Company News & Events

Santa Clara, CA – September 15, 2003 – Pacific Nanotechnology, Inc. (PNI), the global leader in high-performance, easy-to-use, and affordable atomic force microscopes (AFMs), is pleased to announce the licensing of IBM's patent of the fundamental technology for the atomic force microscope. Dr. Paul West, vice president of products and chief technology officer for PNI, commented, "We are pleased to have access to the fundamental AFM technology that was first invented at IBM."

IBM was a pioneer in AFM development. U.S. Patent 4724318, "Atomic force microscope and method for imaging surfaces with atomic resolution," was issued to Gerd K. Binnig of IBM's Zurich Research Laboratory in 1988 and reissued in 1990 as RE33387. Binnig and Heinrich Rohrer won the Nobel Prize for the scanning probe microscope in 1986. AFMs have since become a critical enabler of the nanotechnology revolution.

"Pacific Nanotechnology has been instrumental in changing the AFM landscape-making the instrument affordable and accessible for the single user, yet maintaining the high performance required for nanoscale applications," added West.

PNI is the global leader in high-performance, easy-to-use, affordable AFMs for nano-scale research and manufacturing. The company is facilitating the growth and expansion of nanotechnology and the manufacture of nano-scale products by providing practical AFM tools for new or experienced and single- or multi-user environments. For more information, visit the company's website at www.pacificnanotech.com.