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    1. LEDs & SSL Design
    2. Modular Light Engines

    Intematix to take materials-centric approach under Swoboda (MAGAZINE)

    Sept. 20, 2010
    Mark Swoboda, the new CEO of Intematix, will leverage the company's materials heritage to capitalize on the value proposition of phosphors and phosphor-based lighting components, reports Maury Wright.
    Content Dam Leds En Articles 2010 09 Intematix To Take Materials Centric Approach Under Swoboda Magazine Leftcolumn Article Thumbnailimage File
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    In August 2010, Fremont, California-based Intematix appointed Mark Swoboda as CEO. In an interview with LEDs Magazine, Swoboda described his vision for a company focused on deriving value from its materials expertise in general and phosphors in particular. On the subject of LED-based solidstate lighting (SSL), Swoboda said, “What the consumer sees is based on how the phosphor performs.”

    Intematix certainly has a legacy in materials science and phosphor development. But in the SSL space, the company has also developed packaged multi-chip LED arrays, light engines and even light sources. However, it appears that phosphors, and new ways to supply phosphors to customers, will be the forward focus.

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    Sidebar to main article:

    Nichia warns rivals over red-emitting phosphors

    In June 2010, Japanese LED maker Nichia issued a non-too-subtle warning to rival manufacturers that it believes could be infringing its phosphor-related patents relating to CASN and S-CASN materials. The announcement (www.nichia.co.jp/en/about_nichia/press.html) concerns phosphors that emit red light, and which are typically used in combination with a yellow-emitting phosphor to achieve warm-white LED light.

    Specifically, Nichia says that it owns patents covering phosphors with the general formula CaAlSiN3:Eu, also known as CASN or S-CASN. The patents, also covering LEDs using these phosphors, have been filed in Japan, USA, Europe, China, Korea, and Taiwan. Several of the US patents listed are owned jointly by Nichia and Dowa Electronics Materials Co., Ltd.

    Nichia said that it has “never licensed any of these patents to others," adding "Nonetheless, CASN phosphor and S-CASN phosphor have been manufactured in large quantities without Nichia’s authority, and LEDs using these phosphors also have been manufactured in large quantities as well.”

    Nichia concluded by saying that it “expects that these patents will be respected,” which is an ominous statement considering Nichia’s history in involving itself in patent litigation.

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    This article was published in the September/October 2010 issue of LEDs Magazine. To read the full version of this article, please visit our magazine page, where you can download FREE electronic PDF versions of all issues of LEDs Magazine. You can also request a print copy of LEDs Magazine (available by paid subscription) and sign up for our free weekly email newsletter.