Semiconductors

Marvell, E Ink Introduce New E-book Reader Chip

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 3, 2009 - 9:02am.
Santa Clara, Calif. - Marvell, a provider of storage, communications and consumer silicon technology, and partner E Ink on Tuesday announced the launch of a new line of semiconductors aimed at the e-book reader market.

TV Semiconductor Firm Fresco Microchip Gets $10 Million

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 9, 2009 - 7:55am.
Toronto, Canada - Fresco Microchip, a developer of chips used in TV tuners, DVRs and other video set-top boxes, has raised $10 million in new funding, led by Celtic House Venture Partners and Ventures West.

Trident Acquires TV, Set-top Box Units of NXP Semiconductors

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 5, 2009 - 8:15am.
*A correction has been made to this story.

Santa Clara, Calif. -
Trident Microsystems, a maker of chips and associated software for digital media applications like LCD televisions, announced on Monday that it will acquire NXP Semiconductors' television systems and set-top box business lines.

Wireless HD Chipmaker Amimon Raises $10 Million

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on July 14, 2009 - 7:38am.
Santa Clara, Calif. - Wireless HD chipmaker Amimon announced on Tuesday that it has raised $10 million in a fourth round of funding, led by Stata Venture Partners.

Mobile Chipmaker Bitwave Raises $3.3 Million

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on July 10, 2009 - 9:01am.
Lowell, Mass. - Bitwave Semiconductor, a privately held chipmaker, has raised about $3.3 million in convertible debt, according to a filing by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Mobile Wi-Fi Chipmaker Nanoradio Lands $17.3 Million

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on July 8, 2009 - 7:36am.
Kista, Sweden - Nanoradio, a maker of Wi-Fi chips used in cell phones, wireless network cameras, portable media players and gaming devices, announced on Wednesday that it has raised $17.3 million in new financing.

Apple Increases Stake in U.K. Chipmaker Imagination

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 26, 2009 - 7:27am.
Hertfordshire, England - Radio chipmaker Imagination Technologies Group has announced that Apple (NASD: AAPL) has nearly tripled its stake in the company, purchasing 2.2 million new shares for about $5.2 million.

Chipmaker Intel Hit with Record $1.45 Billion Fine in Europe

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on May 13, 2009 - 7:57am.
Washington - As the Obama administration pledges to increase its anti-trust enforcement, the European Commission on Tuesday fined chipmaker Intel (NASD: INTC) a record $1.45 billion for engaging in what it called illegal practices designed to exclude competitors -- most notably rival AMD -- from the market for computer chips. According to the organization, those activities included giving hidden rebates to computer makers for using Intel's chips, paying a major retailer to stock only computers containing the chips and paying computer manufacturers to halt or delay the launch of products using competitors' chips.

Graphics Chipmaker Nvidia Launches Investment Program

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on March 10, 2009 - 10:29am.
Santa Clara, Calif. - Nvidia (NASD: NVDA), the maker of graphics chips, said on Tuesday that it has launched a new venture arm that will invest in early-stage companies utilizing its technology.

Graphics Chipmaker Nvidia Names New CFO

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 27, 2009 - 12:35pm.
Santa Clara, Calif. - Graphics chipmaker Nvidia on Friday named David White as its executive vice president and CFO. He succeeds Marvin Burkett, who announced his plans to retire in March 2008. White most recently served for five years as the executive vice president and CFO at Sanmina-SCI, and previously spent seven years as the CFO of Asyst Technologies. Burkett, who has been the company's CFO for more than six years, is expected to continue serving as a senior advisor.

Annual Semiconductor Sales Drop for First Time Since 2001

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 2, 2009 - 1:02pm.

San Jose, Calif. - Plagued by the ongoing economic downturn, global sales of semiconductors suffered their first year-over-year decline since 2001, according to new statistics from the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA).

Intel Chairman Craig Barrett to Retire in May

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 23, 2009 - 10:05am.

Santa Clara, Calif. - Semiconductor manufacturer Intel (NASD: INTC) said on Friday that Craig Barrett will retire as its chairman in May.

AMD Sells Handheld Graphic, Multimedia Assets to Qualcomm

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 20, 2009 - 12:24pm.

Sunnyvale, Calif. - Semiconductor manufacturer AMD (NYSE: AMD) said on Tuesday that it has sold the basis of its handheld business to San Diego-based handset maker Qualcomm (NASD: QCOM).

Chipmaker AMD to Cut 1,100 Jobs, Reduce Salaries

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 16, 2009 - 12:13pm.

Sunnyvale, Calif. - Semiconductor manufacturer AMD (NYSE: AMD) said on Friday that it plans to cut 1,100 jobs -- around 9% of its staff -- in a move to slash expenses in the face of waning demand.

Apple Buys 3.6% Stake in Mobile Graphics Chip Firm Imagination

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on December 18, 2008 - 11:47am.

Hertfordshire, England - Apple (NASD: AAPL) has acquired a 3.6% stake in mobile graphics chip designer Imagination Technologies Group for about $5 million.

MIT and Texas Instruments Detail Energy-Efficient Microchip

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 4, 2008 - 12:57pm.

Cambridge, Mass. - Researchers at MIT and Texas Instruments (NYSE: TXN) have developed a new chip design for portable electronics that can be up to ten times more energy-efficient than present technology, according to an announcement on Monday. The key to the improvement in energy efficiency was to find ways of making the circuits on the chip work at a voltage level much lower than usual, according to the announcement. "While most current chips operate at around 1 volt, the new design works at just 0.3 volts. The design could lead to cell phones, implantable medical devices and sensors that last far longer when running from a battery" the announcement states.

Mobile TV Chipmaker Telegent Systems Lands $20 Million

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on August 21, 2007 - 10:38am.

Sunnyvale, Calif. - Telegent Systems, a developer of mobile TV chips used in cell phones and portable media devices, announced on Tuesday that it has raised $20 million in its third round of venture capital financing, led by Northern Light Venture Capital.

Mobile TV, Radio Chip Developer Mirics Raises $12 Million

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on August 8, 2007 - 10:54am.

Fleet, England - Mirics Semiconductor, a developer of chips used to receive TV and radio broadcast signals in mobile devices, announced that it has raised $12 million in its second round of financing.

Magnum Semiconductor Completes Deal for LSI Business

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on August 2, 2007 - 8:55am.

Milpitas, Calif. - Magnum Semiconductor, a developer of chips, software and reference platforms for recording, viewing and managing audio-video content, said that it has completed its acquisition of LSI Logic's consumer products business.

Portable Device Chipmaker Artimi Adds $5 Million to Second Round

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on March 21, 2007 - 1:29pm.

Santa Clara, Calif. - Artimi, a developer of wireless semiconductors for portable consumer electronics, said on Wednesday that it has added $5 million more in funding to close its second round at $31.5 million.