Business Combinations Policy [Policy Text Block]

Acquisitions:

In July 2019, the Company acquired the Hillcrest Labs business from InterDigital, Inc. (“InterDigital”). Hillcrest Labs is a leading global supplier of software and components for sensor processing in consumer and IoT devices. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company agreed to pay an aggregate of $11,204 to purchase the Hillcrest Labs business, as well as non-exclusive rights to certain Hillcrest Labs’ patents retained by InterDigital, with $10,000 paid at closing, $204 of which is a contingent consideration that was fully paid during the first quarter of 2020, and the remainder of $1,000 held in escrow to satisfy indemnification claims, if any.

In addition, the Company incurred acquisition-related expenses associated with the Hillcrest Labs transaction in a total amount of $462, which were included in general and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2019. Acquisition-related costs included legal, accounting and consulting fees, and other external costs directly related to the acquisition.

Goodwill generated from this business combination is attributed to synergies between the Company's and Hillcrest Lab's respective products and services.

The results of Hillcrest Labs’ operations have been included in the consolidated financial statements since July 19, 2019. Pro forma results of operations related to this acquisition have not been prepared because they are not material to the Company's consolidated statement of income (loss).

The purchase price allocation for the acquisition has been determined as follows:

Tangible assets (including inventory, property and equipment and other)	$	681
Intangible assets:
Developed technologies		2,475
Customer relationships		3,518
Customer backlog		72
Goodwill		4,458
Total assets	$	11,204

The acquisition of the Hillcrest Labs business has been accounted in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) No. 805, “Business Combinations” (“ASC 805”). Under the acquisition method of accounting, the total purchase price is allocated to the net tangible and intangible assets based on their fair values on the closing date.

In August 2019, the Company entered into a strategic agreement with a private company, Immervision, Inc. (“Immervision”), whereby the Company made a strategic technology investment for a total consideration of $10,000 to secure exclusive licensing rights to Immervision’s advanced portfolio of patented wide-angle image processing technology and software. The Company considered this transaction as an asset acquisition. As a result, the estimated fair value of the assets acquired have been included in the accompanying balance sheet from the date of acquisition.

The consideration for the investment has been determined as follows:

Prepaid expenses	$	2,937
Intangible assets:
Core technologies		7,063
Total assets	$	10,000

The intangible assets are amortized based on the pattern upon which the economic benefits of the intangible assets are to be utilized.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements [Policy Text Block]

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements:

On January 1, 2020, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-13, “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses on Financial Instruments” (“ASU 2016-13”), which requires that expected credit losses relating to financial assets be measured on an amortized cost basis and available-for-sale debt securities be recorded through an allowance for credit losses. ASU 2016-13 limits the amount of credit losses to be recognized for available-for-sale debt securities to the amount by which carrying value exceeds fair value and also requires the reversal of previously recognized credit losses if fair value increases. The adoption by the Company of the new guidance did not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, Intangibles: Goodwill and Other: Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. To simplify the subsequent measurement of goodwill, the amendments eliminate Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. The annual, or interim, goodwill impairment test is performed by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. An impairment charge should be recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value; however, the loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. In addition, the income tax effects of tax deductible goodwill on the carrying amount of the reporting unit should be considered when measuring the goodwill impairment loss, if applicable. The amendments also eliminate the requirements for any reporting unit with a zero or negative carrying amount to perform Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test. An entity still has the option to perform the qualitative assessment for a reporting unit to determine if the qualitative impairment test is necessary. The amendments should be applied on a prospective basis. The nature of and reason for the change in accounting principle should be disclosed upon transition. The Company adopted ASU 2017-04 as of January 1, 2020. The adoption by the Company of the new guidance did not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

Foreign Currency Transactions and Translations Policy [Policy Text Block]

Financial statements in U.S. dollars:

A majority of the revenues of the Company and its subsidiaries is generated in U.S. dollars (“dollars”). In addition, a portion of the Company and its subsidiaries’ costs are incurred in dollars. The Company’s management has determined that the dollar is the primary currency of the economic environment in which the Company and its subsidiaries principally operate. Thus, the functional and reporting currency of the Company and its subsidiaries is the dollar.

Accordingly, monetary accounts maintained in currencies other than the dollar are remeasured into dollars in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) No. 830, “Foreign Currency Matters.” All transaction gains and losses from remeasurement of monetary balance sheet items are reflected in the consolidated statements of income (loss) as financial income or expenses, as appropriate, which is included in “financial income, net.” The foreign exchange losses arose principally on the EURO and the NIS monetary balance sheet items as a result of the currency fluctuations of the EURO and the NIS against the dollar.

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Cash equivalents:

Cash equivalents are short-term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to cash with original maturities of three months or less from the date acquired.

Marketable Securities, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Marketable securities:

Marketable securities consist mainly of corporate bonds. The Company determines the appropriate classification of marketable securities at the time of purchase and re-evaluates such designation at each balance sheet date. In accordance with FASB ASC No. 320 “Investments- Debt and Equity Securities,” the Company classifies marketable securities as available-for-sale. Available-for-sale securities are stated at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses reported in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), a separate component of stockholders’ equity, net of taxes. Realized gains and losses on sales of marketable securities, as determined on a specific identification basis, are included in financial income, net. The amortized cost of marketable securities is adjusted for amortization of premium and accretion of discount to maturity, both of which, together with interest, are included in financial income, net. The Company has classified all marketable securities as short-term, even though the stated maturity date may be one year or more beyond the current balance sheet date, because it is probable that the Company will sell these securities prior to maturity to meet liquidity needs or as part of risk versus reward objectives.

The Company determines realized gains or losses on sale of marketable securities on a specific identification method, and records such gains or losses as interest and other income (expense), net.

Starting on January 1, 2020, as a result of the adoption of ASC 326, available-for-sale debt securities with an amortized cost basis in excess of estimated fair value are assessed to determine what amount of that difference, if any, is caused by expected credit losses. Expected credit losses on available-for-sale debt securities are recognized in financial income, net, on the Company’s consolidated statements of income (loss), and any remaining unrealized losses, net of taxes, are included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in stockholders' equity. The amount of credit losses recorded for the twelve months ended December 31, 2020 was not material.

Prior to 2020, the Company recognized an impairment charge when a decline in the fair value of its investments in debt securities below the cost basis of such securities was considered to be other-than-temporary. Factors considered in making such a determination include the duration and severity of the impairment, the reason for the decline in value and the potential recovery period. For securities that were deemed other-than-temporarily impaired (“OTTI”), the amount of impairment was recognized in the statement of income (loss) and was limited to the amount related to credit losses, while impairment related to other factors was recognized in other comprehensive income (loss). The Company did not recognize OTTI on its marketable securities in 2018, and 2019.

Trade Receivables and Allowance Policy [Policy Text Block]

Trade receivables and allowances:

Trade receivables are recorded and carried at the original invoiced amount less an allowance for any potential uncollectible amounts. The Company makes estimates of expected credit losses for the allowance for doubtful accounts and allowance for unbilled receivables based upon its assessment of various factors, including historical experience, the age of the trade receivable balances, credit quality of its customers, current economic conditions, reasonable and supportable forecasts of future economic conditions, and other factors that may affect its ability to collect from customers. The estimated credit loss allowance is recorded as general and administrative expenses on the Company’s consolidated statements of income (loss).

Lessee, Leases [Policy Text Block]

Leases:

Effective as of January 1, 2019, the Company adopted Topic 842, which requires the recognition of lease assets and lease liabilities by lessees for leases classified as operating leases. The Company has adopted Topic 842 using the modified retrospective transition approach by applying the new standard to all leases existing on the date of initial application. Results and disclosure requirements for reporting periods beginning after January 1, 2019 are presented under Topic 842.

The Company elected the package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance, which allowed the Company to carryforward the historical lease classification, the Company’s assessment on whether a contract was or contained a lease, and initial direct costs for any leases that existed prior to January 1, 2019.

As a result of the adoption of Topic 842 on January 1, 2019, the Company recorded both operating lease right-of-use (“ROU”) assets of $9,785 and operating lease liabilities of $9,498. The ROU assets include adjustments for prepayments in the amount of $287. The adoption did not impact the Company’s beginning retained earnings, or its prior year consolidated statements of income (loss) and statements of cash flows.

The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception. The Company’s assessment is based on: (1) whether the contract includes an identified asset, (2) whether the Company obtains substantially all of the economic benefits from the use of the asset throughout the period of use, and (3) whether the Company has the right to direct how and for what purpose the identified asset is used throughout the period of use.

Leases are classified as either finance leases or operating leases. A lease is classified as a finance lease if any one of the following criteria are met: the lease transfers ownership of the asset by the end of the lease term, the lease contains an option to purchase the asset that is reasonably certain to be exercised, the lease term is for a major part of the remaining useful life of the asset, the present value of the lease payments equals or exceeds substantially all of the fair value of the asset, or the underlying asset is of such a specialized nature that it is expected to have no alternative use to the lessor at the end of lease term. A lease is classified as an operating lease if it does not meet any one of these criteria. Since all of the Company’s lease contracts do not meet any of the criteria above, the Company concluded that all of its lease contracts should be classified as operation leases.

ROU assets and liabilities are recognized on the commencement date based on the present value of remaining lease payments over the lease term. For this purpose, the Company considers only payments that are fixed and determinable at the time of commencement. As most of the Company's leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate based on information available on the commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. The ROU asset also includes any lease payments made prior to commencement and is recorded net of any lease incentives received. All ROU assets are reviewed for impairment. The lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise such options.

The Company elected to not recognize a lease liability and a ROU asset for lease with a term of twelve months or less.

Intangible Assets, Finite-Lived, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Intangible assets, net:

Acquired intangible assets with definite lives are amortized over their estimated useful lives. The Company amortizes intangible assets on a straight-line basis with definite lives over periods ranging from half a year to seven and a half years.

Intangible assets with definite lives are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of these assets is measured by comparison of their carrying amounts to future undiscounted cash flows the assets are expected to generate. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized equals the amount by which the carrying value of the assets exceeds its fair market value. The Company did not record any impairments during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

Revenue from Contract with Customer [Policy Text Block]

Revenue recognition:

Effective as of January 1, 2018, the Company has followed the provisions of ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”). The guidance provides a unified model to determine how revenue is recognized. See Note 2 for further details.

The following is a description of principal activities from which the Company generates revenue. Revenues are recognized when control of the promised goods or services are transferred to the customers in an amount that reflects the consideration that the Company expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services.

The Company determines revenue recognition through the following steps:

●

identification of the contract with a customer;

●

identification of the performance obligations in the contract;

●

determination of the transaction price;

●

allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and

●

recognition of revenue when, or as, the Company satisfies a performance obligation.

The Company enters into contracts that can include various combinations of products and services, as detailed below, which are generally capable of being distinct and accounted for as separate performance obligations.

The Company generates its revenues from (1) licensing intellectual properties, which in certain circumstances are modified for customer-specific requirements, (2) royalty revenues, and (3) other revenues, which include revenues from support, training and sale of development systems and chips, which are included in licensing and related revenue in the accompanying consolidated statements of income (loss).

The Company accounts for its IP license revenues and related services, which provide the Company's customers with rights to use the Company's IP, in accordance with ASC 606. A license may be perpetual or time limited in its application. In accordance with ASC 606, the Company will recognize revenue from IP license at the time of delivery when the customer accepts control of the IP, as the IP is functional without professional services, updates and technical support. The Company has concluded that its IP license is distinct as the customer can benefit from the software on its own.

Most of the Company’s contracts with customers contain multiple performance obligations. For these contracts, the Company accounts for individual performance obligations separately, if they are distinct. The transaction price is allocated to the separate performance obligations on a relative standalone selling price basis. Standalone selling prices of IP license are typically estimated using the residual approach. Standalone selling prices of services are typically estimated based on observable transactions when these services are sold on a standalone basis.

When contracts involve a significant financing component, the Company adjusts the promised amount of consideration for the effects of the time value of money if the timing of payments agreed to by the parties to the contract (either explicitly or implicitly) provide the customer with a significant benefit of financing, unless the financing period is under one year and only after the products or services were provided, which is a practical expediency permitted under ASC 606.

Revenues from contracts that involve significant customization of the Company’s IP to customer-specific specifications are performance obligations the Company generally accounts for as performance obligations satisfied over time. The Company’s performance obligation does not create an asset with alternative use, and the Company has an enforceable right to payment. The Company recognizes revenue on such contracts using cost based input methods, which recognize revenue and gross profit as work is performed based on a ratio between actual costs incurred compared to the total estimated costs for the contract. Provisions for estimated losses on uncompleted contracts are made during the period in which such losses are first determined, in the amount of the estimated loss on the entire contract.

Revenues that are derived from the sale of a licensee’s products that incorporate the Company’s IP are classified as royalty revenues. Royalty revenues are recognized during the quarter in which the sale of the product incorporating the Company’s IP occurs. Royalties are calculated either as a percentage of the revenues received by the Company’s licensees on sales of products incorporating the Company’s IP or on a per unit basis, as specified in the agreements with the licensees. For a majority of the Company’s royalty revenues, the Company receives the actual sales data from its customers after the quarter ends and accounts for it as unbilled receivables. When the Company does not receive actual sales data from the customer prior to the finalization of its financial statements, royalty revenues are recognized based on the Company’s estimation of the customer’s sales during the quarter.

In addition to license fees, contracts with customers generally contain an agreement to provide for training and post contract support, which consists of telephone or e-mail support, correction of errors (bug fixing) and unspecified updates and upgrades. Fees for post contract support, which takes place after delivery to the customer, are specified in the contract and are generally mandatory for the first year. After the mandatory period, the customer may extend the support agreement on similar terms on an annual basis. The Company considers the post contract support performance obligation as a distinct performance obligation that is satisfied over time, and as such, it recognizes revenue for post contract support on a straight-line basis over the period for which technical support is contractually agreed to be provided to the licensee, typically twelve months.

Revenues from the sale of development systems and chips are recognized when control of the promised goods or services are transferred to the customers.

Deferred revenues, which represent a contract liability, include unearned amounts received under license agreements, unearned technical support and amounts paid by customers not yet recognized as revenues.

The Company capitalizes sales commission as costs of obtaining a contract when they are incremental and, if they are expected to be recovered, amortized in a manner consistent with the pattern of transfer of the good or service to which the asset relates. If the expected amortization period is one year or less, the commission fee is expensed when incurred.

Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Income taxes:

The Company recognizes income taxes under the liability method. It recognizes deferred income tax assets and liabilities for the expected future consequences of temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities. These differences are measured using the enacted statutory tax rates that are expected to apply to taxable income for the years in which differences are expected to reverse. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred income taxes is recognized in the statements of income (loss) during the period that includes the enactment date.

Valuation allowance is recorded to reduce the deferred tax assets to the net amount that the Company believes is more likely than not to be realized. The Company considers all available evidence, both positive and negative, including historical levels of income, expectations and risks associated with estimates of future taxable income and ongoing tax planning strategies, in assessing the need for a valuation allowance.

The Company accounts for uncertain tax positions in accordance with ASC 740. ASC 740-10 contains a two-step approach to recognizing and measuring uncertain tax positions. The first step is to evaluate the tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that, on an evaluation of the technical merits, the tax position will be sustained on audit, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes. The second step is to measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that is more than 50% (cumulative probability) likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement. The Company accrues interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits under taxes on income.

Government Grants and Tax Credits [Policy Text Block]

Government grants and tax credits:

Government grants received by the Company relating to categories of operating expenditures are credited to the consolidated statements of income (loss) during the period in which the expenditure to which they relate is charged. Royalty and non-royalty-bearing grants from the IIA for funding certain approved research and development projects are recognized at the time when the Company is entitled to such grants, on the basis of the related costs incurred, and included as a deduction from research and development expenses.

The Company recorded grants in the amounts of $3,352, $5,643 and $2,844 for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2019 and 2020, respectively. The Company’s Israeli subsidiary is obligated to pay royalties amounting to 3%-3.5% of the sales of certain products the development of which received grants from the IIA in previous years. The obligation to pay these royalties is contingent on actual sales of the products. Grants received from the IIA may become repayable if certain criteria under the grants are not met.

The French Research Tax Credit, Crédit d’Impôt Recherche (“CIR”), is a French tax incentive to stimulate research and development (“R&D”) which is relevant for the Company's French subsidiaries (RivieraWaves SAS and CEVA France). Generally, the CIR offsets the income tax to be paid and the remaining portion (if any) can be refunded. The CIR is calculated based on the claimed volume of eligible R&D expenditures by the Company. As a result, the CIR is presented as a deduction from “research and development expenses” in the consolidated statements of income (loss). During the years ended December 31, 2018, 2019 and 2020, the Company recorded CIR benefits in the amount of $2,065, $2,312 and $3,287, respectively.

Severance Pay [Policy Text Block]

Accrued severance pay:

The liability of CEVA’s Israeli subsidiary for severance pay for employees hired prior to August 1, 2016 is calculated pursuant to Israeli severance pay law based on the most recent salary of each employee multiplied by the number of years of employment for that employee as of the balance sheet date. The Israeli subsidiary’s liability is fully provided for by monthly deposits with severance pay funds, insurance policies and an accrual. The deposited funds include profits and losses accumulated up to the balance sheet date. The deposited funds may be withdrawn only upon the fulfillment of the obligation pursuant to Israeli severance pay law or labor agreements. The value of these policies is recorded as an asset on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

Effective August 1, 2016, the Israeli subsidiary’s agreements with new employees in Israel are under Section 14 of the Severance Pay Law, 1963. The Israeli subsidiary’s contributions for severance pay have extinguished its severance obligation. Upon contribution of the full amount based on the employee’s monthly salary for each year of service, no additional obligation exists regarding the matter of severance pay, and no additional payments is made by the Israeli subsidiary to the employee. Furthermore, the related obligation and amounts deposited on behalf of the employee for such obligation are not stated on the balance sheet, as the Israeli subsidiary is legally released from any obligation to employees once the required deposit amounts have been paid.

Severance pay expenses, net of related income, for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2019 and 2020, were $1,818, $1,826 and $1,983, respectively.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Fair value of financial instruments:

The carrying amount of cash, cash equivalents, short term bank deposits, trade receivables, other accounts receivable, trade payables and other accounts payable approximates fair value due to the short-term maturities of these instruments. Marketable securities and derivative instruments are carried at fair value. See Note 5 for more information.

Concentration Risk, Credit Risk, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Concentration of credit risk:

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash, cash equivalents, bank deposits, marketable securities, foreign exchange contracts and trade receivables. The Company invests its surplus cash in cash deposits and marketable securities in financial institutions and has established guidelines relating to diversification and maturities to maintain safety and liquidity of the investments.

The majority of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents are invested in high grade certificates of deposits with major U.S., European and Israeli banks. Generally, cash and cash equivalents and bank deposits may be redeemed on demand and therefore minimal credit risk exists with respect to them. Nonetheless, deposits with these banks exceed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insurance limits or similar limits in foreign jurisdictions, to the extent such deposits are even insured in such foreign jurisdictions. Generally, these cash equivalents may be redeemed upon demand and, therefore management believes that it bears a lower risk. The short-term and long-term bank deposits are held in financial institutions which management believes are institutions with high credit standing, and accordingly, minimal credit risk from geographic or credit concentration. Furthermore, the Company holds an investment portfolio consisting principally of corporate bonds. The Company has the ability to hold such investments until recovery of temporary declines in market value or maturity. However, the Company can provide no assurance that it will recover declines in the market value of its investments.

The Company is exposed primarily to fluctuations in the level of U.S. interest rates. To the extent that interest rates rise, fixed interest investments may be adversely impacted, whereas a decline in interest rates may decrease the anticipated interest income for variable rate investments.

The Company is exposed to financial market risks, including changes in interest rates. The Company typically does not attempt to reduce or eliminate its market exposures on its investment securities because the majority of its investments are short-term.

The Company’s trade receivables are geographically diverse, mainly in the Asia Pacific, and also in the United States and Europe. Concentration of credit risk with respect to trade receivables is limited by credit limits, ongoing credit evaluation and account monitoring procedures. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers and to date has not experienced any material losses. The Company makes estimates of expected credit losses for based upon its assessment of various factors, including historical experience, the age of the trade receivable balances, credit quality of its customers, current economic conditions, reasonable and supportable forecasts of future economic conditions, and other factors that may affect its ability to collect from customers. Prior to the adoption of ASC 326, the Company evaluated its outstanding accounts receivable and established an allowance for doubtful accounts according to specific identification basis, based on information available on the relevant customer credit condition, current aging, historical experience and based on the Company policy.

Balance at

beginning of

period

Additions

Deduction

Balance at

end of period

Year ended December 31, 2020

Allowance for credit losses
$ 327 $ 1,443 $ (1,470 ) $ 300

Year ended December 31, 2019

Allowance for doubtful accounts
$ — $ 327 $ — $ 327

Year ended December 31, 2018

Allowance for doubtful accounts
$ — $ — $ — $ —

The Company has no off-balance-sheet concentration of credit risk.

Advertising Cost [Policy Text Block]

Advertising expenses:

Advertising expenses are charged to consolidated statements of income (loss) as incurred. Advertising expenses for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2019 and 2020 were $1,080, $996 and $559, respectively.

Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Net income (loss) per share of common stock:

Basic net income (loss) per share is computed based on the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during each year. Diluted net income (loss) per share is computed based on the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during each year, plus dilutive potential shares of common stock considered outstanding during the year, in accordance with FASB ASC No. 260, “Earnings Per Share.”

	Year ended December 31,
	2018		2019		2020
Numerator:
Net income (loss)	$	574	$	28	$	(2,379	)
Denominator (in thousands):
Basic weighted-average common stock outstanding		22,034		21,932		22,107
Effect of stock-based awards		469		391		—
Diluted weighted-average common stock outstanding		22,503		22,323		22,107

Basic net income (loss) per share	$	0.03	$	0.00	$	(0.11	)
Diluted net income (loss) per share	$	0.03	$	0.00	$	(0.11	)

The weighted-average number of shares related to outstanding equity-based awards excluded from the calculation of diluted net income per share, since their effect was anti-dilutive, were 161,362 and 184,947 shares for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019, respectively. The total number of shares related to outstanding equity-based awards excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per share was 1,132,017 for the years ended December 31, 2020.