Himax and Calumino Collaborate to Unveil Next Generation CMOS Imager-Based Optical Thermal Sensor

­Himax Technologies, Inc., an industry leader in fabless display driver ICs and other semiconductors, and Calumino Pty. Ltd. (“Calumino”), a leader in intelligent thermal imaging solutions, today announced their strategic partnership and the unveiling of their innovative, CMOS imager-based optical thermal sensor, marking a significant step forward in AI thermal sensing and imaging across industries.

At CES 2025, Himax and Calumino join forces to showcase a joint-collaborated optical thermal sensor, leveraging Himax’s extensive expertise in ultralow power WiseEye AI processor, WiseEye2, and low power HM0360 CMOS image sensor, alongside Calumino’s proprietary CMOS and MOMS (Micro-Opto-Mechanical System) technologies. This industry-leading CMOS imager-based optical thermal sensor, featuring on-device edge AI, offers cutting-edge price-performance, intelligent feature detection and commercial scalability to accelerate the development and commercialization of advanced thermal sensing solutions.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Himax to bring our vision of accessible and intelligent thermal sensing to life,” said Dr. Marek Steffanson, CEO of Calumino. “This collaboration allows us to push the boundaries of what’s possible in thermal technology and lay the groundwork for a transformative product launch later this year.”

Key Features and Benefits of the Calumino Thermal Sensor Products:

• High Sensitivity and Accuracy: Superior thermal detection even in challenging environmental conditions with 10x better sensitivity / performance than conventional thermopiles
• Ultralow Power AI Integration: Calumino’s AI algorithms, leveraging ultralow power Himax WiseEye2 AI processor and low power HM0360 CMOS image sensor, enable advanced functionalities, such as accurate people detection and count, assisted living, predictive maintenance, health monitoring, and enhanced security, all with minimal power consumption
• Privacy Protection: Calumino’s thermal sensor offers an optimised resolution to detect human presence, count and activity in indoor use cases, while incapable of recognizing human features or identifying humans, ensuring robust privacy protection
• Compact Design: Facilitating seamless integration across various industries including commercial real estate, aged care, security, industrial monitoring, IoT systems, consumer devices and more
• Low Power and Battery Operated: Offering industry-leading energy efficiency, powered by the ultralow power feature of Himax WiseEye2 AI processor and CMOS image sensor, enabling battery operation with simple plug-and-play deployment
• Affordable Pricing: Aiming to democratize access to thermal imaging, making it viable for consumer, commercial and industrial markets

“At Himax, our focus is on enabling next-generation solutions through our advanced, versatile technologies, including across WiseEye AI, CMOS image sensors, optics and a wide range of semiconductor expertise and solutions,” said Jordan Wu, President and CEO of Himax. “Our collaboration with Calumino underscores our commitment to driving innovation and delivering value to our customers. The CES product samples provide a glimpse into what the future holds for this exciting technology.”

Thermal sensing technologies are increasingly critical in modern applications, enabling advanced functionalities such as energy efficiency, enhanced safety measures, and automation across various sectors. Calumino’s proprietary technology stands out for its ability to deliver a unique blend of high performance, low cost, privacy protection, low power consumption, coupled with sophisticated on-device edge AI. These features position Calumino’s solutions as a game-changer in the sensing space, addressing key challenges in industries ranging from smart infrastructure to next-generation consumer devices.

The strategic partnership between Himax and Calumino will also prioritize innovative CMOS imager-based optical thermal sensor advancement and scalable manufacturing process development to deliver high-quality solutions at competitive costs, thereby driving broader adoption. By focusing on streamlined production techniques and leveraging Himax’s extensive expertise in semiconductor design, ultralow power WiseEye AI sensing technology, diverse CMOS image sensors, and innovative optical solutions and manufacturing capabilities, the partnership aims to ensure that the thermal imaging technology is accessible to a wide range of markets, enhancing both cost-efficiency and scalability.

The final product, launching in late 2025, highlights the companies’ shared vision of leveraging advanced technology to solve real-world challenges. One of the latest examples includes a case study which has shown that Calumino Thermal Sensors with Himax WiseEye AI processor and CMOS image sensor can save up to 40% of energy in commercial real estate, compared to traditional sensors. This partnership with Himax is expected to accelerate the deployment of these technologies, bringing tangible benefits to consumers and industries worldwide.