Network Photonics Looks for Buyer

SAN FRANCISCO -- Gerbsman Partners (www.gerbsmanpartners.com) has been retained by Network Photonics, Inc. (NPI, www.networkphotonics.com) to solicit interest for the acquisition of the company, or a significant portion thereof or its comprehensive patent and patent pending technologies.

The intellectual property includes fully-functional and proven designs, equipment and facilities to produce the world’s only commercially-available MEMS-based wavelength switch for DWDM optical transport networks, plus 11 issued patents, 3 notices of allowance, 40 pending patents, other associated Intellectual Property necessary for its development, and associated Intellectual Capital.

Major investors in Network Photonics include New Enterprise Associates, US Venture Partners, Spectrum Equity Investors, Sturm Group, and Siemens Ventures. Over $80 million was invested over 3 years in developing NPI’s technology and facilities.

NPI’s patented CrossWave® technology is based on a unique integration of proprietary MEMS-based digital micromirrors and wavelength-dispersive optics which achieves best-in-class optical performance at a price point 80% lower than competitive photonic cross-connect technologies. The CrossWave family of products have been generally available since May 2002. The company has shipped its product to 15 leading DWDM system manufacturers and major carriers in North America, Europe and Asia where it has undergone extensive testing for applications in next-generation optical networks.

NPI’s core technology includes optical MEMS, photonic switching components and systems, precision optical systems, precision optical metrology, MEMS reliability and qualification, high-speed opto-electronics and control systems for MEMS, and precision automated manufacturing for optical subsystems and systems.

NPI has fully-equipped world-class facilities and infrastructure for MOEMS development, testing and post-processing, precisions optical integration and manufacturing, including 3,000 sq.ft. of Class-100 and Class-1000 clean rooms. The manufacturing operation includes custom automation which can produce about 1000 CrossWave subsystems/year (one shift). The company has fully-equipped reliability and environmental labs with numerous environmental chambers and related test and data collection systems. NPI also has a number of custom-built Zygo optical test systems for qualification of precision optical components such as diffraction gratings, lenses and MEMS devices.

The company’s U.S. Patent portfolio includes 11 issued, 3 Notices of Allowance and 40 pending plus approximately 80 documented trade secrets related to integrated wavelength switching, MEMS design, fabrication and packaging, optical component design, reconfigurable wavelength networks, DWDM system design, and more. The company also has patents pending in Europe and Asia. The company has a fundamental patent related to acousto-optic switching which it acquired from a 3rd party.

Network Photonics Inc.