Himax and Calomino Team Up to Uncover Next Generation of CMOS Imaging-Based Thermal Optical Sensors By Investing.com

Unlocking the future of thermal imaging with superior sensitivity, the power of AI, privacy protection and affordability

Tainan, Taiwan and Sydney, Jan. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Himax Technologies (NASDAQ:), Inc. (Himax or Company) (Nasdaq: HIMX), a leading manufacturer of integrated circuits for non-programmable display drivers and other semiconductors, and Calomino Pty. Ltd. (Calumino), a leader in intelligent thermal imaging solutions, today announced announced its strategic partnership and unveiled its innovative product, a CMOS imager-based optical thermal sensor, representing an important step forward in the field of thermal sensing and imaging using artificial intelligence in various industries.

At CES 2025, Himax and Calumino are teaming up to showcase a joint photothermal sensor, leveraging Himax's extensive expertise in ultra-low power WiseEye.^™ AI processor, WiseEye2, low-power HM0360 CMOS image sensor, combined with Calumino's proprietary CMOS and MOMS (Micro-Optical Mechanical System) technologies. Featuring AI at the edge, this industry-leading CMOS imaging-based optical thermal sensor delivers cutting-edge price-performance, intelligent feature detection and commercial scalability to accelerate the development and commercialization of advanced thermal sensing solutions.

“We are thrilled to partner with Himax to bring our vision of accessible, intelligent thermal sensing to life,” said Dr. Marek Stefansson, CEO of Calomino. This collaboration allows us to push the boundaries of what is possible in thermal technology and lays the foundation for the launch of a transformative product later this year.”

Key Features and Benefits of Calumino Thermal Sensor Products:

• High sensitivity and accuracy: Superior thermal detection even in challenging environmental conditions with 10 times better sensitivity/performance than traditional thermal columns
• Ultra-low power AI integration: Calomino's AI algorithms, leveraging the ultra-low power Himax WiseEye2 AI processor and low-power HM0360 CMOS image sensor, enable advanced functions, such as accurate person detection and counting, assisted living, predictive maintenance, health monitoring, and enhanced security, All this with minimal energy consumption.
• Privacy protection: Calumino's thermal sensor provides improved accuracy for detecting human presence, number and activity in indoor use cases, while being unable to detect human features or human recognition, ensuring strong privacy protection
• Compact design: Facilitate seamless integration across various industries including commercial real estate, elder care, security, industrial monitoring, IoT systems, consumer devices, and more
• Low powered and battery operated: Delivers industry-leading power efficiency, backed by the ultra-low power feature of the Himax WiseEye2 AI processor and CMOS image sensor, enabling battery operation through simple plug-and-play deployment
• Reasonable prices: It aims to democratize access to thermal imaging, making it viable for consumer, commercial and industrial markets

“At Himax, our focus is on enabling next-generation solutions through our advanced and versatile technologies, including across WiseEye AI, CMOS image sensors, optics, and a broad range of semiconductor expertise and solutions,” said Jordan Wu, President and CEO of Himax. Our collaboration with Calomino underscores our commitment to driving innovation and delivering value to our customers. CES product samples offer a glimpse of what the future holds for this exciting technology.

Thermal sensing technologies are becoming increasingly important in modern applications, enabling advanced functions such as energy efficiency, enhanced safety measures, and automation across various sectors. Calumino's proprietary technology delivers a unique combination of high performance, low cost, privacy protection and low power consumption, combined with advanced on-device AI. These features position Calomino solutions as a game-changer in sensing, addressing key challenges in industries ranging from smart infrastructure to next-generation consumer devices.

The strategic partnership between Himax and Calumino will also prioritize the development of the innovative optical thermal sensor based on CMOS imaging and the development of a scalable manufacturing process to deliver high-quality solutions at competitive costs, thus promoting wider adoption. By focusing on simplified production techniques and leveraging Himax's extensive semiconductor design experience, the ultra-low power WiseEye^™ The partnership aims to ensure thermal imaging technology is available to a wide range of markets, including AI sensing technology, diverse CMOS image sensors, innovative optical solutions and manufacturing capabilities, enhancing cost effectiveness and scalability.

The final product, which will be launched in late 2025, highlights the companies' shared vision of leveraging advanced technology to solve real-world challenges. One of the most recent examples includes a case study that showed that Calumino thermal sensors with a Himax WiseEye AI processor and CMOS image sensor can save up to 40% energy in commercial properties, compared to traditional sensors. This partnership with Himax is expected to accelerate the deployment of these technologies, bringing tangible benefits to consumers and industries around the world.

Himax and Calumino invite all interested parties to stop by our demo booth at The Venetian Las Vegas Hotel (3355 Las Vegas Boulevard S, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA) Venetian Tower Suite 34-208 to experience our cutting-edge smart thermal imaging solutions. To schedule a meeting or booth tour, please contact Himax at Himax_CES2025@himax.com.tw or Calumino at info@calumino.com.

About Calomino Pty Ltd

Calomino is a pioneer in transformative thermal sensing technology, redefining industries through insights and control. As the creators of the world's first high-performance, affordable thermal sensor, we bring smart sensing to diverse markets globally. By combining thermal imaging sensors with the latest AI technology, we are revolutionizing how technology innovators reimagine our living and work spaces for the future. Our world-class team has decades of experience in micro- and nano-fabrication, optical assembly, AI software, and IoT platforms.

Home

About Himax Technologies

Himax Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: HIMX) is a leading global provider of non-destructive semiconductor solutions for display imaging processing technologies. The company's display motor and timing controller integrated circuits have been widely adopted across many industries worldwide including televisions, PC monitors, laptops, mobile phones, tablets, automotive, e-paper devices, industrial displays and more. As a global leader in automotive display technology, the company provides innovative and comprehensive automotive IC solutions, including conventional driver ICs, in-cell touch and display driver integration (TDDI), Local Dimming Tcon controllers, Large touch driver and display integration (LTDI) and OLED display technologies. Himax is also a leader in optical artificial intelligence and related fields of optical technology. Industry leader WiseEye^™ Ultralow Power AI Sensing technology incorporating Himax's ultra-low power AI processor, always-on CMOS image sensor, and CNN-based AI algorithm has been widely deployed in consumer electronics and AIoT related applications. Himax optics technologies, such as toric chip-level optics, small LCoS displays and 3D sensing solutions, are essential to facilitating emerging AR/VR/metaverse technologies. In addition, Himax designs and supplies touch controllers, OLED ICs, LED ICs, EPD ICs, power management ICs, and CMOS image sensors to cover diverse display applications. Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Tainan, Taiwan, Himax currently employs approximately 2,200 people from three Taiwan-based offices in Tainan, Hsinchu and Taipei and country offices in China, Korea, Japan, Germany and the United States. Hemax has 2,649 granted patents and 402 patents pending worldwide as of December 31, 2024.

http://www.himax.com.tw

Forward-looking statements

Factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those described in this conference call include, but are not limited to, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the Company's business; general business and economic conditions and the state of the semiconductor industry; market acceptance and competitiveness of the driver and non-driver products developed by the Company; demand for products for end-use applications; Reliance on a small group of key customers; uncertainty about the continued success of technological innovations; our ability to develop and protect our intellectual property; pricing pressures including declines in average selling prices; changes in customer demand patterns; Changes in the estimated effective tax rate for the full year; Shortage in supply of key components; changes in environmental laws and regulations; Changes to export licenses regulated by the Export Administration Regulations (EAR); exchange rate fluctuations; regulatory approvals for further investments in our subsidiaries; Our ability to collect accounts receivable, manage inventory, and other risks described from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including those risks identified in the section titled “Risk Factors” on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the SEC. Finance and Stock Exchanges, as amended.