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Digital Optics Corporation Awarded U.S. Patent For Low-Cost Micro-Optics Fabrication Technology

Posted on: Monday, 13 October 2003, 06:00 CDT

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital Optics Corporation (DOC) has been awarded a U.S. patent for an innovative technological process that enables precise volume replication of diffractive and refractive micro-optical components and is the basis for lower-cost manufacturing.

DOC's newest patent covers a proprietary replication process used principally for polymer-on-glass-substrate applications. The process uses a master optic created lithographically to produce polymer-on-glass replica wafers. The wafers are then diced into individual optical elements for use in applications ranging from consumer electronics to data storage and medical devices.

The DOC process significantly advances previous polymer-on-glass replication technology, which in itself offers superior performance to plastic injection molding. The advantage of replication at the wafer level is that it lowers the cost of polymer-on-glass manufacturing and also produces lower-cost precision alignment of multiple wafer layers.

"This patent represents the culmination of development work we began more than seven years ago, which illustrates DOC's leadership in developing innovative manufacturing solutions for micro-optics," Chief Technology Officer Mike Feldman said. "We believe it is a core patent that will provide a basis of a low-cost micro-optics manufacturing process complementary to our primary lithographic techniques."

"The addition of another option in our manufacturing technology tool kit is an example of our ongoing effort to provide the best manufacturing solutions for our customers," he added. "Our goal is to provide the best cost per performance for our customers, whether it be through glass-on-polymer, plastic injection molding or direct lithography."

DOC now has more than 120 patents and patent applications covering the fabrication and use of wafer-fabricated micro-optics, as well as the integration of micro-optics at the wafer and die level for specific products. Its manufacturing patents include transfer etching of replicated elements into a substrate and the use of gray scale masks to fabricate micro-optics. DOC also has a licensing agreement with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology covering patents for using multiple masks to lithographically create optics.

DOC's newest patent is No. 6,610,166 and is titled "Method for Replicating Optical Elements, Particularly on a Wafer Level, and Replicas Formed Thereby."

About Digital Optics Corporation

Digital Optics Corporation (DOC), located in Charlotte, N.C., is a worldwide leader in micro-optics and integrated micro-optical sub-assembly design and manufacturing services for high-performance, small form factor, cost-effective optical solutions. Industry-leading capabilities include diffractive optics, refractive optics, SiOB, and the integration of passive and/or active components at die and wafer-levels. DOC offers solutions for consumer electronics, sensors, medical devices, semiconductor equipment, vision systems, data storage and more.

For more information, contact

Mark Newsome at CNSG, 803-254-8158 or mark.newsome@cnsg.com

Joe DeBartolo at DOC, 704-887-3132 or joe@doc.com

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