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News

21 August 2007

 

TriQuint acquiring Peak Devices for wide-bandwidth amplifier design

RF communications chip and module maker TriQuint Semiconductor Inc of Hillsboro, OR, USA has agreed to acquire fabless semiconductor firm Peak Devices Inc of Boulder, CO, USA in a transaction expected to close within this quarter.

Founded in 2000, Peak Devices designs, manufactures and markets bipolar, MOSFET and LDMOS low-power and high-power RF discrete transistors for markets including wireless communications, HF/VHF/UHF, two-way communications, FM and TV broadcast, avionics, radar and military.

“Peak has developed proprietary semiconductor technology that has broad application across multiple markets,” says TriQuint’s CEO Ralph Quinsey. “With this technology, a single wide-bandwidth amplifier may replace complex high-power multiplexer-combined-amplifiers,” he adds. “To replace multiple amplifiers, optimized for various frequency bands and modulation schemes, with a single device has long been a goal of our industry. This is a technology that can truly enable the software-definable radio.”

The goal of Peak’s technology is to introduce a device that can cover multiple octaves of bandwidth (e.g. 700-2800MHz). The wide-band technology can be incorporated into materials including gallium arsenide and gallium nitride.

“The combination of Peak Devices and TriQuint Semiconductor brings together extremely complementary capabilities,” says Peak Devices’ CEO Bill McCalpin, who retains his responsibilities while reporting to TriQuint’s senior management. “I see numerous opportunities for Peak’s technologies to enhance TriQuint’s existing product lines, as well as building new high-power RF product segments,” he adds.

TriQuint’s strategy has been to diversify beyond mobile handsets. The firm’s revenues for mobile handset and multi-market RF products are almost equal in size. The acquisition of Peak Devices will bolster TriQuint’s focus on the multi-market general RF power segments, and further position it in applications such as military communications, base-station products and broadband solutions, says Quinsey.

In addition to its wide-band technology, Peak offers a complete portfolio of traditional RF power devices. Peak provides an alternative to costly redesign by developing drop-in replacements for LDMOS and bipolar RF power applications, extending product life, says the firm’s marketing manager, Mike Lincoln.

See related items:

RFMD diversifies by acquiring Sirenza

RFMD, Skyworks and Triquint grew GaAs device market share to 55% in 2006

TriQuint’s profits slashed despite growth in WLAN, WCDMA/EDGE and transmit modules

Visit Peak Devices: http://www.peakdevices.com

Visit TriQuint: http://www.triquint.com/rf