17 April 2015

San'an licenses US patents of Japanese LED patent portfolio to subsidiary Luminus

Xiamen-based San'an Optoelectronics Co Ltd (China's largest producer of full-color ultra-high-brightness LED epiwafers and chips, as well as compound semiconductor solar cells and CPV solar products) has licensed the US patents of an LED patent portfolio (acquired recently from a major Japanese company) to its subsidiary Luminus Devices Inc of Sunnyvale, CA, USA, which makes LEDs and solid-state lighting (SSL) sources.

The portfolio comprises over 125 issued patents, including over 30 US patents as well as issued patents in China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Germany. The earliest patents in the portfolio have priority dates reaching back to the mid-1990s, and more recent patents are from the mid-2000s.  These patents in the acquired portfolio relate to a range of fundamental LED chip and wafer-level technology, such as p-type branch electrodes (for example, US Patents 6,881,985 and 6,384,430), transparent ZnO layers, and reflecting electrodes, barrier layers (US Patent 6,265,732), spacer layers, doped active layers (US Patent 6,081,540), optimized MQWs (US Patent 6,501,101), direct-bonded substrates, and GaInP current spreading layers.

"We were quite pleased to acquire this well-respected LED patent portfolio as it complements the San'an patent portfolio nicely in time and subject matter and increases the San'an patent holdings to over 280 issued patents and published applications," says San'an president Zhiqiang Lin. "San'an recognizes the importance of a strong patent portfolio in the LED industry and we are committed to growing our patent base organically and by strategic acquisition," he adds.

The license of the US patents to Luminus is exclusive, subject to prior issued licenses, with the right to enforce. "The addition of the licensed patents to our existing patent portfolio further reinforces the position of Luminus Devices in the LED market," comments Luminus Devices' CEO Decai Sun.  Luminus has over 80 patents worldwide including 50 US patents and is the exclusive licensee of key patents related to laser lift-off and patterned sapphire substrates.

See related items:

Luminus Devices and Lightera complete merger

Sanan's US affiliate Lightera acquires Luminus Devices

Tags: Sanan OptoElectronics Luminus LEDs

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