Sony Acquires Belgian Innovator of Range Image Sensor Technology, Softkinetic Systems S.A., in its Push Toward Next-Generation Range Image Sensors and Solutions
Tokyo, Japan - OCtober 8, 2015 -- Sony Corporation ("Sony") is announcing that it has completed the acquisition of Softkinetic Systems S.A. ("Softkinetic"), after reaching an agreement with the company and its major shareholders. With this acquisition, Softkinetic - which possesses time-of-flight ("ToF") range image sensor technology, as well as related systems and software - has become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony.
ToF is a method for resolving the distance to an object. ToF distance measurement pixels, which are laid on top of the sensor in two dimensions, measure the flight time (delay) it takes for light to leave the light source, reflect off the object, and return to the image sensor.
Sony will focus on combining Softkinetic's ToF range image sensor technology expertise with its own technologies with the aim of developing the next generation of range image sensors and solutions, not only in the field of imaging, but for broader sensing-related applications as well.
No material impact is anticipated on Sony's consolidated financial results for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016 as a result of the acquisition.
Overview of Softkinetic Systems S.A.
Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium
Employees: 77
Business offices:
Brussels, Belgium; Sunnyvale, CA, USA
Primary areas of business:
- Development and licensing of ToF range image sensors
- Development and licensing of range imaging software, such as for range image signal processing and gesture recognition
- Development of ToF range image sensor modules and reference designs
Related Semiconductor IP
- NFC wireless interface supporting ISO14443 A and B with EEPROM on SMIC 180nm
- DDR5 MRDIMM PHY and Controller
- RVA23, Multi-cluster, Hypervisor and Android
- HBM4E PHY and controller
- LZ4/Snappy Data Compressor
Related News
- Three customers, STMicroelectronics, ARM Ltd. and Sony Corp. invest in CoWare
- CoWare to Enter Licensing and Technical Support Agreement with Sony To Speed Chip Design for Sony's Next-Generation AV-IT Products
- InterTrust Licenses Patents to Sony for Integration into Future Digital Rights Management Products and Services
- 3DSP Licenses its SP-5 core to Sony for next-generation advanced semiconductors
Latest News
- CAST Releases First Dual LZ4 and Snappy Lossless Data Compression IP Core
- Arteris Wins “AI Engineering Innovation Award” at the 2025 AI Breakthrough Awards
- SEMI Forecasts 69% Growth in Advanced Chipmaking Capacity Through 2028 Due to AI
- eMemory’s NeoFuse OTP Qualifies on TSMC’s N3P Process, Enabling Secure Memory for Advanced AI and HPC Chips
- AIREV and Tenstorrent Unite to Launch Advanced Agentic AI Stack