Editing Meade Instruments (section)

==Origins and history==
Founded in 1972 by [[John Diebel]], Meade started as a mail order seller of small [[Refracting telescope|refracting]] telescopes and telescope accessories manufactured by the Japan-based Towa Optical Manufacturing Company.<ref name="fundinguniverse1"/> Meade started manufacturing its own line of products in 1976, introducing 6" and 8" [[reflecting telescope]]s models in 1977. In 1980, the company ventured into the [[Schmidt-Cassegrain]] market that up to that time had been dominated by [[Celestron]] Corporation.<ref name="fundinguniverse1"/> Meade has a long history of litigation with other companies over infringement of their patents, particularly with its once bitter rival Celestron. In August 2008, Meade modified their line of Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes with changes to the optical surfaces in design they call "Advanced Coma-Free optics" (ACF Optics).<ref>[http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-183680601.html After 27 Years of Continuous Production, Meade Drops Schmidt-Cassegrain Optics – Biotech Week, August 27, 2008 – encyclopedia.com archive] {{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

Past production sites include 16542 Millikan Avenue in Irvine, which was used in the 1990s. Meade production was consequently moved to a new build plant in 6001 Oak Canyon, located as well in Irvine. The Oak Canyon plant was in use for about a decade until 2009, after which production was moved to an expanded plant in Tijuana, Mexico.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.grandeye.com.hk/old/factory.htm |title = Meade_factory}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.meade.com/factorytour/index.html |title=Tour The New Meade Mexico Manufacturing Facility |publisher=meade.com |access-date=November 20, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111205185044/http://www.meade.com/factorytour/index.html |archive-date=December 5, 2011 }}</ref>

In October 2013, Meade Instruments merged with Ningbo Sunny Electronic, a Chinese manufacturer, and Joseph Lupica became CEO of Meade.<ref name=Ningbo>[http://www.astronomy.com/news/2013/10/meade-instruments-corp-completes-merger-agreement-with-affiliates-of-ningbo-sunny-electronic-co-ltd Meade Instruments Corp. completes merger agreement with affiliates of Ningbo Sunny Electronic Co., Ltd.] Retrieved December 14, 2013</ref> In February 2015, Victor Aniceto succeeded Lupica as president.<ref name="Bloom"/>

On November 26, 2019, in the [[United States District Court for the Northern District of California]] a federal jury found that Ningbo and Meade suppressed competition and fixed prices for consumer telescopes in the United States in violation of federal antitrust laws (case# 16-06370).<ref>{{cite web|title=Optronic Techs., Inc. v. Ningbo Sunny Elec. Co.|url=https://casetext.com/case/optronic-techs-inc-v-ningbo-sunny-elec-co-4 | work=Casetext.com|access-date=December 10, 2019}}</ref>  Optronic Technologies, Inc. was awarded $16.8 million in damages.<ref>{{cite web|title=Watsonville-based Orion Telescopes wins $16.8M in antitrust case against competitor |url=https://www.montereyherald.com/2019/12/06/california-telescope-maker-files-for-bankruptcy-after-losing-antitrust-case-santa-cruz-county/ | work=MontereyHerald.com|date=December 6, 2019 |access-date=December 10, 2019}}</ref>

On December 4, 2019, Meade Instruments Corp. filed bankruptcy in the [[United States District Court for the Central District of California]]  as case number 19-14714.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ocregister.com/2019/12/05/irvine-telescope-maker-meade-files-for-bankruptcy-after-losing-antitrust-case/|title=Irvine telescope maker Meade files for bankruptcy after losing antitrust case|work=Orange County Register}}</ref>