Hillcrest Labs
| Company type | Private (before acquisition) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Technology, Consumer electronics, Software |
| Founded | 2001 |
| Founder | Dan Simpkins |
| Fate | Acquired by CEVA |
| Headquarters | Rockville , United States |
| Products | Freespace motion control technology, Loop pointer, Scoop pointer, Kylo web browser |
| Parent | CEVA (since 2019) |
Hillcrest Labs specialized in sensor processing technologies, pioneering free space motion-control systems and introducing the first motion-controlled television remote. The company also developed the initial graphical zoomable interface for TV and created Kylo, the first web browser tailored specifically for television use. Headquartered in Rockville, Maryland, Hillcrest Labs was acquired by CEVA in July 2019.
History
Established in 2001 under the name Hillcrest Communications, the firm rebranded to Hillcrest Laboratories in 2005. Founder Dan Simpkins, formerly with SALIX Technologies, sought to enhance ease of navigation for TV content. Hillcrest engineered Freespace motion detection technology, allowing remotes to operate similarly to a computer mouse for televisions. Additionally, the company launched a graphical zoomable interface for TV navigation. Early funding came from investors such as Grotech Ventures, New Enterprise Associates, and Columbia Capital.
Timeline
In 2006, Hillcrest introduced its inaugural products: the Loop pointer and the Home TV navigation system, both featuring a graphical zoomable interface.
By 2007, Logitech had licensed Hillcrest’s technology for its MX Air air-use mouse.
In 2008, Kodak incorporated Hillcrest’s technology into its Kodak Theater HD Player and Pointer Remote. Other licensees included Universal Electronics and Texas Instruments, who adopted Freespace technology for their remote controls.
Hillcrest began selling the Loop pointer directly to consumers in 2009. PC World honored it as one of the “top 100 products of the year” and recognized it among the “greatest tech designs ever.”
In 2010, Hillcrest launched Kylo, a complimentary web browser optimized for television displays on Windows and Mac OS X platforms. Despite multiple access blocks from Hulu users on Kylo, Hillcrest updated the browser to restore compatibility. LG released its Magic Motion remote utilizing Hillcrest’s gesture control innovations.
The year 2011 saw Hillcrest secure additional investments from NEA, AllianceBernstein, Columbia Capital, and Grotech Ventures.
On December 20, 2016, InterDigital completed its acquisition of Hillcrest Labs.
January 2018 marked the release of Hillcrest’s FSP200 processor.
On July 22, 2019, CEVA publicly announced its purchase of Hillcrest Labs.
Technology and products
Freespace Motion Control Technology
Freespace Motion Control Technology combines motion algorithms with MEMS accelerometers, gyroscopes, and sensors to translate physical movements into cursor control. The software filters out unintended motions and hand tremors to provide smooth and natural cursor navigation.
This technology was integrated into Roku 2’s "game remote" (2011) to facilitate control of Roku streaming devices. It is also embedded in LG’s Smart TVs and Magic Motion Remote, Logitech’s MX Air Mouse—praised by Popular Mechanics as the “best pointer we’ve tried”—and Universal Electronics’ remote controls.
Freespace offers intuitive interaction with screens through natural gestures as an alternative to conventional directional pads. Licensing partners include industry leaders such as LG Electronics, Logitech, Sony’s gaming division, Roku, Universal Electronics, and Zillion TV.
The Loop pointer
Utilizing Freespace technology, the Loop pointer serves as a mouse replacement for television control. It detects wrist motions to convert gestures into onscreen commands and features four buttons along with a scroll wheel. The device operates without requiring direct line of sight or pointing toward a PC.
The Scoop pointer
Following the Loop, the Scoop pointer provided a lighter Freespace-enabled in-air mouse option equipped with nine buttons and a scroll wheel.
Kylo web browser
Kylo was a no-cost web browser crafted specifically for TV screens with a user interface designed for viewing from ten feet away. It featured enlarged fonts, buttons, and an onscreen keyboard. Released in March 2010 for Windows and Mac OS X systems, Kylo was discontinued in 2019.
Legal
On August 19, 2008, Hillcrest Laboratories initiated a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission against Nintendo, accusing the Wii Remote of violating three of its patents, one of which pertained to graphical interfaces displayed on television screens. Hillcrest aimed to prohibit the importation of Wii consoles into the United States. The conflict was resolved on August 24, 2009, when Nintendo and Hillcrest reached a settlement; however, the specific terms were not made public.
Awards
- CES Best of Innovations in Video Accessories (2006)
- Popular Mechanics Editors’ Choice Award (2007)
- The Gazette of Politics and Business: 25 CEOs You Need to Know (2008)
- Washington SmartCEO Future 50 (2009)
- PC World Top 100 Companies (2009)
- CES Innovations Design and Engineering Award Honoree (2010–2012)
See also
External links
- (redirects to CEVA's website)