies to enhance the speed, quality and performance of voice, data and video. The Company's Alpha Integration Platform (aiIP) is a breakthrough manufacturing, packaging and design technique that reduces design complexity and improves the OEM's overall time to market for new products. For more information, please visit Alpha's Web site, www.alphaind.com.
Safe Harbor Statement - Except for historical information, this release contains forward-looking statements. These statements reflect the Company's current expectations and predictions of future results, accomplishments, intentions and other matters, all of which are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in the Company's forward-looking statements, based on various factors. Such factors include, but are not limited to: Alpha's ability to continue the successful development of InP-based HBTs; the performance specifications of InP-based HBT products, including without limitation the devices' ft and fmax measurements; the commercial applications of InP-based HBT devices, including without limitation the future use of high-speed analog circuits in OC-768 fiber-optic networks; and market developments, competitive pressures and changes in economic conditions that vary from the Company's expectations. Additional information on these and other factors that may cause actual results and the Company's performance to differ materially is included in the Company's periodic reports filed with the SEC, including but not limited to the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended April 1,2001. Copies may be obtained by contacting the Company or the SEC. The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The Company does not undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in the Company's expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstance on which any such statement is based.
CONTACT: Alpha Industries, Inc
Paul Vincent
(781) 935-5150 Ext. 4438