Conexant

Conexant was an American fabless semiconductor and software company whose products supported communications, voice processing, audio, imaging, video, printing, fax, and data-modem applications. Its corporate roots lay in Rockwell International's semiconductor operations. Rockwell incorporated its semiconductor division as Rockwell Semiconductor Systems in 1996 and spun the business out as Conexant Systems, Inc. in January 1999. The new company was headquartered in Newport Beach, California, and became a publicly traded communications-chip supplier on NASDAQ under the symbol CNXT. During its early independent years, Conexant was one of the largest standalone communications-integrated-circuit companies. Its portfolio covered modem and broadband-access silicon, wireless communications, Internet infrastructure, consumer audio, imaging controllers, digital video, and related embedded software. Rather than operating semiconductor fabrication plants as its primary model, Conexant generally designed chips and systems while relying on external manufacturing partners. The company also used divestitures and spin-offs to separate businesses into more focused entities. Its wireless communications operations were combined with Alpha Industries in 2002 to form Skyworks Solutions, while its Internet-infrastructure business was spun out as Mindspeed Technologies in 2003. Conexant also formed a joint venture around its wafer fabrication facility with The Carlyle Group; that facility was later sold to Tower Semiconductor and became associated with the TowerJazz operation. Conexant merged with GlobespanVirata in 2004, with Conexant remaining the surviving company. In the following years it sold or divested several businesses, including broadband media-processing assets transferred to NXP Semiconductors in 2008 and a broadband-access product line sold to Ikanos Communications in 2009. These transactions reflected the company's effort to narrow its focus amid intense competition in communications semiconductors and changing demand in consumer electronics. Golden Gate Capital agreed in 2011 to acquire Conexant and take it private. Conexant subsequently entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February 2013, citing debt burdens connected with earlier acquisitions and the loss of revenue following the bankruptcy of a significant customer, Eastman Kodak. The reorganized company emerged in July 2013, moved its headquarters from Newport Beach to nearby Irvine, and concentrated on a smaller portfolio centered on far-field voice processing, surveillance, printer systems-on-chip, and related imaging technologies. In its later period, Conexant was best known for AudioSmart voice-input processors and software. These technologies were designed to capture speech in noisy environments and support voice recognition in smart speakers, televisions, set-top boxes, home-automation hubs, robots, mobile devices, and other connected products. Partnerships and integrations included LG smart-home products, Qualcomm's Hexagon digital-signal-processing ecosystem, and an Amazon Alexa Voice Service development kit. Conexant's products therefore participated in the rapid expansion of voice-enabled consumer electronics, even though the company itself remained primarily a component and technology supplier rather than a consumer-facing device brand. In May 2017, security researchers reported that certain Conexant audio drivers distributed on computers, including some HP systems, recorded keystrokes and stored them locally in an unencrypted file. The incident generated significant privacy and security concerns. Synaptics completed its acquisition of Conexant Systems, LLC on July 26, 2017. Conexant subsequently ceased to operate as an independent company and its technology and activities were absorbed into Synaptics. The Conexant website was no longer available by late 2017.

Conexant originated within Rockwell International's semiconductor activities. Rockwell incorporated that division as Rockwell Semiconductor Systems in 1996, creating the corporate foundation for a later independent communications-chip company. On January 4, 1999, Rockwell spun off Conexant Systems, Inc. as a publicly traded company. Conexant was listed on NASDAQ under CNXT and initially operated from Newport Beach, California, with Dwight W. Decker serving as its first chief executive and board chairman. The new company developed communications integrated circuits and related software for modems, broadband access, wireless systems, Internet infrastructure, audio, imaging, and video. Its growth strategy included both acquisitions and the separation of businesses into independent companies. In 2002, Conexant entered a joint venture with The Carlyle Group involving its wafer fabrication plant, Jazz Semiconductor. That same year, its wireless communications division was spun off and combined with Alpha Industries to create Skyworks Solutions. In 2003, the Internet-infrastructure division was separated as Mindspeed Technologies. Conexant merged with GlobespanVirata in 2004, retaining the Conexant corporate identity as the surviving organization. The company later reduced its exposure to several communications markets. It announced the sale of its broadband media-processing business to NXP Semiconductors in 2008, and sold its broadband-access product line to Ikanos Communications in 2009. The Jazz semiconductor facility was sold to Tower Semiconductor in 2008 and became part of the TowerJazz operation. These transactions left Conexant with a more focused set of businesses, but the company continued to face financial pressure. Golden Gate Capital agreed in 2011 to acquire the outstanding shares and take Conexant private at an announced price of $2.40 per share. Conexant filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February 2013. The filing was attributed to debt associated with multiple acquisitions during the company's earlier expansion and revenue lost after the bankruptcy of major customer Eastman Kodak. A restructuring plan was agreed with the company's owners and secured lender QP SFM Capital Holdings. Conexant emerged from bankruptcy in July 2013 and moved its headquarters from Newport Beach to Irvine. Its business was narrowed toward far-field voice input, video surveillance, printer systems-on-chip, and related imaging products. The company's later identity was strongly associated with the AudioSmart brand. AudioSmart comprised voice-input processors, audio converters, codecs, digital-signal-processing solutions, and software intended to improve speech capture in noisy environments. The technology was used or promoted for smart speakers, smart televisions, connected-home equipment, personal robots, wearables, mobile products, voice calls, and other devices using speech recognition. Conexant also maintained ImagingSmart products for document and photo printers, digital video, fax, and data-modem applications. During 2016, Conexant announced several ecosystem relationships. LG planned to use CX2092x far-field voice processors in smart-home products. Conexant announced AudioSmart software support for Qualcomm Hexagon DSPs, and later introduced a two-microphone AudioSmart development kit with Amazon for Alexa Voice Service products. These initiatives positioned Conexant as an enabling technology supplier during the expansion of voice-controlled consumer electronics. In May 2017, researchers disclosed that certain Conexant audio drivers installed keystroke-recording software on some computers, including systems sold by HP. The software reportedly captured typed characters and retained them in an unencrypted file, creating a significant privacy and security issue. On July 26, 2017, Synaptics completed its acquisition of Conexant Systems, LLC. Conexant thereafter ceased to function as an independent company, and its technologies became part of Synaptics' broader product portfolio. The Conexant website was unavailable by November 2017.

• 2017

  Synaptics acquisition

  [1]Conexanten.wikipedia.org

  Synaptics completes the acquisition of Conexant Systems, ending Conexant's independent corporate operations.

• 2013

  Emergence from Chapter 11

  [1]Conexanten.wikipedia.org

  Conexant completes a restructuring and shifts its headquarters to Irvine while narrowing its product portfolio.

• 2004

  GlobespanVirata merger

  [1]Conexanten.wikipedia.org

  Conexant merges with GlobespanVirata, broadening its communications semiconductor operations.

• 2003

  Mindspeed is spun out

  [1]Conexanten.wikipedia.org

  Conexant separates its Internet-infrastructure business into Mindspeed Technologies.

• 2002

  Wireless division becomes Skyworks

  [1]Conexanten.wikipedia.org

  Conexant separates its wireless communications division, which combines with Alpha Industries to form Skyworks Solutions.

• 1999

  Conexant becomes an independent public company

  [1]Conexanten.wikipedia.org

  Rockwell spins off Conexant Systems, which begins trading on NASDAQ under CNXT on January 4.

• 1996

  Rockwell incorporates its semiconductor division

  [1]Conexanten.wikipedia.org

  Rockwell International establishes Rockwell Semiconductor Systems as the corporate predecessor to Conexant.

A specialist fabless semiconductor and embedded-software supplier focused on voice and audio processing, imaging, video, printing, and modem technologies for original-equipment manufacturers.

• Voice and audio processing

  AudioSmart

  AudioSmart was Conexant's principal family of voice and audio technologies. It included analog-to-digital converters, audio codecs, USB and I2S DSP codecs, voice processors, and software for far-field speech capture. The products were designed to improve speech recognition and voice communication in noisy environments and were aimed at smart speakers, televisions, home-automation products, robots, mobile devices, wearables, and conferencing equipment.

• Imaging and modem semiconductors

  ImagingSmart

  ImagingSmart covered silicon and software for document and photo imaging, digital video, fax, and data-modem applications. Its products supported single-function and multifunction printers, photo printers, point-of-sale terminals, video equipment, and devices requiring integrated printing or communications functions.

• Far-field voice-input system-on-chip · 2016

  CX2092x

  The CX2092x family consisted of far-field voice-input processors intended for connected-home and consumer-electronics devices. The processors combined voice capture and signal-processing functions to help devices recognize speech despite background noise. LG announced plans to use the family in a smart-home set-top box and an IoT home-control hub.

• Voice-processing system-on-chip

  VoiceSpeech processors

  VoiceSpeech processors added voice-command capabilities to products such as smart televisions. They used far-field preprocessing and high-resolution analog-to-digital conversion to reduce the effect of device noise. Conexant also promoted Smart Source Pickup and Smart Source Locator technologies for locating and isolating speech from multiple microphones.

• Printer semiconductor

  Printer and document-imaging controllers

  These controllers supported single-function printers, multifunction printers, and photo printers. They integrated interfaces such as USB and serial connections and could include embedded firmware for printing from mobile devices or through network and cloud-connected workflows.

• Modem semiconductor

  Fax and data modem chips

  Conexant supplied fax-modem and data-modem silicon for multifunction printers, enterprise networks, and point-of-sale terminals. The products supported fax functionality over IP-related environments and low-power data communications in embedded equipment.

• 2017

  Keystroke logging in Conexant audio drivers

  Security researchers reported that certain Conexant audio drivers captured users' keystrokes, potentially including passwords, and stored the records in an unencrypted local file. The software was found on some computers, including HP systems, and raised serious privacy and security concerns.

  Source

Read more

• 2016AudioSmart voice-enabled device ecosystem campaign

  Global consumer electronics

  Conexant promoted AudioSmart as an enabling platform for smart speakers, televisions, connected-home products, robots, wearables, and other devices requiring far-field speech capture.

  Outcome. The program was reinforced by announcements involving LG, Qualcomm, and Amazon, although no independently verified campaign performance figures are available.

  Source

• 2017

  Accept acquisition by SynapticsM&A

  Background

  Conexant was operating as a private company after its 2011 transaction and subsequent restructuring.

  Action taken

  Synaptics completed its acquisition of Conexant Systems, LLC on July 26, 2017.

  Aftermath

  Conexant ceased to operate independently and its technologies were incorporated into Synaptics.

  Source

• 2016

  Launch AudioSmart development kit for Amazon Alexa Voice ServiceProduct launch

  Background

  Device manufacturers needed reference designs for adding far-field voice capture to Alexa-enabled products.

  Action taken

  Conexant and Amazon introduced a two-microphone development kit based on the AudioSmart CX20921 Voice Input Processor.

  Aftermath

  The kit was intended to shorten development and commercialization time for third-party Alexa devices.

  Source

• 2013

  Restructure around voice and imaging technologiesStrategy

  Background

  Debt obligations and lost customer revenue contributed to Conexant's Chapter 11 filing.

  Action taken

  After emerging from bankruptcy, the company moved to Irvine and concentrated on far-field voice processing, surveillance, printer systems-on-chip, and related imaging products.

  Aftermath

  The narrower portfolio supported Conexant's later focus on AudioSmart voice technology and embedded consumer-electronics applications.

  Source

• 2002

  Create Skyworks Solutions through a wireless-business separationM&A

  Background

  Conexant sought to separate its wireless communications activities into a more focused company.

  Action taken

  The wireless division was spun off and immediately combined with Alpha Industries to form Skyworks Solutions.

  Aftermath

  Skyworks became an independent public wireless-semiconductor company.

  Source

1. 1Conexanten.wikipedia.org