Magnolia Optical Technologies specializes in developing innovative optical technologies with a broad range of commercial, defense, Border Security and biomedical applications.
Our team’s mission is to develop next generation optical technology that covers the ultraviolet, visible, and infrared portions of the light spectrum and will improve upon and expand the capabilities of existing optical sensors on the market today.
From national defense, to border security, to aerospace, to biomedical devices and beyond, Magnolia is committed to leading the way in the advancement of cutting-edge optoelectronic technologies with numerous industry-spanning applications.
With approximately 18 million dollars in research and development grants secured from the US Department of Defense and NASA to date, Magnolia is now ready to productize and commercialize its technologies for use in business and government applications.
Read on to discover how we’re doing it.
At its most basic level, optical technology is the technology of producing, controlling, and using light — such as visible light, infrared light, or ultraviolet light — to do work.
Chances are you’ve heard of fiber optics before — a type of wire commonly made out of glass or plastic that uses light signals to carry information between two places — that’s often used as a medium for telecommunication and computer networking.
Optical-based technology has become increasingly in-demand across a wide range of massive global markets like space, military, automotive, and the industrial sector due to its many benefits, including:
Optical components and systems are frequently being implemented in drones, by aerospace and defense engineers for land, sea, air, and space applications, in intelligent transportation systems like smart highways with intelligent traffic lights, automated tollbooths, and changeable message signs, and across the biomedical industry for transmission of digital diagnostic images.
The US military alone is estimated to spend around $13.5 billion on electro-optical systems and technology through 2022.
With Magnolia Optical Technologies, we’re harnessing the power of light to develop innovative optoelectronic products that directly meets the needs of these leading global industries.
Magnolia specializes in thin film and nanostructure-based optical technologies covering the ultraviolet, visible, and infrared part of the light spectrum. Here’s a look at what we’re developing:
Infrared Materials & Detector
A CMOS-based micro-camera that can fit into a cell phone, replacing current chips with day-night capability. Our innovations to infrared detection will help increase infrared imaging quality in video and picture-capturing cameras. This will be particularly beneficial for soldiers on the battlefield and will help keep them out of harm’s way. This technology also has application in the aviation space including drones, machine vision, Internet of Things, augmented reality, and various other emerging applications.
Anti-Reflection Optical Coating
Our anti-reflection optical coating (ARC) technology enhances glass displays by reducing glare and brightening the display. This can also be used with solar panels to increase their efficiencies, potentially increasing solar power output by 8-10%.
Anti-glare will also be attractive to aerospace companies who want to reduce glare for pilots so they have complete visibility and ensure they can properly see navigation equipment within the cockpit. These coatings will be effective without any risk of degradation in space environments. Additional applications are for reducing glare in tablets, smartphones etc. Our ARC technology increases the efficiency of various lenses used in cameras and scopes including cube satellites and can help improve their performance.
Quantum Solar Technology
If solar cells can absorb more light from different angles, they can potentially produce more power, thus creating higher efficiency. Our quantum solar technology will make that possible. Advanced solar cell nanostructures can harness a very large fraction of the solar spectrum while minimizing the effects of high temperatures and high-energy radiation. This technology will enable solar power systems for future NASA space exploration missions, drones and high efficiency power applications.
Since we first founded Magnolia in 2000, our team has made some incredible headway in our mission to set an all new standard in state-of-the-art optoelectronic technologies on a global scale. Here’s a look at some of most notable milestones, and what we have planned in the days ahead.
Government-Backed
To date, we have funded our technology research and development from about $18 million in government-funded programs.
A Robust IP Portfolio
We’ve filed 22 patents of which 6 have been issued. The remaining applications are in various stages of development at the USPTO, and we continue to build on this IP portfolio.
Strategic Partnerships
We are currently in discussions with several large corporations with whom we are working to co-develop a number of products.
Manufacturing & Distribution
We are currently operating out of the Albany Nanotech Center, a $20 billion plus facility that we have been using for many years for the development phase of our technology. We are also co-located in the complex.
Now that we’ve developed and proven our technology, the next step is to create working, demonstrable prototypes that we can showcase to major industry players across our target markets.
After validating our technology through these prototypes, we will be in a position to move forward with ramping up production for a commercial-ready product.
Want to learn more about Magnolia Optical and their vision for the future? Make sure to request access to the Business Plan tab of the profile to find out how you can get involved!
Magnolia is made up of a world class team working at the forefront of science and technology with extensive experience in technology commercialization.
Dr. Sood is a 30-year industry veteran with experience developing and managing solar cells, optical, and optoelectronics technology products for several major corporations, including Lockheed-Martin, BAE Systems, Loral, Honeywell, and Tyco International before founding Magnolia in 2000. Dr. Sood received his PhD and MS in Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and has an MS and a BS in Physics (Honors) from Delhi University in India.
Dr. Puri specializes in science and finance. He was a professor of Finance and Chairman of the Finance Department at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, former VP of Finance for a privately held equipment manufacturer serving the solar PV industry, which he helped grow to about $20 million in revenue, CFO of a public company for about 10 years. He earned his BS in Physics, MS in Solid State Physics, and MBA from the University of Delhi. He also holds an MBA in Finance and a DBA in International Business from Indiana University.
Dr. Biswas is leading the global commercialization efforts for Magnolia’s advanced technologies in electronics and photonics. Dr. Biswas received his B.S. in 1987 in Electrical Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology, M.S and Ph.D. in 1991 & 1993 in Engineering (Electronic Devices and Materials) from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. He was also in leadership roles at Indian Institute of Technology (India), as professor of Electronics & Entrepreneurship, where he developed novel research projects of over $20 million and graduated 14 doctoral students. He also established and managed semiconductor IC fabrication facilities at Anadigics, Skyworks Solutions Inc., M/A-COM and IBM/EG&G, initiating high power lasers, PHEMT based switch ICs, 6” GaAs Fab line with 6” InGaP HBT and InGaAs PHEMT ICs.
Dr. Welser is responsible for leading the development of next-generation photonic devices and high efficiency solar cells employing advanced nanostructured materials and coatings. Dr. Welser received his Ph.D. in Applied Physics from Yale University in 1995 and an undergraduate B.A. degree with honors in Physics from Swarthmore College in 1989. Prior to joining Magnolia in August of 2009, Dr. Welser served as Director of Technology and New Product Development at Kopin Corporation.