VLSI Technology

2007-03-19T15:58:01Z

202.65.155.103: /* Startup Phase */

'''VLSI Technology, Inc''' was a company which designed and manufactured custom and semi-custom [[Integrated circuit|IC]]s. The company was based in [[Silicon Valley]], with headquarters at 1109 McKay Drive in [[San Jose, California]]. Along with [[LSI Logic]], VLSI Technology defined the leading edge of the [[Application-specific integrated circuit]] business, which accelerated the push of powerful [[embedded systems]] into affordable products.

The company was founded in [[1979]] by a trio from [[Fairchild Semiconductor]] by way of Synertek - Jack Balletto, Dan Floyd, Gunnar Wetlesen - and by Doug Fairbairn of [[Xerox PARC]] and Lambda (later VLSI Design) magazine.

Alfred J. Stein became the [[CEO]] of the company in [[1982]]. Subsequently VLSI built its first [[Fab_(semiconductors)|fab]] in San Jose; eventually a second fab was built in [[San Antonio, Texas]].

VLSI had its [[initial public offering]] in [[1983]], and was listed
on the [[stock market]] as ({{nasdaq2|VLSI}}).

== Advanced Tools for VLSI Design ==

Thanks to its Xerox PARC heritage, VLSI was an important pioneer in the [[Electronic design automation]] industry. It offered a sophisticated package of tools, originally based on the 'lambda-based' design style advocated by [[Carver Mead]] and [[Lynn Conway]]. Scientists and innovations from the 'design technology' part of VLSI found their way to [[Cadence Design Systems]] (by way of Redwood Design Automation), [[Synopsys]] (by way of Compass Design Automation; was sold to [[Avant! Corporation]], which itself was recently bought by Synopsys Inc.), and elsewhere.

== Global Expansion ==

VLSI maintained operations throughout the USA, and in [[Britain]], [[France]], [[Germany]], [[Italy]], [[Japan]], [[Singapore]] and [[Taiwan]]. One of its key sites was in [[Tempe, Arizona]], where a family of highly successful [[chipsets]] was developed for the [[IBM PC]].

In [[1990]], VLSI Technology, along with [[Acorn Computers]] and [[Apple Computer]] were the founding investing partners in [[ARM Ltd]].

[[Ericsson]] of [[Sweden]], after many years of fruitful collaboration, was by [[1998]] VLSI's largest customer. Within the Wireless Products division, based at [[Sophia-Antipolis]] in France, VLSI developed a range of algorithms and circuits for the [[GSM]] standard and for cordless standards such as the European [[DECT]] and the Japanese [[PHS]]. Stimulated by its growth and success in the wireless handset IC area, [[Philips|Philips Electronics]] acquired VLSI in June [[1999]], for about $1 billion. The former components survive to this day as part of Philips spin-off [[NXP Semiconductors]].Airtel

==External links==

*[http://www.business.com/directory/electronics_and_semiconductors/semiconductors/vlsi_technology,_inc/profile/ Basic corporate information on VLSI Technology]

[[Category:Electronics companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Companies established in 1979]]
[[Category:1999 disestablishments]]

{{company-stub}}

Wikipedia - Benutzerbeiträge [de]

VLSI Technology