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Nichia and Sony form nitride laser alliance

Two leading Japanese developers of nitride-based semiconductor lasers, Sony and Nichia, have formed an alliance to develop products for the Blu-ray disc recording format.
In the latest of a series of agreements in the nitride optoelectronics field, Nichia and Sony have formed an alliance to develop technologies for the mass production of blue-violet laser diodes for use in optical disc recording and playback.

The two companies will jointly develop 405 nm high output power blue-violet laser diodes for "Blu-ray Disc", a next generation large-capacity optical disc video recording format. Mass production of the devices is expected in spring 2003, and the companies will each manufacture and sell the products resulting from the development program.

Sony and Nichia have been involved in a collaboration to develop blue-violet laser diodes since June 2002. The latest agreement extends this collaboration by allowing the companies to share their respective technologies, patents and know-how.

Sony and Nichia have independently pursued research and development in the area of blue-violet laser diodes, and each company now has a considerable number of intellectual properties, such as process patents and technological know-how. At present, Nichia remains the only commercial supplier of blue-violet lasers. With this agreement, the two companies say that they will be enabled to produce excellent blue-violet laser diodes in a short period by integrating and utilizing their respective technologies.

According to a joint press release, Sony and Nichia "reached the agreement through recognition of the significance of meeting market demands by expediting the joint development of blue-violet laser diodes actively in the field of optical disc recording and playback." Also, the companies say that they will "pursue the timely creation and expansion of the market for blue-violet laser diodes through active future cooperation."

During the course of 2002, Nichia has also reached patent agreements with Osram Opto Semiconductors, Toyoda Gosei, Lumileds and Cree.

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