Editor:

Mark Telford (Email)
Cell:+44 (0)7963 085 605
Semiconductor Today Magazine

News

14 June 2006

 

Unaxis finances Novalux and strikes joint development deal

Novalux Inc has closed a series B financing of up to US$21.7m, and entered into a joint development and license agreement with Unaxis Optics for Novalux Extended Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (NECSEL) based RGB illumination devices for projection display products. Unaxis Optics led the financing. The capital will be used to complete NECSEL product development and enhance Novalux’s production infrastructure. Other investors included: Crescendo Ventures; Morgan Stanley Venture Partners; Dynafund Ventures; and Tredegar Corporation.

According to the joint development and license agreement, Novalux will license its RGB laser reference design to Unaxis and supply the company with its NECSEL semiconductor chips. Unaxis will mass-produce and distribute RGB laser modules into the projection display supply chain.

Novalux's chairman and CEO Jean-Michel Pelaprat said: “Our joint agreement will allow NECSEL laser technology to permeate projection display applications via RPTVs and front projectors, and will open new markets such as pico-projection. NECSEL sources are well suited for these next-generation projection devices—they’re longer life and lower cost than competitive light sources and they’ll provide consumers with an unmatched viewing experience.”

Thomas P. Limberger, Unaxis’ CEO, added: “Novalux’s technology is highly complimentary to our present product portfolio and can be applied across the entire range of micro display and scanning devices. Unaxis Optics’ customers will now have direct access to Novalux laser modules and light engines designed and built by Unaxis.”

Visit Novalux: http://www.novalux.com

Visit Unaxis: http://www.optics.unaxis.com