Expert Details
LED technology: MOCVD, Fab, packaging, optics, integration, solid-state lighting
ID: 725244
Texas, USA
Expert has designed and built several MOCVD from scratch. He has also been directly responsible for installation, testing and start up of a dozen and a half commercial MOCVD systems. Over a dozen of these have been for high brightness LED manufacturing. He has also designed and overseen construction of the Epitaxial Growth and Materials Characterization area of a commercial LED factory. He later managed both areas and has trained technicians, operators, engineers and scientists in MOCVD theory, operation, maintenance, process development, wafer characterization and hardware design.
Expert also has over a dozen years experience in LED measurement, characterization and reliability. He is an internationally recognized expert in this area. He is a full member of the Test Procedures Committee of the Illuminating Engineering Society. He has designed numerous equipment sets for measuring LED chips, packages and devices with outputs ranging from nanoWatts to 20,000+ lumens.
He is also a recognized expert in phosphors and their use (and history) in LED components and systems. He has consulted with half a dozen major LED companies on this topic in matter related to design, performance, history and intellectual property.
Expert has held a variety of positions at LED companies including: Manager of an Epitaxial Wafer (MOCVD) Growth and Characterization ares, Sr. Epi Scientist (MOCVD hardware, process development and LED structure), Director of Intellectual Property, VP of Research and is currently the Chief Engineer for a multibillion dollar LED lighting company.
Expert has served as an expert witness in over half a dozen LED patent infringement cases. He has also consulted with numerous companies on various topics related to LED technology. He also holds numerous patents on LED technology and products.
In summary, Expert has a unique background in the field of LEDs as he has been active at all levels of LED design, production, measurement, and integration into solid state lighting products ranging from chips to 20,000+ lumen street light and high bay fixtures.
As a graduate student, Expert developed the world's first crystalline silicon based visible LED. He has grown all of the material systems used in commercial high brightness LEDs on standard and novel substrates.
Expert is a noted expert with respect to product reliability and reliability testing at both the component and assembly/device level. He has years of experience in developing industry standards related to solid state lighting and continues to participate in these activities, notably with respect to LED component and fixture reliability.
He has also developed countless CoO (Cost of Ownership) models for products and processes at all levels of the semiconductor and lighting industry. These activities include construction cost and operating cost for a semiconductor fabrication facility as well as more traditional product line costs and economic analyses for products in a given application or environment.
Expert has developed and launched over 150 solid state lighting products into manufacturing. He has an extensive background in cost analysis and process modeling which has allowed him to dramatically reduce production costs and increase profitability.
Expert has designed and developed LED chips, packages and fixtures. He is considered an expert in the emerging field of smart (humancentric) lighting and horticultural lighting.
LED package design - develop an optimized 3030 LED package that enhanced circadian rhythm effects. Package was rapidly adopted into a product line that previously required 3 different LED packages for the same effect.Optical design - created a new high efficiency optical design paradigm that reduced size of optical element by ~90-95% while producing a unique emission pattern.Technology and Marketing support for products in the smart/humancentric lighting field and horticultural lightingDeveloped reliability test protocols for new solid state lighting products intended to operate in a harsh/industrial environment.Worked with largest software company in the world to develop a next generation optical mouse product. Efforts required specific attention to potential photo-biological safety concerns.
Education
| Year | Degree | Subject | Institution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year: 1997 | Degree: PhD | Subject: Chemical Engineering | Institution: University of Florida |
| Year: 1989 | Degree: BS | Subject: Chemical Engineering | Institution: Tulane University |
Work History
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 2014 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: CTO | Department: |
Responsibilities:Here Expert leverages his position as one of the top LED technology experts in the world to lead technology development efforts and provide technical expertise for organizations ranging in size from small private/start-up companies to Fortune 100 companies.Notable accomplishments: • Design and development of innovative solid-state lighting technology and designs, with a primary focus on optical design, thermal design and production/assembly technologies. • Designed new LED package for circadian rhythm product line that increased production yield by >10% while simultaneously reducing production cost by 40%. Projected additive annual revenue >$6.5 million. • Serve as expert witness for TIER 1 LED companies in patent infringement cases worldwide. In recent case achieved a landmark invalidity verdict against world's leading LED company. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2013 to 2014 | Employer: (Undisclosed) | Title: Director of Engineering | Department: |
Responsibilities:Here Expert was charged with developing the LED technology that would facilitate the company's transition to LED based consumer products (security, decorative)• Managed Engineering Department Staff (11 domestic, 14 international); Responsibilities included preparation and administration of the department budget ($13 million annual budget combined domestic and international). The department was charged with developed advanced technology/products related to: Solid State Lighting, Sensors, Notifications and Control Products and included regulatory/certifications for UL, FCC, Energy Star and DLC. • Developed technology, IP and product roadmaps for all three business units (Lighting, Sensors, Notifications). Provided solid state lighting technology support for The Chamberlain Group. Key accomplishments: o Launched innovative LED security light with improved light uniformity and reduced glare. Product received high praise from targeted big box customers. First year orders were 2x the previous highest product launch in company history. Product line accounted for >10% of total company revenues in year 1 of launch. o Led team for product recall issue dating back to 2003. Reduced recall scope (# units) by >80% and potential financial exposure by >$25 million through detailed investigation and review of production records/ECR logs and detailed inspection/testing of excess and obsolete inventory. o Completed review for entire product portfolio to comply with new cUL bi-lingual language requirements. Project required warning requirement changes to physical components (tooling), warning labels, documents and packaging on >400 products and was completed 3 months ahead of schedule. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2011 to 2013 | Employer: Elec Tech International | Title: Chief Engineer ETi Lighting Research Institute VP Research & Development ETi Solid State Lighting | Department: R&D |
Responsibilities:Expert was recruited by CEO of ETi to manage Engineering and R&D staff for newly formed vertically integrated LED company (107 Engineers, Scientists, Designers). His responsibilities included preparation and administration of the department budget (>$25 million annual). Expert also worked directly with both the President and the CEO of the company to develop IP and product roadmaps for all LED based lighting products/projects for markets in the US, Europe, Japan and China.Expert's key accomplishments included: o Received funded research awards totaling $16 million for LED based technology and product development. o Developed LED based streetlight and supported sales efforts that resulted in world's largest single LED streetlight order (>385,000 units) worth >$100 million. o Supported product development and production ramps that enabled the company to increase LED product sales from ~$25 million to >$180 million in one year. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2008 to 2011 | Employer: Lighting Science Group Corporation | Title: VP of Research | Department: |
Responsibilities:The CEO of this early stage LED lighting manufacturer aggressively recruited Expert to leverage product technology expertise to develop a portfolio of products and transition the company from a project/contract manufacturing to a product driven provider of LED products for commercial and consumer use.Expert played a key role in growing company revenue from ~$3 million to over $100 million/year. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2004 to 2008 | Employer: Toyoda Gosei | Title: Product Development Manager | Department: Optoelectronics |
Responsibilities:In this role, Expert was challenged with providing technology expertise and ability to communicate with both and technical and non-technical decision makers and an ability to leverage communications to aggressively drive stagnated annual sales $8 million to over $100 million a 3 year span. Among his notable accomplishments, Expert utilized his extensive technical background and superb communications abilities to secure sole supplier status for the LED backlights for 4 Apple products.He also secured the only two accounts to exceed $100 million/year in revenue. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2003 to 2004 | Employer: Beeman Lighting | Title: Director of Solid-State Lighting Engineering | Department: |
Responsibilities:Recruited by CEO and former UOE President to provide technology leadership to develop of solid state lighting systems and materials with primary focus on chip on board applications and devices. Product lines included RGB landscape lighting and minimal environmental impact fixtures and novel display/artwork fixtures.A notable accomplishment included development of an RGB LED based landscape light with minimal coastal environmental impact. Required establishment and oversight of FAU based research program using live sea turtle hatchlings in a controlled environment. Resulted in product line becoming the first to receive full endorsements from all concerned environmental groups in Florida, giving the company a premier position in the >$1 billion Florida coastal lighting market. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2003 to 2004 | Employer: University of South Florida | Title: Intellectual Property Manager | Department: |
Responsibilities:He was responsible for managing a technology portfolio of over 100 active and pending patents. He worked with University staff and students to identify IP opportunities and seek patent protection as appropriate. He also negotiated technology licensing agreements on behalf of the University. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2001 to 2003 | Employer: Uniroyal Optoelectronics | Title: Director of Intellectual Property | Department: |
Responsibilities:He was responsible for identifying and developing all internal IP opportunities. He conducted patentability analysis for internal IP. He also performed routine non-infringement of internal technology and monitored IP related activities across the entire field of LED technology. Additionally he held the post of Sr. Epi Scientist and was responsible for all radiometic and photometric measurement equipment and methods. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1998 to 2001 | Employer: Epitaxial Materials & Characterization | Title: Team Leader | Department: |
Responsibilities:He was responsible for managing all engineers and technicians in both the epitaxial growth and materials characterization areas. He designed the entire facilities for both areas, including equipment specification, installation and qualification. He trained both engineers and technicians in the principles and practices associated with MOCVD growth of LED structures and characterization methods. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1996 to 1998 | Employer: Emcore Corporation | Title: Process Engineer | Department: |
Responsibilities:He was responsible for the installation, startup and qualification of new MOCVD growth systems. He developed or transferred epitaxial processes and developed new characterization equipment or methods as needed for manufacturing processes. His role in initiating manufacturing included all required quality system documentation (procedures, work instructions, travelers, visuals, SPC charts) for ISO9000 and training of manufacturing engineers and technicians. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1990 to 1990 | Employer: AT&T Bell Labs | Title: Visiting Researcher | Department: Electronic Materials |
Responsibilities:He designed and built a custom MOCVD/Mass-spec system for analysis of existing and novel precursor materials. This analysis included determining gas phase reaction mechanisms and thermal decomposition pathways. |
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Career Accomplishments
| Associations / Societies |
|---|
| University of Florida Department of Chemical Engineering Industrial Advisory Board (1998 - current; chair 2007 - 2009) Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) 2004 - (full member Test Procedures Committee) International Photonics Society (SPIE) 2007 - Materials Research Society (MRS) 2000 - Optical Society of America (OSA) 2010 - |
| Publications and Patents Summary |
|---|
| Expert has authored or co-authored over a dozen publications and 30 technical presentations. He also has 25 granted US patents and more than 30 pending/international applications |
Additional Experience
| Expert Witness Experience |
|---|
| He has served as an expert witness in over a dozen cases involving LED technology. These cases have included both AlInGaP as well as GaN technologies as well as phosphor converted devices (white LEDs), LED package construction and solid-state lighting applications. Additionally, he has served as the primary expert witness in processing equipment related cases Expert is regularly recruited by Tier 1 LED companies and in a recent case in which he was the sole technical expert, received a unanimous verdict of invalidity on two key patents held by the number one LED company in the workld. |
| Training / Seminars |
|---|
| He has given numerous seminars on LED technology for a variety of applications. He has also conducted numerous training sessions on measurement techniques and methods for measurement and characterization of LEDs. |
| Vendor Selection |
|---|
| He has worked extensively with sourcing and specifying equipment used for MOCVD growth of compound semiconductors. This experience extends to facilities design and raw materials sourcing, specification, delivery (to growth systems) and abatement. |
| Marketing Experience |
|---|
| He has worked in the LED industry at all levels including device design/development, epitaxial materials growth, fabrication, tect & reliability, packaging, phosphor development, LED integration, power/control systems, luminaire design and sales/marketing. He is particularly aware of recent trends in solid-state lighting and key market niches such as architectural/entertainment, backlight, display and signaling. At Toyoda Gosei, Expert developed the marketing campaign to key notebook PC companies that resulted in securing two new accounts that each grew to >$100 million annual revenue. These customers are the only two priority customers in the history of the company. Expert continues to push the boundaries of LED and solid-state lighting technology and is currently working to prepare marketing campaigns for products/technology in the smart/humancetric lighting arena and horticultural lighting. |
Fields of Expertise
light-emitting diode, backlighting, solid state lighting, reliability engineering, reliability analysis, cost analysis, life-cycle costing, lighting system technology, horticulture, circadian rhythm, internal controls, control system, light-emitting diode switching speed, light-emitting diode rise time, active layer, luminous intensity, luminance, illuminated flat-panel display, light-emitting diode signboard display, electronics reliability testing, light-emitting diode display, production control, flat-panel display, electroluminescent display, black light