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.

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SOURCE: Tessera Technologies, Inc.