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The sun is shining so I can't spend time in this echo chamber of doom today..
Later, for balance, I'll post something uplifting for those who want to be uplifted. Maybe even a teaser about our SWIR sensor...
For the moment, I take comfort that some people on this BB (who seem to be a lot less positive about Nanoco than I am) bought back in at 18p... Those people know that investing in any small company carries a degree of risk, so they wouldn't be risking their money for a 20% gain. They could have, like me, made 20% in a month on Lloyds shares a few weeks ago.
So, they must expect there is a chance Nanoco could go up at least 50% - if not 100% - in the near to mid term. That would be a SP of 27p or 36p.
Their confidence fills me with even more confidence!
X Some of those who sold all of their holding at 24p (HL) have only reinvested part of the funds back in at the 18p level so while you might take that as a great positive I’m sure others might not see it as quite as bullish as you..but I can only speak for myself and happy to see lower prices to average a few more back in , though have a few other things on the radar at the moment.
Looking forward to some new news here…would make a change..
Something positive to remember, just to stir the pot…
Most people here probably know who Jonathan Steckel is. For those who don’t, here’s a quick bio below:
https://www.kimberton.org/jonathan-steckel/
He help found QD Vision. He then joined Apple and for many years worked on developing new display and sensor technologies based on quantum dot materials. Then he moved to his current role at STMicroelectronics and is a Fellow and Director of Advanced Technology in the imaging division, where…. “I have a very dynamic role working to commercialize a new QD image sensor technology that I have been working on for many years.”
You will have seen the paper below already posted:
https://sid.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/msid.1483
Steckel says “As the value proposition for SWIR imaging and light detection evolves, QD sensor technology is well positioned to enable the broad adoption of SWIR sensing in applications where low-cost and large volumes are required.”
So, on the one hand, we have a few vocal posters on this BB who only seem to see dark clouds…
…and on the other hand we have Jonathan Steckel and our two new NEDs; Dieter May, who was the CEO of Osram Opto Semiconductors, and Dr Jalal Bagherli, former chief of Dialog Semiconductor, an Apple chip supplier that was acquired by Japan’s Renesas for €4.8bn in 2021. They all clearly believe in the technology and in Nanoco - So on balance, I’m with them - I see bright skies ahead!
Next, where is the ST SWIR sensor… I think I have found a bit more info, but I'm tired now so it will have to be tomorrow - sorry!
Sleep tight and don't have any nightmares about ghouls and the like !
Ok, what do we know about the ST SWIR sensor with our QD’s?
STM ordered 2 types of dots from us. NIR and SWIR. A few of us already think our dots could be in the ST VD55G1, which is a NIR sensor. Silicon on its own can detect NIR but I think this sensor may have a QD film that allows it to be “Ultracompact and low-power. The world’s first 2.16 µm global shutter pixel. The sensor fits into the most size-constrained devices such as AR/VR glasses or personal electronics”
But it was the SWIR sensor that interested me more… we knew very little from the link below:
https://www.st.com/content/dam/AME/2023/sensors-converge-2023/pdf/sensors-swir-time-of-flight.pdf
SWIR is safer for the eyes, the sensor can be installed behind a OLED screen, has stronger contrast and is less affected by sunlight. And, as Steckel says “QD sensor technology is well positioned to enable the broad adoption of SWIR sensing in applications where low-cost and large volumes are required.” I.e. this is the one that could end up in a smartphone…
See below link to some good slides with more information on the SWIR sensor. STM call the SWIR film QF1400 in the slides:
https://epic-photonics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Jonathan-Steckel-STMicroelectronics.pdf
To quote the summary:
• ST is actively engaged in the industrialization of a low-cost, high-resolution, disruptive infrared imaging technology based on colloidal PbS QuantumFilm (QF) technology
• ST QD image sensor technology enables the highest resolution (smallest pixel pitch) global shutter image sensors in the industry
• Record QE and global shutter efficiency have been achieved on our 300 mm wafer scale process with pixel sizes down to 1.62 μm pitch
• ST successfully overcame the challenges of integrating colloidal PbS solution processed QD materials in an industrial semiconductor fab environment
• ST QuantumFilm technology allows access to new types of imaging capabilities and markets that are impossible using visible light
• QD image sensors will drive large SWIR imaging market growth by enabling new sensing applications for large-volume consumer electronics use-cases driven by orders of magnitude lower price combined with high performance
So, where are these SWIR sensors?...
Addvisia provides a multi-imager testing platform. See link below:
https://irtnanoelec.fr/addvisia-the-modular-imaging-platform-in-openaccess/
You will see our SWIR sensor, the ST VD57GB (SWIREY) EVK is available today on the Addvisia platform. Presumably this is just for evaluation at the moment and this wouldn’t be the final sensor name, but it’s good to see it really exists!
That's it for now. Tonight I will dream of bright skies...
Here's another - apologies if posted before :
New Imaging Technologies NSC2101
https://new-imaging-technologies.com/news/new-high-resolution-swir-sensor-with-high-performance/
Oooh la la - and commercially available :
https://mvpromedia.com/nit-announces-commercial-availability-of-swir-sensors/
Thats InGaAs the existing near and short wave infrared sensor method that is hugely expense. The STM (and a number of others ) approach using QDs is a far cheaper method with similar results and far more effective for small or mobile applications.
Not sure X where that takes us in reality..the Stickel stuff and research paper has been posted many times over the years as it has been about as you must know , so nothing much new to even mid term holders there to be honest. As to another new sensor ..might be relevant but it’s still difficult to tell from any up to date STM information what our materials are actually likely to be used in.
Typically we define near infrared (NIR) from 780 nm to 1400 nm and shortwave infrared (SWIR) from 1400 nm to 3000 nm. But it is also common to refer to the entire range from 780 nm up to 3000 nm as NIR or SWIR.
http://image-sensors-world.blogspot.com/2022/09/eetimes-europe-article-on-emergence-of.html
So possible it is different industry definitions involved too.
"Oooh la la - and commercially available :"
VGA resolution, requires cooling by the looks of the spec. Ingaas most likely- so expensive?
SWIR sensors have been around for a while, just not consumer facing.
Regarding the development times, I must admit I was surprised when they said around the five year mark, as the Apple contract was supposedly getting close to production after little more than 18 months or so. BT did say that the development can be accelerated if the companies involved are willing to chuck a bit more cash in.
And that FAB is also meant to speed things up..but i think the development time to validation and the scale up times given recently presumably took this into account as the kit was already on its way?
Think it's been suggested that months can be saved regards on-wafer testing because they won't need to be sent to clients for that purpose. How many months must be impossible to determine ATM until everything is up and running with given clients in mind. Not certain whether the 5 year mark was at the extreme or minimum end of the 'development scale'.
I think the company is sensible to retain a standard timeline for something that is still in development. If they can deliver sooner then all to the good, however if they give an earlier delivery and then fail that deadline they end up with a roasting from the market and investors.