InvenSense Gets Investment For Gaming Motion-Sensors

Representatives from motion sensing solution provider InvenSense have announced that the company has secured a $11 million equity investment. The Series B funding round was led by telecom giant Qualcomm, with existing investors Artiman Ventures and Partech International also participating. The company will use these funds to pursue new market opportunities for integrated motion sensing in consumer electronics, including gaming and mobile handsets. According to the company, InvenSense's motion sensing technology addresses emerging mass-market applications such as image stabilization, mobile navigation, location-based services and smart user interfaces that use hand motion and gesture-based commands. Specifically, the dual-axis gyroscope offers motion sensing accuracy through the measurement of rotational movement. Current applications include image stabilization in digital still cameras (DSCs), camera phones and motion sensing for 3-D computer mice. When used in conjunction with a separate accelerometer, which measures linear motion, the dual-axis gyroscopes can provide accurate, full motion sensing. In addition to the funding's use in opening up new markets for the company, this initial round also allowed InvenSense to complete development, testing and production of hundreds of thousands of units for its flagship IDG product family of dual-axis gyroscope, and to secure multiple design wins with major consumer electronics OEMs, including Sanyo Electronics. "The fully integrated gyroscopes enable new applications on mobile handsets, including image stabilization, gaming control and smart user interfaces," said Nagraj Kashyap, director of North American operations, Qualcomm Ventures. "We are impressed by InvenSense's technology and product roadmap and are pleased to participate in this investment round."