Signetics

Signetics was an American electronics manufacturer specifically established to make integrated circuits.[1] Founded in 1961, they went on to develop a number of early microprocessors and support chips, as well as the widely used 555 timer chip. They were bought by Philips in 1975 and incorporated in Philips Semiconductors (now NXP).[1]

Signetics Corporation
IndustryIntegrated circuits
FateAcquired by Philips
Founded1961
FounderDavid Allison, David James, Lionel Kattner and Mark Weissenstern
Headquarters
Sunnyvale, California
,
USA

History

Signetics was started in 1961, by a group of engineers—David Allison, David James, Lionel Kattner, and Mark Weissenstern—who left Fairchild Semiconductor.[1] At the time, Fairchild was concentrating on its component business (mostly transistors), and its management felt that by making integrated circuits (ICs) it would alienate its customers. Signetics founders believed that ICs were the future of electronics (much like another contemporary Fairchild spinoff, Amelco) and wished to commercialize them. The name came from Signal Network Electronics.

The venture was financed by a group organized through Lehman Brothers, who invested $1M. The initial idea was to design and manufacture ICs for specific customers. In order to facilitate this goal, Signetics did not have a separate R&D lab; instead, the engineering was all done in technical development department, and was closely tied to marketing.

Signetics first developed a series of standard DTL ICs, which it announced in 1962. However, it was struggling to sell custom-made circuits, which was the original goal, and was quickly exhausting the initial investment money, and new investors had to be found. In November 1962, Corning Glass invested another $1.7M in Signetics, in exchange for 51% ownership. This money enabled Signetics to survive, and much of it was put into a marketing and sales campaign.

In 1963, the Department of Defense made a decision to begin a shift towards microelectronics and ICs, due to their small size, higher reliability, and lower power consumption. As a result, military contractors began to explore the field, and as Signetics was one of the few firms selling custom circuits, it benefited greatly. In the fall of 1963 and throughout most of 1964, sales grew quickly, and the company finally became profitable. Signetics also grew rapidly, hiring more engineers and increasing its manufacturing space. In 1964, Signetics opened a large new fabricating plant ("fab") in Sunnyvale, California. At this time it was by far the largest manufacturer of ICs in Silicon Valley. It later expanded also to factories in Orem, Utah and Albuquerque, New Mexico, where there were two fabs, FAB22 (4-inch) and FAB23 (6-inch).

In 1964, Fairchild began to push its way into the IC business. Signetics's circuits being the standard in the market, Fairchild decided to copy them. However, it used its superior cash position, marketing power, and manufacturing strength to undercut Signetics by slashing prices and flooding the market. Signetics was struggling to compete, and began losing money again. Corning saw this as proof of poor management, and used its controlling interest to drive out most of the founders and take complete control of the company.

Signetics managed to stabilize and become profitable again, but it never regained its market leadership, which was firmly held by Fairchild. It continued to innovate in the IC technology, and remained a significant force. Around 1971, the Signetics Corporation introduced the 555 timer IC. It was called "The IC Time Machine". It was also the first and only commercial IC timer available at the time. In 1975 it was acquired by Philips, who continued the brand for some years. In the United States, Signetics reached its manufacturing height at around 1980. Later it was fully integrated into Philips Semiconductors (now NXP).

In 1995, Philips spun off the assembly and test operation in South Korea, which was started by Signetics in 1966, as an independent subcontract service provider. They continue to use the name Signetics. Since 2000, Signetics is primarily owned by the Young Poong Group.

Notable devices

Perhaps the best-known device introduced by Signetics is the 555 timer IC, which is still widely manufactured and used. Also of major impact was the Phase-locked loop series based on the NE565, which along with the VCO NE566 helped advance digital communications. Other well-known devices include:

See also

References
  1. "NXP Semiconductors: Company History". Silicon Valley Historical Association. Retrieved 2013-02-08.
  2. "Emerson Arcadia 2001". old-computers.com. Retrieved 2013-02-08.
  3. 2513 text display ROM
  4. "FPLA's give quick custom logic". EDN. Boston, MA: Cahners Publishing. 20 (13): 61. July 20, 1975. Press release on Signetics 82S100 and 82S101 field programmable logic arrays. Sixteen inputs pins, 8 output pins and 48 product terms. NiCr fuse link programming.
  5. Electronic Musician. Polyphony Publishing Company. 1993. p. 51.
  6. Yu. K. Rybin (2011). Electronic Devices for Analog Signal Processing. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 21. ISBN 978-94-007-2205-7.
  7. Mark A. Haidekker (2013). Linear Feedback Controls: The Essentials. Newnes. p. 227. ISBN 978-0-12-405513-1.

Further reading
  • Lécuyer, C. Making Silicon Valley: Innovation and the Growth of High Tech, 1930-1970, MIT Press, 2006. ISBN 0-262-12281-2
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