Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Distinguished Seminar Series: "Petapixel photography and the limits of camera capacity" by Dr. David Brady 1.24.14/ 11:00am-12:00pm/ CREOL Room 102

Distinguished Seminar Series: "Petapixel photography and the limits of camera capacity" by Dr. David Brady
Friday, January 24, 2014 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
CREOL Room 102

Dr. David Brady
Michael J. Fitzpatrick Endowed Professor of Photonics at Duke University

Abstract:
Multiscale design and physical layer compression may enable digital cameras to reach diffraction and photon-limited information capacity. This talk considers these limits and describes strategies for reaching diffraction limited resolution with >10 gigapixels and implementing compressive temporal, focal and exposure coding to quantum information limits.

Biography:
David Brady is the Michael J. Fitzpatrick Endowed Professor of Photonics at Duke University, where he leads the Duke Imaging and Spectroscopy Program. Brady's contributions to computational imaging system development include lensless white light imaging, optical projection tomography, compressive holography, reference structure tomography, coded aperture snapshot spectral imaging and coded aperture x-ray scatter imaging. He is currently the principal investigator for the DARPA AWARE Wide Field of View project, which aims to build compact streaming gigapixel scale imagers and the DARPA Knowledge Enhanced Exapixel Photography project, which focuses on code design for high pixel count spectral imagers. He is the author of Optical Imaging and Spectroscopy (Wiley-OSA, 2009) and is a Fellow of IEEE, SPIE and OSA.

For additional information:
Dr. Bahaa E. A. Saleh
Dean & Director, Professor of Optics
407-882-3326
besaleh @ creol . ucf . edu


LightPath Technologies, Inc. Opens Second High Volume Manufacturing Facility in China

ORLANDO, FL -- December 17, 2013 -- LightPath Technologies, Inc. (“LightPath,” the “Company” or “we”) (NASDAQ: LPTH), a global manufacturer, distributor and integrator of proprietary optical components and high-level assemblies, announced today the formation of a new wholly-owned subsidiary, LightPath Optical Instrumentation (Zhenjiang) Co., Ltd. (“LOIZ”), located in Zhenjiang, which is in the Jiangsu province of China.  LOIZ is LightPath’s second operating entity in China.  The Company currently occupies a 22,000 square foot facility in Orlando, Florida.  LightPath Optical Instrumentation (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. occupies a 17,000 square foot facility in Shanghai, China.  LOIZ will occupy a 26,000 square foot facility in Zhenjiang, China.  LOIZ’s facility will triple the Company’s combined global lens production capacity. 
Commenting on the Company’s expansion, LightPath Chief Executive Officer Jim Gaynor said, “Demand for our aspheric lenses has accelerated in both our North American and Asian sales regions. The Company’s lens unit volume production increased by approximately 50% in fiscal 2013 as compared to fiscal 2012. Our backlog as of September 30, 2013 had grown to $4.42 million.  A primary catalyst driving this increased demand is the Company’s proprietary technology and manufacturing processes which have lowered the cost of lenses we provide to our customers.  As a result, there has been a paradigm shift in demand creation among end users in markets such as laser tools, telecommunications, digital projectors, industrial equipment and medical instruments.”
Mr. Gaynor continued, “We recently completed very favorable negotiations with the Economic Development Committee of Zhenjiang Science & Technology New City to form our new wholly-owned subsidiary, LOIZ, and open its manufacturing facility in Zhenjiang.  We would like to thank the officials in the city of Zhenjiang and other Chinese agencies which led to the selection of this city for the location of LOIZ’s manufacturing facility and our expansion into a second Chinese city.    LOIZ’s new location provides us access to excellent infrastructure, high speed rail service, a well-educated technical work force, and proximity to the highly acclaimed Optical College at the University of Zhenjiang.”
Mr. Gaynor concluded, “The low rental rates and wages in Zhenjiang will give us a solid platform to continue growing our high-volume business for precision molded optics. Work is underway to build out the factory and production is planned to start during the first half of 2014.  We estimate our manufacturing costs could be up to 40% lower at this new facility once we are at full production levels. The new plant will be focused on manufacturing, with administrative functions, engineering and sales supported from our operations in Shanghai and Orlando.”.
About LightPath Technologies
LightPath (NASDAQ: LPTH) manufactures optical products including precision molded aspheric optics, GRADIUM® glass products, proprietary collimator assemblies, laser components utilizing proprietary automation technology, higher-level assemblies and packing solutions. The Company's products are used in various markets, including industrial, medical, defense, test & measurement and telecommunications. LightPath has a strong patent portfolio that has been granted or licensed to us in these fields.  For more information, visit www.lightpath.com. GRADIUM® is a registered trademark of LightPath Technologies.

This news release includes statements that constitute forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding our ability to expand our presence in certain markets, future sales growth, continuing reductions in cash usage and implementation of new distribution channels. This information may involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, factors detailed by LightPath Technologies, Inc. in its public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. 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.

Monday, December 16, 2013

Distinguished Seminar Series: "Silicon Photonics: The Optical Spice Rack" by Michal Lipson/ 4.11.14/ 11:00am-12:00pm/ CREOL 102

Distinguished Seminar Series: "Silicon Photonics: The Optical Spice Rack" by Michal Lipson
Friday, April 11, 2014 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
CREOL Room 102

Michal Lipson
School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Cornell University

Abstract:
Silicon is evolving as a versatile photonic platform with multiple functionalities that can be seamlessly integrated. The tool box is rich starting from the ability to guide and amplify multiple wavelength sources at GHz bandwidths, to optomechanical MEMS and opto-fluidics devices. As an example of novel device capabilities, I will discuss the generation of strong optical forces in these ultra small light confining structures. We have recently shown that optical forces can enable controllable, static manipulation of photonic structures, an important step towards enabling recently proposed functionalities for optomechanical devices, such as self-aligning and optical corralling behaviour. These advances should enable future micro-optomechanical systems (MOMS) with novel and distinct functionalities.

Biography:
Michal Lipson is a Professor at the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering here at Cornell University. Her research focuses on novel on-chip Nanophotonics devices. She holds numerous patents on novel micron-size photonic structures for light manipulation, and is the author of over 150 technical papers in journals in Physics and Optics. She has pioneered several of the critical building blocks for silicon photonics including the GHz silicon modulators. Professor Lipson's honors and awards include the MacArthur Fellow, OSA Fellow, IEEE Fellow, IBM Faculty Award, and NSF Early Career Award


Tuesday, December 10, 2013

TODAY! IEEE Photonics Society student chapter seminar:"Confessions of a Serial Entrepreneur: 30 Years of Photonic Start-ups in Academia and Industry” by Dr. Simon Poole 12.10.13/2:00-3:00pm/A214

IEEE Photonics Society student chapter seminar:"Confessions of a Serial Entrepreneur: 30 Years of Photonic Start-ups in Academia and Industry” by Dr. Simon Poole
Tuesday, December 10, 2013 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
CREOL Room A214


Dr. Simon Poole

Finisar, Australia
Simon.poole@finisar.com

Abstract:
Every company – even the largest household names such as Google or Apple or even IBM - begins life as a start-up. Drawing on experience gained from Dr. Poole’s extensive start-up history, this presentation will look at how some of the companies and research groups in which Dr. Poole has been involved got started, what they did and how they subsequently developed and thrived. The presentation aims to inspire researchers who are considering how to commercialize their research to take the next steps and move out of the research lab and into the brave new world of commercialization. Dr. Simon Poole is an engineer/entrepreneur with over 30 years’ experience in photonics in research, academia and industry. He has been involved in numerous successful start-ups in both Academia and industry and is renowned for both his contribution to the technology of photonics as well as the companies he has founded.

Biography:
Dr. Simon Poole is an engineer/entrepreneur with over 30 years’ experience in photonics in research, academia and industry. He obtained his PhD from Southampton University in 1987 and was a member of the team that invented the Erbium-Doped Fiber Amplifier (EDFA) in 1985. In 1988-1995 he founded Australian Photonics Cooperative Research Centre (APCRC) at the University of Sydney. In 1995 Dr.Poole led the first spin-off company Indx Pty Ltd which manufactured Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBGs) for optical communications. Indx was acquired by Uniphase Corporation (now JDS Uniphase) for $US6m and subsequently grew to over 300 people with exports of over $100m pa. In 2001, Dr. Poole raised $13m in VC funding for Engana. The company, now Finisar Australia, employs 280 people in Sydney and a similar number in China, with annual sales of Wavelength Selective Switches of >$100m pa. In 2008 Dr. Poole started a new group within Finisar, the first business within this group was the highly successful WaveShaper range of Programmable Optical Processors which already has sales of over $6m pa.

For additional information:
IEEE Photonics Society Student Chapter Chair: Zhenyue Luo zhenyueluo @ creol . ucf . edu
IEEE Photonics Society Student Chapter Advisor: Prof.S.T.Wu swu @ ucf . edu

TODAY! Joint Student Chapter Seminar: "Research in Photonics" National Taiwan University 12.10.13/4:00-5:00pm/ A214

Joint Student Chapter Seminar: "Research in Photonics" National Taiwan University
Tuesday, December 10, 2013 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM
CREOL Room A214
"Device Design for Display, Lighting, and Solar Cell"

Dr. Jiun-Haw Lee
Graduate Institute of Photonics and Optoelectronics and Department of Electrical Engineering, National Taiwan University

Abstract:
Prof. Lee’s main research topics include device design of organic light-emitting diode, reflective liquid crystal display, organic solar cell, CuInGaSe solar cell, and organic/inorganic hybrid solar cell for applications in flat panel display, lighting, and solar cell technologies.

Biography:
Dr. Jiun-Haw Lee received the BSEE, MSEE, and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering all from National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, in 1994, 1995, and 2000, respectively. From 2000 to 2003, he was with RiTdisplay Corporation as a technical director. Since 2003, he joined the faculty of National Taiwan University in the Graduate Institute of Photonics and Optoelectronics and the Department of Electrical Engineering, where he is currently a professor. He has co-authored 70 journal papers, over 200 conference papers, and 49 patents.

"Oxide-Based Thin-Film Electronics"

Dr. I-Chun Cheng

Graduate Institute of Photonics and Optoelectronics and Department of Electrical Engineering, National Taiwan University

Abstract:
Dr. I-Chun Cheng’s main research area focuses on novel silicon-based and transition-metal-oxide-based thin-film technologies for flexible large-area electronics. In the seminar, she will introduce her work on oxide-based thin-film devices, including flexible transparent p-n junction diodes, n-channel MgZnO/ZnO heterojunction thin-film transistors, and p-channel SnO thin-film transistors.

Biography:
I-Chun Cheng received the B.S. and M.S. degrees in mechanical engineering at National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, in 1996 and 1998, respectively, and the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, in 2004. Following her degree, she became a research associate at Princeton University. She joined the faculty of National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, in 2007, where she is currently an Associate Professor of Department of Electrical Engineering and Graduate Institute of Photonics and Optoelectronics. She has primarily worked in the field of novel silicon thin-film technology, metal oxide thin-film technology, photoelectrochemical solar cells and flexible large-area electronics.

"Device Modeling for Lighting, Solar Cell, and High Speed Transistor"

Dr. Yuh-Renn Wu
Graduate Institute of Photonics and Optoelectronics and Department of Electrical Engineering, National Taiwan University

Abstract:
Prof. Wu’s main research areas include device simulation on light emitting diodes, solar cells, and high speed transistors. His research efforts focus on developing the simulation software, model verification, device design and application. The software developed in his lab including 1D-3D FEM Poisson, drift-diffusion, and Schrodinger solver, k.p solver, and Monte Carlo program, which can be used in most semiconductor related devices.

Biography:
Dr. Yuh-Renn Wu received his B.S. in Physics and M.S. degree in Electrical Engineering in National Taiwan University, Taiwan, in 1998 and 2000, respectively, and the Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering at Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, in 2006. He is also a visiting scholar at University of California, Santa Barbara, during 2011. He is currently an associate professor in Institute of Photonics and Optoelectronic and Department of Electrical Engineering, National Taiwan University. His area of research is in physics, design of optoelectronic devices and high power electronics. His current research includes the studies of nitride based quantum well, quantum wire, and quantum dot LEDs, high power and high speed electronics, ferroelectrics, and optoelectronic devices. Dr. Wu has authored and coauthored 50+ SCI papers. Dr. Wu has developed 1D-3D FEM Poisson, Schrodinger, thermal and drift-diffusion solver. This solver includes self-consistent Poisson-k.p solver. His lab has developed many useful simulation tools including GUI interface and these tools can be downloaded at http://yrwu-wk.ee.ntu.edu.tw/

For additional information:
SID UCF Student Branch Chair: Daming Xu, damingxu @ knights . ucf . edu
IEEE Photonics Society Chair: Zhenyue Luo, zhenyueluo @ knights . ucf . edu
SID & IEEE UCF Student Chapters advisor: Prof. Shin-Tson Wu, swu @ ucf . edu

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Joint Student Chapter Seminar: "Research in Photonics" National Taiwan University /12.10.13/ 4:00pm-5:00pm/ CREOL Room A214

Joint Student Chapter Seminar: "Research in Photonics" National Taiwan University
Tuesday, December 10, 2013 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM
CREOL Room A214

"Device Design for Display, Lighting, and Solar Cell"
Dr. Jiun-Haw Lee
Graduate Institute of Photonics and Optoelectronics and Department of Electrical Engineering, National Taiwan University

Abstract:
Prof. Lee’s main research topics include device design of organic light-emitting diode, reflective liquid crystal display, organic solar cell, CuInGaSe solar cell, and organic/inorganic hybrid solar cell for applications in flat panel display, lighting, and solar cell technologies.

Biography:
Dr. Jiun-Haw Lee received the BSEE, MSEE, and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering all from National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, in 1994, 1995, and 2000, respectively. From 2000 to 2003, he was with RiTdisplay Corporation as a technical director. Since 2003, he joined the faculty of National Taiwan University in the Graduate Institute of Photonics and Optoelectronics and the Department of Electrical Engineering, where he is currently a professor. He has co-authored 70 journal papers, over 200 conference papers, and 49 patents.

"Oxide-Based Thin-Film Electronics"
Dr. I-Chun Cheng

Graduate Institute of Photonics and Optoelectronics and Department of Electrical Engineering, National Taiwan University

Abstract:
Dr. I-Chun Cheng’s main research area focuses on novel silicon-based and transition-metal-oxide-based thin-film technologies for flexible large-area electronics. In the seminar, she will introduce her work on oxide-based thin-film devices, including flexible transparent p-n junction diodes, n-channel MgZnO/ZnO heterojunction thin-film transistors, and p-channel SnO thin-film transistors.

Biography:
I-Chun Cheng received the B.S. and M.S. degrees in mechanical engineering at National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, in 1996 and 1998, respectively, and the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, in 2004. Following her degree, she became a research associate at Princeton University. She joined the faculty of National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, in 2007, where she is currently an Associate Professor of Department of Electrical Engineering and Graduate Institute of Photonics and Optoelectronics. She has primarily worked in the field of novel silicon thin-film technology, metal oxide thin-film technology, photoelectrochemical solar cells and flexible large-area electronics.

"Device Modeling for Lighting, Solar Cell, and High Speed Transistor"
Dr. Yuh-Renn Wu
Graduate Institute of Photonics and Optoelectronics and Department of Electrical Engineering, National Taiwan University

Abstract:
Prof. Wu’s main research areas include device simulation on light emitting diodes, solar cells, and high speed transistors. His research efforts focus on developing the simulation software, model verification, device design and application. The software developed in his lab including 1D-3D FEM Poisson, drift-diffusion, and Schrodinger solver, k.p solver, and Monte Carlo program, which can be used in most semiconductor related devices.

Biography:
Dr. Yuh-Renn Wu received his B.S. in Physics and M.S. degree in Electrical Engineering in National Taiwan University, Taiwan, in 1998 and 2000, respectively, and the Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering at Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, in 2006. He is also a visiting scholar at University of California, Santa Barbara, during 2011. He is currently an associate professor in Institute of Photonics and Optoelectronic and Department of Electrical Engineering, National Taiwan University. His area of research is in physics, design of optoelectronic devices and high power electronics. His current research includes the studies of nitride based quantum well, quantum wire, and quantum dot LEDs, high power and high speed electronics, ferroelectrics, and optoelectronic devices. Dr. Wu has authored and coauthored 50+ SCI papers. Dr. Wu has developed 1D-3D FEM Poisson, Schrodinger, thermal and drift-diffusion solver. This solver includes self-consistent Poisson-k.p solver. His lab has developed many useful simulation tools including GUI interface and these tools can be downloaded at http://yrwu-wk.ee.ntu.edu.tw/

For additional information:

SID UCF Student Branch Chair: Daming Xu, damingxu @ knights . ucf . edu
IEEE Photonics Society Chair: Zhenyue Luo, zhenyueluo @ knights . ucf . edu
SID & IEEE UCF Student Chapters advisor: Prof. Shin-Tson Wu, swu @ ucf . edu

Monday, December 2, 2013

IEEE Photonics Society student chapter seminar: "Confessions of a Serial Entrepreneur: 30 Years of Photonic Start-ups in Academia and Industry” by Dr. Simon Poole
Tuesday, December 10, 2013 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
CREOL Room A214


Dr. Simon Poole

Finisar, Australia
Simon.poole@finisar.com

Abstract:
Every company – even the largest household names such as Google or Apple or even IBM - begins life as a start-up. Drawing on experience gained from Dr. Poole’s extensive start-up history, this presentation will look at how some of the companies and research groups in which Dr. Poole has been involved got started, what they did and how they subsequently developed and thrived. The presentation aims to inspire researchers who are considering how to commercialize their research to take the next steps and move out of the research lab and into the brave new world of commercialization. Dr. Simon Poole is an engineer/entrepreneur with over 30 years’ experience in photonics in research, academia and industry. He has been involved in numerous successful start-ups in both Academia and industry and is renowned for both his contribution to the technology of photonics as well as the companies he has founded.

Biography:
Dr. Simon Poole is an engineer/entrepreneur with over 30 years’ experience in photonics in research, academia and industry. He obtained his PhD from Southampton University in 1987 and was a member of the team that invented the Erbium-Doped Fiber Amplifier (EDFA) in 1985. In 1988-1995 he founded Australian Photonics Cooperative Research Centre (APCRC) at the University of Sydney. In 1995 Dr.Poole led the first spin-off company Indx Pty Ltd which manufactured Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBGs) for optical communications. Indx was acquired by Uniphase Corporation (now JDS Uniphase) for $US6m and subsequently grew to over 300 people with exports of over $100m pa. In 2001, Dr. Poole raised $13m in VC funding for Engana. The company, now Finisar Australia, employs 280 people in Sydney and a similar number in China, with annual sales of Wavelength Selective Switches of >$100m pa. In 2008 Dr. Poole started a new group within Finisar, the first business within this group was the highly successful WaveShaper range of Programmable Optical Processors which already has sales of over $6m pa.

For additional information:
IEEE Photonics Society Student Chapter Chair: Zhenyue Luo zhenyueluo @ creol . ucf . edu
IEEE Photonics Society Student Chapter Advisor: Prof.S.T.Wu swu @ ucf . edu

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

LighTimes: The DOE Office of Science Announces SBIR/STTR Funding Opportunity

November 26, 2013...The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science has announced a funding opportunity for its Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs that may be of interest to the solid-state lighting (SSL) community. The DOE is requesting that the SSL community submit grant applications for fiscal year 2014 SBIR/STTR Phase I, Release 2 funding opportunities with the release of the announcement (FOA) DE-FOA-0001046. Specifically, the DOE SBIR/STTR funding opportunity announcement, (FOA) DE-FOA-0001046 seeks applicants for research and development of the subtopic: “integrating energy-efficient solid-state lighting with advanced sensors, controls, and connectivity.”
According to the DOE, other possible areas of interest related to SSL in the funding opportunity include: the use of advanced manufacturing processes such as 3-D printing and digital metal forming to create SSL lamps and luminaires in ways that were previously not possible; the use of fully automated assembly, advanced printing, and integrated electronics designs that may provide substantial opportunity to inexpensively and quickly manufacture high-quality SSL products; inexpensive and easily integrated components, sensors, control hardware, or control software.

The DOE is offering a free webinar to review the SBIR/STTR programs and the award process as it relates to this announcement on Tuesday, December 3, at 2:00 p.m. ET. Those interested in listening to and participating in the webinar must register. Letters of intent to submit proposals are due with the DOE's Office of Science December 16, 2013. Full proposals are due February 4, 2014, with award notifications anticipated in April. For more information, visit http://science.energy.gov/sbir/funding-opportunities/.

Monday, November 25, 2013

CFL Professional, Networking & Volunteer Calendar – Haiyan Edition

Dear Florida Professional Engineer,

Will you please join the Fund raising campaign for the typhoon Haiyan victims in the Phillipines on
Saturday, November 30, 2013 from 1:30 to 7:30 PM  at  the Marks Street Senior CenterFilipino American Ass. Of Central Florida (CFAO) requests your help… Please donate!  If you are able, kindly write a check to CFAO, who is working with Philippine Red Cross, UNICEF and Doctors without Borders.  Donation will be greatly appreciated.  CFAO is also Collecting relief goods to be shipped to the Philippines such as canned foods clothing toothpaste ,toothbrush, towels, toiletries, shoes, medicines, etc. etc.  Please donate!  Any help you can give will be much appreciated. 

These CFL Calendars are attached:
Professional Development and Networking Calendar – Teach-In Edition
Science Technology Engineer & Math (STEM) Volunteer Outreach Calendar.

Upcoming Special Events Include:
CFAEP ThanksGiving Party, November 21, 2013

Upcoming Opportunities for Florida Professionals in the classroom & community: 
Science Fair Rock Lake Middle School, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2013, Time 9-2 PM
STEM in the Classroom, Orlo Vista Elem. School, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2013, 2013 Time 9-11 AM
A Day in the Life of Real Engineers Thursday, December 5, 2013 Time 9:30 AM - 2:00 PM
Science Fair Rock Lake Middle School, Thursday, December 5, 2013 Time 6-8 PM
STEM in the Classroom, Tildenville Elem. School, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2013, 2013 Time 9-11 AM
STEM in the Classroom, Timber Lakes Elem. School, Friday, Dec. 13, 2013, 2013 Time 9-11 AM

Haiyan Blessings,
Mark
Mark D. Van Hala, P.E., F.NSPE, FES, M.ASCE
407-836-7934
407-836-9622 (One Stop Shop)
EVanHala @ yahoo . com

Put Down Your Weapons of Mass Distraction!! 
·         Facebook: Please like Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day® In the Sunshine State
·         Linked In: Please join Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day® In the Sunshine State
Date:  Every minute/ every hour/everyday/every week/every month/every year aka 24/7/365









Thursday, November 21, 2013

LightPath Technologies to Present at the LD Micro Fifth Annual Conference

LightPath Technologies, Inc. to Present at the 6th Annual LD MICRO Investment Conference


ORLANDO, FL -- November 21, 2013 -- LightPath Technologies, Inc. (“LightPath”, the “Company” or “we”) (NASDAQ: LPTH), a global manufacturer, distributor and integrator of patented optical components and high-level assemblies, today announced that James Gaynor, President and Chief Executive Officer, will present at the Sixth Annual LD MICRO Investment Conference on Wednesday, December 4, 2013, in Los Angeles, California.
The presentation for LightPath is scheduled for 10:30 am pacific time (1:30 pm eastern time).  At that time, the slideshow will be posted on the investor relations section of the Company’s website at www.lightpath.com.  Investors interested in conducting a one-on-one meeting with LightPath should contact its investor relations representative Jordan Darrow of Darrow Associates at 631-367-1866 or via email at jdarrow@darrowir.com.
About LD MICRO
LD MICRO is a by-invitation-only newsletter firm that focuses on finding undervalued companies in the micro-cap space. Since 2002, the firm has published an annual list of recommended stocks, as well as comprehensive reports on select companies throughout the year. The firm also hosts the LD MICRO Micro-Cap Growth Conference for investors in December of each year. LD MICRO concentrates on finding, researching and investing in companies that are overlooked by most institutional investors. It is a non-registered investment advisor. For more information, please visit www.ldmicro.com.

About LightPath Technologies
LightPath (NASDAQ: LPTH) manufactures optical products including precision molded aspheric optics, GRADIUM® glass products, proprietary collimator assemblies, laser components utilizing proprietary automation technology, higher-level assemblies and packing solutions. The Company's products are used in various markets, including industrial, medical, defense, test & measurement and telecommunications. LightPath has a strong patent portfolio that has been granted or licensed to us in these fields.  For more information, visit www.lightpath.com.GRADIUM® is a registered trademark of LightPath Technologies.
This news release includes statements that constitute forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding our ability to expand our presence in certain markets, future sales growth, continuing reductions in cash usage and implementation of new distribution channels. This information may involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, factors detailed by LightPath Technologies, Inc. in its public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. 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.

###

Monday, November 18, 2013

Physics Colloquium - Fri., Nov. 22, 2013, 4:30, PSB 161

The Wonderful World of BSCCO

Richard Klemm, UCF
The high-temperature superconductor with rough stoichiometry Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+d (BSSCO or Bi2212) is one of the most anisotropic materials known. In the normal state above the superconducting transition temperature Tc ~ 90 K, it behaves as a metal parallel to the layers, and an insulator normal to them.  Although nominally orthorhombic in structure, microscopic analyses have confirmed that the insulating Bi2O2 double layers have a lateral periodicity that is incommensurate with that of the conducting CuO2 double layers, so that it is really a ``misfit’’ compound.  The c-axis transport for electrons in the normal state and quasiparticles in the superconducting state is 100% incoherent. The primary interest in BSCCO, is that although its lateral structure is extremely irregular, its intrinsic Josephson junction structure is so perfect, that application of a dc voltage V across a stack of N junctions leads to coherent sub-THz emission due to the ac Josephson effect at the frequency f=f_J=(2eV)/(Nh), where e is the electronic charge and h is Planck’s constant.  Although plagued with heating effects, the design of BSCCO mesas has developed to the point where output powers of 1 mW should be attainable in the near future, allowing continuous wave, coherent, high-power devices to be manufactured that can fill the ``THz gap’’ range of 0.3-1.5 THz with a hand-held device.



Contact:  Pat Korosec     3-2325

Florida Space Institute Seminar Announcement

Florida Space Institute Seminar Announcement

Speaker: Esther Beltran
Affiliation: UCF/FSI
Day and Date: Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Time: 11:00 - 12:00

Location: Research Park
12354 Research Parkway
Partnership 1 Bldg. Suite 209
Orlando, FL 32826

Title      Challenges of Aviation: Safely Working in Extreme Environments
 In this seminar you will learn practical tactical skills operations that can help you save your life and/or help save the life of others sometime in the future. You will gain insight and true knowledge on how to solve real problems in the real world. The world of Aviation and Space Exploration is the one that consistently continues opening doors and paves the road for others to safely explore and also continue advancing life on Earth. Want to join ?

.For further information please click below:
                         
Contact:
Ashley Kehoe / Josh Colwell
Department of Physics
Phone: 407-823-6306
Email: Ashley . Kehoe @ ucf. edu / jec @ ucf . edu
Follow us on Twitter at ucfFSI
And check out our website at: http://fsi.ucf.edu/
FSI’s Twitter:  ucfFSI
FSI’s Website: http://fsi.ucf.edu/



Friday, November 15, 2013

OSA student chapter seminar: "Infrared transmitting glasses and glass ceramics for infrared transmission and energy applications" by Xianghua Zhang /1.31.14/ 2:00-3:00pm/ CREOL Rm 102

OSA student chapter seminar: "Infrared transmitting glasses and glass ceramics for infrared transmission and energy applications" by Xianghua Zhang
Friday, January 31, 2014 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Room 102


Xianghua Zhang
Laboratory of glasses and ceramics, Institute of chemistry Université de Rennes I-CNRS

Abstract:
There are very few materials which are transparent in the 8-12 µm region and which are environmentally stable enough for practical applications. Chalcogenide glasses are glasses based on sulfur, selenium and tellurium. They have been intensively studied mainly due to its large optical transmission window from visible to infrared. Chalcogenide glass ceramics are composite materials containing glass and crystals with significantly improved mechanic and optical properties.
More recently, chalcogenide glass ceramics with outstanding photoelectric properties have also been discovered. Fist results show already high efficiency for visible light photocatalytic applications.
The preparation, properties and applications of these materials will be presented.

Biography:
Zhang received his BA in materials science and engineering from Zhejiang University (China) in 1983, and his MA and PhD in solid state chemistry from University of Rennes 1 (France) respectively in 1985 and 1988. He joined the CNRS (French National Centre for scientific research) in 1989. In 1996, he founded the company VERTEX S.A. specialized in infrared optics thanks to the technology transfer from the joint CNRS/University of Rennes’s laboratory of glasses and ceramics. In 2001 this company became part of the UMICORE group, world leading supplier of infrared materials. In 2002, He returned to the CNRS as research director. Zhang has been specialized in infrared transmitting glasses and glass ceramics, and he is author or co-author of more than 200 scientific papers in peer reviewed journals and 14 patents. He is currently the director of the laboratory of glasses and ceramics in university of Rennes (France) with 25 permanent staffs and 20 PhD students/post-docs.

For additional information:
Guangming Tao
Vice-president of OSA chapter
gtao @ creol . ucf . edu

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Tomorrow! Seminar:"High Power Supercontinuum Fiber Lasers; Current Technology and Future Roadmap" by Ross Hodder /11.15.13/ 2:00pm-3:00pm/ Room 102

"High Power Supercontinuum Fiber Lasers; Current Technology and Future Roadmap" by Ross Hodder
Friday, November 15, 2013 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Room 102


Ross Hodder
Product Manager – Scientific Lasers

Abstract:
The first commercial Supercontinuum “White-Light Lasers” came on to the market in 2005 combining the relatively new technologies of Microstructured Optical Fiber and ultrafast fiber lasers.  Since this time there has been an order of magnitude increase in power levels available from supercontinuum lasers as well as other technical advancements. Here we describe how the core technology enables the unique performance of these systems and we present the technology roadmap for these versatile light sources.

The talk will cover the current major applications for Supercontinuum lasers, including the various spectral filtering options, as well as the potential future applications as performance increases and cost reduces.
Biography:
Ross has worked at Fianium for nearly 5 years in product development, sales and marketing roles focusing mainly on Supercontinuum fiber lasers.  He works closely with the R&D and Engineering Teams to ensure technology development in-line with the dynamic and demanding requirements of Fianium’s scientific customers.  An important part of the role is gaining vital application knowledge from existing customers and potential new ones.
Ross has a degree in Physics with Lasers from the Optoelectronics Research Centre at the University of Southampton, UK, and continued working at the department after his studies specifically in the field of ultrafast fiber lasers.

For more information:
Dr. Eric W. Van Stryland
Professor of Optics
407-823-6835
ewvs @ creol . ucf . edu

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

FSI Seminar November 13

Florida Space Institute Seminar Announcement

Speaker: Weiwei Deng
Affiliation: UCF/MMAE
Day and Date: Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Time: 11:00 - 12:00

Location: Research Park
12354 Research Parkway
Partnership 1 Bldg. Suite 209
Orlando, FL 32826

Title      Multiplexed Electrospray and Its Application in Space Propulsion
 Electrospray is an emerging technique widely used in advanced materials processing and recently in space propulsion. Electrospray can atomize liquids into quasi-monodisperse droplets in a wide size range (from micrometers to essentially ions). One main drawback of the electrospray is the low flow rate emitted by each source. I will discuss our research in multiplexing the number of electrospray sources by 1000 times and potentially more. The scalability we demonstrated enables large scale applications such as roll-to-roll fabrication of organic solar cells. I will highlight the application of multiplexed electrospray in space propulsion. Currently electrospray is being actively pursued by several groups as an efficient method for space propulsion due to the superior specific impulse provided by electrospray operated in the ionic regime. However, a remaining critical challenge is to ensure sufficient fluid dynamic impedance through each nozzle that regulates the flow rates. We took a new approach and microfabricted dense cylinder array inside the fluidic channels to increase the flow impendence. This method may lead to scalable thrust as well as vectoring capability.
.For further information please click below:
                         
Contact:
Ashley Kehoe / Josh Colwell
Department of Physics
Phone: 407-823-6306



Friday, November 8, 2013

Seminar: "High Power Supercontinuum Fiber Lasers; Current Technology and Future Roadmap" by Ross Hodder /11.15.13/ 2:00pm-3:00pm/ CREOL Room 102

"High Power Supercontinuum Fiber Lasers; Current Technology and Future Roadmap" by Ross Hodder
Friday, November 15, 2013 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Room 102


Ross Hodder
Product Manager – Scientific Lasers

Abstract:
The first commercial Supercontinuum “White-Light Lasers” came on to the market in 2005 combining the relatively new technologies of Microstructured Optical Fiber and ultrafast fiber lasers.  Since this time there has been an order of magnitude increase in power levels available from supercontinuum lasers as well as other technical advancements. Here we describe how the core technology enables the unique performance of these systems and we present the technology roadmap for these versatile light sources.

The talk will cover the current major applications for Supercontinuum lasers, including the various spectral filtering options, as well as the potential future applications as performance increases and cost reduces.

Biography:
Ross has worked at Fianium for nearly 5 years in product development, sales and marketing roles focusing mainly on Supercontinuum fiber lasers.  He works closely with the R&D and Engineering Teams to ensure technology development in-line with the dynamic and demanding requirements of Fianium’s scientific customers.  An important part of the role is gaining vital application knowledge from existing customers and potential new ones.
Ross has a degree in Physics with Lasers from the Optoelectronics Research Centre at the University of Southampton, UK, and continued working at the department after his studies specifically in the field of ultrafast fiber lasers.

For more information:
Dr. Eric W. Van Stryland
Professor of Optics
407-823-6835
ewvs @ creol . ucf . edu

Thursday, November 7, 2013

LightPath Technologies Announces Fiscal 2014 First Quarter Financial Results

LightPath Technologies Announces Fiscal 2014 First Quarter Financial Results

ORLANDO, FL -- November 7, 2013 -- LightPath Technologies, Inc. (“LightPath”, the “Company” or “we”) (NASDAQ: LPTH), a global manufacturer, distributor and integrator of proprietary optical components and high-level assemblies, announced today the financial results for its fiscal year 2014 first quarter ended September 30, 2013.
First Quarter Highlights:
  • Revenue for the first quarter of fiscal 2014 was $2.81 million compared to $2.89 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2013. Revenue first quarter of fiscal 2013 benefited from a large purchase order related to work under the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (“DARPA”) development program. 
  • Revenue for our precision molded optics increased 6% from the first quarter of 2013.
  • Gross margin for the quarter increased to 47% as compared to 41% for the first quarter of fiscal 2013.
  • Cash on hand as of September 30, 2013 was $2.88 million as compared to $1.57 million on June 30, 2013.
  • Net loss was $80,000 or $0.01 per common share, basic and diluted, for the first quarter of fiscal 2014 compared to net income of $101,000 or $0.01, basic and diluted, for the first quarter of fiscal 2013.
  • Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and change in fair value of warrant liability (“Adjusted EBITDA”) was approximately $168,000 for the first quarter of fiscal 2014.
  • Backlog increased by 7% from June 30, 2013 to approximately $4.42 million as of September 30, 2013.
Jim Gaynor, President and Chief Executive Officer of LightPath, commented, “We continue to experience robust demand for and interest in our two primary business lines – precision molded optics and infrared products.  The first quarter is representative of the improvements we have made and continue to make in our business. Adjusting our operating results to look at our underlying on-going performance by removing the revenue from the DARPA project and the effects from the change in the fair value of warrants issued in our June 2012 private placement, we see a strong and improving business. Revenue grew 6% for our precision molded optics from the first quarter of fiscal 2013.”
“Other areas of progress include measures to improve profitability.  Gross margin has consistently improved, with an increase of 31% from the gross margin for fiscal 2012 compared to our most recently completed quarter.  The gross margin in the first quarter of fiscal 2014 was 47%, a substantial improvement from 36% for fiscal 2012 and 44% for fiscal 2013.” 
“The combination of higher top line performance and improved profitability has led to an increase in cash flow generation.  As compared with the average cash generated by operations of approximately $101,000 per quarter in fiscal 2012 and approximately $140,000 per quarter in fiscal 2013, we generated cash flow from operations of approximately $251,000 in the first quarter of fiscal 2014. Sales volume of precision molded optics was 530,000 lenses in the fist quarter of fiscal 2014, as compared to an average of 408,000 lenses per quarter in fiscal 2012, and an average of 550,000 lenses per quarter in fiscal 2013.”
“These improvements have been partially offset by the lower prices associated with our shift to high volume applications, albeit at very good margins. As the low-cost, high volume business segment becomes a larger percentage of our overall business, the average selling prices, which are on average approximately 13% lower, impacts our rate of revenue growth.  In the first quarter of fiscal 2014, our improved cash flow allowed us to further invest in the expansion of our global sales and marketing efforts, increase our production capacity, and broaden our precision molded optics and infrared product lines. These investments better position the Company to take advantage of anticipated sales growth.”
“As a result, our expenses were approximately $176,000, or 15%, higher in the first quarter of fiscal 2014 as compared to the first quarter last year. One half of this increase was due to a reclassification of several members of the R&D staff whose salaries were charged to cost of goods sold while working on the DARPA project last year and an increase in fees and sales tax on capital purchases for investments increasing our capacity to support current and anticipated growth. The remainder of the increase was for continued investment in our infrared business. These investments in our future, which led to a modest loss in the first quarter, are a necessary trade-off such that we may be positioned to capitalize on numerous market expansion opportunities that we believe will lead to meaningful returns on investment going forward.”
“New orders received in the first quarter of fiscal 2014 recovered from the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013 to $3.5 million, but a de-booking of $300,000 from one of our digital projector customers, who cancelled the order due to technical issues unrelated to the optics, brought net bookings to $3.2 million. This strong order performance increased our 12-month backlog as of September 30, 2013 to $4.42 million, an increase of 7% as compared to June 30, 2013.”
“In our fourth quarter of fiscal 2013 we outlined the major market drivers for our business which primarily revolve around optical network expansion to support increasing bandwidth demand. We continue to see this growth in our business, particularly in China and other Asia/Pacific markets. New orders from China sales increased 33% in the first quarter of fiscal 2014 as compared to last year’s quarterly average and we anticipate this to continue to grow during the balance of this fiscal year.   We remain confident in our growth prospects going forward with burgeoning demand for our precision molded optics and increasing interest in our infrared product line.”
Financial Results for Three Months Ended September 30, 2013
Revenue for the first quarter of fiscal 2014 totaled approximately $2.81 million compared to approximately $2.89 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2013, a decrease of 3%. The decrease from the first quarter of the prior fiscal year was attributable to revenue in the prior period of $253,000 for a large purchase order from a customer in connection with the DARPA Low Cost Thermal Imaging Manufacturing Program, partially offset by an increase in sales for the Company’s precision molded lenses for the telecommunications market.
Revenue for precision molded optics increased 6% compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2013. Growth in sales for the next several quarters is expected to be derived primarily from the precision molded lens product line, driven by the telecommunications sector’s need for expanded infrastructure to support mobile internet demand; the industrial tool sector, which is benefiting from an improving Chinese market; demand for fiber laser delivery systems; and entry into the digital projection market.  Infrared products, now being designed and introduced, are expected to accelerate the Company’s growth more meaningfully during the balance of fiscal 2014.
The gross margin as a percentage of revenue in the first quarter of fiscal 2014 was 47%, up from 41% in the first quarter of fiscal 2013 and an improvement from 45% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013. Total manufacturing costs of $1.49 million decreased by approximately $223,000 in the first quarter of fiscal 2014 as compared to the same period of the prior fiscal year due to a decrease of $166,000 in direct costs associated with the DARPA related purchase order and lower coating costs for molded optics.
Selling, general and administrative expenses were $1.08 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2014, an increase of approximately 10% from the prior quarter. Total costs and expenses were $1.38 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2014, an increase of $177,000, or nearly 15%, from $1.20 million in the same period of the prior year. The increase in expenses reflects the Company’s growth strategies that include a global sales and marketing expansion, as well as new product development expenses which increased 39% year-over-year.  New products for the infrared business include lines for thermal imaging cameras, gas sensing devices, night vision systems, automotive driver awareness systems, thermal weapon gun sights and infrared counter measure systems, among others.  Total operating loss for the first quarter of fiscal 2014 was approximately $62,000 as compared to a loss of $27,000 for the same period in fiscal 2013.
In the first quarter of fiscal 2014, the Company recognized a non-cash expense of approximately $19,000 related to the change in the fair value of derivative warrants issued in connection with a private placement of securities in June 2012. In the first quarter of fiscal 2013, the Company recognized non-cash income of $96,000 for the change in fair value of these warrants. The warrants have a five year life and this fair value will be re-measured each reporting period until the warrants are exercised or expire.
Net loss for the first quarter of fiscal 2014 was $(80,000) (including the $19,000 non-cash expense for the change in the fair value of the warrant liability) or $(0.01) per basic and diluted common share, compared with net income of $101,000 (including the $96,000 non-cash income for the change in the fair value of the warrant liability) or $0.01 per basic and diluted common share for the same period in fiscal 2013.  Non-GAAP net loss, excluding the change in the fair value of the warrant liability, for the first quarter of fiscal 2014 was $(61,000) or $0.00 per share compared to non-GAAP net income of $5,000 or $0.00 per share in the first quarter of fiscal 2013.
Weighted-average basic shares outstanding increased to 13,567,712 in the first quarter of fiscal 2014 from 11,771,902 in the first quarter of fiscal 2013.  The increase in weighted-average shares outstanding was primarily due the issuance of shares of common stock related the conversion of  debentures to common stock, exercises of warrants, and shares issued for the Company’s employee stock purchase plan.
Cash and cash equivalents totaled approximately $2.88 million as of September 30, 2013 from $1.57 million at the beginning of the fiscal year. The increased cash balance led to an improvement in the Company’s current ratio as of September 30, 2013 which was 4.06:1 as compared to 3.75:1 as of June 30, 2013.  Total stockholders’ equity as of September 30, 2013 was approximately $6.99 million compared to $5.43 million as of June 30, 2013.
As of September 30, 2013, the Company’s 12-month backlog was $4.42 million compared to $4.14 million as of June 30, 2013. 
Investor Conference Call and Webcast Details:
LightPath will host an audio conference call and webcast on Thursday, November 7, at 4:30 p.m. EDT to discuss the Company’s financial and operational performance for the first quarter of fiscal 2014.
Conference Call Details
Date: Thursday, November 7, 2013
Time: 4:30 p.m. EDT
Dial-in Number: 1-800-870-4263
International Dial-in Number: 1-412-317-0790
Webcast: http://www.videonewswire.com/event.asp?id=96605

It is recommended that participants dial-in approximately 5 to 10 minutes prior to the start of the call.  A transcript archive of the conference call will be available for viewing or download from the Company’s website at www.lightpath.com shortly after the call is concluded.

About LightPath Technologies
LightPath manufactures optical products including precision molded aspheric optics, GRADIUM® glass products, proprietary collimator assemblies, laser components utilizing proprietary automation technology, higher-level assemblies and packing solutions. The Company's products are used in various markets, including industrial, medical, defense, test and measurement and telecommunications. LightPath has a patent portfolio that has been granted or licensed to it in these fields.  For more information visit www.lightpath.com.
LightPath prepares its financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for the United States (GAAP).  The discussions of the Company’s results as presented in this release include use of non-GAAP measures “EBITDA” and “gross margin,” as well as an adjusted Non-GAAP net income.  Gross margin is determined by deducting the cost of sales from operating revenue. Cost of sales includes manufacturing direct and indirect labor, materials, services, fixed costs for rent, utilities and depreciation, and variable overhead. Gross margin should not be considered an alternative to operating income or net income, which is determined in accordance with GAAP. The Company believes that gross margin, although a non-GAAP financial measure, is useful and meaningful to investors as a basis for making investment decisions. It provides investors with information that demonstrates the Company’s cost structure and provides funds for our total costs and expenses. The Company uses gross margin in measuring the performance of its business and has historically analyzed and reported gross margin information publicly. Other companies may calculate gross margin in a different manner.
EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure used by management, lenders and certain investors as a supplemental measure in the evaluation of some aspects of a corporation's financial position and core operating performance. Investors sometimes use EBITDA as it allows for some level of comparability of profitability trends between those businesses differing as to capital structure and capital intensity by removing the impacts of depreciation, amortization, loss on extinguishment of debt, change in fair value of warrants and interest expense. EBITDA also does not include changes in major working capital items such as receivables, inventory and payables, which can also indicate a significant need for, or source of, cash. Since decisions regarding capital investment and financing and changes in working capital components can have a significant impact on cash flow, EBITDA is not a good indicator of a business’s cash flows. The Company uses EBITDA for evaluating the relative underlying performance of its core operations and for planning purposes. The Company calculates EBITDA by adjusting net loss to exclude net interest expense, income tax expense or benefit, depreciation and amortization, thus the term "Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization" and the acronym "EBITDA."  EBITDA calculations can be found at the end of the tables that follow.
Non-GAAP net income excludes the non-cash impact from mark-to-market adjustments related to the Company’s warrants issued in connection with the Company’s private placement in June of 2012.  The Company believes that this non-GAAP measure is helpful in understanding the Company’s underlying operating results.  Non-GAAP net income is not in accordance with, or an alternative to GAAP net income (net loss) and may not be comparable to information provided by other companies.
This news release includes statements that constitute forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding our ability to expand our presence in certain markets, future sales growth, continuing reductions in cash usage and implementation of new distribution channels. This information may involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, factors detailed by LightPath Technologies, Inc. in its public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. 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.