Visitech Acquires Keynote Photonics: Week in Brief: 07/15/22

Northrop Grumman Corp. completed the preliminary design review for a high-energy laser prototype that will feature an architecture scalable to more than a megawatt for the U.S. Department of Defense. In March 2021, the U.S. Department of Defense awarded Northrop Grumman a $72 million contract under the High Energy Laser Scaling Initiative (HELSI) to demonstrate a high-energy laser prototype using Northrop Grumman’s coherent beam-combining technology. The company will test the prototype at progressively higher powers later this year to prove the coherent beam-combining design.

DALLAS — Visitech AS has acquired Keynote Photonics, a manufacturer of industrial projectors. The assets and staff will transition to new roles in the coming months. Existing Keynote production will be transitioned either to Visitech or third parties to ensure continuity of supply. Keynote Photonics has developed various DLP industrial solutions for customers in medical solutions, 3D scanning metrology, and advanced display systems that have been used in Olympic ceremonies, DNA analysis, and the first 8K laser TV.

From left: Adam Kunzman, Oyvind Tafjord, Amanda Kunzman, and Endre Kirkhorn. Courtesy of Visitech.

KFAR SABA, Israel — The MicroLED Industry Association has been established to help accelerate the adoption of microLED display technologies. Founding members include Coherent, PlayNitride, VueReal, Stratacache, ALLOS Semiconductors, Inziv, and QustomDot. The association will bring together companies, academia, and organizations in the microLED industry and will provide a forum to solve common technology issues, foster cooperation, and share relevant information, resources, and tools.

SAN JOSE, Calif., — Cadence Design Systems and Tower Semiconductor will collaborate to advance automotive and mobile integrated chip development. Through the collaboration, the companies will develop a comprehensive automotive reference design flow using the Cadence Virtuoso and Spectre Simulation Platform. The aim of the collaboration is to provide a faster design cycle while maintaining comprehensive design verification for advanced automotive integrated chip product development.

MUNICH — An investment fund under the management of AGIC Capital has invested an undisclosed amount into Eulitha AG, a provider of noncontact nano-UV-lithography equipment and services. Eulitha offers cost-efficient, noncontact, high-resolution photolithography systems and customized patterning service for applications including DFB/DBR lasers, AR/VR, telecommunications, optical components, and biosensors/chips.