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Photonics lab to focus on sensors and waveguide materials
Carleton University (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) opened its new $900,000 Carleton Laboratory for Laser Induced Photonic Structures. It was unveiled by Jacques Albert, Canada Research Chair in Advanced Photonic Components. His research will investigate the use of laser light to help produce optical sensor systems allowing for a wider spread of their use. The goal is to bring the cost of these systems down making it much more cost effective for businesses and governments to use them in monitoring the structural integrity of bridges, roads, pipelines, oil wells and large buildings.
The technology will also be used to process glass and organic waveguide materials with the goal of developing new devices for sending and coding optical signals. The lab will help develop systems which will allow for the increasing of bandwidth on the Internet without increasing the cost of communications services.
BTG seeks exclusive OLED licensee
BTG (London, England) is seeking an exclusive licensee for a fundamental technology that uses transparent cathodes in polymer organic light-emitting diode (OLED) devices. This technology includes U.S. Patent 5,955,834, Light Emitting Devices Utilizing High Work Function Electrodes, and is one of a comprehensive portfolio of granted U.S. patents and published applications licensed by BTG from Ohio State University covering OLED technologies in the field of information displays.
BTG has established a dedicated team of OLED scientists to work on the commercial development of the patent portfolio in the state-of-the-art clean room facility and chemistry laboratory at the Ohio MicroMD Laboratory on the campus of The Ohio State University (Columbus, OH). In addition, Arthur Epstein of the Department of Physics and Chemistry and principal inventor of the technology at Ohio State University continues to support the development activities through a consultancy role to BTG.
BTG now seeks to exclusively license this technology to one OLED manufacturing company, thereby giving them a competitive position in growing markets for polymer OLED products. Growing OLED markets enabled by this technology will use active matrix (AM) displays requiring transparent cathodes in either top emission or bottom emission (inverted) structures.
Bookham takes filters into life sciences
As part of its previously stated intention to expand beyond the telecom market, the New Focus (San Jose, CA) division of Bookham, in collaboration with the company’s Thin Film Products group, is transitioning its thin-film-filter technology into the life sciences market with the introduction of the Clarity line of fluorescence filters. Intended for life science analytical and diagnostic instruments for fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry, DNA sequencing, microarrays, and other fluorescence applications, the company says the Clarity filters enable rapid fluorescence measurements and higher instrument throughput, resulting in greater productivity for life-science OEMs and their customers.
According to the company, the ultra-dense Clarity coatings are designed to deliver both high transmission and high blocking in a single filter. In addition, they are insensitive to heat and humidity and are free of epoxies in the optical path that could autofluoresce or lead to eventual degradation.
Also in the news . . .
Medi-photonics Development Company (New York, NY), a subsidiary of Mediscience Technology (Cherry Hill, NJ), and the Infotonics Technology Center (Canandaigua, NY) have formed a collaborative R&D agreement to develop Mediscience’s Compact Photonic Explorer (CPE), a miniature (pill-sized) remote-control device that travels through the digestive system and uses UV light to detect cancer or other abnormalities. The CPE will be commercialized by Mediscience for medical and nonmedical applications. . . . Super Vision International (Orlando, FL), a manufacturer of fiberoptic lighting and LED lighting products, has signed three more licensees to its variable color lighting system patent and its Laidman technology portfolio. The three licensees are Element Labs (Austin, TX), TPR Enterprises (Mamaroneck, NY), and Shine Lighting (West Jordan, UT). . . . Eastman Kodak (Rochester, NY) named Mary Jane Hellyar president of the Display and Components Group. Hellyar is currently general manager, Film Capture, Digital and Film Imaging Systems, and a vice president of the company. She replaces Willy Shih, who has resigned to explore a range of potential business opportunities in the public and private sector.