Newport Previews World's First, Fully Automated Laser Diode Characterization System

Irvine, California – March 19, 2002 – Newport Corporation (Nasdaq:NEWP) today will preview its new Automated Laser Diode Characterization System (ALDCS) at OFC 2002. This system, designed for high-throughput characterization of laser diodes, combines a machine vision guided pick and place robot for part loading/unloading with a variety of optional characterization modules. These enable the system to perform completely unattended laser diode testing, including LI (light vs. current) curves, spectral measurements, far-field beam profiling and high magnification image capture for visual inspection.

The ALDCS is specifically designed to integrate into an automated, high volume photonics production environment. It is capable of handling incoming parts in a wide variety of packages or carriers, such as waffle packs or Auer boats. The system also complements the laser diode burn-in systems from Newport and other manufacturers to form a high-throughput diode test and burn-in line. The ALDCS utilizes INTEGRA™, Newport's Photonic Test & Assembly Automation Software, which enables easy integration with third-party instruments through LabView, Visual Basic, C++, or other programming environments. The report generation tool allows process data extracted from the user-defined INTEGRA database to be utilized by for many purposes, such as Statistical Process Control, device traceability, and production report generation.

"One of the keys to lowering the overall manufacturing cost of photonics components is to eliminate defective parts as early as possible in the manufacturing process," said Kevin Crofton, Vice President and General Manager. "Tests used to identify the defective devices are currently dominated by manual processes. With the advent of ALDCS, this testing bottleneck is removed, enabling manufacturers to increase yields and production throughput, thus driving down component unit cost."

Newport is now accepting orders from select customers for the ALDCS and will begin shipping production units in the second quarter of 2002.

Newport's Automated Laser Diode Characterization System will be on exhibit at OFC 2002 at the Anaheim Convention Center, Hall C, Exhibit Booth 3101.

Newport Corporation is a global leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of high precision components, instruments and integrated systems to the fiber optic communications, semiconductor equipment, aerospace, research and industrial metrology markets. The company's innovative products are designed to enhance productivity and capabilities of test and measurement and automated assembly for precision manufacturing, engineering and research applications. Customers include Fortune 500 corporations, technology companies and research laboratories in commercial, academic and government sectors worldwide. Newport is part of the Standard & Poor's Midcap 400 Index and the Russell 2000 Index.

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