Intex Vision

Intex has developed innovative and disruptive technology making a significant impact on the Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) and sensor industries. By capitalizing on a blend of novel and proprietary materials, Intex is pioneering high-volume production of low-cost "smart" sensor components for energy conservation and environmental monitoring. This technology has enabled a new generation of sensor products with the ability to transform the environment in which we live and work.

Strategy

Intex has assembled broad-based expertise and resources in nano-structured materials and MEMS design and fabrication. These resources are being used to design unique MEMS-based sensor components, leading to functionality and performance beyond what is possible with the standard silicon technology used by the MEMS industry today.

Intex is implementing its strategy with partnerships for R&D, sensor component design and contract manufacturing, allowing Intex to rapidly introduce its products to the marketplace while minimizing investments. Intex is an OEM supplier of MEMS components for the gas sensor industry.

Market Opportunities

Intex is focused on the market for optical gas sensors based on infrared absorption technology. The gas sensor market is a $3-$4Bn market today. It is poised for significant growth in several areas served by the Company’s technology. These large emerging markets include carbon dioxide (CO2) sensors for demand-control-ventilation, where energy savings of up to 50% can be realized by regulating ventilation and air-conditioning according to actual occupancy; and for automobile cabin environmental control by detecting CO2 and volatile organic compounds from pollution. Sensors are also likely to be mandated for carbon monoxide, an odorless and highly poisonous gas. Other gases that are hazardous or environmentally problematic include Freon, formaldehyde, nitrous oxide, and ammonia. Infrared sensors are also extensively used in medicine for patient monitoring, including capnography IR sensing for glucose has been demonstrated to be more accurate than current methods. Detectors for chemical and biological compounds in the context of homeland security and the military represent potentially large markets of an indeterminate size. Intex will have competitive and cost effective technology to address most of these markets.

Products and Technology

The core technology of Intex lying at the heart of its high-performance MEMS products is a new class of nano-structured materials, so-called nanoamorphous carbon (NAC). By combining standard silicon materials technology with NAC coatings, Intex has developed a new generation of MEMS products with exceptional performance.

MEMS Components: Intex currently has two MEMS-based products: a broadband (quasi-blackbody) pulsed infrared light emitter already on the market and a thermopile detector ready for market launch in the first half of 2011. Both products incorporate proprietary materials technology based on nanoamorphous carbon coatings. The IR emitter, introduced as a product in its current form in 2006, has garnered several design-wins with manufacturers of infrared gas sensors. It is currently sold worldwide by distributors in the US, Europe, Japan and China. The infrared emitter provides an ongoing and growing revenue stream for the Company.

The thermopile infrared detector, addressing numerous markets such as motion sensors, digital thermometers as well as detector in many IR gas sensors, has high sensitivity, rapid response and the ability to operate at higher temperatures than competing products.