IPtronics

IPtronics was a Copenhagen-based fabless semiconductor company focused on integrated circuits for high-speed optical interconnects. Founded in 2003 by former Giga A/S engineers and executives, the company emerged from a Danish telecommunications and data-communications engineering network created around Giga, which Intel acquired in 2000. Its founders brought experience in optical communications, high-speed physical-layer design, and the development of components for systems such as OC-48 and OC-192 telecommunications links. The company initially developed semiconductor devices for specialized applications. Its first customer was CERN, where IPtronics chips were used as front-end electronics for Resistive Plate Chambers, gaseous particle detectors requiring very fast signal handling across large detector areas. Early devices were manufactured using TriQuint Semiconductor's gallium-arsenide foundry process. In October 2005, IPtronics began developing optical-interconnect technology in collaboration with NEC Corporation, marking a stronger move toward data-center, computing, storage, and communications markets. IPtronics concentrated on parallel optical systems, which transmit and receive data over multiple optical fibers at the same time. The approach was intended to overcome the bandwidth, distance, and signal-integrity limitations of copper connections in servers, backplanes, supercomputers, storage systems, and other high-speed equipment. Its principal products combined vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser drivers with transimpedance amplifiers, allowing optical modules and active optical cables to convert electrical signals into light and back again. Beginning in late 2007, IPtronics shipped four-channel and twelve-channel chipsets supporting at least 10 Gbit/s per channel. These products targeted active optical cables, data centers, and supercomputing installations. The company later introduced 16 Gbit/s versions and worked on solder-bump versions designed for flip-chip assembly, an approach associated with volume manufacturing. It also pursued lower-rate, lower-cost optical interconnects for applications such as HDMI cables and demonstrated optical HDMI transmission from a Blu-ray player to an LCD television in 2010. In 2011, it released a lower-power four-channel chipset for pluggable optical modules, and in 2012 it announced components capable of 28 Gbit/s per channel. Another important area was optical Thunderbolt hardware. IPtronics announced development work related to Intel's Light Peak concept in 2009 and supplied driver and receiver integrated circuits for optical modules. These dual-channel devices performed the electrical-to-optical and optical-to-electrical conversion required in optical cable assemblies, with each channel operating at a minimum of 10 Gbit/s according to the company's contemporary product descriptions. A 2010 silicon revision was presented as suitable for optical-module and cable applications, including potential Thunderbolt implementations, as well as single-channel links up to 14 Gbit/s. The company expanded beyond Denmark during the late 2000s, opening a North American office in Silicon Valley in 2008. It joined the InfiniBand Trade Association in 2010 and also participated in the Optical Internetworking Forum and the PCI Special Interest Group. In June 2011, IPtronics reported that cumulative shipments had passed one million integrated circuits, with most shipments going to Asia. These activities positioned the company within the ecosystem of optical modules, active optical cables, high-performance computing, and emerging high-bandwidth consumer-electronics connections. IPtronics was acquired by Mellanox Technologies in June 2013. The announced transaction had an approximate cash purchase price of $47.5 million, subject to adjustments. Following the acquisition, IPtronics ceased to operate as an independent company or standalone brand in the form described by its earlier public materials.

IPtronics was established in 2003 by Niels Finseth, Steen Bak Christensen, and Eivind Johansen, three former Giga A/S employees. Giga had been a Danish supplier of telecommunications and data-communications components and was acquired by Intel in 2000. The founders' prior work included high-speed optical communications and physical-layer integrated circuits. IPtronics began informally in Christensen's garage in Roskilde; after its first employee joined in February 2005, the company moved to premises outside Roskilde. Its first customer was CERN. For CERN's Resistive Plate Chamber particle detectors, IPtronics supplied front-end electronics capable of handling very fast signals over large detector areas. The initial devices used TriQuint Semiconductor's GaAs manufacturing process. In October 2005, the company entered a development collaboration with NEC Corporation concerning optical interconnects. This work helped shift the business toward integrated circuits for parallel optical systems in computing and communications. During the second half of the 2000s, IPtronics recruited additional personnel from the Danish electronics sector and from Intel's Optical Component Division. Henning Lysdal joined as COO in May 2004 and later became vice president of engineering. Jørgen Bardenfleth became board chairman in 2006. IPtronics opened a Silicon Valley office in the summer of 2008, broadening support for North American customers and partners. The company's core technology converted electrical data into optical signals and back again across multiple channels. Its chipset architecture typically combined VCSEL drivers with transimpedance amplifiers. Late in 2007, IPtronics began shipping four-channel and twelve-channel products rated at a minimum of 10 Gbit/s per channel, targeting active optical cables, data centers, and supercomputers. It subsequently developed flip-chip-compatible solder-bump versions and introduced 16 Gbit/s variants in early 2010. IPtronics also pursued lower-rate optical connectivity, particularly for HDMI cable applications. In 2010, it demonstrated optical HDMI transmission using consumer audiovisual equipment and promoted a lower-cost approach for higher-volume cable markets. In January 2011, it released a new four-channel chipset for pluggable optical modules with reduced power consumption relative to its first-generation product. In March 2012, it announced parts capable of 28 Gbit/s per channel. The company announced work related to Intel's Light Peak optical interface in 2009. After Apple introduced Thunderbolt in 2011, IPtronics positioned its dual-channel driver and receiver ICs as components for optical modules and cables associated with the technology. A 2010 silicon revision was described as enabling optical module and cable applications, including Thunderbolt-related designs, and single-channel links up to 14 Gbit/s. IPtronics joined the InfiniBand Trade Association in April 2010 and also participated in the Optical Internetworking Forum and the PCI Special Interest Group. In June 2011, it reported cumulative shipments exceeding one million integrated circuits, with Asia representing the majority of shipments. The company was acquired by Mellanox Technologies in June 2013 in a cash transaction announced at approximately $47.5 million, subject to adjustments. The acquisition ended IPtronics' independent corporate existence.

• 2013

  Mellanox acquisition

  [1]IPtronicsen.wikipedia.org

  Mellanox Technologies acquires IPtronics in a cash transaction announced at approximately $47.5 million, subject to adjustments.

• 2011

  Shipments pass one million integrated circuits

  [1]IPtronicsen.wikipedia.org

  IPtronics announces that cumulative shipments have exceeded one million ICs.

• 2008

  Silicon Valley office opens

  [1]IPtronicsen.wikipedia.org

  IPtronics establishes a North American office in Silicon Valley.

• 2007

  Active optical cable chipsets begin shipping

  [1]IPtronicsen.wikipedia.org

  Four-channel and twelve-channel chipsets rated at at least 10 Gbit/s per channel enter shipment for data-center and supercomputer applications.

• 2005

  Optical-interconnect development begins with NEC

  [1]IPtronicsen.wikipedia.org

  IPtronics starts a collaboration with NEC Corporation to develop optical interconnect technology.

• 2003

  IPtronics is founded

  [1]IPtronicsen.wikipedia.org

  Niels Finseth, Steen Bak Christensen, and Eivind Johansen establish the Danish fabless semiconductor company.

A specialist fabless semiconductor supplier for high-bandwidth parallel optical interconnects, serving computing, storage, communications, data-center, supercomputer, and selected consumer-electronics applications.

• Optical interconnect ICs · 2007

  Active optical cable chipsets

  IPtronics developed multi-channel chipsets for active optical cables, pairing VCSEL drivers with transimpedance amplifiers. Early four-channel and twelve-channel versions operated at a minimum of 10 Gbit/s per channel and targeted data centers, supercomputers, and high-bandwidth equipment. Later generations included 16 Gbit/s-per-channel parts and packaging options intended for flip-chip assembly and volume production.

• Optical module components · 2011

  Pluggable optical module chipsets

  The company supplied driver and receiver circuitry for optical modules. Its January 2011 four-channel chipset was promoted as a lower-power successor to the first generation and was intended for pluggable-module applications used in communications and computing equipment.

• Consumer-electronics interconnects · 2010

  Optical HDMI components

  IPtronics pursued lower-rate, lower-cost optical connectivity for HDMI cables. In 2010 it demonstrated transmission from a Blu-ray player to an LCD television, seeking to adapt its optical technology to a potentially higher-volume consumer-electronics market.

• High-speed interface components · 2009

  Light Peak and Thunderbolt-related optical ICs

  IPtronics developed dual-channel optical driver and receiver ICs for optical cable modules associated with Intel's Light Peak concept and Thunderbolt-related implementations. The devices performed electrical-to-optical and optical-to-electrical conversion, with channels described as operating at a minimum of 10 Gbit/s.

• 2013

  Accept acquisition by Mellanox TechnologiesM&A

  Background

  Mellanox sought optical-interconnect capabilities relevant to high-performance computing and networking.

  Action taken

  Mellanox acquired IPtronics in a cash transaction announced at approximately $47.5 million, subject to adjustments.

  Aftermath

  IPtronics ceased to operate as an independent company and became part of Mellanox Technologies.

  announced total cash purchase price. approximately US$47.5 million (announced June 4, 2013)

  Source

• 2010

  Address lower-rate, higher-volume optical cable applicationsStrategy

  Background

  IPtronics sought markets beyond high-end InfiniBand and computing links, including consumer-oriented HDMI cables.

  Action taken

  The company announced a lower-cost product direction and demonstrated optical HDMI transmission at industry events.

  Aftermath

  The initiative broadened the company's stated target markets, although the available record does not establish the scale of commercial adoption.

  Source

• 2008

  Expand into North AmericaStrategy

  Background

  Growing interest in optical interconnects among computing, communications, and data-center customers created a need for closer regional support.

  Action taken

  IPtronics opened an office in Silicon Valley during the summer of 2008.

  Aftermath

  The office gave the Copenhagen-based company a direct presence in the North American technology market.

  Source

1. 1IPtronicsen.wikipedia.org