Nanogate AG granted patent for new optical process
European patent for nanostructured optics – marketing of Dotfarm® optics begun
Saarbrücken, 16 May 2007. The Dotfarm® optics developed by Nanogate AG is a new, hitherto unique optical process. It can be used on numerous large-volume markets such as consumer electronics. The process can, for example, simplify the production of flat screens and reduce production costs. Now the European Patent Office has granted a patent for this technology, which is suitable for industrial mass production. In this way, the Saarbrücken-based company is expanding its technological expertise to cover the nanostructured optics segment. The technological platform Dotfarm® optics consists of a wide-ranging group of patents. Nanogate is expecting to be granted further patents over the next few months and is securing a technological lead in this field of application.
Nanogate's new technology is suitable above all for applications in the consumer electronics, signal processing and photonics segments. In particular, the production of screens and displays, whose market volume for 2007 analysts are estimating at more than USD 60 billion and which is growing by more than 15% annually, can benefit from the enhancement provided by nanotechnology. In comparison with the conventional manufacturing process, the Saarbrücken-based company's new application provides not only technical improvements, but also, and most importantly, competitive advantages as a result of higher efficiency accompanied by lower costs.
The Dotfarm® optics being developed by Nanogate AG is a fundamentally new optical procedure. In it, nanostructured surfaces are created in conjunction with special nanocomposite materials and new physical procedures. The enhanced optical surfaces make it possible to realise more efficient, miniaturised optical components with optimised functions and very low production costs.
The European patent has now been granted for a first application based on Dotfarm® optics. It encompasses innovative optical systems for background illumination in LCD flat screens. In order to illuminate displays, conventional solutions require cost-intensive light-steering foils which presently involve considerable costs. These costs can be eliminated by using Dotfarm® optics: a made-to-measure nanostructured surface placed directly on the respective optical component takes the place of the foils. The potential savings would be USD 15 to 40 per flat TV screen, which means a reduction for background lighting of 20 to 50 percent.
"Dotfarm® optics revolutionising the optical processes that have prevailed to date", explains Ralf Zastrau, Chairman of the Management Board at Nanogate AG. "We have developed this technological platform under the strictest secrecy until now and are currently holding intensive talks with possible partners about its future commercial realisation. Various commercial and licence models are conceivable." With this new technology, Nanogate AG is aiming at technically sophisticated applications on large markets which are demanding low-cost solutions. The commercial potential for Nanogate cannot yet be stated precisely. In midterm, Nanogate expects that future sales can run comfortably into tens of millions. This is the level of earnings the company is expecting. "The granting of this patent confirms once again the versatility and huge market potential of Nanogate-Technologie®", Zastrau adds.
