Coherent, Inc.
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| Type | Public (NASDAQ: COHR) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Photonics |
| Founded | 1966 |
| Headquarters | Santa Clara, CA, USA |
| Area served | Worldwide |
| Key people | Dr. John R. Ambroseo, PhD |
| Products | Lasers |
| Revenue | US$ 802 M (2011)[1] |
| Employees | 2,309 (2011)[1] |
Coherent, Inc is a company with the headquarters located in Santa Clara, California, USA, with other sites located in the US, Europe, and Asia.[2] It was founded in 1966 by Eugene Watson as a spin-off from laser company Spectra Physics[3] and converted to public ownership in 1970.
The company designs, manufactures and markets laser systems and components, laser measurement and control products, optics, and laser accessories, which are used both in industry and scientific research. According to the company's 2011 SEC filing,[2] their markets are the microelectronics industry (e.g., flat panel display manufacturing, integrated circuit packaging, and integrated circuit inspection), scientific research, OEM components, and materials processing (e.g., CO2 lasers for cutting metals).
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[edit] History
Over the years, Coherent was involved in a number of mergers and acquisitions.[4] Some of these were reported the mainstream media, such as the sale of a business unit to ESC Medical Systems for US$ 203 million in 2001[5] and the purchase of a unit from Palomar Medical Technologies for US$ 65 million in 1998.[6] In 2008, Coherent shut down an optics manufacturing site in Auburn, California, after selling some of the activities to Research Electro-Optics Inc.[7]
[edit] Intellectual property
According to the US Patent Office, 388 patents are registered to Coherent, Inc as of 2012.[8] Coherent has been involved in various lawsuits on patents. In 1998, Coherent made a cross-licensing deal with Spectra Physics[9]. Also in 1988, Coherent agreed to pay royalties for use of patents owned by Patlex Corporation.[10]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Coherent profile on Yahoo! Finance.
- ^ a b 10-K SEC filing for Coherent, Inc., 30 November 2011.
- ^ "Eugene Watson on the founding of Coherent". http://www.50-years-laser.com/50-years/laser-pioneer.html. Retrieved 2009-12-08.
- ^ Coherent, Inc. mergers and acquisitions. Alacrastore.com.
- ^ ESC Medical agrees to purchase unit of Coherent. New York Times (2001)
- ^ Palomar to sell hair removal laser unit to Coherent. New York Times (1998)
- ^ Coherent laying off 144 as it prepares to shut Auburn plant. Sacramento Business Journal, August 3, 2008
- ^ USPTO search for Coherent, Inc.
- ^ Patent Rift Settled]. New York Times (1988)
- ^ Coherent agrees to laser royalties. New York Times (1988)
