|
Astronics Max-Viz is an American company founded in Portland, Oregon on May 31, 2001 as Max-Viz, Inc.〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://egov.sos.state.or.us/br/pkg_web_name_srch_inq.show_detl?p_be_rsn=841913&p_srce=BR_INQ&p_print=FALSE )〕 to design, manufacture and certify Enhanced Vision Systems (“EVS”) primarily for use in the aerospace industry. Max-Viz EVS devices present real-time images of the external environment on aircraft cockpit monitors to improve pilot situational awareness under circumstances where visibility is impaired by weather or darkness. The company objective is to help the pilot see clearly and fly safely by providing visual information about where they are, where they are going and what is in their way. The Max-Viz EVS captures and enhances thermal infrared signals and can be combined with visible light as well as other electromagnetic energy sources. The company's systems are designed to be integrated with a variety of displays already in the aircraft cockpit.〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://www.kippsdesanto.com/kippsdesanto-co-advises-max-viz-inc-on-its-sale-to-astronics-corporation/ )〕 ==History== The company came into being as a result of two inventions that allowed for possibility of a small lightweight design for EVS that could be deployed onto small private and commercial aircraft and helicopters. The first invention was an uncooled focal plane array licensed from Honeywell (called a microbolometer) that could detect thermal infrared radiation, did not require a cryogenic cooling system (as conventional systems required in the 1990s) and could convert the electromagnetic thermal impulses into signals that could be displayed on a monitor. The second invention was a patented system to fuse video images from multiple sources developed by Dr. J. Richard Kerr (one of the original founders of Max-Viz).〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=3688969&privcapId=3643754&previousCapId=3643754&previousTitle=Max-Viz,%20Inc. )〕 This invention 〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://pdfpiw.uspto.gov/.piw?Docid=6232602&idkey=NONE&homeurl=http%3A%252F%252Fpatft.uspto.gov%252Fnetahtml%252FPTO%252Fpatimg.htm )〕 enabled signals from a visible light source to be combined with the signals from an infrared source (like the Honeywell focal plane array mentioned above) and present a picture which Astronics describe as "turning night into day".〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://www.aopa.org/News-and-Video/All-News/2013/January/10/New-infrared-system-turns-night-into-day.aspx )〕 The Max-Viz start-up was financed with initial investments from a number of Portland area angel investors, strategic investments from FLIR Systems〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://investors.flir.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=297684 )〕 and, later, with venture capital funding from OVP Venture Partners,〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://www.ovp.com/complete-list/ )〕 Alexander Hutton Venture Partners,〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://www.ahvp.com/portfolio.html )〕 Montlake Capital,〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs018/1102192932259/archive/1103516052688.html )〕 and Highway 12 Ventures.〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://www.highway12ventures.com/portfolio/our-companies/ )〕 Max-Viz licensed the microbolometer design from Honeywell for use in aviation and initially licensed the fusion patent (developed by Dr. Kerr) from ''FLIR Systems''. In 2012, the company was acquired by Astronics Corporation 〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20120731005386/en/Astronics-Corporation-Acquires-Enhanced-Vision-Systems-Provider#.UxDaCfldV8E )〕 (NASDAQ: ATRO) as a wholly owned subsidiary.〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2012/07/31/portlands-max-viz-acquired-in-deal.html )〕 By May 2011, the company had sold more than 1,000 EVS systems using 50+ aviation certifications on more than 200 different aircraft models including business jets, helicopters and various piston driven aircraft.〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://generalaviationnews.com/2011/05/11/max-viz-ships-1000th-system/ )〕 Among those companies that offer the Max-Viz EVS at the factory on selected aircraft models are AgustaWestland,〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://www.agustawestland.com/node/3295 )〕 Beechcraft,〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://www.beechcraft.com/customer_support/hawker_beechcraft_services/Special_Promotions/MaxViz.aspx )〕 Bell Helicopter,〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://www.helicoptersmagazine.com/content/view/4077/38/ )〕 ''Cessna'',〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://www.flyingmag.com/photo-gallery/photos/cessna-max-viz-enhanced-vision-system )〕 Cirrus Aircraft〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://www.dailyfinance.com/2012/10/08/astronics-delivers-600th-max-viz-enhanced-vision-s/ )〕 and Eurocopter.〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/10714442/max-viz-enhanced-vision-systems-approved-by-easa-for-eurocopters )〕 Max-Viz continues as a standalone business unit of Astronics Corporation and focuses its resources on core competencies involving packaging & design, image fusion and certification/installation of EVS systems. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Astronics Max-Viz」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|