Lightwave Electronics Corporation

A Lightwave Electronics model 122 microprocessor controlled Nd:YAG laser, produced in about 1990. This laser was based on the nonplanar ring oscillator design. This continuous-wave, single-frequency laser was aimed at the laboratory market. Lightwave Electronic's biggest market was for OEM lasers, (lasers used as components in other manufacturer's systems), primarily Q-switched lasers for micromachining. (Photo from Sam's Laser FAQ, www.repairfaq.org/sam/laserfaq.htm.)

Lightwave Electronics Corporation was a developer and manufacturer of diode-pumped solid-state lasers, and was a significant contributor to the creation[1] and maturation of this technology. Lightwave Electronics was a technology-focused company, with diverse markets,[2] including science and micromachining. Inventors employed by Lightwave Electronics received 51 US patents,[3] and Lightwave Electronics products were referenced by non-affiliated inventors in 91 US patents.[4]

Lightwave Electronics was a California corporation, which was founded in 1984. Some of the founders were Robert L. Mortensen, a former executive at the laser manufacturer Spectra Physics, and Drs. Robert L. Byer and David Bloom, both professors at Stanford University. The Newport Corporation, then headed by Dr. Milton Chang, was a significant early investor. Mortensen was president at the company’s founding, and he served as president for almost 15 years.[5] Phillip Meredith was president from 2000 until the sale of the company in 2005.[6] JDS Uniphase Corporation (JDSU, now Lumentum, stock ticker LITE) purchased Lightwave in 2005, for $65M.[7][8] At that time, the company had 120 employees. The company was located in Mountain View, California.

  1. ^ Jeff Hecht, "Photonic Frontiers: Laser diodes: Looking back/Looking forward: Laser diodes have come a long way and brought five Nobel prizes," Laser Focus World, April 2015
  2. ^ Anne Gibbons, “Optics Boom Spawns Need For More Experts,” The Scientist, May 1, 1989
  3. ^ Search US Patents with Assignee Name = Lightwave Electronics
  4. ^ Search US Patents with Description/Specification = Lightwave Electronics and Assignee Name ≠ Lightwave Electronics
  5. ^ Reuters, "Mobius Photonics Names Robert L. Mortensen CEO," Sept 15, 2009.[dead link]
  6. ^ Bloomberg, Company Overview of Lightwave Electronics Corporation, Executive Profile, Phillip Meredith.
  7. ^ Laser Focus World, "JDSU buys Lightwave Electronics for $65 million," March 21, 2005.
  8. ^ JDS Uniphase Corporation's 10-K form, filed Aug. 29, 2007, states that the purchase was “for approximately $67.2 million in cash.”