News

25 October 2010

 

Oxford Instruments-TDI acquires IP rights from Fox Group

TDI of Silver Spring, MD, USA (a subsidiary of UK-based Oxford Instruments), which develops hydride vapor phase epitaxy (HVPE) processes and techniques for the production of compound semiconductors such as gallium nitride (GaN), aluminum nitride (AlN), aluminum gallium nitride (AlGaN), indium nitride (InN) and indium gallium nitride (InGaN), has entered into an intellectual property (IP) licensing agreement with The Fox Group of Warrenton, VA, USA.

Founded in 1999, The Fox Group is a privately held US corporation that has a portfolio of proprietary IP relating to the growth of compound semiconductor crystals and crystal layers (both patents and know-how owned by Fox Group, plus patents rights and know-how licensed exclusively to Fox Group).

After proving its technologies in the areas of silicon carbide (SiC), aluminum nitride (AlN), gallium nitride (GaN), and aluminum gallium nitride (AlGaN), as well as the hydride vapor phase epitaxy (HVPE) method of making both blue and ultraviolet (UV) light-emitting diodes, Fox Group is now licensing rights to other companies. Earlier this month, the firm agreed for certain assets and IP rights to be acquired by Kyma Technologies Inc of Raleigh, NC, USA, which provides crystalline gallium nitride (GaN) and aluminum nitride (AlN) materials and related products and services.

The latest agreement is for Oxford Instruments-TDI to acquire certain IP that allows it to offer hardware and processes for the production of light-emitting devices and p-doped layers, in addition to the hardware and process that Oxford Instruments-TDI already offers for the growth of III-nitride materials.

“This agreement allows for an expansion of the existing processes and materials structures we can offer, especially to our R&D customers, in the field of light-emitting structures,” says Oxford Instruments-TDI’s business development director Frazer Anderson. “Using TDI’s HVPE technology, Oxford Instruments can produce templates for applications such as high-brightness light-emitting diodes (HB-LEDs), laser diodes, high-electron-mobility transistors (HEMT), and the acquisition of this IP will help us to extend our offering,” he adds.

“They have long been one of the leading companies in HVPE processes and materials, with expertise all the way from fundamental science to implemented processes and products,” comments Fox Group’s president Barney O’Meara about TDI. “Coupled with Oxford Instruments’ proven track record in semiconductor equipment, we look forward to Fox Group’s IP helping TDI become a major contributor to evolving greentech-cleantech solutions in solid-state lighting and efficient power conditioning.”

See related items:

Kyma acquires select assets and IP rights from Fox Group

Search: TDI Oxford Instruments The Fox Group

Visit: www.thefoxgroupinc.com

Visit: www.oxford-instruments.com

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