Revenue Recognition

We recognize revenue when control of products is transferred to our customers, and when services are completed and accepted by our customers; the amount of revenue we recognize reflects the consideration we expect to receive for those products or services. Our contracts with customers may include combinations of products and services (e.g., a contract that includes products and related engineering services). We structure our contracts such that distinct performance obligations, such as product sales or license fees, and related engineering services, are clearly defined in each contract.

License fees and sales of our TSMs are on a per-unit basis. Therefore, we generally satisfy performance obligations as units are shipped to our customers. Non-recurring engineering service performance obligations are satisfied as work is performed and accepted by our customers.

We recognize revenue net of allowances for returns and any taxes collected from customers, which are subsequently remitted to governmental authorities. We treat all product shipping and handling charges (regardless of when they occur) as activities to fulfill the promise to transfer goods, therefore we treat all shipping and handling charges as expenses.

License Fees

We earn revenue from licensing our internally developed intellectual property (“IP”). We enter into IP licensing agreements that generally provide licensees the right to incorporate our IP components in their products, with terms and conditions that vary by licensee. Fees under these agreements may include license fees relating to our IP, and royalties payable to us following the distribution by our licensees of products incorporating the licensed technology. The license for our IP has standalone value and can be used by the licensee without maintenance and support.

For technology license arrangements that do not require significant modification or customization of the underlying technology, we recognize technology license revenue when the license is made available to the customer and the customer has a right to use that license. At the end of each reporting period, we record unbilled license fees, using prior royalty revenue data by customer to make estimates of those royalties.

Explicit return rights are not offered to customers. There have been no returns through December 31, 2023.

Product Sales

We earn revenue from sales of TSM hardware products to our OEM, ODM and Tier 1 supplier customers, who embed our hardware into their products, and from sales of branded consumer products that incorporate our TSMs that are sold through distributors or directly to end users. These distributors are generally given business terms that allow them to return unsold inventory, receive credits for changes in selling prices, and participate in various cooperative marketing programs. Our sales agreements generally provide customers with limited rights of return and warranty provisions.

Because we generally use distributors to provide TSMs to our customers, we must analyze the terms of our distributor agreements to determine when control passes from us to our distributors. For sales of TSMs sold through distributors, we recognize revenues when our distributors obtain control over our products. Control passes to our distributors when we have a present right to payment for products sold to the distributors, the distributors have legal title to and physical possession of products purchased from us, and the distributors have significant risks and rewards of ownership of products purchased.

 

Distributors participate in various cooperative marketing and other incentive programs, and we maintain estimated accruals and allowances for these programs. If actual credits received by distributors under these programs were to deviate significantly from our estimates, which are based on historical experience, our revenue could be adversely affected.

Under U.S. GAAP, companies may make reasonable aggregations and approximations of returns data to accurately estimate returns. Our TSM returns and warranty experience to date has enabled us to make reasonable returns estimates, which are supported by the fact that our product sales involve homogenous transactions. The reserve for future sales returns is recorded as a reduction of our accounts receivable and revenue and was $8,000 and $9,000 as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The warranty reserve is recorded as an accrued expense and cost of sales and was $30,000 and $49,000 as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. If the actual future returns were to deviate from the historical data on which the reserve had been established, our revenue could be adversely affected.

Non-Recurring Engineering

For technology license or TSM contracts that require modification or customization of the underlying technology to adapt the technology to customer use, we determine whether the technology license or TSM, and required engineering consulting services represent separate performance obligations. We perform our analysis on a contract-by-contract basis. If there are separate performance obligations, we determine the standalone selling price (“SSP”) of each separate performance obligation to properly recognize revenue as each performance obligation is satisfied. We provide engineering consulting services to our customers under a signed Statement of Work (“SOW”). Deliverables and payment terms are specified in each SOW. We generally charge an hourly rate for engineering services, and we recognize revenue as engineering services specified in contracts are completed and accepted by our customers. Any upfront payments we receive for future non-recurring engineering services are recorded as unearned revenue until that revenue is earned.

We believe that recognizing non-recurring engineering services revenues as progress towards completion of engineering services and customer acceptance of those services occurs best reflects the economics of those transactions, because engineering services as tracked in our systems correspond directly with the value to our customers of our performance completed to date. Hours performed for each engineering project are tracked and reflect progress made on each project and are charged at a consistent hourly rate.

Revenues from non-recurring engineering contracts that are short-term in nature are recorded when those services are complete and accepted by customers.

Revenues from non-recurring engineering contracts with substantive defined deliverables for which payment terms in the SOW are commensurate with the efforts required to produce such deliverables are recognized as they are completed and accepted by customers.

Estimated losses on all SOW projects are recognized in full as soon as they become evident. During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, we recorded no losses.

The following tables present the net revenues distribution by geographical area and market for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (dollars in thousands):

   2023   2022 
   Amount   Percentage   Amount   Percentage 
North America                
Net revenues from consumer electronics  $1,455    90.9%  $1,812    98.5%
Net revenues from distributors and other   145    9.1%   27    1.5%
   $1,600    100.0%  $1,839    100.0%
                     
Asia Pacific                    
Net revenues from automotive  $1,199    57.1%  $1,295    46.9%
Net revenues from consumer electronics   796    37.9%   1,127    40.8%
Net revenues from distributors and other   105    5.0%   341    12.3%
   $2,100    100.0%  $2,763    100.0%
                     
Europe, Middle East and Africa                    
Net revenues from automotive  $379    50.6%  $493    46.1%
Net revenues from medical   221    29.5%   398    37.3%
Net revenues from distributors and other   149    19.9%   177    16.6%
   $749    100.0%  $1,068    100.0%

 

About Revenue Disclosures

Revenue disclosures under ASC 606 explain how a company identifies performance obligations, allocates transaction prices, and determines when revenue is recognized. This section is essential for understanding whether reported revenue reflects genuine economic activity or aggressive accounting choices. Analysts examine the mix of point-in-time versus over-time recognition, which directly affects revenue timing and comparability.

Key signals: rising contract liabilities (deferred revenue) suggest strong future revenue visibility, while declining contract assets may indicate slowing project milestones. Watch for variable consideration estimates — rebates, returns, and performance bonuses that require management judgment. Significant changes in disaggregated revenue by geography or product line can reveal shifting business mix before it appears in headline numbers. Compare revenue growth against contract liability growth to assess sustainability, and scrutinize any changes in the timing of recognition that coincide with earnings pressure.