Hot trends at CES 2014 reflect Imagination’s technology vision

PowerVR, MIPS and Ensigma processors at the heart of the latest products from wearables to 4K TVs

London, UK – January 16, 2014 – Imagination Technologies (IMG.L) reports significant deployment of its technologies in many products demonstrated at International CES 2014. Imagination’s technologies were at the heart of a broad range of products from IoT (internet of things) and wearables to the latest mobile phones and tablets to UltraHD 4K TV, automotive and more.

Imagination’s SoC partners were powering many of the latest products driving the future consumer experience, leveraging the broadening portfolio of Imagination’s SoC IP that enables ever more innovations in consumer electronics:

• PowerVR multimedia IP including graphics processors (GPUs) and video/vision processors (VPUs) for smooth UI, rich graphics and high-quality video and imaging
• MIPS CPUs which enable ultra-low power wearables and IoT devices, advanced networking, smart media players and more
• Ensigma radio communications processors (RPUs) which provide a wide range of connectivity (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth) and broadcast (TV, radio) capabilities
• FlowCloud IP for enabling device-to-device and device-to-cloud applications, including solutions for audio and V.VoIP/VoLTE
• Caskeid low latency wireless multiroom audio platform

Wearables and IoT

It was clear at CES that the wearable and IoT revolution has begun, and Imagination’s technologies will be at its heart. Products at CES included smartwatches that leverage the MIPS architecture including those from Yifang, Tomoon, SmartQ, Geak and more – all now shipping in China. Other products included smart glasses with the PowerVR graphics advantage. In addition to the well-known Google Glass, this included the Lumus DK-40, Vuzix M100, Epson Moverio BT-200 AR, XOne Safety glasses, Recon Instruments Snow2 ski goggles and more.

Imagination showed off Microchip Technology’s 32-bit PIC32MZ MCUs, which feature class-leading performance and code density with MIPS microAptiv – ideal for wearables and IoT.

CES also saw wearables-focused startups including Ineda, a company bringing together various Imagination IP cores in its ultra-low power Wearable Processor Unit (WPU) SoCs. Ineda demonstrated not only the exceptional low power consumption of MIPS which is enabling them to deliver a ground-breaking device, but also record bring-up time for their first-ever SoC, showing Imagination is the IP partner of choice for the highest quality IP that enables the shortest time-to-market.

Mobile phones and tablets

CES featured numerous phones and tablets that feature PowerVR graphics and video technologies, including the Acer Iconia A1-830 and Transformer Book T100; ASUS ZenFone 4, 5 and 6; ASUS PadFone mini and Padfone X 2014; Commander3D tablet; HaierPad H6000 Full HD Phablet; Hampoo 3D tablet; Kogan Agora HD Mini 3G; Lenovo ThinkPad 8; Meizu MX3 smartphone; Pipo tablets and many more.

PowerVR graphics were also featured in many of the latest mobile application processor SoCs, including Broadcom’s M320 reference devices and MediaTek’s MT8135 development platform, Allwinner Technologies’ new A80 SoC and OptimusBoard, and 4G tablets powered by Allwinner A31/A31s processors.

MIPS CPUs were on display in the new Kurio 7x 4G LTE tablet for Verizon, which features the Sequans VZ20Q EZLinkLTE module, and also inside Verizon’s first directly-branded tablet, the LTE-enabled Ellipsis 7, which features Altair Semiconductor’s FourGee chipset.

UltraHD TVs everywhere

Imagination demonstrated a range of technologies for UltraHD 4K TV, including HEVC (H.265) decode, a key technology for 4K TV GPUs. Numerous TVs using PowerVR graphics were on display, including LG WebOS based TVs, TVs powered by Realtek’s 4K-capable RTD2995 SoC, and Roku TVs from TCL that also leverage a MIPS CPU.

In addition, Qualcomm unveiled its Snapdragon™ 802 processor for Ultra HD smart TVs, smart set-top boxes, and smart digital media adapters, featuring Imagination’s Ensigma IP for global broadcast TV demodulation.*

The multiroom audio experience

Imagination’s technologies including Ensigma RPUs and Caskeid audio synchronization technology were on display in new connected speakers and radios from Imagination’s Pure division. Pure was named an International CES Innovations 2014 Design and Engineering Awards Honoree for its Jongo T6 wireless multiroom speaker, reflecting the rapidly growing reputation for wireless audio leadership of the Pure Jongo family and the Caskeid technology.

Connected automotive products

Imagination’s solutions are ideal for automotive applications from advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and displays to automotive infotainment products. At CES, TI showed off automotive reference designs based on its ‘Jacinto 6’ automotive OMAP™ processor that uses a PowerVR GPU, with endorsements from companies including HARMAN and Panasonic Automotive Systems Company. Mobileye also showed off its latest MIPS-based ADAS technology, and announced integration of its collision avoidance system with Accel’s VOYAGER connected car smartphone.

Powering the connected world of tomorrow

Imagination’s MIPS CPUs are used widely in networking solutions that power the connected world of tomorrow. At CES, Qualcomm Atheros showed a range of MIPS-based connectivity products from leading manufacturers. Also on display were Lantiq’s MIPS-based home connectivity solutions, and Cavium’s cloud to home solutions based on its MIPS-based 64-bit OCTEON and OCTEON Fusion SoCs.

A number of other products from major brands containing Imagination’s technologies were shown throughout CES.

Says Tony King-Smith, EVP marketing at Imagination: “We were delighted with the record number of strategic partners, customers and analysts who visited our suite at CES. The show confirmed that the electronics industry is shifting to a new phase, and Imagination is ready. We’ve talked about trends such as wearables, IoT and UltraHD for years now, and we have invested heavily to develop an IP portfolio that enables these products to get to market at every possible price and performance point. We’re excited about what our SoC, OEM and applications partners will bring to market throughout 2014 and beyond, leveraging our industry-leading technologies to drive the next wave of electronics innovation.”

Imagination’s next major event will be Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2014, where further product announcements will be made around SoCs and end products using Imagination’s IP. To arrange a meeting with Imagination at MWC, contact mwc@imgtec.com.

About Imagination Technologies

Imagination Technologies - a global leader in multimedia, processor, communication and cloud technologies - creates and licenses market-leading processor solutions including graphics, video, vision, CPU and embedded processing, multi-standard communications, cross-platform V.VoIP and VoLTE and cloud connectivity. These silicon and software intellectual property (IP) solutions for systems-on-chip (SoC) are complemented by an extensive portfolio of software, tools and ecosystems. Target markets include mobile phone, connected home consumer, mobile and tablet computing, in-car electronics, networking, telecoms, health, smart energy and connected sensors. Imagination’s licensees include many of the world’s leading semiconductor manufacturers, network operators and OEM/ODMs. Corporate headquarters are located in the United Kingdom, with sales and R&D offices worldwide. See: www.imgtec.com.