Loea Issued 2ND Patent on Cellular Backhaul Using…

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 23, 2006

Loea Issued Second Patent on Cellular Backhaul Using State-of-the-art Millimeter-wave Radios
Honolulu, Hawaii – Loea Corporation, an industry leader in high-speed, high-bandwidth wireless communications, announced today its second patent for cellular backhaul using the millimeter-wave spectrum.

Loea’s Patents Nos. 6,741,800 and 7,062,293 cover cellular communication systems in which groups of cellular base stations communicate with a communications office via a wireless millimeter-wave trunk line. Most of the more than 175,000 cellular base stations in the United States currently use T1 or DS3 lines for their backhaul to the central office. These lines may not provide sufficient bandwidth in more advanced wireless communication systems.

The millimeter wave transceivers at the base stations operating at frequencies greater than 60 GHz (corresponding to wavelengths shorter than 5 millimeters) will be equipped with antennas providing very narrow beams so that an almost unlimited number of transceivers will be able to simultaneously use the same millimeter wave spectrum. Cellular systems such as cellular telephone systems typically operate at frequencies lower than 3 GHz (corresponding to wavelengths longer than 10 centimeters) and in these systems the low frequency bandwidth is efficiently utilized over and over again by dividing a territory into small cells and using low power antennas. Loea’s radios can be prepackaged with cellular base station equipment for quick and easy installation at convenient locations such as the tops of commercial buildings.

“Loea pioneered the use of millimeter-wave frequencies for high data rate, last-mile access applications. With the protection provided by these recently issued patents, we are in a position to take the lead in the utilization of millimeter-wave radios in the large cellular backhaul market,” said Admiral Thomas B. Fargo, USN (Ret), Chairman and CEO of Loea Corporation. “We have received our first orders for integration of our transceivers with other wireless systems allowing service providers to deploy their next-generation wireless systems quickly and efficiently without the need to lay cable or optical fibers. Loea transceivers offer data rates of up to 1.25 gigabits per second, which will provide sufficient bandwidth for next-generation wireless backhaul including 3G/4G wireless systems, WiMAX and other advanced protocols.”

About Loea
Loea Corporation is the market leader in wireless communications in the 71.0-86.0 GHz bands. Loea was the first to develop wireless, point-to-point communications products to operate at such frequency. Loea successfully petitioned the FCC to gain access to this spectrum for commercial use in 2001 and was first to receive commercial FCC approval in July 2005. Loea is currently the world’s only supplier of FCC-certified radios operating in both the 71.0-76.0 and 81.0-86.0 GHz frequency bands. For more information, go to www.loeacom.com.

Sago Systems Showcases its Suicide Bomber Detection Unit…

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 23, 2006

Sago Showcases its Suicide Bomber Detection Unit
(Miami, Florida) Sago Systems, Inc. today unveiled its ST 150 system specifically designed to detect suicide bombs carried on people. The patented imager is radiation-free, portable, and produces high-quality imagery revealing the exact location of the weapon and its size. Sago’s ST150 unit “sees” through clothing providing authorities instant information critical in helping to prevent terrorist attacks.

“We have worked closely with our customers to create products that provide a solution while being easy to use for security personnel,” said Dr. John Lovberg, President and CEO, Sago Systems, Inc. “We are aggressively rolling out our products. Our systems are completely safe, imaging only the objects blocking the body’s natural heat.

“Suicide bombers remain a pervasive threat throughout the world and our goal is to identify these individuals and prevent their unconscionable acts,” said Admiral Thomas B. Fargo, USN (Ret), Chairman of Sago Systems, Inc. “Our ST 150 systems are a powerful asset in preventing suicide bombings.”

About Sago Systems’ ST 150
The ST150 is a stand-alone passive millimeter-wave imager designed for outdoor perimeter and check-point security. The unit can be camouflaged to provide covert screening at a distance or it can be located at a checkpoint. Security personnel can be situated at a safe distance immediately viewing the images from a command center over a standard wi-fi interface to a laptop computer. Our systems have been tested and evaluated by the US and foreign governments. Customers can enhance their ST150 units with the option of infrared fusion.

About Sago Systems, Inc.
Sago Systems develops, manufactures, and markets passive millimeter-wave imaging systems for security applications, and is headquartered in San Diego, California. Sago is a subsidiary of Trex Enterprises Corporation. For more information log on at www.trexenterprises.com

 

Sago’s Stand-alone Security Screening Unit Named One…

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 1, 2005

Sago’s Stand-alone Security Screening Unit Named one of the Finalists for San Diego’s Most Innovative New Products
(San Diego, CA) Sago Systems’ stand-off passive millimeter wave imager is recognized by CONNECT, a technology business accelerator, as one of the finalist to be San Diego’s most innovative new products for 2005. The Sago ST 150™ is a stand-off imaging system used for antiterrorism and force protection missions. The portable unit can identify and locate weapons, explosives and suspicious objects through clothing and other materials. It can be deployed at mobile checkpoints and building entrances or used for perimeter security. The ST-150 provides broad detection capability of threats unlike any other technology available today. Sago’s technology is noninvasive and poses no health risk to people being screened.

“We are very impressed with this year’s entries and believe Sago Systems has created a technology that will help revolutionize the security industry,” said CONNECT CEO Duane Roth. “It is quite an accomplishment to be named a finalist. We looked at numerous entries, many with promising products, but chose the absolute best to represent CONNECT.”

Sago is one of 24 finalists selected out of 80 entries and is among four finalists in the security technology category. On Tuesday, representatives of the winning companies will attend a reception with the judges in anticipation of the December 9 announcement of the winners of each category representing the Most Innovative New Products in biotechnology R&D, life sciences-medical devices & diagnostics, life sciences-therapeutics, security technology, software, communications technology, general technology, and hardware.

“It is an honor to be recognized as one of the finalist to be the most innovative new products of the year.” said Dr. John Lovberg, president of Sago Systems, Inc. “It is a rewarding acknowledgement and we look forward to providing an enhanced security solution for everything from the troops on the frontline to airports.”

Sago Systems develops, manufactures, and markets passive millimeter-wave imaging systems for security applications, and is headquartered in San Diego. Sago is a subsidiary of Trex Enterprises Corporation. For more information log on at www.trexenterprises.com.

Sago Systems Launched to Commercialize Millimeter-wave…

Venture Capital Investment and Management Team Announced

September 13, 2005 (San Diego, California) – Sago Systems, Inc., a subsidiary of Trex Enterprises Corporation, announced today it has received an equity investment from Digital Power Capital LLC of Greenwich, CT.  Trex formed Sago to commercialize its pioneering passive millimeter-wave imaging technology for security applications.  Sago has demonstrated unprecedented price/performance features in detecting and locating contraband such as explosives and suicide vests hidden under clothing.  Sago’s instruments image these objects using passive sensors that do not emit any ionizing radiation.

Separately, Sago announced the Company will be led by retired Admiral Thomas Fargo and Dr. John Lovberg.  Admiral Fargo, former Commander of the U.S. Pacific Command, is Chairman of the Board of the Company.  Dr. Lovberg has been named President of the Company.  Dr. Lovberg is a pioneer in the development of millimeter-wave imaging and communication systems for Trex for nearly two decades.

Admiral Fargo stated: “We have accelerated the development of our systems with support from the U.S. Army’s Night Vision Laboratory [U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM) Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center (CERDEC) Nigh Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate (NVESD)].  Our first priority is to get this capability into the hands of our deployed troops in the field. We are working closely with our government customers to make this happen. Our technology is safe, effective and more accurate than anything available on the market today.”

Hans Kobler, General Partner of Digital Power Capital, stated: “Like CT systems for checked luggage screening, we believe that Sago’s novel portal systems will one day become the standard for personnel screening in airports and other sensitive locations.”

About Sago
Sago Systems, headquartered in San Diego, California, develops, manufactures, and markets passive millimeter-wave imaging systems for security applications.  Sago has begun selling Sago ST 150™, a proprietary stand-off imaging system used for anti-terrorism and force protection missions.  Sago is also developing a personnel screening portal system that integrates a proprietary passive millimeter-wave imager with existing metal detection systems and a hand-held passive millimeter-wave wand imager.  All of Sago’s systems are designed to have the following features and benefits:

  • Broad detection capability of threats not detectable with current technology;
  • Non-invasive systems that pose no health risk to people being screened;
  • Affordability to enable broad adoption of our systems; and
  • Interoperability to enable implementation of our systems with existing security infrastructure.

 

About Trex Enterprises
Trex Enterprises Corporation is a high technology company specializing in imaging performance across the entire electromagnetic spectrum.  To date, most of the company’s research has been sponsored by government contracts.  Based on its proprietary technologies in applied optics, microwave sensing and other imaging and sensing technologies, the company is also incubating ventures in telecommunications, imaging semiconductors, biosensors and several other fields.  Trex’s venture-backed businesses include Loea Corporation (high data-rate communication systems), CrossFiber Inc. (optical switches), ePhocus Inc. (CMOS image sensors), Ophthonix, Inc. (customized ophthalmic lenses and related instruments), and Silicon Kinetics, Inc. (protein analysis instrument and related biochip). For more information log on at www.trexenterprises.com

Loea Corporation First to Obtain Certification for…

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 25, 2005

Loea Corporation First to Obtain FCC Certification for 71-76 GHz and 81-86 GHz Gigabit Fixed Wireless Product
SAN DIEGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–July 25, 2005–Loea Corporation, a provider of fixed wireless communications products, has received the first ever equipment certification in the newly regulated 71.0-76.0 GHz and 81.0-86.0 GHz wireless communication bands. This certification was granted under the authority of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on July 15, 2005. Loea’s product has ultra high availability (99.999% at 1 km) and supports data transport at rates up to 1.25 Gbps, full-duplex, making it a tailor fit for last mile access and infrastructure applications, a critical bottleneck in today’s communication systems. Loea was a key architect of the rules and the author of the petition to the FCC for rule making which was submitted on September 10, 2001.

“Achieving equipment certification is a critical milestone for our business; it now opens an enormous market opportunity,” said Dr. Daniel Scharre, President and CEO of Loea. “We are pleased that we have achieved another ‘first’ in this frequency band. Loea was the first to deploy product in this band and has had product in the field since 2002. Loea was the first to obtain equipment certification from the NTIA (National Telecommunications and Information Administration), the regulatory body for Federal Government users who have been actively consuming Loea’s technology since 2003. Loea was also the first company in this band to successfully complete evaluation testing by the US Army’s Systems Engineering Command at Fort Huachuca in Sierra Vista, Arizona.”

Loea’s standard products support data payloads of 622 Mbps (OC-12) and 1.25 Gbps (Gigabit Ethernet Standard), all in a full-duplex mode. Loea has an active development program for a 2.5 Gbps (OC-48) product and has a roadmap to 10 Gbps (to support both OC-192 and 10GigE). The product has built-in SNMP device monitoring capabilities and is plug-and-play with standard network equipment.

About Loea
Loea Corporation is a communications equipment designer and manufacturer. Loea has been in operation since May of 2001 and has been deploying fixed wireless systems since 2002. Loea products offer ultra-broadband last mile access solutions for campus or enterprise users, metro Ethernet businesses and service providers. Our products are also used in infrastructure applications such as broadband cellular network extension and backhaul for Wi-Max or Wi-Fi networks. For more information visit www.loeacom.com.

Upcoming Engineering Week Targets Middle School Girls

Dee

Dr. Dee Symonds, Trex Enterprises, spends time mentoring 7th grade girls interested in engineering.
Courtesy of WIT/MEDB.

 

By Sonia Isotov

Now in its eleventh year on Maui, Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day (IGED) will kick off on Saturday, February 18th, in conjunction with National Engineers Week, February 19-25, 2012.

IGED is an annual event held across the nation to expose girls to the male-dominated field of engineering and encourage them to become engineers themselves.

The Maui Economic Development Board’s Women in Technology (WIT) Project, has again teamed up with the Maui Chapter of the Hawaii Society of Professional Engineers, the

County of Maui and other local engineering firms to host worksite job shadowing and promote positive messages about math and science. For the past 11 years, WIT has hosted over 250 middle school girls for the engineering event.

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An Engineering in the Middle event featured the Iao Intermediate popsicle bridge team. Courtesy of WIT/MEDB.

 

According to WIT Project Manager Mapu Quitazal, women still represent less than 5% of engineers in Hawaii and studies predict there will be a further shortage of engineers in the next two decades.

“The sooner we get girls engaged in the field, the faster they can begin learning the skills to compete for these high-paying, in-demand engineering jobs. This is the number one career parents should be encouraging their girls to pursue,” she said.

This year IGED begins on Saturday, Feb. 18th with Engineering in the Middle (EIM), now in its third year on Maui. Five local middle schools and over 75 students will be participating in the hands-on learning activities. The five schools are Lokelani Intermediate, Maui Waena, Iao, Kalama and Molokai Middle.

WIT will be sponsoring the first place winners of the Popsicle Bridge and Marshmallow Launcher competitions at the University of Hawaii Manoa’s Jr. Engineering Expo in March.

On February 22nd, Maui Electric Company will host 12 girls to shadow engineers at their central plant who will inspire them to build their own circuit boards.

On February 23rd, the County of Maui, Wastewater Reclamation Division will host ten girls. Girls will be introduced to civil engineering, tour the wastewater treatment plant and learn why the wastewater plant plays such an important role in Maui County.

On February 24th, WIT will host 40 girls at the UH Maui College for the Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day Expo. This IGED event is designed to help the girls understand the various types of engineering backgrounds from mechanical engineering to renewable engineering. The day will end with the girls learning to sew an LED light bracelet.

Participating companies include Maui Electric Co., Brown & Caldwell, Hnu Photonics, Ronald Fukumoto Engineering, UHMC’s ABIT and ECET programs and the Maui Makers group.

For more information about IGED, please visit www.womenintech.com or contact Mapu Quitazol at mapu@medb.org, (808) 875-2343.

IGED is sponsored by Maui Economic Development Board’s Women in Technology (WIT)

Project, in partnership with the County of Maui, and the Maui Chapter of the Hawaii Society of Professional Engineers.

For Company, Clear Objectives Can Be Matter of Life or Death

TECHNOLOGY: Firm ’s Runway Radar Looks to Improve Airport Safety


By Brad Graves
Monday, January 24, 2011
TREX ENTERPRISES CORP.

CEO: Ken Tang.
Revenue: Undisclosed.
No. of local employees: 85.
Investors: Undisclosed.
Headquarters: Sorrento Mesa.
Year founded: 1978, as Western Research Co.
What makes the company innovative: Adapts millimeter wave radar to detect foreign objects on airport runways.

 

Trex Enterprises Corp. has turned a standard Ford Motor Co. pickup truck into a pilot’s best friend.

It has done so by adding radar equipment and specialized software, then mounting a powerful vacuum cleaner at the truck’s rear bumper.

Airport staff can use the homely looking machine to find and retrieve foreign object debris, aka FOD. In aviation lingo, FOD is junk on the runway — stray bolts, concrete chunks and other debris — which can jab into tires or be sucked into jet intakes. In worst-case scenarios, FOD incidents can cripple aircraft and kill people. The crash of an Air France Concorde jet on takeoff in 2000 resulted from a chain of events which started when an aircraft part, left on the runway by another jet, punctured one of the supersonic craft’s tires.

The incident killed all 109 people on the plane and four on the ground.

FOD and bird strikes cost airlines an estimated $21 per flight or 12 cents per passenger, says Washington, D.C., consulting firm Insight SRI Ltd. in its report “Runway Safety: FOD, Birds and the Case for Automated Scanning.”

With its potential for causing havoc, the people who run civilian and military airports spend a lot of time in the unglamorous exercise of scanning the ground for FOD. Traditional methods rely on people visually inspecting the surface of a runway.

The San Diego company’s machine, called the FOD Finder, adapts Trex’s millimeter-band radar to do a sweep of the runway in a fraction of the time of a visual inspection. “The radar itself can paint an image of the surface,” said Grant Bishop, chief operations officer for Trex Aviation Systems, while demonstrating the system at the company headquarters on Sorrento Mesa.

Trouble Spots
In the truck’s cab, a computer screen shows the driver a satellite photo of the airport. If the truck-mounted radar detects anything suspicious on the runway, the software marks the location with a red dot. The system operator can take the truck to the scene and drive over the offending item, where a vacuum system plucks the item off the runway.

The FOD detection machine can also be mounted on a tower next to a runway. Of course, that version would come without the vacuum attachment.

FOD Finder has been used at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Marine Corps Air Station Yuma and McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad.

Finding a Following
Officials at the Marines’ Yuma base are looking at FOD Finder with interest, Bishop said. While base officials work to keep the airfield clean, the desert environment has little ground cover to keep pebbles or sand in place, said Greg McShane, the field’s operations officer. Trex’s machine retrieved 937 pieces of FOD during two days of tests, McShane said.

Trex is also looking into foreign sales. Bishop was in China this month, trying to drum up business.

Airport operators aren’t the only ones to take notice of FOD Finder. Last month Connect, the San Diego organization devoted to growing new technology businesses, gave the device its annual Most Innovative New Product Award in the category of aerospace and security technology.

Trex builds the FOD Finder through its Trex Aviation Systems subsidiary. It assembles the radar in Massachusetts and does final integration in San Diego, Bishop said. It also maintains a call center here.

The machine costs $400,000, he said, adding that airports can lease it for $12,000 to $15,000 per month. Bishop said airports often see a return on their investment in less than 60 days.

The technology can also be brought into war zones to keep military airfields clear of debris, said Bishop, a former Air Force pilot who has flown fighters in combat.

Trex’s competitors include the British defense contractor QinetiQ, Stratech Systems Ltd. of Singapore and Xsight Systems Ltd. of Israel.

Trex is pushing its FOD Finder software in new directions. Among them: computer-assisted help in compiling airport inspection reports mandated by the Federal Aviation Administration. Bishop said it simplifies a paper reporting process, in the same way Quicken software from Intuit Inc. simplifies accounting tasks.

Trex was founded in 1978 to pursue work with President Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative, the anti-missile effort dubbed “Star Wars.” Based in San Diego, the company has offices in Hawaii, Massachusetts and New Mexico. Its total employment is 185 people.

The business’s other specialties include wireless networks, video sensor chips, optical networking and security products. A Trex venture called Ophthonix Inc. specializes in digital eye exams.

Trex Hawaii-Advanced Materials Group on Kauai has won…

Pacific Business News
Date: Tuesday, February 15, 2011, 12:44pm HST

Trex Hawaii-Advanced Materials Group on Kauai has won a 2011 Tibbetts Award from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Trex Hawaii was one of 44 small businesses nationwide selected for the awards. It is given to participants in the SBA’s Small Business Innovation Research program that meet various criteria, including whether they have increased the commercialization of federal research.