8/12/2002 6:04:00 AM
BOTHELL, Wash., Aug 12, 2002 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Optical components developer
Lumera Corporation, a subsidiary of Microvision, Inc. (Nasdaq:MVIS), today
announced the successful completion of the prototype phase of a 10 GHz optical
modulator based on its proprietary polymer technology.
Lumera’s device engineers have designed and manufactured an optical modulator
based entirely on a set of proprietary polymer and chromophore materials
developed by the company. According to the company, Lumera’s modulators will
outperform existing products in several key parameters including power
consumption, optical loss and device size.
“This is a first, but significant, step in our program to provide system
designers with a better, lower cost platform for electro-optic solutions,”
stated Tom Mino, Lumera’s CEO. “We are evaluating these initial prototypes to
drive material and processing improvements that we believe will enable us to
provide our customers with engineering samples of packaged modulators late in
the 4th quarter of this year. This work is a clear demonstration of Lumera’s
leadership in organic electro-optic materials. We have established a powerful
foundation in materials research in conjunction with the University of
Washington. We have produced devices with five layers of organic material —
each one proprietary and each one precisely tuned for specific performance
parameters — and we have been able to cycle these materials multiple times all
the way through device development and fabrication. As a result, we are
producing materials and devices that are uniquely suited to the production and
operation of commercially viable high performance devices.”
New materials at Lumera are showing r33 values (a key measure of electro-optical
activity) that are two times that of Lithium Niobate (the current standard
material for optical modulators). As a result, the materials can enable devices
that feature major improvements in drive voltage, optical loss and device size
over those produced today. Such improved components are expected to provide key
advantages in the design of optical transmission systems for telecommunications
and for a variety of other military and commercial systems.
Earlier this year the company announced that Dr. Larry Dalton, Dr. Alex Jen, and
Dr. Bruce Robinson, at the University of Washington, working under a sponsored
research agreement from Lumera, had already doubled the level of electro-optic
activity achieving unprecedented levels of performance in chromophore and
polymer materials.
Dr. Dalton stated “the importance of establishing a commercial supply of organic
electro-optic materials and devices is well-recognized by the telecom and
defense communities. Lumera has demonstrated that it can systematically and
rapidly improve materials. The recent prototype device production shows that new
materials can be effectively incorporated into devices, and that associated
material issues such as development of compatible cladding materials are also
being addressed.”
About Lumera
As a subsidiary of Microvision, Inc., Lumera is a leader in the development of
electro-optic devices based on proprietary optical polymers. The company plans
to deliver superior and unique component solutions to optical systems suppliers.
Lumera plans to supply standard and custom components to systems providers in
multiple high-growth product categories. Additional information can be found at
Lumera’s Web site at www.lumera.com.
About Microvision
Headquartered in Bothell, Wash., Microvision, Inc. is the developer of the
proprietary Retinal Scanning Display technology and a world leader in micro
miniature optical scanning technology for display and imaging applications. The
company’s technology has applications in a broad range of military, medical,
industrial, professional and consumer information products. Additional
information can be found at the company’s Web site at www.microvision.com.
Forward Looking Statement Disclaimer
Certain statements contained in this release, including plans for product
applications and designs for telecommunications systems as well as statements
containing words like “believe,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “expect,”
and other similar expressions, are forward-looking statements that involve a
number of risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those projected in our forward-looking statements include
the following: market acceptance of our technologies and products; our financial
and technical resources relative to those of our competitors; our ability to
obtain financing; our ability to keep up with rapid technological change;
government regulation of our technologies; our ability to enforce our
intellectual property rights and protect our proprietary technologies; the
ability to obtain additional contract awards and to develop partnership
opportunities; the timing of commercial product launches; the ability to achieve
key technical milestones in key products; and other risk factors identified from
time to time in our SEC reports, including in our Annual Report on 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2001 and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.
CONTACT:
Lumera Corporation/Microvision, Inc.
Matt Nichols, 425/415-6657 (media)
or
Brian Heagler, 425/415-6794 (investors)
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