Press Release
Icron Strengthens USB Extension Patent Portfolio
Newly Acquired Patent Increases Icron’s
USB Patent Portfolio to 19
BURNABY B.C. October 1, 2008 – Icron Technologies Corporation (TSX Venture: IT),
the developers of ExtremeUSB®, today announced that it
has acquired, from the original third party inventor, an early
unassigned USB extension patent that further strengthens its
existing patent portfolio on USB extension solutions. Icron’s
USB patent portfolio now numbers 19 issued or pending patents.
The purchased patent titled “Extender apparatus for
USB connection of computer units”, US Patent 6308215,
issued in October 2001, is the earliest patent that deals
with specific implementations of extending USB across a pair
of wires. It complements Icron’s existing patents that
extend USB at a protocol level over any media. The invention
described in this patent enables USB 1.1 and USB 2.0 peripherals
to be connected to a host over a pair of wires and is found
in many applications today, particularly in the USB 1.1 active
cable extension market.
With over 2.6 Billion USB-enabled devices shipping in 2007
alone, USB continues to be the most recognized and successful
interface for device connectivity in the PC, CE and mobile
device market. “As Icron continues to enter new markets,
and implement virtual USB solutions over more and more platforms,
we will continue to expand our patent portfolio to protect
our intellectual property in implementing USB in new innovative
ways.” commented Robert Eisses, President and CEO for
Icron. “Icron continues its unparalleled leadership
in the USB bridging and extension market with the addition
of this patent and with the expansion of our USB 2.0 bridging
product line including USB over Cat 5, Wireless, Powerline,
and Fibre at distances of up to 40km.”
Icron believes that there are a number of USB extension implementations
on the market today that are covered by this patent, and will
be looking for opportunities to license the patent to companies
where appropriate.
About Icron Technologies Corp.
Icron Technologies Corporation’s patented ExtremeUSB®
technology extends the range of USB 1.1 / 2.0 over Cat 5,
Wireless, Fibre, Powerline, coax and phone lines, at distances
of up to 40km. Icron’s USB extension and bridging products
are deployed globally in a wide range of applications including:
digital home connectivity, industrial automation, medical
imaging, aerospace, and KVM extension. Icron Technologies
new “TV2.0” PC-to-TV solutions transmit PC Video
plus USB over any media to deliver complete PC functionality
anywhere in the home. TV2.0 allows consumers to watch TV and
perform PC tasks such as email, web surfing, online gaming,
working with Word/Excel/PowerPoint, and running any PC application,
all from the comfort of their couch.
Icron is a publicly traded corporation and trades under the
symbol "IT" on the TSX Venture Exchange. For more
information on the company and its products, please visit
www.icron.com.
Contact Information
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: Except for statements of historical
fact, all statements in this news release -- including, without
limitation, statements regarding financial estimates and future
plans and objectives of Icron -- are forward-looking statements
that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be
no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate;
actual results and future events could differ materially from
those anticipated in such statements.
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