Tessera Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:TSRA) today announced that AzureWave
Technologies Inc. has licensed Tessera’s OptiML™ Focus image enhancement
solution, which provides automatic focus capabilities in camera-enabled
devices to deliver high-quality images with no moving parts. AzureWave,
based in Taiwan, will integrate the innovative technology into its
next-generation camera modules for laptop computers, webcams, cell
phones and other camera-enabled devices.
"AzureWave has experienced strong growth and momentum during the last
two years, and it is crucial that we use leading-edge technologies to
establish and maintain our competitive advantage,” said Forster Shih,
vice president, Operations, AzureWave. "Our relationship with Tessera
will energize AzureWave’s march toward more advanced products and growth
in the marketplace, and we expect OptiML Focus technology to help us
achieve lower profile webcams for portable computers without sacrificing
optical performance.”
Tessera’s OptiML Focus image enhancement solution enables all objects in
an image to be in focus simultaneously, for the entire depth of field,
with no mechanical parts. This provides an alternative to current
autofocus solutions that require moving parts which are larger, slower,
more expensive and less reliable. The technology, which provides
improved image quality when compared to current fixed focus solutions,
also enables barcode and full document capture for low-cost, fixed lens
camera based solutions.
"We are excited to have AzureWave integrate our imaging and optics
technology into camera-enabled, next-generation electronic devices,”
said Mike Bereziuk, executive vice president, Imaging & Optics, Tessera.
"AzureWave’s expertise in providing camera module solutions to the
laptop computer and mobile device markets, coupled with Tessera’s OptiML
Focus image enhancement solution, will help provide AzureWave’s
customers with an advanced extended depth of field (EDOF) camera
technology.”
Tessera recorded an initial fee from AzureWave under this license
agreement in the fourth quarter of 2009. Because the OptiML Focus
technology is ‘design-in’ intellectual property, the timing between
signing an OptiML focus technology license agreement and Tessera’s
receipt of initial royalty payments under the agreement is approximately
12-15 months.
OptiML Focus technology is available for licensing from Tessera now.
About OptiML Image Enhancement Technologies
The OptiML family of image enhancement technologies from Tessera enables
significantly higher quality images in camera phones without the need
for mechanical parts, providing a cost-effective alternative to current
solutions which require moving parts and are larger, slower and less
reliable. The OptiML Zoom solution offers 3X zoom capabilities, and the
OptiML Focus solution enables all aspects of a high-quality image to be
brought into focus automatically and simultaneously. The OptiML UFL
solution improves low-light performance by increasing the amount of
available light by as much as 250 percent, without degrading the field
depth or other performance factors.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements, which are made
pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve risks
and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
significantly from those projected, particularly with respect to the
duration of Tessera’s relationship with AzureWave, AzureWave’s use of
Tessera’s OptiML Focus enhancement solution, the functionality and
performance of Tessera’s OptiML Focus enhancement solution, and the
impact of Tessera’s OptiML Focus enhancement solution on AzureWave’s
business. Material factors that may cause results to differ from the
statements made include delays, setbacks or losses relating to our
intellectual property or intellectual property litigations, or any
invalidation or limitation of our key patents; fluctuations in our
operating results due to the timing of new license agreements and
royalties, or due to legal costs; changes in patent laws, regulation or
enforcement, or other factors that might affect our ability to protect
our intellectual property; the risk of a decline in demand for
semiconductor products; failure by the industry to adopt our
technologies; competing technologies; the future expiration of our
patents; the future expiration of our license agreements and the
cessation of related royalty income; the failure or refusal of licensees
to pay royalties; failure to achieve the growth prospects and synergies
expected from acquisition transactions; and delays and challenges
associated with integrating acquired companies with our existing
businesses. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the
forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this
release. Tessera’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31,
2009, include more information about factors that could affect the
company's financial results. Tessera assumes no obligation to update
information contained in this press release. Although this release may
remain available on Tessera's website or elsewhere, its continued
availability does not indicate that Tessera is reaffirming or confirming
any of the information contained herein.
About Tessera
Tessera Technologies, Inc. invests in, licenses and delivers innovative
miniaturization technologies for next-generation electronic devices. The
company’s micro-electronics solutions enable smaller,
higher-functionality devices through chip-scale, 3D and wafer-level
packaging technology, as well as high-density substrate and silent air
cooling technology. Tessera’s imaging and optics solutions provide
low-cost, high-quality camera functionality in electronic products and
include image sensor packaging, wafer-level optics and image enhancement
intellectual property. The company also offers customized micro-optic
lenses, from diffractive and refractive optical elements to integrated
micro-optical subassemblies. Tessera licenses its technologies, as well
as delivers products based on these technologies, to promote the
development of the supply chain infrastructure. The company is
headquartered in San Jose, California. For information call
1.408.321.6000 or go to www.tessera.com.
Tessera, the Tessera logo and OptiML are trademarks or registered
trademarks of Tessera, Inc. or its affiliated companies in the United
States and other countries. All other company, brand and product names
may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
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