Varian Associates Inc

Photovoltaic cells that convert 31% of the energy in sunlight into electricity have been developed by researchers at the Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, N.M. The rate is the highest ever recorded for solar cells and is about 50% higher than the efficiency of commercial solar cells, which are 18% to 20% efficient. The cells were produced by combining gallium arsenide cells produced by Varian Associates Inc. of Palo Alto, and crystalline silicon cells produced at Stanford University.

Varian Associates Inc. has counter-sued Applied Materials Inc. in a patent dispute and filed a separate antitrust suit claiming the value of two business units was hurt by Applied's charge that Varian infringed four patents. Both Varian, based in Palo Alto, and Santa Clara-based Applied Materials make equipment used to manufacture computer chips.

San Jose-based Novellus Systems Inc. escalated its legal fights with chip equipment rival Applied Materials Inc., suing Applied for allegedly infringing a patent that Novellus had acquired from another company hours earlier. Novellus said Santa Clara-based Applied Materials, the largest maker of equipment used to make semiconductors, infringed patents held by the thin-film unit of Palo Alto-based Varian Associates Inc. Novellus announced its lawsuit, filed in U.S.

Photovoltaic cells that convert 31% of the energy in sunlight into electricity have been developed by researchers at the Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, N.M. The rate is the highest ever recorded for solar cells and is about 50% higher than the efficiency of commercial solar cells, which are 18% to 20% efficient. The cells were produced by combining gallium arsenide cells produced by Varian Associates Inc. of Palo Alto, and crystalline silicon cells produced at Stanford University.

Larry L. Hansen has been named president of Varian Associates Inc.'s semiconductor equipment group. The company is based in Palo Alto.

Palo Alto-based Varian Associates Inc. said Richard A. Aurelio has been named executive vice president. The company said Aurelio will continue to serve as president of its $300-million semiconductor equipment business. Varian does not use the title of president and chief operating officer, assigning those responsibilities to its executive vice presidents working in combination.