Business briefs

26 Sep 2003

Including news from Spectra-Physics, Nichia, Toshiba, DALSA and more.

•  Spectra-Physics of the US has teamed up with Jenoptik Laser Optik Systeme of Germany to produce and sell thin-disk lasers. The US company will initially sell Jenoptik’s green-emitting 5W and air-cooled, Q-switched 8W thin-disk lasers as part of its solid-state-laser portfolio.

•  As the legal battle between Nichia and Epistar regarding blue LED technology continues, Nichia has announced that a Taiwanese court has awarded it a preliminary attachment order to freeze Epistar’s bank accounts. Nichia says the order preserves funds for the award of potential damages.

•  Consumer electronics giants Toshiba and Samsung Electronics are to integrate their optical disk drive businesses. Toshiba will own 51% of the joint venture, which will be headquartered in Japan. A wholly-owned subsidiary will also be established in Korea.

•  BAE Systems Avionics, UK, has won the contract to supply the lasers that will feature in the optical targeting systems onboard F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft. The contract, awarded by Lockheed Martin, will see BAE produce several thousand laser systems at its facility in Edinburgh, Scotland.

•  Imalux, a US maker of optical coherence tomography systems, has raised $3.5million in series A financing. The company will use the cash to fund clinical trials and submit its technology to the US Food and Drug Administration for market clearance.

•  Canadian imaging firm DALSA has received a C$1.9million contract to supply high-performance digital cameras to an undisclosed customer. The cameras will be used for high-speed inspection of semiconductor wafers under low-light levels. DALSA expects to complete the contract in 18 months.

•  US-based Cool Laser Optics (CLO) has reached an agreement with Israeli medical-laser maker Lumenis regarding an infringement of CLO’s patented skin-cooling technology. Although specific terms were not disclosed, CLO says it has now licensed the disputed technology to Lumenis. CLO has also filed additional infringement complaints against four other makers of cooling devices.