Product Development History and Overview:

Photon Control was originally born out of a recognized need for safer controls in the Oil and Gas Industry. Over the years since it has grown to be a world class facility for innovation and custom manufacturing in a wide variety of industries such as Power & Utilities, Semiconductor, Life Sciences. . Photon Control now has products in countries spanning the globe, most recently expanding its reach through Asia.

When what you need is control, accuracy or an innovative solution that requires custom design or manufacturing Photon Control has the team and the facilities to master the task at hand.

A look down Photon-Controls memory lane:

2003

The change from Coldswitch Technologies to Photon-Control.

Photon Control Inc. (the “Company”) was incorporated in the Province of British Columbia on September 6, 1988.  Although the Company has been in business for approximately 15 years, the Company changed its name (previously Coldswitch Technologies Inc.) and management team and added technology and new strategic focus in 2001.

This marks the expansion and innovation that began to infuse Photon Control in the early to mid 2000's and continues today.

In 2003, from March introduction to October approval by Underwriter Laboratories, Photon became the supplier of optic temperature sensors and switches for patient warming mattresses to a California-based manufacturer.

2004

Continuing the new vision and positioning that took place in 2003, Photon went on to sell approximately $1.0 million of positioning-sensor systems to a “Fortune 500” manufacturer of semiconductor capital equipment which offers this innovation to its customer base for retrofit upgrade of existing equipment and in a new product line.

Optic Flow and Quality Meter (“OF&QM”) Products:

Carrying forward the investigation and Intellectual Property acquisition and development from 2002/2003, the Company followed a period of intensive flow meter prototype completion and testing into 2004.  Photon pursued opportunities for innovative photonic measurement of flow rate and quality of a variety of streams of gases through pipelines and up stacks, through work in its laboratory, at independent test stations and through on-going field trials and commercial tests.

Photon’s flare stack emission measurement products have developed among the first of several optic gas flow and quality meters in the Photon product development “pipeline”.  Other OF&QM products were in field trial during this time frame as well for measuring upstream gas and coal bed methane.  Considerable R&D effort was spent in 2004 on a new meter for measuring the quantity and quality of steam.  The initial market for such a meter was intended to be the Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAG-D) process for extracting heavy oil in northern Alberta. This meter did go on to field trial in Q2 2005.

Field test on the gas flow measurement tool for down-hole testing coal bed methane wells continues went in Q1 2005.  Photon OF&QM designs offered distinct improvements over other meters on the market including no moving parts or intrusion into the flow for measurement, capability of measurement of a much wider range of flow rates, at much higher temperatures and at lower installed costs.

These tests which were wildly successful led to safer and more successful developments in the field and in the technologies that are still advancing today.

2005

Photon was growing and establishing a name for excellence in its development of cross market products, some of the best in development during 2005 incuded:

OEM Systems for Semiconductor Manufactures

The LUMItouch™ Response Pad:

This unit was ahead of its time and sold continuously from the year 2000 to eminent MRI research clinics worldwide, in limited numbers because the use is entirely in research. Another showing of the innovation and just in time manufacturing of unique products for unique situation that continues in the Photon Clean Labs today.

Focus® Probe Flow Meters:

At the end of 2005 these flow meters began initial sales in western Canada to petroleum operators after a host of 15 successful field trials during 2005, which lead to having the largest gas producer for North America take action by being the leading participant. This line of gas flow meters has proven to be particularly suited to measuring flare stack emission because of its extremely wide range of velocity coverage from tenths of a metre per second to over 100 metres per second, as well as its robust performance under difficult flow conditions and temperatures.

Focus® Wafer Gas Flow Meters:

Which, similarly to the probe meter but in smaller numbers, received some successful field trial during 2005 attracted some interest for measuring fuel gas and testing gas wells. This completely non-flow-obstructing design was also building some experience towards higher value applications that came in the future.

Large Stack Emission Meters:

Fabricated on a custom basis for a leading operator of northern Europe, which is entering orders for additional units and collaborating helpfully in this additional field.

2006

By the end of 2005, the Company had completed three distinctly new products of interest to the obtaining of maintenance and operating information for high voltage electric power operators. The Power and Utilities industry products comprised of:

• A transformer temperature system for direct winding measurement to be distributed by Qualitrol under exclusive contract having a minimum sales commitment;
• A power line temperature system installed at 420,000V for re-sale by the Protura integrator; and
• A load tap changer position measuring system produced for Powertech as another maintenance information accessory.

Another new product started selling in early 2006 and was developed first in conjunction with work toward measuring downhole pressure, which created:

• A general purpose spectrometer now being offered by the distributor named Lightspeed for measurement of gas composition. Unlike most Photon products which are first of the kind, this one faces direct competition by another established supplier but may take up some market share on quality and price; and
• The downhole pressure sensor itself was expected to commence sales before the end of 2006 and is selling to this day as an excellent choice in its category.

New Products in Collaborative Trial during 2006

Steam Quality and Flow Meters:

While the greatest urgency may have been for in-situ heavy oil recovery projects, the potential for such a product anywhere that steam quality is in issue for operating purposes or custody transfer is apparent to numerous observers. Recognizing this Photon established the ground work to continue expanding its efforts in this area throughout the coming years.

Total Sulphur Analyzer for Petroleum Products:

The first on-line, explosion-proof, instrument for measuring the total sulphur content in diesel fuel was finally under development in collaborative examination by a world-leading petroleum corporation at its U.S. pipeline testing headquarters.

Measurement as the first step toward improving air quality, rates high on the action lists of operators and regulators. In 2009 Photon Control received recognition in a speech to parliament at home in Canada as a provider of a product that could now measure the all important greenhouse gas emissions - it was and is a moment of pride for all of those who worked on this product tirelessly!

2006

PRODUCTS

The Company provides these commercial products to the following market verticals through direct sales and some distributors:

Semiconductor Capital Equipment Manufacture:

• Proprietary Sensors (eg. position,Temperature, etc.)
• Related assemblies and jigs:

Petroleum Industry:

Flare, vent and fuel gas flow meters

Power Sector:

• Displacement Sensors
• Temperature Sensors
• Fibre optic monitors to load tap changers

Various Industries and labs: Spectrometers, LUMItouch™

Commercially Available Products for Other Sectors:

• The LUMItouch™ Response Pad
• The LUMItouch™ response pad is used for fMRI research and has sold worldwide in small volume since 2000.

Focus® Probe and Focus® Wafer Gas Flow Meters:

In Q4 2005, sales began of gas flow meters based on Photon’s proprietary optical technology after some 20 field trials during 2005 and 2006.

The Focus® probe gas flow meter appears particularly suited to measuring flare stack emissions because of its extremely wide range of velocity coverage from tenths of a metre per second to over 100 metres per second, as well as its robust performance under difficult flow conditions and temperatures.

Large Stack Emission Meters:

A large international oil company has collaborated in the development of large-diameter flare stack meters and has placed additional orders as reported previously. This customer needed new measurement technology to replace existing ultrasonic meters which malfunctioned because of high gas temperature, low gas velocity and low pressure. Photon’s meters were delivered in June 2006 and are under field evaluation.

Temperature Sensors for Power Industry:

Photon has begun initial sales of its temperature sensors for inclusion in a new power industry application to measure the temperature of high power transmission cable, which will allow power companies to optimize the capacity of their power transmission systems. These OEM sales of temperature sensors are expected to build in 2007 according to this Norwegian customer.

Spectrometers:

Photon originally developed its own compact fibre optic spectrometers for use in Photon’s proprietary fibre optic pressure sensors and has begun early sales of spectrometers as a stand-alone product through a California-based distributor.

2007

COMMERCIALIZED PRODUCTS

The Company is supplying or starting to provide commercial products to the following market verticals through direct sales and in some cases through distributors for particular territories.

Semiconductor Capital Equipment Sector: OEM sensing solutions (sensors for positioning, spacing, detection, temperature and related controls)

• Robot alignment and positioning jigs
• Spectrometers
• Analytical tools for inspection of silicon wafers

Oil and Gas Sector:

Optical flow meters for measurement of stack emissions (greenhouse gases, flares), fuel gas, associated gas, coal bed methane and biogas.

Total sulfur analyzer for measurement of total sulfur content in diesel, gasoline, kerosene, jet fuel and other processed hydrocarbons.

High Voltage Power Sector:

Temperature Sensor Systems

Life and Other Science Sectors:

Spectrometers

• Fiber Optic Temperature Sensors
• fMRI Response (LUMItouch®)

Future Products moving into 2007/8:

New Analyzers were developed:

In 2007 it was first recognized that the physics behind optic technology supplemented by chemistry need tol be developed further for better measurement instruments performing quantitative and qualitative analysis simultaneously and reporting out of hazardous environments on-line. Photon was first to market with these solutions and is constantly leading the was in design for them.

Fiscal Gas Flow Meters:

The original Optic Flow Meter technology became directed toward “fiscal” or custody transfer applications which Photon, Photon Control at that time thinking ahead acquired the technology outright, keeping well in mind to add to its considerable breadth of opportunity for the future.

2008

COMMERCIALIZED PRODUCTS AND BUSINESS TRENDS

Photon Control began supplying or starting to provide commercial products to the following market verticals through direct sales and in some cases through distributors for particular territories - Growth and Expansion are now inevitable:

Manufacturing - Semiconductor Capital Equipment:

OEM sensing solutions (sensors for positioning, spacing, detection, and related controls, robot alignment and positioning jigs, analytical tools for inspection of silicon wafers) or Silicone Wafer Sensing.

• Spectrometers
• Fiber optic temperature sensors

Oil, Gas & Petrochemical:

Optical flow meters for measurement of stack emissions (greenhouse gases, flares), fuel gas, associated gas, coal bed methane, biogas.

• Total sulfur analyzer for measurement of total sulfur content in diesel, gasoline, kerosene, jet fuel and other processed hydrocarbons
• Fiber optic temperature and pressure sensors for down-hole monitoring

Power & Energy: Temperature Sensor Systems

Life Sciences: Spectrometers

• Fiber Optic Temperature Sensors

Institutional: Spectrometers

• Fiber Optic Temperature Sensors
• fMRI Response (LUMItouch®)

Food and Drug: Spectrometers

Commercially Available Products for Other Sectors

• The LUMItouch® Response Pad
• The LUMItouch® response pad is used for MRI research and has sold worldwide in steady volume since 2000.

Optical Gas Flow Meters:

Photon continued efforts to commercialize its Focus® probe gas flow meter in 2008. Metro-logical testing passed successfully in Russia as part of the complete Russian certification process which was achieved in Q308. First sales of flow meters took place in Western Canada through a new distributor, Process Measurement & Controls Inc. from Calgary. As announced on September 16, 2008, a distribution agreement was signed with Cosa Instruments for selling the optical gas flow meters to the USA market and Mexico. In addition, the metro-logical approval of the Focus® probe meters was initiated in Brazil and two commercial units were shipped to Malaysia.

The Focus® probe gas flow meter is particularly suited to measuring flare stack emissions because of its extremely wide range of velocity coverage from tenths of a metre per second to over 100 meters per second, as well as its robust performance under difficult flow conditions and temperatures.

Total Sulphur Analyser for Petroleum Products:

As per agreement with the leading producer and distributor of measuring equipment in the petrochemical industry, Photon delivered 18 Total Sulfur Analyzer units in 2008. An additional agreement was signed with the distributor for further design-upgrades to the analyzer that were subsequently completed in Q408. The analyzer was officially presented at the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) meeting in December 2008.

2009

COMMERCIALIZED PRODUCTS AND BUSINESS TRENDS

Manufacturing - Semiconductor Capital Equipment:

OEM sensing solutions (sensors for positioning, spacing, detection, and related controls, robot alignment and positioning jigs, analytical tools for inspection of silicon wafers) or Silicone Wafer Sensing

• Spectrometers
• Fiber optic temperature sensors

Oil, Gas & Petrochemical:

Optical flow meters for measurement of stack emissions (greenhouse gases, flares), fuel gas, associated gas, coal bed methane, bio-gas.

Total sulfur analyzer for measurement of total sulfur content in diesel, gasoline, kerosene, jet fuel and other processed hydrocarbons.

• Fiber optic temperature and pressure sensors for down-hole monitoring

Power & Energy:

Temperature Sensor Systems

Life Sciences:

Spectrometers

• Fiber Optic Temperature Sensors

Institutional:

Spectrometers

• Fiber Optic Temperature Sensors
• fMRI Response (LUMItouch®)

Food and Drug:

Spectrometers