Intelligent Optical Systems, Inc. in Strategic Partnership with Zellweger Analytics USA to Develop Multipoint Detection Carbon Monoxide and Methane Sensors.

Business Editors

TORRANCE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 1, 2000

National Science Foundation Supports Project

with 50% Matching Fund Grant

Intelligent Optical Systems, Inc. (IOS), a privately held R&D company specializing in the design and development of proprietary optical communications, monitoring and signal processing technologies, announced today that it has entered into a strategic partnership with Zellweger Analytics USA, a division of Uster, Switzerland-based Zellweger Luwa AG (The Swiss Exchange), to develop low maintenance, auto-calibrated sensors for multipoint detection of carbon monoxide and methane gases.

IOS president and chief executive officer, Reuben Sandler, said, "Partnering with Zellweger Analytics is a wonderful opportunity to use IOS's proprietary technology to create state-of-the-art carbon monoxide and methane sensing equipment for a wide range of industrial applications where the potential for growth is substantial. Zellweger Analytics' global presence and more than 185 years of continuous experience in specialist instrumentation and applications knowledge gives IOS a significant advantage in moving our sensor technology from the laboratory to the marketplace."

Jon O. McAlear, president and chief executive officer of Zellweger Analytics USA, said, "We are delighted to be working with IOS to develop this high-precision sensor to detect the early presence of these harmful gases. IOS's leading-edge expertise in sensor-related functions is a key element in our ability to bring this innovative sensor technology to market."

Phase One of the project, which is the development of the technology platform concept, is expected to be completed in the second half of 2001. Beta testing will be conducted in Phase Two, followed by the product launch in Phase Three. Zellweger Analytics will design, manufacture and market fiber optic sensor networks utilizing technology platforms designed by IOS. These networks will be tailored to each customer's specific needs to detect toxic gases in various workplace environments, including semiconductor manufacturing, petrochemical processing and chemical manufacturing.

Sandler explained that the National Science Foundation (NSF) is supporting the project with a 50% matching fund grant. "This project is an extension of our earlier work with the NSF, in which the NSF supported IOS's development of this sensor technology. Through that program, we recently developed a unique Fiber Bragg Grating-Artificial Reference Cell (FBG-ARC) technology for remote gas sensing based on novel modulated, tailored matched filters and correlation spectroscopy for the NSF. In the second phase of this NSF contract, IOS designed and assembled an FBG-ARC laboratory prototype based on solid-state-fiber filters, whose optical transmission profiles precisely matched portions of the high-resolution near-infrared spectrum of methane, carbon dioxide and hydrogen chloride. This work with the NSF is an important resource in developing a highly-accurate sensor network for Zellweger Analytics."

Noting that Robert Lieberman, senior vice president/chief technology officer, and Harold Gutterman, senior vice president/business development, will be co-directing the project for IOS, Sandler continued, "We are honored that Zellweger Analytics selected IOS to help develop these toxic gas detection systems, and look forward to working together in the future to create other advanced gas detectors and analyzers for environmental applications."

"This strategic partnership with Zellweger Analytics is an excellent example of how we plan to commercialize IOS's portfolio of intellectual property through partnerships, joint ventures and other affiliations. In addition to the semiconductor industry, the optical communications, monitoring and signal processing technologies we have developed over the past decade have exciting applications in medical diagnostics, fiber optic communications, aerospace and other industries with enormous growth potential," Sandler said.

About Zellweger Luwa AG

Zellweger Luwa AG successfully operates companies in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. Its divisions provide high-tech products and services to their customers in the fields of textile, electronics, environmental monitoring and air conditioning engineering. The company is headquartered in Uster, Switzerland.

About Intelligent Optical Systems, Inc.

Intelligent Optical Systems, Inc. (www.intopsys.com), is a privately held R&D company based in Torrance that specializes in the design and development of proprietary optical communications, monitoring and signal processing technologies.