PDF of this article

NORMAN, Okla. (January 9, 2002) - Dr. Patrick McCann, founder and president of Ekips Technologies, Inc., announced today the receipt of $400,000 in grants from the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST) and the Oklahoma Technology Commercialization Center (OTCC). The funds will be used to develop a viable commercial manufacturing process for fabricating semiconductor lasers with enhanced heat dissipation. Ekips holds an exclusive license to patented laser technologies created at the University of Oklahoma as well as a license from the University of California-Berkeley that will be used in the next phase of commercial development to generate significant improvements in blue/UV and mid-infrared lasers.

"With important applications in solid state lightning, DVD storage, medical diagnostics and air quality monitoring there is increasing global interest in the development of improved blue/UV and mid-infrared lasers," says McCann. "We're honored to receive this affirmation from OCAST and OTCC and will continue to draw on the talented researchers at the University of Oklahoma to create important, useful laser products."

According to McCann, the patented technology developed at OU and UC Berkeley and enhanced by Ekips represents a great advancement in creating and packaging semiconductor lasers. In the case of blue/UV lasers, improved heat dissipation means commercial products can operate with increased power, longer lifespan and cooler operation.

"This cooling technique is significant since it will allow, for instance, new solid-state lighting devices that can replace incandescent light bulbs," McCann says. "While increasing emission powers and lifespan, our new fabrication methods are suitable for automated mass production and can reduce production costs."

# # #

About Ekips Technologies, Inc. Ekips Technologies, Inc., is an Oklahoma corporation founded in 1997 to develop, manufacture and market lasers and laser-based systems. The company's proprietary technology enables low-cost fabrication of semiconductor lasers that have performance characteristics superior to those of competing products.