高通收购手势识别技术公司，Snapdragon功能进一步整合

高通近日宣布，已收购手势识别技术公司GestureTek的部分资产，但并未透露具体的交易金额。高通表示，这些技术将被用于当前及下一代Snapdragon处理器中。 两家公司在一份联合声明中称，该交易将赋予高通在手势识别方面特定知识产权，此外高通还将获得一些1986年就开始积累的核心工程资源。GestureTek可以保留其一部分资产，并将继续其手势功能数字标牌的业务。 交易之前，GestureTek曾表示，它已经拥有8个摄像头和视频跟踪的专利已于1996年发行，并还有37个专利正在申请中。当前，GestureTek已在移动设备、娱乐设备、保健系统、零售场所，以及其他公共及私人场所部署手势识别技术。 该公司第一次把其软件应用到手机中是2007年，日本的Docomo（多科莫公司，日本的移动运营商）。它的手机客户还包括HTC，摩托罗拉，诺基亚，NEC，索尼爱立信，三星和LG。使用它授权产品的公司还包括微软（Xbox 360），松下，三洋，索尼，IBM和英特尔。 去年，该公司展示了其软件在Android和Symbian环境上运行的效果。它还支持功能手机的Linux，Nucleus，Windows Mobile和高通的BREW。 高通执行副总裁兼集团总裁Steve Mollenkopf在一份新闻稿中表示，“应用处理器正在使消费者的家庭娱乐和移动设备界面进入一个新时代，我们的收购将加强高通的智能手机产品组合，使我们的客户推出新的和引人注目的用户体验产品。” 两家公司称，手势识别技术将被整合到高通当前和下一代的Snapdragon处理器，手势识别技术允许OEM厂商制造支持手势操作的智能手机、平板电脑和家庭娱乐设备等。 2008年，任天堂的Wii和苹果iPhone登场，加热了手势识别市场。日立和其他一些公司在2009 CES上展示了Canesta和其他芯片商的手势界面方案。同年6月，微软发布的Kinect，成为历史上卖得最快的消费电子产品之一，进一步推动了手势识别的软件开发。 编译：Luffy Liu 本文授权编译自EE Times，版权所有，谢绝转载 参考英文原文：Qualcomm buys gesture-recognition technology,by Rick Merritt

相关阅读：
• MIC：多点触控将是Apple第二波专利诉讼的重点
• 数字标牌变魔术，巨大商机藏其中
• ARM勇闯游戏机，Power Architecture的统治会动摇吗？KIzesmc

{pagination} Qualcomm buys gesture-recognition technology Rick Merritt SAN JOSE, Calif. – Qualcomm Inc. acquired some assets of GestureTek, a developer of gesture recognition technology. The chip maker said it plans to put the gesture recognition technology into its "current and next-generation Snapdragon processors" for smartphones, tablets and other consumer devices. Qualcomm bought unspecified intellectual property assets related to gesture recognition, as well as some engineering resources from the company that was founded in 1986. GestureTek retains some of its assets and will continuation its business in gesture-enabled digital signs. The companies did not disclose financial details of the transaction. Prior to the deal, GestureTek said it owned eight broad patents on camera- and video-tracking that issued starting in 1996 and said it had applied for 37 others. It has developed gesture-recognition technology for displays and surfaces used in markets spanning handsets, digital signage and heath care. The company first got its software into handsets in 2007 in a deal with Japan's DoCoMo. It also is used in handsets from HTC, Motorola, Nokia, NEC, Sony Ericsson, Samsung and LG. Licensees for other products include Panasonic, Microsoft (Xbox 360), Sanyo, Sony, IBM, and Intel. Last year the company demonstrated its software running on Android and Symbian environments. It also supports Linux, Nucleus, Windows Mobile and Qualcomm's Brew for feature phones. "Applications processors are enabling a range of new ways for consumers to interface with their home entertainment and mobile devices," said Steve Mollenkopf, executive vice president and group president, Qualcomm, speaking in a press release. "Our acquisition will strengthen Qualcomm's smartphone product portfolio and enable our customers to launch products with new and compelling user experiences," he added. Gesture recognition technology will be integrated into Qualcomm's current and next-generation Snapdragon processors, giving OEMs the capability to produce smartphones, tablets and home entertainment devices with user interfaces based on natural human gestures. The debut of the Nintendo Wii and Apple iPhone heated up the market for gesture recognition starting in 2008. Hitachi and others showed such interfaces at CES in 2009 powered by chips from Canesta and others. Microsoft Kinect, one of the fastest selling consumer products in history, further spurred work in gesture recognition with a software developers kit released in June.