Academic Credentials
  • Ph.D., Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences, University of California, Berkeley, 2006
  • M.Eng., Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 2001
  • S.B., Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 2000
Licenses & Certifications
  • Professional Engineer Electrical, California, #20518
  • Certified Laser Safety Officer (CLSO)
Professional Honors
  • IEEE Japan Best Paper Award, 2008
  • Hertz Fellowship Finalist, 2002-2003
  • University of California, Los Angeles Dean's Fellowship, 2000
  • Beneficial Presidential Scholarship, 1995
  • IEEE International Symposium on Product Compliance Engineering (ISPCE) Best Paper Award, 2019
Professional Affiliations
  • Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Member
  • Optical Society of America (OSA), Member
  • Accredited Standards Committee (ASC) Z136 for the Safe Use of Lasers, Voting Member
  • ANSI Z136 SSC-2: Safe Use of Optical Fiber Communications Systems Utilizing Laser Diode and LED
  • Sources, Committee Member
  • ANSI Z136 TSC-1: Laser Bioeffects and Medical Surveillance, Committee Member
  • ANSI Z136 TSC-7: Analysis and Applications, Vice-Chair, Committee Member
  • IEC TC 76: Optical Radiation Safety and Laser Equipment, Committee Member
  • ANSI Z136 SSC-6: Safe Use of Lasers Outdoors, Committee Member

Dr. Lau's expertise covers a wide range of technologies, including optics, optical devices, consumer electronics, medical devices, and prototyping. At Exponent, Dr. Lau assists clients with resolving complex issues relating to due diligence, failure analysis, intellectual property, and product design, safety, and risk assessment.

Dr. Lau has over 25 years of experience in the design, characterization, modeling and simulation of electronic, optoelectronic devices, and optical systems.

Dr. Lau has led complex investigations in the following technology areas:

•    Virtual reality/augmented reality (VR/AR) headsets
•    Solid-state (LED) lighting
•    Laser/LED-based medical devices
•    LiDAR
•    Wearable/mobile devices
•    Autonomous vehicles
•    Battery and energy storage systems
•    IoT appliances
 
At Exponent, Dr. Lau assists clients with product design, risk analysis, and failure analysis of solid-state lighting, liquid-crystal displays (LCDs), light-emitting diodes (LEDs), lasers, ocular biomedical devices, optical lens, and multi-layer transmissive optical systems. He has extensive experience in optical metrology, colorimetry, luminance, reflectance, quantification of visual defects, and cosmetic appearance of surfaces of all types. Dr. Lau has performed laser and LED radiation safety analysis for numerous consumer electronics and medical products. Dr. Lau has extensive experience in designing and modeling of optical and electromagnetic systems, including raytrace modeling of compound optical systems, and has performed finite element analysis of electro-magnetic systems, including high voltage arcing, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems.

Dr. Lau has extensive experience in prototyping of consumer and medical products, custom analysis fixtures, including design and construction of a ruggedized single-molecule fluorometer system, a laser-based surface particle scatterometer, a micron-scale optical 3-D profilometer, and high-speed transient metrology. He has experience in delivery of robust test fixtures to clients with rapid needs.

Dr. Lau has extensive experience in consumer electronic failure analysis. Some of his notable investigations include solid-state lighting reliability and failure; virtual reality (VR) headset failure; flex cable failures; PCB failures due to component failure: FOD, tin whiskers, solder joints; laser failures; and adhesive and conductive epoxy failure. He has extensive experience with switching-mode power converter, especially electrolytic capacitor and PWM failure. 

Dr. Lau has supported several litigation matters as an expert witness, including laser medical and consumer product injury and breach-of-warrantee, LED billboard display failure, insurance loss, and accident reconstruction.

Dr. Lau currently serves as a member on various ANSI Z136 and TC76 laser safety standard development committees and currently serves as Exponent's laser safety officer. He has developed and taught university courses on electronic circuits and microelectronics.