Tessera licenses OptiML Focus technology to AzureWave

SAN JOSE, USA: Tessera Technologies Inc. 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.