SAN JOSE -- Flextronics has entered into an employment agreement with chief executive Michael Marks, who becomes chairman in January, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission Wednesday.

Migdal HaEmek, Israel -- Camtek Ltd. and its parent company, Priortech Ltd., filed a lawsuit in the Tel Aviv District Court against Orbotech Ltd. and Orbot Systems Ltd. The suit seeks to recover about $4 million in damages caused by Orbotech's request for a preliminary injunction given ex parte.

Camtek has other legal issues today as well, with August Technology Corp. filing a patent infringement suit over the former's inspection line.

CHICAGO – Boeing Co. this week reiterated its stance on lead-free products, reminding its suppliers to validate that their products meet existing contractual requirements. Those requirements include environmental and reliability, Boeing said in the letter, dated July 12.

FREMONT, CA -- SensArray Corp.’s new Assembly and Test Business Unit delivers process optimization tools for backend semiconductor manufacturers. The unit currently markets six applications, as well as custom control systems for the wafer bumping process.

Backend assembly and test, including wafer solder bumping and solder reflow, requires increasing thermal monitoring and control. As temperature controls narrow from +/- 10 to +/- 5°C, and soon to +/- 1°C, tighter tolerances are necessary; meanwhile temperatures are going up, demanding even more process control.

The company has created a system bundle from its current tools for measuring real-time, in situ temperature in backend processes. These include:

* Process Probe 1935 thermocouple (TC)-instrumented wafer used to check wafer center-to-edge thermal stresses during loading and ramping,and calibrate temperature set-points in ovens with confidence;

* Process Probe 1630 TC-instrumented wafer designed for reflow oven profiling up to 800°C;

* Process Probe Custom Reflow Probes to determine edge-to-center temperature to adjust heater zone set points, and measure and adjust drift in temperature due to oxide build-up on the heaters and belt;

* PDA-based Thermal TRACK measurement systems, used with Process Probes, for real-time visual representations of the wafer temperature and uniformity measurements;

* Laptop-based Thermal MAP metrology systems to deliver graphic representations of temperature ramp-up, steady state and ramp-down;

* Intelligent Sensor Interface System (ISIS) 5 module is wireless, using Bluetooth technology for portability and ease-of-use.

Currently available in the U.S., Europe and Asia. For more info, visit sensarray.com.

Munich, Germany and Westford, MA -- Zuken was chosen as the EDA vendor representative to participate in a multinational research project that came to a close in May. Zuken was selected for its knowledge in EMC (electromagnetic compatibility) simulation and modeling.

The aim of the MESDIE (microelectronic EMC system design for high density interconnect and high frequency environments) project was to research modeling for new chip sets, dedicated HDI and package modules for applications facing EMC/noise and system integration in the telecommunications, automotive, consumer and multimedia sectors.

MEDEA, the industry-initiated pan-European program for co-operative R&D in microelectronics, headed up the three-year, multinational MESDIE project. Working with companies such as Airbus, Alcatel, Bosch, Infineon, Continental, Philips and ST-Microelectronics, the project has begun forming the basis of methods of modeling and simulation at the system design level. 

Zuken helped advance technology concepts for EMC-related modeling of power ground systems for various off-chips structures, at both the HDI and board level. 

MELVILLE, NY – Arrow Electronics Inc. has expanded its Component Information Services, an online toolset that provides engineering, procurement and supply chain professionals with data to research and select electronic components. The enhancements offer a richer data set for compliance with RoHS and WEEE regulations issued by the EU.

In addition to identifying RoHS and lead-free compliance status for five million parts, data elements available include expected compliance dates, manufacturing parameters and hazardous material composition data for semiconductors, electro-mechanical and passive components.

 “One of the biggest challenges for manufacturers is gathering and staying current with the necessary environmental data as requirements evolve,” said Leonie Tipton, VP, Global Supply Chain Programs. “Arrow ensures that customers get the latest data --the same data used to manage our own business worldwide--conveniently accessible in one, centralized location.” 

Bromont, Quebec, Canada -- Samsung Electronics Computer Co. will expand its existing Cogiscan Moisture Sensitive Device (MSD) Control system in its Suzhou, China factory.

The system reportedly prevents costly field failures; minimizes number and duration of bake cycles; automates complex procedures; and ensures compliance with J-STD-033A rules/tables and facilitate IPC/JEDEC updates.

Lee Buyung Bum, engineering manager at Samsung in Suzhou, said, “Our most important customers are pleased that we fully comply with all the guidelines of the industry standard J-STD-033A. Our facility is producing some of the most advanced notebook in the worlds. The high density forces designers to place more and more active components on both sides of the same circuit board. This has significant implications in terms of tracking the floor life of moisture-sensitive components. Some of the most sensitive components must go through the complete assembly process, including top and bottom-side assembly and reflow within 24 hours of opening their protective dry bag. In addition the upcoming transition to lead-free products will further reduce the process window associated with MSDs.”

Plymouth, MI -- Hella, a supplier of automotive electronics and lighting systems, has restructured its North American operations by forming three distinct business units for its lighting, electronics and aftermarket businesses.

Dr. Raymund Heinen has been named president of Hella Lighting North America. Heinen will also be responsible for the management of corporate finance, personnel, IT, facilities management and corporate communications within the NAFTA region.

Steve Hubble is now president of Hella Electronics North America. He was previously VP of operations and engineering. Heinen and Hubble will be based in Plymouth.

Wolfgang Benz will serve as president of Hella's North American Aftermarket and Special Equipment operations, with offices in Peachtree City, GA..

The North American lighting group has nearly 2,500 employees at facilities in York, SC; Plymouth, MI; Mexico City and Guadalajara, Mexico, while its electronics group includes 530 employees in Flora, IL, and Plymouth. The aftermarket operations in the NAFTA trade region currently employ 150 people with approximately 1,800 distributors.  

PALO ALTO, CA -- Agilent Technologies Inc. has introduced the Versatest Series Model V5500, a final test solution for multichip package devices (MCP) and discrete flash memory. The tester-per-site architecture and optional Programmable Interface Matrix are said to optimize single-insertion testing of MCPs with multiple memory types (Flash, DRAM and SRAM).

Has 16,384 pins per testhead, to fully utilize x320 handlers at up to 320 NAND devices in parallel. Enables parallel testing of high-pin-count NOR and MCPs at up to 256 devices in parallel.

BOSTON -- Teradyne Inc. is laying off 400 employees, or approx. 7% of its workforce, with the cuts falling on the semiconductor test unit. The division produced nearly half of Teradyne’s net bookings in the first quarter, according to a release published by the Boston Business Journal.

The company did not immediately specify what locations would be affected. In June it sold its PCB manufacturing unit in North Reading, MA, to a division of Solectron.

Teradyne expects to complete the current layoffs by the end of the year, and said it would record severance charges of approximately $12.7 million and $4 million, respectively, for the third and fourth quarters.

BUFFALO, NY – NanoDynamics has opened an online Sample Store (nanodynamics.com/Home/samplestore) to minimize the hassle of evaluating or qualifying its products. Customers can order metal powder samples over the Internet and have them delivered anywhere.

The store will initially offer nanosilver and copper powder lines, with future plans to include nanosized nickel powders, nanoceramic powders and dispersions, carbon nanotubes and nanoclays.

Thief River Falls, MN -- Digi-Key and Freescale are hosting an exclusive design contest using the new MC9S12NE64xx Microcontroller. The grand prize is an Arctic Cat H1 ATV and trailer, and various cash prizes will be awarded. U.S. and Canadian residents can submit designs until August 15.

The contest offer is void where prohibited by law.

For more information on contest rules, prizes and registration:

US:   http://dkc1.digikey.com/us/mkt/Contest/DKFS_2.html

Canada:  http://dkc1.digikey.com/ca/mkt/Contest/DKFS_2.html