Advanced Photonix, Inc. Wins Another Terahertz Contract to Help the Department of Homeland Security Detect Concealed Threats

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Nov. 11, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Advanced Photonix, Inc.® (NYSE Amex: API) announced today that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) awarded API's subsidiary, Picometrix, LLC a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract. The $100,000, six month contract is designed to demonstrate the feasibility of integrating a hand-held time-domain terahertz (TD-THz) inspection wand with other sensor technologies to create a multi-sensor based approach for detection of concealed threats.

"This contract is another indication of our strengthening relationship with the DHS, which first began in 2004 with feasibility demonstrations for checked baggage screening utilizing our T-Ray 2000® platform. Our relationship with DHS continued in 2006 with funding to demonstrate the feasibility of replacing worrisome nuclear gauges, which are used extensively in industrial process and quality control, utilizing our non threatening T-Ray 4000® product platform," said Richard (Rick) Kurtz, Chairman and CEO of API.

A key capability of the TD-THz inspection wand is the ability to detect concealed objects on the body of a person without the need for imaging and its associated privacy concerns. This feasibility study is the first step in combining various sensor technologies together into one device to give the DHS a viable solution to the very complex problem of threat detection. This Phase I contract is synergistic with the $1.8 million contract recently announced to develop a TD-THz based anomaly detector for the security market. "We are pleased with our opportunities to develop products for the $4.5B Security market, which we believe holds significant long term growth opportunity for our T-Ray technology," stated Richard (Rick) Kurtz, Chairman and CEO of API.

With successful completion of Phase I, a Phase II follow-on contract will be discussed to develop and demonstrate a prototype multi-sensor wand for threat detection based upon the company's existing T-Ray® product platform. A successful Phase II would then lead to Phase III DHS system testing and deployment for threat detection.

About Advanced Photonix, Inc.

Advanced Photonix, Inc.® (NYSE Amex: API) is a leading supplier with a broad offering of optoelectronic products to a global customer base. We provide optoelectronic solutions, high-speed optical receivers and terahertz instrumentation for telecom, homeland security, military, medical and industrial markets. With our patented technology and state-of-the-art manufacturing we offer industry leading performance, exceptional quality, and high value-added products to our OEM customer base. For more information visit us on the web at www.advancedphotonix.com.

The information contained herein includes forward looking statements that are based on assumptions that management believes to be reasonable but are subject to inherent uncertainties and risks including, but not limited to, unforeseen technological obstacles which may prevent or slow the development and/or manufacture of new products; potential problems with the integration of the acquired company and its technology and possible inability to achieve expected synergies; obstacles to successfully combining product offerings and lack of customer acceptance of such offerings; limited (or slower than anticipated) customer acceptance of new products which have been and are being developed by the Company; and a decline in the general demand for optoelectronic products. API-G

SOURCE Advanced Photonix, Inc.