applications Microscopy MatErials procEssinG


holography the price is often the same as a small He-Ne laser.’ Lyncée Tec, on the other hand, uses laser diodes in all its products. ‘It takes time to fi nd the right parts,’ says Emery. ‘We have been in the market a few years now and this experience has helped us fi nd the right supplier for our lasers.’ Both PHI and Lyncée Tec have


protected their technology, or the use of their technology in certain applications, with patents. This heavily protected market could be another reason why the two companies have so few competitors. Emery believes his company’s patents are comprehensive and should prevent any other company developing DHM equipment. ‘We have patented the simultaneous reconstruction of phase and intensity in off-axis holography,’ says Emery.


‘This is a fundamental patent and we also have a few patents pending to protect the interpretation of the phase of biological cells.’


But PHI sees the situation


differently. ‘Lyncée Tec has two patent families that concern us, but some of the patents have lapsed and some applications were even withdrawn or not awarded,’ says Egelberg. ‘Our products are also simpler technology than the technology covered in Lyncée Tec’s patents. With this in mind, and with our knowledge of the patent situation, we don’t think Lyncée Tec’s patents will hinder our development at all.’


The situation at the moment


is perhaps not so critical as the companies are aiming at slightly different markets – Lyncée Tec is aiming at the materials science and high-performance life-science market while PHI is targeting the ultra-low-cost life-sciences market.


‘The biggest challenge for us working with DHM is to establish the technology,’ says


www.electrooptics.com june 2011 l ElEctro optics 13


Egelberg. ‘To achieve this there need to be several companies working in DHM. At this point, our competition is established methods and products, not other products based on DHM.’ And as Emery puts it: ‘As long


as there is no commercial damage, there is no point in starting a fi ght.’ l


SUPPLIERS/DEVELOPERS OF DIGITAL HOLOGRAPHIC MICROSCOPY EQUIPMENT:


lyncée tec, Switzerland (www.lynceetec.com) ovizio, Belgium (www.ovizio.com) phase Holographic imaging, Sweden (www.phiab.se) resolution optics, Canada (www.resolutionoptics.com) trimos, Switzerland (www.trimos.ch)


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