Cree Announces Sample Release of New, Highly-Efficient 120-Watt GaN HEMT Microwave Transistor


DURHAM, N.C., Dec. 17, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cree, Inc. (Nasdaq:CREE), announces the sample release of a highly efficient 120-watt GaN HEMT microwave transistor for general-purpose military and industrial applications such as electronic warfare, tactical communications, radar, instrumentation and direct video broadcast applications. This transistor provides outstanding RF power performance over wide instantaneous bandwidths compared to other technologies such as GaAs MESFET or Si LDMOSFET.

The new transistor, CGH40120F, consists of a single, unmatched GaN HEMT die providing a minimum of 120 watts of saturated output power at 28 volts, in a small, industry-standard, flanged ceramic-metal package. The exceptional performance of the transistor has been demonstrated in a number of amplifier applications, including a 1200 to 1400-MHz instantaneous-bandwidth reference amplifier that offers greater than 18 dB typical small-signal gain, 100 watts typical CW output power, and typical power-added efficiencies of 75 percent across the entire band. Similar amplifiers have also been demonstrated over the 800 to 1300-MHz frequency range with output powers greater than 90 watts at efficiencies greater than 65 percent.

"The CGH40120F is an important addition to our general-purpose GaN HEMT product family. This part has been engineered for use in a wide variety of applications, including high-efficiency pulsed modes with duty cycles extending to CW operation. The remarkable power and efficiency of this product can positively impact system thermal design, cooling costs, and DC power distribution for current and next-generation systems," said Jim Milligan, director of RF and microwave products at Cree.

The CGH40120F complements Cree's broadband GaN HEMT general-purpose microwave transistors now available at power levels of 10W, 25W, 35W, 45W and 90W.

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 solutions, and semiconductor solutions for wireless and power applications.

Cree's product families include recessed LED down lights, 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

The Cree, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=3529

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 encounter delays or other difficulties in ramping up production of our new sample products which are currently available for evaluation and testing purposes only; the risk we may be unable to develop and release commercial products with performance ratings comparable to the development results described above; the risk we may be unable to manufacture products with sufficiently low cost to offer them at competitive prices or with acceptable margins; the potential lack of customer acceptance of the products; 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 29, 2008, and subsequent filings.

Cree is a registered trademark of Cree, Inc.



            

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