Wednesday, August 31, 2016

EEE MTT/AP Orlando Chapter, CREOL, & Raj Mittra Distinguished Lecture 9.8.16/5:00-6:00PM/CREOL 103

“Spatially-Variant Periodic Structures in Electromagnetics”

IEEE MTT/AP Orlando Chapter, CREOL, & Raj Mittra Distinguished Lecture Program

DATE/TIME: Thursday, September 8th, 2016 (5:00 PM-6:00 PM)

SPEAKER: Dr. Raymond C. Rumpf
Associate Professor, University of Texas at El Paso
ABSTRACT:
Periodic structures, or lattices, have proven to be one of the most enabling technologies of the 21st century.  They allowed us to make objects invisible, to manipulate light and sound like we do electricity in computer chips, to dramatically reduce size and weight of structures while maintaining mechanical strength, and appear to break fundamental laws of physics.  Despite these accomplishments, profound physical mechanisms still remain hidden inside the lattices that have yet to be effectively utilized.  Electromagnetic fields cannot be manipulated inside homogeneous media.  There must exist an interface, a gradient, or some form of inhomogeneity.  Uniform lattices can be compared to homogeneous media that have limited usefulness.  To unlock the hidden physics, lattices must be made macroscopically inhomogeneous without also unintentionally deforming the unit cells.  Bending, twisting, and otherwise spatially varying a periodic structure in this manner requires impossible geometries, so until recently it has only been accomplished in simple and canonical configurations.  A breakthrough by the EM Lab at the University of Texas at El Paso has led to a method for generating spatially-variant lattices (SVLs) without unintentionally deforming the unit cells, thus preserving their electromagnetic properties.  Using this tool, the EM Lab is exploring new physics enabled by SVLs.  In collaboration with the Kuebler Lab at the University of Central Florida, a spatially-variant photonic crystal (SVPC) was designed that achieved the tightest bend of optical beam ever reported in the literature. In other work, the EM Lab showed that a spatially-variant anisotropic metamaterial (SVAM) can be used to electromagnetically decouple two electrical components placed in close proximity.  This talk will discuss the algorithm for generating SVLs as well as some of the new device concepts it has enabled so far.
.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR  Dr. Raymond C. Rumpf is an Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), and has a joint appointment in the Computational Science program.  In Fall 2010, Raymond formed the EM Lab at UTEP with a mission to develop revolutionary technologies enabled by digital manufacturing.  Prior to joining UTEP, Raymond was the Chief Technology Officer for Prime Photonics where he helped transform the company’s technology portfolio from exclusively fiber optic sensors to an array of technologies for extreme applications.  Raymond earned his BS and MS in Electrical Engineering from the Florida Institute of Technology in 1995 and 1997 respectively.  He earned his PhD in Optics in 2006 from the University of Central Florida.  In 2015, Raymond was awarded the highly prestigious University of Texas Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award.  Raymond has been awarded over a dozen United States patents and has authored dozens of peer-reviewed journal articles.  He is an Associate Editor for SPIE Optical Engineering, Program Chair for Advanced Fabrication Technologies at Photonics West, and a Senior Member of SPIE.  He is also a member of IEEE, OSA, and ARRL.  Raymond is active in outreach with local grade schools in El Paso as well as mentoring students in third-world countriesformer ABET ECE PEV, CEAA. 

LOCATION:      University of Central Florida
CREOL 103

Organizer: Prof. Raj Mittra and
Michael Trampler

Thursday, August 11, 2016

IEEE & SID Joint Student Chapter Seminar: "Engineering Dispersion: A Way to Enhance Sensing Sensitivity of Our Instruments" By Dr. Yundong Zhang, 8.18.16/11:00AM-12:00PM/CREOL RM 103

IEEE & SID Joint Student Chapter Seminar: "Engineering Dispersion: A Way to Enhance Sensing Sensitivity of Our Instruments" By Dr. Yundong Zhang
Thursday, August 18, 2016 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
CREOL Room 103

 http://www.creol.ucf.edu/NewsEvents/Attachments/Events/1165/dr.%20zhang.png
Dr. Yundong Zhang
Department of Electronic Science and Technology, Institute of Opto-electronics
Harbin Institute of Technology
ydzhang@hit.edu.cn

Abstract:
Dispersion is not an age long concept in physics, but also is one of ways to improve design and fabrication of our instrument nowadays. Utilizing the engineering dispersion, we can enlarge sensing performance of our facilities, and enhance their resolution. In my talk I will present a way to design the dispersion profile of devices to enhance the sensitivity of our sensors, including applications of generation of slow and fast light, M-Z interferometer, rotation sensor, temperature sensor. I will report the recent advances in the field based on engineering dispersion. In the ending part I will present the future direction.

Biography:
Dr. Yundong Zhang is Full Professor of Department of Electronic Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology in China. He received his PhD. degree in physical electronics from Harbin Institute of Technology in 1997. He joined Harbin Institute of Technology in 1991. He is interested in laser spectroscopic techniques, nonlinear optical response of organic micro-molecule, nano-materials, semiconductor materials, optical phenomena in micro-nano scale, controlling of light propagation and its applications. He was the deputy director of National Key Lab of Tunable Laser Technology from 1996-2003. He is reviewer of international journals, such as Optics Letters, Optics Express, IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics, IEEE Letters of Light Technology, and so on. He has got five The National Natural Science Funds of China. He got a 863 High Technology Project from Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology. He also got a project from some department of China. He is now financially supported by a National Key Technology R&D Program of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China. He has over 100 journal publications, 10 issued patents and other 6 patents pending. He received some awards, such as Significant Achievement in Optical Field of China in 2010. And Scientific and Technological Award of universities and colleges in Hei Longjiang Province in 2011.


Monday, August 8, 2016

LPTH Press Release: LightPath Technologies to Acquire ISP Optics


For Immediate Release:

LightPath Technologies to Acquire ISP Optics

Transformative Acquisition to Create a Global Infrared and Optical Company with Enhanced Growth Opportunities

    ORLANDO, FL – August 8, 2016 – LightPath Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: LPTH) (“LightPath,” the “Company” or “we”), a leading vertically integrated global manufacturerdistributor and integrator ofproprietary optical and infrared components and high-level assemblies, today announced it has executed a definitive agreement to acquire ISP Optics Corporation (“ISP”) for $18 million, of which $12 million will be payable in cash with the balance in the form of a note issued to the sellers.  Headquartered in New York State and with major manufacturing operations in Latvia, ISP is a premier manufacturer of advanced infrared optical components, coatings, and optical sub-systems. 

In 2015, ISP generated, on a consolidated basis, $12.1 million of revenue, $1.5 million of net income and $3.1 million of adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (“EBITDA”). LightPath plans to finance the cash portion of the purchase price through a combination of the offering and issuance of LightPath’s common stock and debt financing.  Upon closing, ISP will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of LightPath.  LightPath expects the transaction to be accretive during the first 12 months.

Acquisition Highlights

  • Combines two fast-growing high technology infrared and optical product pioneers to establish a premier, global, leading-edge industrial technology company.
  • Combines LightPath’s high-volume molding technology with ISP’s high-value diamond turning, coatings and polishing capabilities
  • ISP’s primary vertical markets are infrared lenses for sensors, military electro-optical products and infrared imaging cameras
  • ISP’s 2015 consolidated revenues grew 17% year-over-year, and adjusted EBITDA was 25.7%
  • The ISP business broadens LightPath’s global customer base significantly with nominal overlap.
  • Expands LightPath’s market reach to include major operations in Asia, North America and now Europe with ISP’s Latvian operation.
  • Generates significant synergies through cross-selling of products, expanded product offerings, greater production and assembly capabilities as well as material processing capabilities.
  • Expands LightPath’s served available market (SAM) to $1.7 billion from $800 million.
Management Comments

Jim Gaynor, President and Chief Executive Officer of LightPath commented, “LightPath has made significant progress in growing revenues faster than the industry’s growth.  We have reduced costs, improved margins, and increased profits and operating cash flows that have strengthened our balance sheet. Our core strengths in optical lens technology and manufacturing have allowed LightPath the opportunity to expand into the faster growing infrared market with the potential to capture more revenue and profit.

The acquisition of ISP Optics Corporation will accelerate growth and materially expand our size and, more importantly, our scope of products and capabilities. This acquisition accelerates our global growth strategy.  Bringing together the two companies creates substantial synergies such as the opportunity to cross sell LightPath’s products to ISP’s customer base and cross sell ISP’s products to LightPath’s customer base, expansion of each company’s distribution channels benefiting from LightPath’s strong Asian presence and ISP’s strong European presence, leveraging the value of combining molded and turned product designs and in general increasing revenue through the expanded scope of product offerings.  This transaction enables LightPath to be a competitive global supplier with the potential to sustain higher levels of growth.”

ISP Chief Executive Officer Mark Lifshotz said, “The collective technological capabilities of LightPath and ISP position us for continued high growth, with concentration in key markets for infrared sensors, global military electro-optical infrared products and infrared imaging cameras, among other mission critical and broad-based applications.  We are very excited about our combination with LightPath, one of the world’s most accomplished optical technology leaders, to create an even more significantly competitive market participant.  Through the combined complementary capabilities and assets of these two companies we will create one full service company able to offer our customers a single source for all their infrared needs.”

Transaction

The closing of the acquisition is subject to the satisfaction of various conditions, including the approval by LightPath’s stockholders for LightPath to issue its common stock in connection with the acquisition.  LightPath intends to pursue and close the financing needed for the acquisition in the fourth quarter of calendar year 2016, with the acquisition expected to close at or around the same time.  LightPath will seek a fairness opinion with respect to the transaction.

Notices Regarding Sales of Securities

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities described herein as potentially being offered in connection with the financing, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

About ISP

ISP Optics Corporation is a vertically integrated manufacturer offering a full range of infrared products from high performance MWIR and LWIR lenses and lens assemblies.  The Company’s infrared lens assembly product line includes athermal lens systems used in cooled and un-cooled thermal imaging cameras.  ISP manufactures in-house precision optical components including spherical, aspherical and diffractive coated infrared lenses.  ISP’s optics processes allow it to manufacture its products from all of the important infrared materials and crystals.  Manufacturing processes include CNC grinding and CNC polishing, diamond turning, continuous and conventional polishing, optical contacting and advanced coating technologies.

Due to increases in demand over the past 18 months, ISP has implemented a major expansion in its diamond turning department and nearly doubling its production capacity.  This makes ISP one of the most diverse and agile diamond turning operations in the world and enables it to provide fast, high quality solutions for customers. ISP manufacturing includes state of the art turning machines from Moore Nanotechnology and Precitech as well as metrology equipment from Zygo and Taylor Hobson within its temperature controlled facilities. 

About LightPath Technologies

LightPath Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: LPTH) provides optics and photonics solutions for the industrial, defense, telecommunications, testing and measurement, and medical industries.  LightPath designs, manufactures, and distributes optical and infrared components including molded glass aspheric lenses and assemblies, infrared lenses and thermal imaging assemblies, fused fiber collimators, and gradient index GRADIUM® lenses.  LightPath also offers custom optical assemblies, including full engineering design support.  For more information, visit www.lightpath.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release includes statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of federal securities laws, which are statements other than historical facts and that frequently use words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “position,” “should,” “strategy,” “target,” “will” and similar words.  All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release.  Although we believe that the plans, intentions, and expectations reflected in or suggested by the forward-looking statements are reasonable, there is no assurance that these plans, intentions, or expectations will be achieved.  Therefore, actual outcomes and results could materially differ from what is expressed, implied, or forecasted in such statements.  This release contains certain forward-looking statements that are based on current plans and expectations and are subject to various risks and uncertainties.  Our business may be influenced by many factors that are difficult to predict, involve uncertainties that may materially affect results, and are often beyond our control.  Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, factors detailed by us in our public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  All forward-looking statements included in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by such cautionary statements.  Except as required under the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, we do not have any intention or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
####

LightPath Technologies - Exciting News!

LightPath Technologies
Dear Valued Customer,

We are pleased to announce that LightPath has executed a definitive agreement to acquire ISP Optics Corporation (“ISP”) for $18 million.  Great news for you!
This acquisition expands the scope of both companies, adds geographic diversity, expanded capabilities and scale which allows us to grow while continuing to offer premier precision molded optics in the visible spectrum and focus on providing all our customers with the best photonics solutions available. 
Headquartered in New York State and with major manufacturing operations in Latvia, ISP is a premier manufacturer of advanced infrared optical components, coatings, and optical sub-systems. ISP’s primary vertical markets are infrared lenses for sensors, military electro-optical products and infrared imaging cameras. 
Acquisition Highlights
  • Generates significant synergies through cross-selling of products, expanded product offerings, greater production and assembly capabilities as well as material processing capabilities. 
  • Combines two fast-growing high technology optical product pioneers to establish a premier, global, leading-edge industrial technology company.
  • Combines LightPath’s high-volume molding technology with ISP’s high-value diamond turning, coatings and polishing capabilities to create a paramount solutions provider.  
  • The ISP business broadens LightPath’s global customer base significantly with nominal overlap. 
  • Expands LightPath’s market reach to include major operations in Asia, North America and now Europe with ISP’s Latvian operation.
Upon closing of the acquisition, which is expected to occur in the fourth quarter of calendar 2016, ISP will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of LightPath.
About ISP
ISP Optics Corporation is a vertically integrated manufacturer offering a full range of infrared products from high performance MWIR and LWIR lenses and lens assemblies.  The Company’s infrared lens assembly product line includes athermal lens systems used in cooled and un-cooled thermal imaging cameras.  ISP manufactures in-house precision optical components including spherical, aspherical and diffractive coated infrared lenses.  ISP’s optics processes allow it to manufacture its products from all of the important infrared materials and crystals.  Manufacturing processes include CNC grinding and CNC polishing, diamond turning, continuous and conventional polishing, optical contacting and advanced coating technologies.
Due to increases in demand over the past 18 months, ISP has implemented a major expansion in its diamond turning department and nearly doubling its production capacity.  This makes ISP one of the most diverse and agile diamond turning operations in the world and enables it to provide fast, high quality solutions for customers. ISP manufacturing includes state of the art turning machines from Moore Nanotechnology and Precitech as well as metrology equipment from Zygo and Taylor Hobson within its temperature controlled facilities. 
We look forward to partnering with you on your next optical project.  Thank you for your continued patronage.

Sincerely,
Jim Gaynor signature
Thermal Imaging Assemblies 
Jim Gaynor
President & CEO
LightPath Technologies Inc.
407-382 - 4003 ext. 377


2603 Challenger Tech Ct Suite 100 Orlando, FL 32826

+1 800.472.3486

Tuesday, August 2, 2016

IEEE MTT/AP Orlando Chapter, CREOL, & Raj Mittra Distinguished Lecture Program: “Spatially-Variant Periodic Structures in Electromagnetics” By Dr. Raymond C. Rumpf

EEE MTT/AP Orlando Chapter, CREOL, & Raj Mittra Distinguished Lecture Program: “Spatially-Variant Periodic Structures in Electromagnetics” By Dr. Raymond C. Rumpf

Thursday, September 8th, 2016 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM
CREOL Room 103


Dr. Raymond C. Rumpf
Associate Professor, University of Texas at El Paso

Abstract:
Periodic structures, or lattices, have proven to be one of the most enabling technologies of the 21st century.  They allowed us to make objects invisible, to manipulate light and sound like we do electricity in computer chips, to dramatically reduce size and weight of structures while maintaining mechanical strength, and appear to break fundamental laws of physics.  Despite these accomplishments, profound physical mechanisms still remain hidden inside the lattices that have yet to be effectively utilized.  Electromagnetic fields cannot be manipulated inside homogeneous media.  There must exist an interface, a gradient, or some form of inhomogeneity.  Uniform lattices can be compared to homogeneous media that have limited usefulness.  To unlock the hidden physics, lattices must be made macroscopically inhomogeneous without also unintentionally deforming the unit cells.  Bending, twisting, and otherwise spatially varying a periodic structure in this manner requires impossible geometries, so until recently it has only been accomplished in simple and canonical configurations.  A breakthrough by the EM Lab at the University of Texas at El Paso has led to a method for generating spatially-variant lattices (SVLs) without unintentionally deforming the unit cells, thus preserving their electromagnetic properties.  Using this tool, the EM Lab is exploring new physics enabled by SVLs.  In collaboration with the Kuebler Lab at the University of Central Florida, a spatially-variant photonic crystal (SVPC) was designed that achieved the tightest bend of optical beam ever reported in the literature. In other work, the EM Lab showed that a spatially-variant anisotropic metamaterial (SVAM) can be used to electromagnetically decouple two electrical components placed in close proximity.  This talk will discuss the algorithm for generating SVLs as well as some of the new device concepts it has enabled so far.
.
Biography: 
Dr. Raymond C. Rumpf is an Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), and has a joint appointment in the Computational Science program.  In Fall 2010, Raymond formed the EM Lab at UTEP with a mission to develop revolutionary technologies enabled by digital manufacturing.  Prior to joining UTEP, Raymond was the Chief Technology Officer for Prime Photonics where he helped transform the company’s technology portfolio from exclusively fiber optic sensors to an array of technologies for extreme applications.  Raymond earned his BS and MS in Electrical Engineering from the Florida Institute of Technology in 1995 and 1997 respectively.  He earned his PhD in Optics in 2006 from the University of Central Florida.  In 2015, Raymond was awarded the highly prestigious University of Texas Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award.  Raymond has been awarded over a dozen United States patents and has authored dozens of peer-reviewed journal articles.  He is an Associate Editor for SPIE Optical Engineering, Program Chair for Advanced Fabrication Technologies at Photonics West, and a Senior Member of SPIE.  He is also a member of IEEE, OSA, and ARRL.  Raymond is active in outreach with local grade schools in El Paso as well as mentoring students in third-world countries-former ABET ECE PEV, CEAA. 

For Additional information:
Prof. Raj Mittra
Michael Trampler