Business briefs

12 May 2006

Including news from Cree, EPIC, Uni-Pixel, JDSU and more.

•  The European Photonics Industry Consortium (EPIC) has published "Laser Applications in Europe", an in-depth analysis of Europe's leading photonic technology. The market study is based on a workshop held last year to identify strategies and tactics for doubling the market volume of high-power industrial lasers by 2010. In the report, markets are characterized in terms of volume, development, trends, main success factors and barriers to entry.

•  Biolase, a US developer of dental lasers, has moved its headquarters to Irvine, California. The new building gives the company more manufacturing space, as well as room for continued growth. Located within 12 miles of Orange Country's John Wayne airport, the facility is said to be easily accessible.

•  LEDs Magazine reports that Articulated Technologies and Grote Industries have teamed up to manufacture robust LED-based lighting for vehicles. As part of the development program, Grote hopes to use Articulated Technologies' LED-embedded light sheets in its lighting products.

•  Uni-Pixel and the Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) are collaborating on a displays project to develop time multiplexed optical shutter (TMOS) technology. The MEMS-based approach uses a single pixel structure to emit the full color spectrum and is said to offer lower manufacturing cost, greater power efficiency and improved image quality.

•  Cree, US, has signed a $40 million LED supply agreement with Seoul Semiconductor, Korea. The five year contract, which ends mid-2011, may be extended by up to five additional years if certain sales conditions are met.

•  JDSU has demonstrated an optically powered USB interface developed by the firm's Photonic Power business unit. The fully isolated device allows USB electronics to be powered over longer distances with complete immunity to high-voltage, RF/EMI and magnetic fields.

•  LaserCard, a US manufacturer of optical memory cards and read/write hardware, has been awarded an $11 million contract for the supply of national ID cards to the Middle East. To-date, the firm has sold more than 35 million secure ID cards worldwide.

•  QinetiQ, Thales UK and SELEX Sensors and Airborne Systems have jointly received a two year MOD contract worth around $16 million to develop thermal imaging technology. The program, known as ALBION, involves the use of cadmium mercury telluride (CMT) focal plane arrays and will focus on affordable solutions for military applications. If all goes to plan, ALBION will move from a pilot to an operational phase in 2008.