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Vanguard EMS Selects RD-500 for Lead-Free Rework

San Diego (January 21, 2004) – FocalSpot, Inc. a provider of inspection and rework/repair solutions and services to the OEM and electronics manufacturing industries, today announced that Vanguard EMS, a leading contract manufacturer based in Portland, Oregon, has selected Den-on Instruments, RD-500 for advanced rework applications, including rework of Lead Free Assemblies.

Designed for both lead free and standard solder, the system is a vision based semi-automated reflow, removal and placement rework station for all printed circuit assemblies, SMD devices and connectors. The RD-500 combines unique high-powered top and bottom heater configuration with advanced auto-profiling technology to efficiently heat and reflow the most demanding rework applications; from small PDA’s and cell phones, to PC motherboards and multi-layered avionics back planes. Vanguard selected the RD-500 based on its efficient heating technology, ease-of-use and price performance.

FocalSpot’s Product Manager, Raymond LaFleur, was tasked during the evaluation to demonstrate the performance of the machine on several demanding applications, including lead-free rework. Vanguard recognized the benefits and capabilities of the RD-500 over their existing rework solutions, including the price/performance value payback of this low-cost high-quality rework solution.

About FocalSpot, Inc.

Headquartered in San Diego, CA- FocalSpot, Inc. provides advanced BGA/SMT inspection and rework solutions to manufacturers of electronics assemblies. FocalSpot’s product offerings include a complete line of rework stations, soldering tools and accessories. Additionally, they offer BGA “look-under” microscopes and will soon include a complete line of x-ray inspection solutions.

FocalSpot has aligned itself with third party support personnel for extended reach throughout North America. Current facilities include the greater San Francisco Bay area, Midwest, Southwest and East Coast regions. FocalSpot has over twelve leading SMT manufacturer’s representatives nationwide and plans to expand its sales channel in 2004.

For more information on FocalSpot and its cost saving solutions, customers should contact Frank Silva, 9915 Businesspark Ave., Ste. A, San Diego, CA 92131• phone: 858-536-5050 • fax: 858-536-5054 • email: sales@focalspot.com. The company is on the World Wide Web at http://www.FocalSpot.com

About Vanguard EMS
Vanguard EMS serves electronic Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) in the medical, industrial, telecom and computing industries who are at the front line or “vanguard” of their specific markets. Vanguard’s services include complete product configuration and life-cycle management support, flying probe, in-circuit and functional testing. Vanguard also maintains six (6) state-of-the-art SMT lines at its ISO 9001:2000 certified facilities in Beaverton, Oregon.

Vanguard has been providing customer focused service support and operational excellence since 1988. For more information on Vanguard EMS contact Tim Falk Vanguard EMS (503) 672-4240, tim.falk@vanguardems. com or visit http://www.vanguardems.com.

Editorial Contact:
Doug McClure
FocalSpot, Inc.
858-536-5052
dmcclure@focalspot.com

Gift of patent may be major cash cow for LU

Ron Brown
rbrown@newadvance.com
June 11, 2005 - Cash donors to Liberty University typically are comprised of mind, body and soul. One of the newest contains transistors, computer memory and microprocessor chips.

LU has an application on file for a patent on a two-sided circuit board that could significantly shorten the electronic information highway used within home computers, automobiles, cell phones and other gadgets. University officials said if the circuit board is widely accepted, it could be a bedrock cash endowment that could serve as a substantial underpinning for the 34-year-old university.

“Almost anything electronic is going to have a circuit board,” said Jerry Falwell Jr., the university’s vice chancellor. “This could be the beginning a real cash endowment for the university. Building a cash endowment is one of Liberty’s top priorities.”

The technology is the brainchild of Charles S. Clark, who worked for years designing computerized circuits for a large automotive supplier in Detroit. He is the father of two LU graduates.

Clark said he decided to donate the idea to LU after learning that lawyers would get 90 percent of the proceeds if he tried to get the patent for himself.

“I don’t know if God put this idea in my mind or not,” he said. “I said why not give it to Jerry Falwell.” Clark said the two-sided circuit board could revolutionize about half of a $200 billion a year industry by reducing manufacturing costs 10 to 20 percent.

For example, a circuit board that now contains eight layers could be reduced to four layers by mirroring components from one side of the board to components on the other side.

By placing components on both sides of the board, designers could have them share and shorten copper etchings used to transmit thousands of pieces of computerized data.

The two-sided circuit board would be a compact version of conventional circuit boards. Circuit boards are built in compressed laminated layers that are used to transmit integrated data. After Clark approached LU about the idea in 2002, LU paid to have research done to see if there was a patent pending on Clark’s idea.

LU’s interest increased after getting the thumbs up from engineer at Waytec, a local circuit board manufacturer.

“They said the idea had some merit,” Falwell Jr. said.

That’s not to say that the patent process proceeded without bumps in the road.

Some patent attorneys didn’t want to take on the job of writing a patent for the new technology.

“They said the technology was too broad to get a patent,” Falwell said.

Attempts to run the idea by industry insiders struck several snags.

LU officials contacted Micron Industries in Boise, Idaho, but that firm was unwilling to sign a non-disclosure agreement.

Finally, LU was able to hire Houston patent attorney Lou Brucceleri, who has a background in electronic engineering.

“He thought the idea was groundbreaking,” Falwell said.

It took about a year to get the patent application made.

“Once the patent application was filed, we had the legal protection we needed,” Falwell said.

Now, Falwell is hoping that information about the technology will start circulating among movers and shakers in the electronics industry.

Falwell said a key break may have occurred earlier this week, when the trade publication, “Printed Circuit Design and Manufacture” agreed to publish an article on the technology.

“In electronics, printed circuit board design is where the proverbial rubber meets the road,” Clark wrote in the article.

Falwell hopes that road leads to LU having the money it needs.

“This process is in its state of infancy,” Falwell said. “It too early to tell if it would be the source of long-term funds for the university, but we have high hopes.”

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