ilumisys and Altair Engineering Strengthen Patent Portfolio with Addition of Four New Patents

TROY, Mich., May 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- ilumisys, Inc. (http://www.ilumisys.com), developer and producer of next-generation solid-state lighting technology, announced today on behalf of its parent company Altair Engineering, that four new patents have been issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office to Altair Engineering. These patents add to ilumisys' foundational patent portfolio for the replacement of fluorescent tubes with light-emitting diodes (LEDs), further positioning the company as an industry leader in the LED market.

"These new patents are exciting, both for ilumisys and for our licensees," said Dave Simon, president of ilumisys. "We look forward to the further extensions of our intellectual property through the company's research and development efforts, and to moving many of these innovations into high-volume production."

The U.S. Patent numbers and titles are:

• 7,815,338 "LED Lighting Unit Including Elongated Heat Sink and Elongated Lens"

• 7,926,975 "Light Distribution Using a Light Emitting Diode Assembly"

• 7,938,562 "Lighting Including Integral Communication Apparatus"

• 7,946,729 "Fluorescent Tube Replacement Having Longitudinally Oriented LEDs"

With the backing of Altair, its majority owner, ilumisys has a deep and substantial investment in research and development that includes more than 75 patent applications filed to date. Altair continues to aggressively protect its LED lighting intellectual property against infringing manufacturers and distributors, while growing its patent licensing program.

About ilumisys

ilumisys, Inc. is a Troy, Mich.-based company focused on next-generation solid-state lighting technology. The company was formed in 2007 as a spinoff venture and wholly owned subsidiary of Altair Engineering, Inc. Products are derived from Altair's intellectual property for the direct replacement of fluorescent light tubes with light-emitting diode (LED) lamps and direct replacement of incandescent lamps. For more information, please visit www.ilumisys.com.

ilumisys is a member of the Michigan Solid-State Lighting Association, and supports the organization's mission of ensuring that Michigan is a global leader in solid-state lighting research, development, and manufacturing.

About Altair Engineering, Inc.

Altair Engineering, Inc. empowers client innovation and decision-making through technology that optimizes the value of business and engineering information. Privately held, with more than 1,400 employees, Altair has offices throughout North America, South America, Europe and Asia/Pacific. With a 25-year-plus track record for product design and development, engineering software, advanced computing technologies and enterprise analytics, Altair consistently delivers a competitive advantage to customers in a broad range of industries. To learn more, please visit www.altair.com.

SOURCE Altair Engineering, Inc.