July 28, 2010

Pelican Imaging Corporation, a pioneer in computational cameras for the mobile market, today announced a strategic investment and technology development agreement with In-Q-Tel (IQT). IQT is the independent, strategic investment firm that identifies innovative technology solutions to support the mission of the U.S. Intelligence Community.

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Squeezed by industrial design constraints (thinner and smaller cameras) and the "megapixel myth" (the mistaken belief that more pixels mean better quality), Smartphone manufacturers and consumers face two critical problems: poor image quality and a stagnating feature set. For traditional camera architectures, the push towards more megapixels in small form factors shrinks the pixel size and compromises its light-gathering capabilities. This has a direct negative impact on overall imaging performance.

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Pelican solves these problems by introducing a novel camera architecture coupled with patent-pending software algorithms. The result is a powerful and disruptive technology that provides simultaneous advantages in critical camera performance parameters: low-light sensitivity, dynamic range, white balance, anti-shake, near focus, and low-power photography — while continuing to enable high resolution, ultra-thin cameras.

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"Pelican Imaging's high-resolution, wafer-scale cameras will tap into a highly-compelling consumer market and enable better camera phones," said William Strecker, Executive Vice President of Architecture & Engineering and CTO at IQT. "In a multimedia rich age, this technology has the potential to significantly impact the future of digital imaging, video, and photography."

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"We are pleased to be included as part of IQT's portfolio of innovative companies," said Aman Jabbi, CEO of Pelican Imaging. "Pelican's software and camera architecture opens up a world of rich photography applications never seen before on consumer cameras. This partnership allows Pelican to continue on its path to commercializing miniature cameras and enabling strategic imaging applications."

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The specific terms of the agreement and details of the technology development agreement are not disclosed.

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‍About Pelican Imaging

‍Pelican Imaging Corporation is a venture-backed startup in the business of commercializing computational cameras for the Smartphone market. The company is building a new camera technology that directly addresses the challenges posed by conventional camera design, small pixels and the megapixel race. Pelican's technology will result in better photographs and video at a competitive price point. For more information, go to www.pelicanimaging.com.