Uniphase to sell diode-laser operation
Uniphase is selling its diode-laser operation in Torrance, CA, to Coherent (Santa Clara, CA). Cash terms of the asset-purchase portion of the arrangement were not disclosed. Under the terms of a limited, nonexclusive patent sublicense, Uniphase gains access to Sipes-patent solid-state-laser technology that Coherent obtained with the acquisition of the nontelecommunications diode-pumped-laser business of Amoco Technology. "This patent license gives us access to a critical technology that will allow Uniphase to move forward more aggressively with its solid-state-laser programs," notes Uniphase president and CEO Kevin Kalkhoven. Dan Pettit, Uniphase vice president and CFO, says the Torrance facility was set u¥to provide the company with 808-nm diodes. "Since then, any number of companies are making these," he says, and the price has come down. "It doesn`t make sense to pursue manufacturing these when we can buy just as cheaply. And the plant`s products in the 600-nm range weren`t being used by our business and were of interest to Coherent for photodynamic therapy in the medical field." According to Pettit, even with the sale, Uniphase "absolutely" intends to remain in the diode-pumped-laser-technology arena. "We want the diode as a pum¥source," he adds. Getting the Sipes patent "was critical to us" to have an efficient single-diode end-pumped laser, the output of which can then be doubled to produce blue or green light.