SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT


                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934



                                 Date of Report
              (Date of earliest event reported): September 19, 2002
                                                 -------------------


                             Advanced Photonix, Inc.
                -----------------------------------------------
             (Exact Name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)



                 Delaware           1-11056           33-0325836
            -------------------------------------------------------
     (State or other jurisdiction  (Commission       (IRS Employer
            of incorporation)      File Number)     Identification No.)



                1240 Avenida Acaso, Camarillo, California 93012
             -----------------------------------------------------
               (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (ZIP Code)





      Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (805) 987-0146
                                                          ---------------




<PAGE>





Item 5.  Other Events

         On September 19, 2002, the Board of Directors of Advanced Photonix,
Inc. (the "Company") declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase right
(a "Right") for each outstanding share of Class A Common Stock, par value $.001
per share (the "Common Shares") of the Company. The dividend is payable on
October 1, 2002 (the "Record Date") to the stockholders of record on that date.
Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one
one-hundredth of a share of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par
value $.001 per share (the "Preferred Shares"), of the Company at a price of
$5.00 per one one-hundredth of a Preferred share (the "Purchase Price"), subject
to adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights
Agreement (the "Rights Agreement") between the Company and Continental Stock
Transfer & Trust Company, as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent").

                  Until the earlier to occur of (i) 10 days following a public
announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons (an
"Acquiring Person") have acquired beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the
outstanding Common Shares or (ii) 10 business days (or such later date as may be
determined by action of the Board of Directors prior to such time as any person
or group of affiliated persons becomes an Acquiring Person) following the
commencement of, or announcement of an intention to make, a tender offer or
exchange offer the consummation of which would result in the beneficial
ownership by a person or group of 15% or more of the outstanding Common Shares
(the earlier of such dates being called the "Distribution Date"), the Rights
will be evidenced, with respect to any of the Common Share certificates
outstanding as of the Record Date, by such Common Share certificate.

                  The Rights Agreement provides that, until the Distribution
Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), the Rights will be
transferred with and only with the Common Shares. Until the Distribution Date
(or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), new Common Share
certificates issued after the Record Date upon transfer or new issuance of
Common Shares will contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by
reference. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of
the Rights), the surrender for transfer of any certificates for Common Shares
outstanding as of the Record Date, even without such notation, will also
constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Shares
represented by such certificate. As soon as practicable following the
Distribution Date, separate certificates evidencing the Rights ("Right
Certificates") will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Shares as of
the close of business on the Distribution Date and such separate Right
Certificates alone will evidence the Rights.

                  The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date.
The Rights will expire on September 18, 2002 (the "Final Expiration Date"),
unless the Final Expiration Date is extended or unless the Rights are earlier
redeemed or exchanged by the Company, in each case, as described below.

                  The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Preferred Shares
or other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are
subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of
a stock dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the
Preferred Shares, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the Preferred Shares of
certain rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase Preferred Shares at a
price, or securities convertible into Preferred Shares with a conversion price,
less than the then-current market price of the Preferred Shares or (iii) upon
the distribution to holders of the Preferred Shares of evidences of indebtedness
or assets (excluding regular periodic cash dividends paid out of earnings or
retained earnings or dividends payable in Preferred Shares) or of subscription
rights or warrants (other than those referred to above).

                  The number of outstanding Rights and the number of one
one-hundredths of a Preferred Share issuable upon exercise of each Right are
also subject to adjustment in the event of a stock split of the Common Shares or
a stock dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares or subdivisions,
consolidations or combinations of the Common Shares occurring, in any such case,
prior to the Distribution Date.

                  Preferred Shares purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will
not be redeemable. Each Preferred Share will be entitled to a minimum
preferential quarterly dividend payment of $1 per share but will be entitled to
an aggregate dividend of 100 times the dividend declared per Common Share. In
the event of liquidation, the holders of the Preferred Shares will be entitled
to a minimum preferential liquidation payment of $100 per share but will be
entitled to an aggregate payment of 100 times the payment made per Common Share.
Each Preferred Share will have 100 votes, voting together with the Common
Shares. Finally, in the event of any merger, consolidation or other transaction
in which Common Shares are exchanged, each Preferred Share will be entitled to
receive 100 times the amount received per Common Share. These rights are
protected by customary antidilution provisions.

                  Because of the nature of the Preferred Shares' dividend,
liquidation and voting rights, the value of the one one-hundredth interest in a
Preferred Share purchasable upon exercise of each Right should approximate the
value of one Common Share.

                  In the event that the Company is acquired in a merger or other
business combination transaction or 50% or more of its consolidated assets or
earning power are sold after a person or group has become an Acquiring Person,
proper provision will be made so that each holder of a Right will thereafter
have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at the then current
exercise price of the Right, that number of shares of common stock of the
acquiring company which at the time of such transaction will have a market value
of two times the exercise price of the Right. In the event that any person or
group of affiliated or associated persons becomes an Acquiring Person, proper
provision shall be made so that each holder of a Right, other than Rights
beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person (which will thereafter be void), will
thereafter have the right to receive upon exercise that number of Common Shares
having a market value of two times the exercise price of the Right.

                  At any time after any person or group becomes an Acquiring
Person and prior to the acquisition by such person or group of 50% or more of
the outstanding Common Shares, the Board of Directors of the Company may
exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by such person or group which will
have become void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one Common
Share, or one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share (or of a share of a class or
series of the Company's preferred stock, having equivalent rights, preferences
and privileges), per Right (subject to adjustment).

                  With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price
will be required until cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least
1% in such Purchase Price.

                  No fractional Preferred Shares will be issued (other than
fractions which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred
Share, which may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary
receipts) and in lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash will be made based on the
market price of the Preferred Shares on the last trading day prior to the date
of exercise.

                  At any time prior to the acquisition by a person or group of
affiliated or associated persons of beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the
outstanding Common Shares, the Board of Directors of the Company may redeem the
Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $.001 per Right (the "Redemption
Price"). The redemption of the Rights may be made effective at such time on such
basis with such conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may
establish. Immediately upon any redemption of the Rights, the right to exercise
the Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to
receive the Redemption Price.

                  The terms of the Rights may be amended by the Board of
Directors of the Company without the consent of the holders of the Rights,
including an amendment to lower certain thresholds described above to not less
than the greater of (i) the sum of .001% and the largest percentage of the
outstanding Common Shares then known to the Company to be beneficially owned by
any person or group of affiliated or Associated persons and (ii) 10%, except
that from and after such time as any person or group of affiliated or associated
persons becomes an Acquiring Person no such amendment may adversely affect the
interests of the holders of the Rights.

                  Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will
have no rights as a stockholder of the Company including, without limitation,
the right to vote or to receive dividends.

                  This description of the Rights does not purport to be complete
and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement, which is
hereby incorporated herein by reference.

                  In addition, on September 19, 2002 the Board of Directors of
the Company adopted new By-Laws for the Company. The new By-Laws provide that a
quorum of shareholders for the transaction of business at a meeting of
shareholders shall consist of the presence, in person or by proxy, of a majority
of the outstanding stock entitled to vote generally. In addition, the new
By-Laws generally require advance notice to the Corporation (no later than 60
days prior to the date of a shareholders meeting or earlier than 90 days prior
to the date of such meeting) of nominations to the Board of Directors or other
business to be brought before a meeting of shareholders by a shareholder of the
Company.

                  This description of the By-Laws does not purport to be
complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the By-Laws which are
set forth as an exhibit hereto and are incorporated by reference herein.



Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits

         (c)      Exhibits:
                  --------

Item Ref
in 17 CFR                                                             Exhibit
229.601(b)  Exhibit                                                    Number
----------  -------                                                   -------
3           Amended By-Laws of the Company                               3.1

4           Rights Agreement dated as of September 19, 2002 by and       4.1
            between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer &
            Trust Company

4           Certificate of Designations for the Company's Series B       4.2
            Junior Preferred Stock

4           Form of Right Certificate                                    4.3



                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                           ADVANCED PHOTONIX, INC.


                             By: /s/ Brock Koren
                                 -------------------------------------------
                                 Brock Koren
                                 President and Chief Executive Officer

Dated: September 25, 2002
       ------------------
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "ADVANCED PHOTONIX INC", "cik": "0000869986", "assigned-sic": "3674", "irs-number": "330325826", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "0328"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-11056", "film-number": "02773089"}, "business-address": {"street1": "1240 AVENIDA ACASCO", "city": "CAMARILLO", "state": "CA", "zip": "93012", "phone": "8059870146"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "1240 AVENIDA ACASO", "city": "CAMARILLO", "state": "CA", "zip": "93012"}}
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                                 Date of Report
              (Date of earliest event reported): September 19, 2002
                                                 -------------------

                             Advanced Photonix, Inc.
                -----------------------------------------------
             (Exact Name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)

                 Delaware           1-11056           33-0325836
            -------------------------------------------------------
     (State or other jurisdiction  (Commission       (IRS Employer
            of incorporation)      File Number)     Identification No.)

                1240 Avenida Acaso, Camarillo, California 93012
             -----------------------------------------------------
               (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (ZIP Code)

      Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (805) 987-0146
                                                          ---------------
Item 5.  Other Events

         On September 19, 2002, the Board of Directors of Advanced Photonix,
Inc. (the "Company") declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase right
(a "Right") for each outstanding share of Class A Common Stock, par value $.001
per share (the "Common Shares") of the Company. The dividend is payable on
October 1, 2002 (the "Record Date") to the stockholders of record on that date.
Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one
one-hundredth of a share of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par
value $.001 per share (the "Preferred Shares"), of the Company at a price of
$5.00 per one one-hundredth of a Preferred share (the "Purchase Price"), subject
to adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights
Agreement (the "Rights Agreement") between the Company and Continental Stock
Transfer & Trust Company, as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent").

                  Until the earlier to occur of (i) 10 days following a public
announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons (an
"Acquiring Person") have acquired beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the
outstanding Common Shares or (ii) 10 business days (or such later date as may be
determined by action of the Board of Directors prior to such time as any person
or group of affiliated persons becomes an Acquiring Person) following the
commencement of, or announcement of an intention to make, a tender offer or
exchange offer the consummation of which would result in the beneficial
ownership by a person or group of 15% or more of the outstanding Common Shares
(the earlier of such dates being called the "Distribution Date"), the Rights
will be evidenced, with respect to any of the Common Share certificates
outstanding as of the Record Date, by such Common Share certificate.

                  The Rights Agreement provides that, until the Distribution
Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), the Rights will be
transferred with and only with the Common Shares. Until the Distribution Date
(or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), new Common Share
certificates issued after the Record Date upon transfer or new issuance of
Common Shares will contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by
reference. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of
the Rights), the surrender for transfer of any certificates for Common Shares
outstanding as of the Record Date, even without such notation, will also
constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Shares
represented by such certificate. As soon as practicable following the
Distribution Date, separate certificates evidencing the Rights ("Right
Certificates") will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Shares as of
the close of business on the Distribution Date and such separate Right
Certificates alone will evidence the Rights.

                  The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date.
The Rights will expire on September 18, 2002 (the "Final Expiration Date"),
unless the Final Expiration Date is extended or unless the Rights are earlier
redeemed or exchanged by the Company, in each case, as described below.

                  The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Preferred Shares
or other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are
subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of
a stock dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the
Preferred Shares, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the Preferred Shares of
certain rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase Preferred Shares at a
price, or securities convertible into Preferred Shares with a conversion price,
less than the then-current market price of the Preferred Shares or (iii) upon
the distribution to holders of the Preferred Shares of evidences of indebtedness
or assets (excluding regular periodic cash dividends paid out of earnings or
retained earnings or dividends payable in Preferred Shares) or of subscription
rights or warrants (other than those referred to above).

                  The number of outstanding Rights and the number of one
one-hundredths of a Preferred Share issuable upon exercise of each Right are
also subject to adjustment in the event of a stock split of the Common Shares or
a stock dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares or subdivisions,
consolidations or combinations of the Common Shares occurring, in any such case,
prior to the Distribution Date.

                  Preferred Shares purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will
not be redeemable. Each Preferred Share will be entitled to a minimum
preferential quarterly dividend payment of $1 per share but will be entitled to
an aggregate dividend of 100 times the dividend declared per Common Share. In
the event of liquidation, the holders of the Preferred Shares will be entitled
to a minimum preferential liquidation payment of $100 per share but will be
entitled to an aggregate payment of 100 times the payment made per Common Share.
Each Preferred Share will have 100 votes, voting together with the Common
Shares. Finally, in the event of any merger, consolidation or other transaction
in which Common Shares are exchanged, each Preferred Share will be entitled to
receive 100 times the amount received per Common Share. These rights are
protected by customary antidilution provisions.

                  Because of the nature of the Preferred Shares' dividend,
liquidation and voting rights, the value of the one one-hundredth interest in a
Preferred Share purchasable upon exercise of each Right should approximate the
value of one Common Share.

                  In the event that the Company is acquired in a merger or other
business combination transaction or 50% or more of its consolidated assets or
earning power are sold after a person or group has become an Acquiring Person,
proper provision will be made so that each holder of a Right will thereafter
have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at the then current
exercise price of the Right, that number of shares of common stock of the
acquiring company which at the time of such transaction will have a market value
of two times the exercise price of the Right. In the event that any person or
group of affiliated or associated persons becomes an Acquiring Person, proper
provision shall be made so that each holder of a Right, other than Rights
beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person (which will thereafter be void), will
thereafter have the right to receive upon exercise that number of Common Shares
having a market value of two times the exercise price of the Right.

                  At any time after any person or group becomes an Acquiring
Person and prior to the acquisition by such person or group of 50% or more of
the outstanding Common Shares, the Board of Directors of the Company may
exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by such person or group which will
have become void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one Common
Share, or one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share (or of a share of a class or
series of the Company's preferred stock, having equivalent rights, preferences
and privileges), per Right (subject to adjustment).

                  With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price
will be required until cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least
1% in such Purchase Price.

                  No fractional Preferred Shares will be issued (other than
fractions which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred
Share, which may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary
receipts) and in lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash will be made based on the
market price of the Preferred Shares on the last trading day prior to the date
of exercise.

                  At any time prior to the acquisition by a person or group of
affiliated or associated persons of beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the
outstanding Common Shares, the Board of Directors of the Company may redeem the
Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $.001 per Right (the "Redemption
Price"). The redemption of the Rights may be made effective at such time on such
basis with such conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may
establish. Immediately upon any redemption of the Rights, the right to exercise
the Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to
receive the Redemption Price.

                  The terms of the Rights may be amended by the Board of
Directors of the Company without the consent of the holders of the Rights,
including an amendment to lower certain thresholds described above to not less
than the greater of (i) the sum of .001% and the largest percentage of the
outstanding Common Shares then known to the Company to be beneficially owned by
any person or group of affiliated or Associated persons and (ii) 10%, except
that from and after such time as any person or group of affiliated or associated
persons becomes an Acquiring Person no such amendment may adversely affect the
interests of the holders of the Rights.

                  Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will
have no rights as a stockholder of the Company including, without limitation,
the right to vote or to receive dividends.

                  This description of the Rights does not purport to be complete
and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement, which is
hereby incorporated herein by reference.

                  In addition, on September 19, 2002 the Board of Directors of
the Company adopted new By-Laws for the Company. The new By-Laws provide that a
quorum of shareholders for the transaction of business at a meeting of
shareholders shall consist of the presence, in person or by proxy, of a majority
of the outstanding stock entitled to vote generally. In addition, the new
By-Laws generally require advance notice to the Corporation (no later than 60
days prior to the date of a shareholders meeting or earlier than 90 days prior
to the date of such meeting) of nominations to the Board of Directors or other
business to be brought before a meeting of shareholders by a shareholder of the
Company.

                  This description of the By-Laws does not purport to be
complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the By-Laws which are
set forth as an exhibit hereto and are incorporated by reference herein.

Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits

         (c)      Exhibits:
                  --------

Item Ref
in 17 CFR                                                             Exhibit
229.601(b)  Exhibit                                                    Number
----------  -------                                                   -------
3           Amended By-Laws of the Company                               3.1

4           Rights Agreement dated as of September 19, 2002 by and       4.1
            between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer &
            Trust Company

4           Certificate of Designations for the Company's Series B       4.2
            Junior Preferred Stock

4           Form of Right Certificate                                    4.3

                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                           ADVANCED PHOTONIX, INC.

                             By: /s/ Brock Koren
                                 -------------------------------------------
                                 Brock Koren
                                 President and Chief Executive Officer

Dated: September 25, 2002
       ------------------