Silicon Image

Silicon Image was an American fabless semiconductor company that developed integrated circuits and intellectual property for the transmission, processing, and display of digital content. Founded in 1995 by engineers David Lee and Brian Underwood, the company became associated with the transition from analog to digital video in consumer electronics and personal computing. Its products and technology were used in devices including digital televisions, DVD players, smartphones, tablets, desktop computers, and notebook PCs. The company’s most influential work was in high-definition display connectivity. Silicon Image was involved in the development and commercialization of Digital Visual Interface (DVI), High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL), and WirelessHD technologies. These standards and related chip products addressed the movement of high-quality digital video and audio between source devices, displays, and other consumer-electronics equipment. The company operated primarily as a semiconductor designer rather than as a consumer-facing device manufacturer, supplying chips, reference designs, and intellectual property to original equipment manufacturers. Silicon Image initially operated from Silicon Valley and was headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, before relocating its headquarters to Hillsboro, Oregon. At its peak it employed approximately 600 people worldwide and maintained engineering and sales operations in several major Asian technology markets, including India, China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. Its international footprint reflected the concentration of electronics manufacturing and display-system development in those regions. The company expanded its technology portfolio through acquisitions. DVDO added digital-television and high-definition video technology, while CMD Technology contributed storage-controller expertise. Later purchases, including Sci-worx, Anchor Bay Technologies, and SiBEAM, broadened Silicon Image’s capabilities in semiconductor design, video processing, and millimeter-wave wireless connectivity. These transactions supported its strategy of combining interface standards with chips for signal processing and content delivery. Silicon Image also participated in industry consortia and standards activity. HDMI became a widely adopted connection technology for televisions, computers, game systems, audio-video receivers, and other equipment. MHL targeted the connection of mobile devices to larger displays, while WirelessHD addressed short-range wireless delivery of high-definition content. The company received an Emmy Award in 2009 in recognition of its contribution to HDMI technology and reported shipping its millionth digital-television input processor in 2007. Silicon Image was publicly listed following an initial public offering in October 1999, which raised approximately $46.8 million. Its independent existence ended in 2015, when Lattice Semiconductor agreed to acquire the company for approximately $600 million. Following the acquisition, Silicon Image’s technologies and product activities became part of Lattice’s portfolio. The Silicon Image corporate entity is therefore no longer active as an independent company, although technologies associated with its work remain relevant to digital-display and connectivity ecosystems.

Silicon Image was established in 1995 by David Lee and Brian Underwood. It emerged during the electronics industry’s shift toward digital video interfaces and specialized system-on-chip components. Rather than manufacturing finished consumer devices, the company designed fabless semiconductor products and licensed related intellectual property to equipment makers. The company’s early and central business focused on digital display connectivity. Its work contributed to the development and commercialization of DVI and HDMI, technologies that helped standardize the transmission of digital video and audio between computers, televisions, and other devices. Silicon Image’s products were incorporated into digital televisions, DVD players, desktop and notebook computers, and other consumer-electronics systems. In October 1999, Silicon Image completed an initial public offering that raised approximately $46.8 million. The company then used acquisitions to broaden its technology base. In March 2000 it agreed to acquire DVDO for approximately $45 million in stock, adding technology for digital televisions, DVD players, and high-definition video. In June 2001 it acquired CMD Technology, whose products included SCSI and Fibre Channel storage controllers as well as IDE and Ultra ATA components for PC and embedded applications. Silicon Image continued to expand during the 2000s. It completed the acquisition of Sci-worx GmbH in 2007 and reported shipping its millionth digital-television input processor that same year. The company’s role in HDMI technology was recognized with an Emmy Award in 2009. It later introduced ViaPort technology in 2010 and expanded its portfolio through the acquisition of Anchor Bay Technologies and SiBEAM in 2011. Anchor Bay strengthened video-processing capabilities, while SiBEAM added expertise in wireless high-definition connectivity. Wireless and mobile-device connections became increasingly important in the company’s later strategy. Silicon Image promoted WirelessHD 60 GHz chipsets for short-range wireless transmission of high-definition content and participated in the development of MHL, a standard designed to connect mobile devices with displays and other consumer electronics. In 2013, the MHL Consortium announced an expanded specification, and Silicon Image announced a receiver IC designed for 4K Ultra HD MHL 3.0 applications with HDCP 2.2 support. Silicon Image was headquartered first in Sunnyvale, California, and later in Hillsboro, Oregon. It maintained regional engineering and sales offices in India, China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan and reached peak employment of about 600 people worldwide. Its customer base consisted principally of manufacturers and technology integrators rather than end consumers. In March 2015, Lattice Semiconductor acquired Silicon Image for approximately $600 million. The transaction brought Silicon Image’s connectivity and multimedia semiconductor technologies into Lattice’s business and ended the company’s independent corporate existence. Silicon Image should therefore be understood as a defunct standalone semiconductor company whose technology portfolio was absorbed by its acquirer.

• 2015

  Acquired by Lattice Semiconductor

  [1]Silicon Imageen.wikipedia.org

  Lattice Semiconductor acquired Silicon Image for approximately $600 million.

• 2013

  MHL specification advances announced

  [1]Silicon Imageen.wikipedia.org

  The MHL Consortium announced a specification update supporting additional mobile and consumer-electronics connectivity capabilities.

• 2013

  4K Ultra HD MHL receiver announced

  [1]Silicon Imageen.wikipedia.org

  Silicon Image announced an MHL 3.0 receiver IC designed for 4K Ultra HD and HDCP 2.2 applications.

• 2011

  Anchor Bay Technologies and SiBEAM acquisitions completed

  [1]Silicon Imageen.wikipedia.org

  The acquisitions expanded Silicon Image’s video-processing and wireless high-definition technology portfolios.

• 2011

  Third-generation WirelessHD chipsets unveiled

  [1]Silicon Imageen.wikipedia.org

  The company announced a third generation of WirelessHD 60 GHz chipsets.

• 2010

  ViaPort introduced

  [1]Silicon Imageen.wikipedia.org

  Silicon Image introduced ViaPort connectivity technology.

• 2009

  Emmy recognition for HDMI technology

  [1]Silicon Imageen.wikipedia.org

  The company received an Emmy Award associated with its contribution to HDMI technology.

• 2007

  One-millionth DTV input processor shipped

  [1]Silicon Imageen.wikipedia.org

  Silicon Image announced shipment of its one-millionth digital television input processor.

• 2001

  CMD Technology acquired

  [1]Silicon Imageen.wikipedia.org

  The acquisition added storage-controller products covering SCSI, Fibre Channel, IDE, and Ultra ATA applications.

• 2000

  DVDO acquisition agreed

  [1]Silicon Imageen.wikipedia.org

  Silicon Image agreed to acquire DVDO for approximately $45 million in stock to add high-definition video and digital-television technology.

• 1999

  Initial public offering

  [1]Silicon Imageen.wikipedia.org

  Silicon Image completed an initial public offering that raised approximately $46.8 million.

• 1995

  Company founded

  [1]Silicon Imageen.wikipedia.org

  David Lee and Brian Underwood founded Silicon Image as a fabless semiconductor company.

A specialist fabless semiconductor and connectivity-technology supplier focused on moving high-definition digital audio and video among mobile devices, computers, televisions, and other consumer-electronics products.

• Digital display connectivity

  HDMI technology and interface ICs

  Silicon Image developed semiconductor products and intellectual property for HDMI-based digital audio and video connections. These technologies supported the movement of high-definition content between source devices, displays, and audio-video equipment and were used by manufacturers of televisions, computers, and other consumer electronics.

• Digital display connectivity

  DVI technology

  DVI-related circuits and intellectual property formed part of Silicon Image’s early digital-display business. The technology addressed digital connections between computers and displays during the transition away from analog monitor interfaces.

• Mobile-device connectivity

  MHL products

  MHL technology was designed to connect mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets with televisions and other displays. Silicon Image supplied MHL components, including later receiver products aimed at MHL 3.0, 4K Ultra HD video, and protected premium content.

• Wireless multimedia connectivity · 2011

  WirelessHD chipsets

  WirelessHD chipsets used 60 GHz wireless communications to support short-range transmission of high-definition multimedia content. Silicon Image announced a third-generation chipset family in 2011 after acquiring SiBEAM.

• Video processing

  Digital television input processors

  These integrated circuits processed digital television inputs and helped consumer-electronics manufacturers implement display and multimedia systems. Silicon Image reported shipping its one-millionth DTV input processor in 2007.

• Storage semiconductors · 2001

  Storage controllers

  Through its acquisition of CMD Technology, Silicon Image added controllers for SCSI, Fibre Channel, IDE, and Ultra ATA applications serving UNIX, open-systems, PC, and embedded markets.

• Connectivity technology · 2010

  ViaPort

  ViaPort was a connectivity technology introduced by Silicon Image in 2010. The available reference material identifies its introduction but does not provide enough detail to characterize a complete product family.

• 2015

  Sell the company to Lattice SemiconductorM&A

  Background

  Silicon Image’s connectivity and multimedia semiconductor technologies were strategically complementary to Lattice Semiconductor’s business.

  Action taken

  Lattice Semiconductor acquired Silicon Image for approximately $600 million.

  Aftermath

  Silicon Image ceased operating as an independent company and its technologies became part of Lattice Semiconductor.

  Acquisition value. Approximately $600 million (March 2015)

  Source

• 2013

  Introduce a 4K Ultra HD MHL 3.0 receiverProduct launch

  Background

  Mobile and consumer-electronics manufacturers were adopting higher-resolution displays and required secure transmission of premium content.

  Action taken

  Silicon Image announced an MHL 3.0 receiver IC supporting 4K Ultra HD and HDCP 2.2-related requirements.

  Aftermath

  The product aligned Silicon Image’s MHL portfolio with emerging 4K display and content-protection applications.

  Source

• 2011

  Acquire Anchor Bay Technologies and SiBEAMM&A

  Background

  The company pursued complementary technologies in video processing and wireless high-definition content transmission.

  Action taken

  Silicon Image completed the acquisitions of Anchor Bay Technologies and SiBEAM.

  Aftermath

  The acquisitions strengthened the company’s video-processing and WirelessHD capabilities.

  Source

• 2001

  Acquire CMD TechnologyM&A

  Background

  Silicon Image aimed to expand beyond display connectivity into storage controllers and related PC and embedded semiconductor markets.

  Action taken

  The company acquired CMD Technology, a supplier of SCSI, Fibre Channel, IDE, and Ultra ATA products.

  Aftermath

  Silicon Image added storage-controller expertise and products to its semiconductor portfolio.

  Source

• 2000

  Acquire DVDO to expand high-definition video capabilitiesM&A

  Background

  Silicon Image sought additional technology for digital televisions, DVD players, and high-definition video applications.

  Action taken

  The company agreed to acquire DVDO for approximately $45 million in stock.

  Aftermath

  The transaction broadened Silicon Image’s digital-television and video technology portfolio.

  Transaction value. Approximately $45 million (2000)

  Source

1. 1Silicon Imageen.wikipedia.org