Taipei-Based eYs3D Microelectronics Raises $7 Million Series A 

Taipei-based computer vision startup eYs3D Microelectronics has announced that the company raised $7 million in Series A funding from strategic partners ARM IoT Capital, WI Harper Group and MARUBUN CORPORATION. A silicon-centric fabless design house, eYs3D Microelectronics is focused on enabling computer vision for edge AI.

The funding will help the company grow its new product development with AI-based autonomous operation, which includes touchless control, robotics, security, self-driving vehicles, and smart retail. 

In 2016, eYs3D was spun off from Etron Technology, and it has since provided millions of ICs and other sensory products. The company will now work to expand into additional markets. 

Computer vision for AI, which is a growing market, is enabling autonomous functionalities for machines and software, such as robotic spatial awareness. 

Recent research predicts the 3D and machine vision market to double from $1.35 billion in 2020 to $2.65 billion in 2027. 

More Sophisticated Human/Machine Coordination

eYs3D designs processor ICs that can be used for AI at the edge, and it enables more sophisticated human/machine coordination. The company uses a unique silicon design approach with algorithms, which integrate and manage information from different sensor sources. The sensor sources include thermal, active 3D sensing, and neural network perception. All of this helps eYs3D address certain growing markets like artificial intelligence of things (AIoT) and mobile intelligence.

The different sensors, or “sensor fusion,” enables systems to be designed for applications incorporating visual simultaneous location and mapping (VSLAM), object feature depth recognition, and gesture-based commands. 

James Wang is eYs3D’s Chief Strategy Officer.  

“With this investment and with high demand for new computer vision capabilities across many sectors, we are well-poised to capture market share as we migrate to full 3D vision depth sensing,” said Wang. “We are well along our roadmap in the AI-enabling market, and we are excited to continue our journey with our partners and investors that will allow eYs3D to move more computer vision products into the market.”

Peter Hsieh is Chairman of the ARM IoT Fund.

“As we look to the future, enhanced computer vision support plays a key role in ARM's AI architecture and deployment,” said Hsieh. “eYs3D's innovative 3D computer vision capability can offer the market major benefits, and we are pleased to partner with the company and invest in the creation of more AI-capable vision processors.”

The new funding will enable the company to further product development, expand its staff, and improve marketing. 

ARM will collaborate with eYs3D to focus on the integration of its chips with ARM’s CPU/NPU processors, while WI Harper Group will offer eYs3D access to its industrial partners base and ecosystem. MARUBUN CORPORATION, which is a global distributor headquartered in Japan, will open up new distribution channels for eYs3D, providing a new way to deploy its solutions globally.