The story
Silicon Labs was founded by Crystal Semiconductor (now owned by Cirrus Logic Inc.) alumni Nav Sooch, Dave Welland and Jeff Scott in 1996. It became a publicly traded company in 2000. The first product, an updated DAA design, was released in the market in 1998. It cost significantly less than traditional DAAs and used less space compared to established products, which made it an instant success, taking the company's sales from $5.6 million in 1998 to nearly $47 million in 1999.
During its early years, the company focused on developing an improved RF synthesizer for mobile phones that would cost less and take up less space. It introduced its first RF Chip in late 1999.
Since 2012, Silicon Labs has been increasingly focused on developing technologies for the evolving IoT market. On April 22, 2021, Silicon Labs announced the sale of its infrastructure and automotive business to Skyworks Solutions Inc for $2.75 billion. The deal was closed on July 26, 2021.
In July 2021, it was announced that Tyson Tuttle would be stepping down as CEO. In January 2022, former president Matt Johnson completed the transition into the CEO position.
Key product launches
In 1998, released updated DAA design.
In 1999, launched RF Chip.
In 2001, released first products in its timing portfolio, a family of clock generators designed for high-speed communication systems.
In 2003, entered the mixed-signal MCU market with analog-intensive high-speed 8-bit MCUs.
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In 2004, released its first crystal oscillator family featuring patented digital signal processing phase locked loop (DSPLL) technology.
In 2005, introduced a single-chip FM receiver, which enabled FM radio to be installed in a new range of applications.
In 2006, entered the automotive electronics market with the launch of an integrated MCU family.
In 2007, launched industry's first single-port PoE interface with integrated DC-DC controller.
In 2008, released industry's smallest fully integrated automotive AM/FM radio receiver IC.
In 2009, entered the human interface market with a portfolio of fast-response touch, proximity and ambient light sensor devices.
In 2010, introduced industry's first single-chip multimedia digital TV demodulator.
In 2011, released industry's first single-chip hybrid TV receiver.
In 2012, entered the ARM-based 32-bit MCU market with a line of mixed-signal MCUs with USB and non-USB options.
In 2013, introduced the world's first single-chip digital radio receivers for consumer electronics.
In 2014, released the world's first digital ultraviolet index sensors.
In 2015, launched Thread networking technology for connecting devices including wireless sensor networks, thermostats, connected lighting devices and control panels.
In 2016, released Gecko family of multiprotocol wireless SoC devices.
In 2017, launched industry's first wireless clocks that support 4G/LTE and Ethernet.
In 2018, launched Z-Wave 700 hardware/software IoT platform.
In 2019, launched updated version of wireless Gecko web development platform.
In 2021, launched Wi-SUN® technology
In 2021, announced that Silicon Labs wireless devices support Matter end products
From Wikipedia’s article on Silicon Labs, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.7