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2013年9月7日 星期六

Google 眼鏡將延伸許多新產業 ( Google Glass will induce new IT industrial - LCOS micro projector )

Himax (HIMX) Stock Surges After Announces Agreement with Google (GOOG)

Himax Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: HIMX), a supplier and fabless manufacturer of advanced display drivers and other semiconductor products, today announced that it has entered into an agreement with Google Inc. (Nasdaq: GOOG) pursuant to which Google has agreed to invest in the Company's subsidiary, Himax Display Inc. ("HDI").

The purpose of the investment is to fund production upgrades, expand capacity and further enhance production capabilities at HDI's facilities that produce liquid crystal on silicon ("LCOS") chips and modules used in applications including head-mounted display (HMD) such as Google Glass, head-up display (HUD) and pico-projector products. Under the Agreement, Himax will also invest additional amount in HDI to fund its ongoing capacity expansion. HDI will also use a portion of the proceeds to substantially reduce its loan from Himax. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2013 subject to regulatory approvals and other closing conditions.

Under the Agreement, Google will purchase certain amount of preferred shares in HDI. Upon closing, Google will hold a 6.3% interest in HDI. Google also has an option to make additional investment of preferred shares at the same price within one year from closing. If the option is exercised in full, Google will own a total of up to 14.8% in HDI. Himax Technologies, Inc. holds 81.5% of HDI at present and will remain the major shareholder of HDI after the transaction. Google will join the core group of HDI shareholders including KPCB Holdings, Inc., Khosla Ventures I, L.P. and Intel Capital Corporation.

Google's investment in HDI will not have a dilutive effect on Himax's Nasdaq-traded shares, HIMX.

"Google is a preeminent global technology leader. We are delighted to receive this investment and to form a strategic partnership with Google," stated Jordan Wu, President and Chief Executive Officer of Himax. "Beginning the second quarter of this year, we had already begun expanding capacity to meet demand for our LCOS product line. This investment from Google further validates our commitment to developing breakthrough technologies and state-of-the-art production facilities. We look forward to leveraging this investment and our collective expertise with Google to create unique and transformational LCOS technologies for many years ahead."

Founded in 2004, Himax Display, Inc. has focused on developing commercial applications for LCOS technologies, in-house manufacturing expertise and production lines with proven, high-volume shipment track records. Over the last few years, HDI has devoted its research and development of its LCOS technology for new applications of head-mounted display and other wearable computing applications.

Google結盟奇景光電 吳氏兄弟一鳴驚人 卡位穿戴式技術

    面板驅動IC大廠奇景光電在微投影技術蹲馬步長達十年以上,在與國外業者德州儀器(TI)、Microvision、晶典(Syndiant)等競爭過程中,脫穎而出,獲得全球重量級科技公司Google的青睞,靠得是奇景董事長吳炳昇與奇景執行長吳炳昌兩兄弟對於發展矽基液晶(LCOS)技術的執著。奇景跨入微投影技術研發超過十年,當時,立景僅為奇景旗下從事微投影技術研發的部門,有別於德州儀器的 DLP 陣營及 Microvision 陣營,奇景選擇跨入LCOS技術。

2004年,立景從奇景光電獨立出來,儘管長年處於虧損的狀態,但吳炳昇與吳炳昌兩兄弟看好微投影技術的發展潛力,咬牙繼續投入研發,四年前終於苦盡甘來,受到Google青睞,找立景合作開發微投影相關應用的技術。
但這幾年來,鮮少人談論立景這項技術,除了吳氏兄弟平時低調的作風,一律不接受採訪外,更顯示奇景對於捍衛客戶權益的堅持。

雙方合作已有四年時間,隨著立景產能量產規模放大,Google決定投資立景,創造更緊密的合作夥伴,注資協助立景擴產,滿足Google對於穿戴式產品的需求。

吳炳昇對於與Google的這項合作案保密到家,儘管在產品開發時期,遇到許多障礙,但立景始終不敢找國內下游廠合作,就是怕走漏口風,因立景不但拿下Google眼鏡的晶片設計訂單,甚至一手包辦下游的模組生產。Google與台灣關係匪淺,除了在台灣設立資料中心外,也與華碩兩度聯手推出平板電腦Nexus 7;另外,原先擔任Google亞太營運總監的張善政,之後轉任行政院政務委員。從投資、合作開發產品、代工組裝,加上政府關係等等,對Google而言,台灣具有相當重要的戰略意義。

2012年4月Google宣布台灣資料中心動工,初期資金加碼到3億美元,投資規模超過香港、新加坡兩地,台灣資料中心成為Google亞洲區最大的資料中心及雲端運算發展重鎮。國內驅動IC大廠奇景昨天宣布,與全球網路服務系統大廠谷歌(Google)簽訂投資協議,為卡位穿戴式產品關鍵技術,Google將入股奇景旗下生產矽基液晶(LCOS)晶片與模組之子公司立景光電,並取得6.3%股權。

Google發言體系表示,未來也不排除再投資其他擁有關鍵技術的業者。奇景表示,LCOS技術之應用,包括Google下一代殺手級產品Google Glass、抬頭顯示器、微投影機等產品,Google投資目的是進一步強化立景光電LCOS晶片與模組生產線,並擴充工廠產能及設備。

據了解,立景目前在LCOS產品的產能目前為單月30萬套,預計將擴產超過5倍,將朝單月200萬套的目標邁進。Google表示,立景光電多年來都是重要合作夥伴,這項投資計畫將讓彼此的合作關係更上一層樓,並協助立景光電擴大營運規模,和Google共創雙贏。

根據雙方投資協議內容,Google將投資立景光電特別股,投資完成後Google將持有立景光電6.3%股權。未來一年內Google亦擁有選擇權,以每股相同認購價格,在總持股不超過14.8%範圍內,加碼認購立景光電特別股。此投資案須待主管機關核准,並預計本季完成。以目前立景光電實收資本額約2.3億元,及未上市約100元的價格估算,Google投資金額逾20億元。奇景目前持有立景光電81.5%股權,在此交易完成後,仍將是立景光電最大股東,且將不會稀釋奇景在美國納斯達克已發行股份。

奇景光電表示,很高興與Google成為策略夥伴,獲得這家全球高科技龍頭公司的支持與肯定。從今年第二季開始,為了滿足市場需求,奇景光電已開始擴充LCOS產品線產能。Google的這筆投資,進一步強化奇景光電長期致力於開發突破性技術,及投資最先進設備的決心。

    奇景光電股份有限公司(納斯達克代號:HIMX)為一個專注於影像顯示處理技術之IC設計公司。本公司係全球顯示器驅動IC與時序控制IC領先廠商,產品應用於電視、筆記型電腦、桌上型電腦、手機、平板電腦、數位相機、汽車導航以及其他多種消費性電子產品。奇景光電的其他產品並包含觸控面板控制IC、手持式與頭戴式矽控液晶光閥(LCOS)微型投影解決方案、LED驅動IC、電源管理IC、液晶電視及監視器晶片等。奇景光電亦提供數位相機解決方案,包括CMOS影像感測IC及晶圓級光學鏡頭,這些產品已被廣泛地應用在手機、平板電腦、筆記型電腦、電視、網路攝影機、汽車、保全及醫療器材等。

    奇景光電設立於2001年,總部位於台灣台南,目前員工人數約1,400人,分布於台南、新竹、台北、中國、韓國、日本與美國。奇景光電在三大洲取得超過1,500項專利,產品應用於全球各種消費性電子品牌產品,技術領先並維持影像顯示處理技術半導體解決方案領導廠商的地位。

HIMX will surge up to 15$ due to Google glass is a trend for wearable computing?

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