Synaptics buys Israeli AI sensing vendor for a reported $10M

Interface hardware maker Synaptics says it has bought AI visual sensing vendor Emza Visual Sense. Emza was bought from Taiwan-based fabless chipmaker Himax Technologies.

Emza’s face detection software recognizes when a face is looking at a sensor and when it is not. This way, it can dim a display to save energy. It can also detect when a second face appears and blur content to maintain security.

Details of the transaction were not released, but the Jewish Business News has reported that the deal is valued at $10 million.

Synaptics is framing the buyout as a way of strengthening its place in edge AI. It does not hurt that Synaptics now has an ultra-low-power AI visual sensor that can pick up on the presence of a human.

In a statement released by the company, Saleel Awsare, Synaptics’ senior VP and general manager, said the two firms together have “key enabling technologies in edge hardware” and computer vision algorithm experience.

Emza algorithms make it possible for systems to perform in low-power situations. They make the most of AI inference per milliwatt sensing.

The company, which was founded in Israel, will be absorbed by Synaptics Israel.

Article Topics

acquisitions  |  biometrics  |  biometrics at the edge  |  edge AI  |  face detection  |  Synaptics