Cree Research developed the first commercially viable silicon carbide wafer. Holding numerous patents related to silicon carbide, the firm is the world's largest manufacturer and supplier of silicon carbide wafers and silicon carbide-based semiconductor products. Cree manufactures silicon carbide-based semiconductor products gallium nitride (SiC) diodes and wafers which work at higher temperatures and voltages than standard silicon wafers. It sells its blue light-emitting devices (LEDs) to companies such as Siemens for manufacturing car dashboard lights, market tickers, and other products. Cree's subsidiary Real Color Displays makes full-color LED modules used for building large-area video screens (such as the giant screen in New York's Times Square). The company has development alliances with Kansai Electric Power and Asea Brown Boveri, among others. Nearly 75% of sales come from outside the US.
