HP To Acquire Rights to Innovative "Neon Replacement" Solid-State Decorative-lighting System; LED-based Light Tube is Proven in Architectural Contour-Lighting Applications

Business Wire, August 9, 1999

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 9, 1999--

Hewlett-Packard Company today announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding to purchase the intellectual properties, products and manufacturing rights to the architectural decorative-lighting system developed by Showers International Pty Ltd. of Australia. Showers International will retain exclusive rights to market the lighting system in Australia and New Zealand and non-exclusive rights to market the lighting system in the rest of the world.

This technology is intended to become part of the intellectual property of the LumiLeds Lighting joint venture between HP and Royal Philips Electronics announced on June 30 of this year.

The innovative Showers International system uses light-emitting diodes (LEDs) mounted on a linear PC assembly, which is sealed in a transparent or translucent extruded polycarbonate pipe. By combining straight and curved sections with elbows and other fittings, the illuminated pipe can follow the contours of building rooflines, windows, doors and other features. Thus, the system can replace neon lighting and other types of incandescent or fluorescent strip lights, which are used in many architectural decorative applications.

The advantage of LED lighting is that it operates from low voltage, which eliminates the special wiring, conduits and weather sealing required for high-voltage neon tubes or other lamps operating directly from line voltage. In addition, the polycarbonate structure is extremely robust and self-supporting, unlike brittle glass tubing used in both neon and fluorescent lamps. Compared to conventional incandescent bulbs used in strip lighting, LEDs are significantly more energy-efficient and offer substantially longer lifetimes.

LEDs from HP, producer of the world's brightest red and amber LEDs, as well as state-of-the-art high-brightness LEDs in blue, true green, white and other colors, have been exclusively used in Showers International lighting installations. The Showers International lighting system has been proven in more than 150 installations, some of which have been in operation for as long as 18 months without the need for maintenance. The system is creating substantial interest from a number of additional potential customers.

"HP is acquiring this capability as part of its commitment to develop innovative new products and technologies for solid-state light sources for such applications as architectural lighting, illuminated signs and, ultimately, area illumination," said Martin Schoeppler, signage and contour lighting manager for HP's Semiconductor Products Group. "LEDs are already replacing incandescent bulbs in automotive exterior lighting, traffic signals and a number of other specialized applications in which reliability, efficiency and design flexibility are paramount."

"I have always had a dream to build a better form of light that could be used in places where people could use, see and touch it in complete safety," said David Showers, founder of Showers International and inventor of the lighting system. "As the developer of Soleda Chipstrip lighting I am excited to see my vision being shared with the combined resources of HP and Royal Philips in their LumiLeds lighting joint venture."

About HP

Hewlett-Packard Company -- a leading global provider of computing and imaging solutions and services for business and home -- is focused on capitalizing on the opportunities of the Internet and the proliferation of electronic services.

HP had computer-related revenue of $39.5 billion in its 1998 fiscal year. HP plans to launch a new company consisting of its industry-leading test-and-measurement, semiconductor products, chemical-analysis and medical businesses. These businesses represented $7.6 billion of HP's total revenue in fiscal 1998. With leading positions in multiple market segments, this technology-based company will focus on opportunities such as communications and life sciences.

HP has 123,000 employees worldwide and had total revenue of $47.1 billion in its 1998 fiscal year. Information about HP, its products and the company's Year 2000 program can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.hp.com.