SANTA CLARA, Calif. — PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX — October 29, 2002
...for Army Head Mounted Display Applications
Intevac, Inc. (Nasdaq: IVAC) today announced that it has been awarded an $860,000 contract from SAIC for development of a miniature intensified CMOS camera based on Intevac's EBAPS(TM) technology. The program is funded by the U.S. Army and is managed by the Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate (NVESD) at Ft. Belvoir, VA.
For this contract, Intevac will develop a GaAs Electron Bombarded Active Pixel Sensor (GaAs EBAPS) low light level prototype camera. Successful completion of this program could lead to future awards yet to be funded for system design and development, as well as production, in support of the Army's Objective Force Warrior program. This program has been enabled by Intevac's recent successful demonstration of its GaAs EBAPS technology. This technology demonstration was the successful culmination of Intevac's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Advanced Technology Program to develop a Low Cost Low Light Level Video Camera. Intevac's EBAPS imager, when combined with existing miniature high resolution displays, enables the development of video based night vision systems which will meet future user requirements. Intevac's President of the Photonics Technology Division, Mr. Verle Aebi, added, "The award of this program is a clear validation of our belief in the importance of the EBAPS technology. We are convinced that EBAPS image sensors will enable a new class of affordable video based night vision devices which will give the user substantial benefits in performance and new features. We will give this program top priority as we believe that successful execution of this program will lead to major production opportunities in the future for the Army." Kevin Fairbairn, Intevac Chief Executive Officer said, "This is the second Intensified Imaging breakthrough technology to emerge from our Photonics Technology Division, the first one being LIVAR(R). Our GaAs EBAPS technology enables a paradigm shift in performance, cost, power and size that will allow us to address many markets, both military and commercial." About EBAPS Intevac's patented Electron Bombarded Active Pixel Sensor ("EBAPS") camera integrates night vision performance with a CMOS imager based mega-pixel digital video camera. The EBAPS camera is compact, smaller than a pack of matches, and incorporates a proprietary camera chip, proprietary packaging and a high efficiency photocathode. The EBAPS camera has day / night performance and meets the small size and power requirements of portable battery operated applications. About LIVAR LIVAR, or "Laser Illuminated Viewing and Ranging", is an imaging system developed by Intevac as a cost-effective and readily adaptable solution to a host of long-range targeting and identification requirements, both day and night. LIVAR is a range-gated, laser-illuminated, two-dimensional imaging system that operates in the "eye-safe" wavelength band. The system enables real-time, high-resolution imagery for target identification at extended ranges. About SAIC SAIC is the nation's largest employee-owned research and engineering company, providing information technology, systems integration and eSolutions to commercial and government customers. SAIC engineers and scientists work to solve complex technical problems in national and homeland security, energy, the environment, space, telecommunications, health care and transportation. With annual revenues of $6.1 billion, SAIC and its subsidiaries, including Telcordia Technologies, have more than 40,000 employees at offices in more than 150 cities worldwide. More information about SAIC can be found on the Internet at www.saic.com. About Intevac Intevac is developing revolutionary photonics products that address potentially large commercial and military markets. The Company also produces sophisticated manufacturing equipment used in the manufacture of high technology products and is leveraging its equipment expertise to enable cost- effective production of new photonics products. Intevac's photonics products are high-speed electro-optical devices that detect light with extraordinary sensitivity. The Company's proprietary technology makes possible products such as long-range target identification systems and video cameras with night vision capability. Intevac's equipment products are designed to deposit or modify highly engineered thin-films of material on a variety of substrates. These systems are designed for continuous high volume manufacturing of precision thin-film products such as flat panel displays, magnetic media for hard drives and low-light-level cameras. For more information call 408-986-9888 or visit the Company's website at www.intevac.com. Safe Harbor Statement This press release includes statements that constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Reform Act"). Intevac claims the protection of the safe-harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Reform Act, including statements related to adoption of EBAPS technology by the Army, projected development schedules, future features and performance of EBAPS devices and the transition to volume production. The forward-looking statements contained herein involve risks and uncertainties that could cause results to differ materially from the Company's expectations. These risks and other factors are detailed the Company's regular filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. NOTE: EBAPS(TM) is a trademark of Intevac. LIVAR(R) is a registered trademark of Intevac. SOURCE Intevac, Inc. CONTACT:
Charley Eddy, CFO of Intevac, Inc.,
+1-408-496-2259
ceddy@intevac.com
