I'll settle for the next earnings report. I have a feeling it won't be that though. Some Led technology related news.
Kopin Licenses Patents from North Carolina State University
Wednesday August 20, 8:07 am ET
License gives company access to leading-edge technology for the development of next-generation CyberLite(TM) LEDs
TAUNTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 20, 2003-- Kopin Corporation (NASDAQ: KOPN - News), the leading developer of nano-engineered semiconductor components including microdisplays, high-brightness light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and transistors for mobile applications, today announced that it has exclusively licensed a patent on Domain Epitaxy and two patents on cubic Zinc-Magnesium-Oxide (ZnMgO) and Zinc-Cadmium-Oxide (ZnCdO) from North Carolina State University. These patents are important because they can be used to produce LEDs and lasers of any color across the visible spectrum, including the three primary colors needed for white LEDs.
"Licensing these patents further strengthens our intellectual property portfolio with an additional competitive advantage for developing high-brightness, high-efficiency light-emitting diodes," said Dr. John C. C. Fan, Kopin's founder and CEO. "Kopin is delighted to license these three important patents and to maintain our close collaboration with North Carolina State University."
Domain Epitaxy represents a new paradigm for thin film heteroepitaxy, where integral multiples of lattice planes match across the film-substrate interface. In large misfit systems, lattice strains are relaxed quickly and dislocations/defects can be confined to the interface so that the rest of the film can grow "defect-free." The Domain Epitaxy is a fundamental key to the formation of thin film heterostructures, such as TiN films on silicon with 4/3 matching, and III-nitrides (GaN) and ZnO films on sapphire with 6/7 matching. The next two patents cover the epitaxial growth of cubic ZnMgO and ZnCdO on (100) silicon substrates to create inexpensive LEDs and for integration with microelectronic devices.
All three patents were invented by Professor Jagdish Narayan and his team at North Carolina State University. Professor Narayan was named as the John C. C. Fan Family Distinguished Professor of Materials Science and Engineering in May 2003. The endowed chair is named after Dr. John C. C. Fan, founder and CEO of Kopin Corporation.
"Professor Narayan is one of the world's foremost experts on heteroepitaxy and nanotechnology," said Dr. Fan. "We have been working together for many years, most recently on Nanostructured LEDs with NanoPockets® and epitaxial nickel oxide/gold ohmic contacts in GaN LEDs on sapphire. We look forward to continuing to work with Professor Narayan on new innovative technologies."
Professor Narayan has published more than 800 scientific papers, edited nine books and obtained more than 20 issued patents. He is nationally known for his contributions in understanding defects and interfaces, nanotechnology, laser processing, semiconductor doping and novel materials, which led to three IR-100 Awards from Industrial Research Magazine (now R&D Magazine) for new materials and technologies. He has received many top honors from professional societies and peer institutions for his research and academic accomplishments, including the 2004 Edward Demille Campbell Lecture and Prize; 1999 ASM International Gold Medal (Highest ASM Honor); Life Member and Fellow of TMS (Highest TMS Honor); and Fellow and Life Member of American Physical Society. Professor Narayan also was one of the most cited authors for journal articles published during 1980-1997 (Scientific Citation Index).
"Dr. Fan and Kopin Corporation have been pioneers in the nanotechnology and molecular engineering of materials, and they have been very successful in commercializing these innovative technologies," said Professor Narayan. "We are pleased that Kopin licensed these patents, especially the one relating to Domain Epitaxy, which allows good epitaxial growth for GaN on sapphire, a key to the successful development of GaN-based LEDs. We are eager to see Kopin take this technology to the next level."
Founded in 1984, Kopin is pioneering the use of nanotechnology to manufacture nanosemiconductor products that make mobile electronic devices small, fast, bright, lightweight and power efficient. With an intellectual property portfolio of more than 200 issued and pending patents, Kopin supplies the world's largest electronics manufacturers and government agencies with breakthrough semiconductor products. The company's liquid-crystal microdisplays, ultra-efficient transistors and high-brightness GaN LEDs enhance the delivery and presentation of voice, video and data. Kopin technology is currently used in nearly one-third of the world's cell phones and camcorders and is the microdisplay standard for the U.S. military. For more information, please visit Kopin's Web site at www.kopin.com.
CyberLite and NanoPockets are trademarks or registered trademarks of Kopin Corporation.
Statements in this news release concerning the competitive advantage Kopin may gain from licensing the North Carolina State University patents are "forward-looking" statements under the "Safe Harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could materially affect future results. Among these risk factors are general economic and business conditions and growth in the flat panel display, LED and gallium arsenide integrated circuit and materials industries; the impact of competitive products and pricing; availability of third-party components; the successful CyberLite production ramp; the qualification of our CyberLite manufacturing process by additional customers; availability of integrated circuit fabrication facilities; cost and yields associated with production of the company's CyberDisplay imaging devices, CyberLite LEDs and HBT transistor wafers; loss of significant customers; acceptance of the company's products; success of new product and other research and development efforts; continuation of strategic relationships; the impact of SARS on the consumer electronics market; the value of shares of Micrel Semiconductor held by the company; Kopin's ability to accurately forecast revenue levels; and other risk factors and cautionary statements listed in the company's periodic reports and registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These include, but are not limited to, the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 and Form 10-Q for the three months ended June 28, 2003. |
