Author: Techtime

SolarEdge Opened a Second Litigation Front against Huawei

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Photo above: SolarEdge’s digitally controlled three phase inverters

SolarEdge from Herzliya, Israel, opened another Litigation Front in its struggle against Patent Infringements made by Huawei. Today the company announced that it has filed three lawsuits for patent infringement against the Chinese Huawei Technologies Co., this time in China mainland. The lawsuits, filed in the Regional Courts of Jinan and Shenzhen in China, cite unauthorized use of patented technology, which is prohibited by law, and are intended to protect SolarEdge’s significant investment in its innovative DC optimized inverter technology.

Seeking damages and an injunction, SolarEdge Technologies intends to prevent the defendants from selling any products infringing its patented PV inverter and power optimizer technology. These lawsuits follow the filing of three other lawsuits in Germany by SolarEdge in June and July 2018 against Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd., a Chinese entity, Huawei Technologies Düsseldorf GmbH, a German entity, and WATTKRAFT Solar GmbH, a German distributor relating to three patents.

“We will continue to take legal action against Huawei”

This may be only the beginning: SolarEdge also announced that it “evaluating filing additional actions to protect its patents.” SolarEdge holds 303 awarded patents and 240 additional patent applications worldwide. Zvi Lando, Acting CEO and VP Global Sales of the company, said: “The significant financial investment and years of dedication and hard work from our R&D engineers needs to be protected from exploitation. SolarEdge’s patents are the result of our relentless pursuit of innovation and commitment towards PV proliferation. “We will continue to take legal action against Huawei and others to protect our assets.”

In July 2018 SolarEdge had extended its lawsuit pending in the Mannheim District Court, Germany, against Huawei and WATTKRAFT Solar, by asserting two additional patents related to its power optimizer technology. The original lawsuits filed in June covered SolarEdge’s DC optimized inverter technology. The company seeks inter alia monetary damages, an injunction with regard to the German market, and recall of infringing Huawei optimizers and inverters from the German market. It asked the court to prevent Huawei from selling in Germany any optimizers and inverters that infringe upon the SolarEdge’s IP.

Elbit to Provide a Networked UAS Array to an Army in Asia

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Elbit Systems announced today that it was awarded a contract valued at approximately $153 million to supply an Army of a country in Southeast Asia with a multi-layered array of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). The contract will be performed over a 22-month period. Elbit Systems will supply a networked multi-layered UAS solution, including more than a thousand THOR Multi-Rotor Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) mini-UAS, scores of Skylark LEX, Skylark 3 and Hermes 450 tactical UAS and multiple Universal Ground Control Stations.

THOR (photo above) is a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) Mini – Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), designed for low altitude surveillance and reconnaissance missions. Built from the ground up, THOR features a real-time HD data link and control software. With an automatic takeoff and landing capability and autonomous mission flight, it can operate in marine zones and urban areas with non-line of sight communication. It carries payload of up to 3 kg, including dual EO/IR lightweight payload with endurance of up to 75 minutes.

Skylark 3 is a tactical mini UAV system (UAS) to the division, brigade and battalion levels. It is fitted for both dismounted and vehicle-based operation. The platform is based on the battle-proven Skylark I-LEX, with over 30 international customers and tens of thousands of operational sorties. It provides service ceiling of 15,000 ft. with range of 100 km and endurance of 6 hours in the air.

Hermes 450 is a mature and combat proven platform with more than 300,000 operational flight hours during the last decade. It can reach a service ceiling of 18,000 ft. and to carry 180 kg payload for missions as long as 17 hours each. Hermes 450 is the backbone of the UK Watchkeeper program.

 

Teledyne Acquires Micralyne

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Teledyne Technologies announced that its subsidiary, Teledyne Digital Imaging, Inc., has acquired Micralyne, Based in Alberta, Canada. Micralyne is a privately-owned foundry providing Micro Electro Mechanical Systems or MEMS devices. It possesses a unique microfluidic technology for biotech applications, as well as capabilities in non-silicon-based MEMS often required for human body compatibility.

“Micralyne’s technology, processes, and strong product development pipeline ideally complement Teledyne’s state of the art 200 mm (8 inch) manufacturing capability and expertise,” said Robert Mehrabian, Executive Chairman of Teledyne. “The acquisition of Micralyne solidifies Teledyne as the number one independent multi-product MEMS foundry in the world.”

Micralyne was established in 1982. It had developed a modular approach to MEMS design and enable a semi-custom device implementation. By standardizing specific process steps and structures, Micralyne reduces the need to create a new process for each design. MEMS devices contain miniaturized mechanical and electro-mechanical elements.

Teledyne’s existing MEMS foundry in Bromont, Quebec, supplies major companies with high-volume MEMS manufacturing for a wide range of applications including consumables used in life sciences and semiconductor fabrication. In its annual research report, the Status of the MEMS Industry 2019, Yole Développement cited Teledyne as a leading pure-play foundry for MEMS.

Teledyne provides sophisticated instrumentation, digital imaging products and software, aerospace and defense electronics, and engineered systems. In August 1, 2019 it announced the successful completion of the gas and flame detection business of 3M for $230 million in cash.

Digi-Key Secured Global Distribution Agreement with Directed Energy

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Digi-Key Electronics from Minn., USA, had signed an exclusive global distribution partnership with Directed Energy Inc. (DEI) from Colorado. DEI provides ready-to-use modules primarily to drive laser diodes but that can be used wherever a high voltage or high current pulse is required in scientific, industrial and commercial applications.

“Now, as a Digi-Key partner, we are excited to know that our pulsed laser diode driver and high voltage pulse modules will offer that same problem-solving value to designers and engineers around the world and in a wide array of industries,” said Stephen Krausse (photo above), president and owner of Directed Energy.

“We are excited to partner with Directed Energy and offer their ready-to-use modules to our global customer base,” said David Stein, vice president of global supplier management for Digi-Key. “Directed Energy has an impressive lineup of off-the-shelf modules that provide high-quality pulses of high current and/or high voltage for a variety of applications, from LiDAR to ADAS, laser diode characterization, precision measurement, and physics and scientific experimentation.”

DEI's PCO-7115 High Speed Laser Diode Driver Module
DEI’s PCO-7115 High Speed Laser Diode Driver Module

Creating a high-quality electrical pulse is challenging, whether that’s a high current pulse designed to drive a laser diode, or a high voltage pulse designed for the operation of deflection grids or for beam steering. Directed Energy has been designing and selling precision pulsers since was founded in 1987. For more information about Directed Energy, Inc. and their range of products, visit their Supplier Center page on the Digi-Key website.

About Digi-Key Electronics

Digi-Key Electronics, headquartered in Thief River Falls, Minn., USA, is an authorized global, full-service distributor of electronic components, offering more than 9 million products, with over 1.7 million in stock and available for immediate shipment, from over 800 manufacturers. Digi-Key also offers online resources such as EDA and design tools, datasheets, reference designs, instructional articles and videos in its multimedia libraries. Additional information can be found at www.digikey.com.

Flex Launched a New Production Facility in Israel

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Flex Ltd, has begun production in its new ​​35,000 square meters mass production manufacturing facility in Modi’in, a small town near Tel aviv. The new facility is highly automated and employs robotic processes and Industry 4.0 methods. According to Mr. Rafi Haddad, GM of business development in Flex Israel, the new production plant consists of Machining, Metal-processing, Electronics Production and Assemble and Packaging Machines, needed for the production of large complete systems such as Industrial 3D Printers or Semiconductor Manufacturing Machines.

The new plant employs approximately 740 employees. Flex plans to expand its workforce in the near future to 1,000 employees. Besides the production floor, flex had also established a new 3D printing center in the site to provide Additive Production Services for its costumers in Israel and in Europe. “Flex chose Israel for the 3D Production, because Israel is a center of excellence in additive manufacturing,” said Haddad to Techtime.

Mr. Rafi Haddad, GM of business development in Flex Israel
Mr. Rafi Haddad, GM of business development in Flex Israel

The new plant complement other production capabilities of Flex in Israel. With approximately 4,000 employees, flex is the biggest Electronics Manufacturing Services provider in the country. Its operation includes a large scale 2,300 employees plant in Migdal Haemek (Northern District of Israel), a production facility of 1,000 employees in Ofakim (small city in the Negev district) and 2 design centers providing engineering services for the company’s costumers.

The decision to build a new modern factory in Israel is also related to the Global Trade wars. Haddad: “Israel had signed free trade agreements with the EU countries, the United States and other countries. The trade tension between China and the US brings European companies to Israel, to look for alternative production services.” Flex is ranked the third largest Electronics Manufacturing Services Provider in the world. It employs about 200,000 people in about 100 manufacturing plants worldwide. Its annual sales in the last fiscal year (ended March 2019) totaled $26.3 billion.

IMoD Selected Elbits’ Active Protection System for the Eitan AFV

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The Israeli Ministry of Defense (IMOD) selected Elbit Systems’ Iron Fist Light Decoupled (IFLD) Active Protection System (APS), for the Israeli Defense Forces’ (IDF) Eitan new eight-wheeled Armored Fighting Vehicle (AFV) and the D-9 Bulldozer. The selection of the IFLD for the IDF’s Eitan AFV comes on the heels of the decision by the U.S. Army to proceed with the IFLD for the Bradley AFV.

Iron Fist current configuration includes optical sensors, RADA’s CHR radar, launchers and countermeasure munitions to defeat threats at a safe distance from the defended combat vehicles. The system provides full hemispherical protection coverage for close-range scenarios in both open terrain and urban environments.

The Eitan is an 8-wheeled vehicle weighing approximately 30-35 tons. It has a top speed of 90 km/h and can carry 12 men including 3 crew, a 30 mm gun and a missile firing position. The Eitan is planned to replace hundreds of outdated M113s vehicles still in active service.

The Iron Fist incorporates RADA’s software defined Compact Hemispheric Radars (CHR). Dov Sella, RADA’s CEO, said: “We are working with Elbit/IMI for over a decade on the development and testing of the Iron Fist APS, and have continuously improved our radar capabilities. We estimate the total available market of radars for APS at over $2.5 billion globally. Based on the Israeli and US selections of the Iron Fist, we anticipate accelerated global interest by many modern armed forces who seek to enhance defensive capabilities for their AFVs”.

Demonstration of Iron Fist series of Active Protection System:

 

 

Porsche Invested in TriEye from Tel-aviv

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Israeli startup TriEye, from Tel-aviv has expanded its Series A round from $17 million to $19 million, with extra investment made by the German car manufacturer Porsche. In May 2019, TriEye announced the funding round is led by Intel Capital and includes Marius Nacht and Grove Ventures. Since its inception, TriEye has raised $22 million, including a $3 million seed investment in November 2017, led by Grove Ventures.

TriEye develops a Short-Wave-Infra-Red (SWIR) sensing technology to enables vision in adverse weather and light conditions. The additional funding will be used for ongoing product development and operations, as well as team growth. The company was founded in 2017 by Avi Bakal (CEO), Omer Kapach (VP R&D) and Prof. Uriel Levy (CTO) from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, following a decade of nanophotonics research by Prof. Levy.

The company has succeeded in developing a small size and high resolution HD SWIR camera. Its CMOS-based Raven camera, whose initial samples are due to launch in 2020, will allow ADAS and AV to achieve clear vision capabilities in all light and weather conditions, including fog, dust or darkness. “We see great potential in this sensor technology that paves the way for the next generation of driver assistance systems and autonomous driving functions,” said  Michael Steiner, Member of the Executive Board for Research and Development at Porsche. “SWIR offers enhanced safety at a competitive price.”

TriEye is expected to exhibit at the IAA Conference in Frankfurt from September 11th-13th, as well as the AutoSens conference, due to take place on September 17th-19th in Brussels.