SAN JOSE, Calif., Mar 24, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Tessera Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:TSRA) announced today that Samsung
Electronics has licensed Tessera's FotoNation(R) FaceTracker solution,
which provides high-performance face detection and tracking capabilities.
Consumers continue to demand increasingly feature-rich, easy-to-use
cameras in cell phones and digital still cameras. Tessera's FotoNation
FaceTracker solution provides fast, high-performance face detection and
tracking capabilities that enable the camera to select settings
automatically to help capture the highest quality picture. The
FotoNation FaceTracker solution uses innovative face-oriented technology
to detect up to 10 faces in the camera viewfinder in as little as 0.1
seconds. It enables a camera to automatically adjust focus, color and
exposure settings, helping to optimize portraits even when subjects are
backlit, off-center or over / under exposed.
Samsung Electronics also licensed Tessera's FotoNation SmileCheck and
FotoNation BlinkCheck extension modules, which allow manufacturers to
provide even richer experiences for users by indicating when faces are
smiling or blinking, or synchronizing a shutter to when a human subject
is smiling. Combined with the FotoNation FaceTracker solution, this
technology will enable Samsung Electronics to offer enhanced image
quality for a variety of video and picture capture applications on
Samsung's media processors.
"Samsung's low-power, high-performance media processors are already
delivering ease of use and high quality image processing capabilities to
our customers," said Chinhyun Kim, vice president, System LSI SOC
development, Samsung Electronics. "Image enhancement technologies, such
as Tessera's FotoNation FaceTracker solution, that can automatically
produce better quality portrait photography should further enhance end
users' experience in image capturing."
"We are delighted that Samsung, a world leader in camera technologies
for mobile applications, has chosen Tessera FaceTools technology to
enable their users to achieve the best possible video and still image
quality, without the need to be an expert user," said Mike Bereziuk,
executive vice president, Imaging & Optics, Tessera. "Our
transformational imaging technologies allow consumer electronics
companies to offer a wide range of advanced features as the digital
still camera, mobile phones and video camera markets converge."
Tessera recorded an initial fee from Samsung Electronics under this
license agreement in the fourth quarter of 2009. Because the FotoNation
FaceTracker technology is 'design-in' intellectual property, the timing
between signing a FotoNation FaceTracker technology license agreement
and Tessera's receipt of initial royalty payments under the agreement is
approximately 12-15 months.
About FotoNation Technology
The FotoNation family of technologies from Tessera provides a portfolio
of in-camera image enhancement solutions for digital photos. The
FotoNation Red solution automatically detects and removes red- and
golden-eye defects. The FotoNation FaceTracker solution, which includes
the SmileCheck, BlinkCheck and Face Beautification extension modules,
detects the presence of human faces in pictures to help ensure optimal
focus, exposure, and color balance, while also reducing the appearance
of wrinkles or other skin imperfections for enhanced image quality. The
FotoNation FaceRecognition technology automatically identifies specific
human faces for easier image management, sharing and retrieval.
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
Tessera's relationship with Samsung Electronics, the use of Tessera's
FotoNation FaceTools Image Enhancement Solutions by Samsung Electronics,
and the functionality, speed and performance of Tessera's FotoNation
FaceTools image enhancement solutions. 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 December 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 FotoNation 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.
TSRA-G
SOURCE: Tessera Technologies, Inc.
Press Contacts:
Tessera
Judy Erkanat, +1-408-321-6751
jerkanat@tessera.com
or
LEWIS PR for Tessera
Catherine Koo or Nicole Wasowski, +1-415-992-4400
Tessera@lewispr.com
Copyright Business Wire 2010