TriQuint Semiconductor
Former American manufacturer of radio-frequency semiconductor components, modules and foundry products.
Last updated August 26, 2026
AI crawler reads
4requests
1companies- Anthropic4
- Profile
- 2
- Controversies
- 2
- JSON · MD
- 0
- First read
- Nov 4, 2026
- Latest read
- Nov 4, 2026
From this site's server log
Overview
TriQuint Semiconductor was an American semiconductor company specializing in high-performance radio-frequency components, modules and semiconductor foundry services. It originated in 1985 as a subsidiary of Tektronix in Beaverton, Oregon, and later moved to nearby Hillsboro. Its name referred to the periodic-table positions associated with gallium and arsenic, the compound-semiconductor materials that formed the basis of its early technology. The company developed from a small Tektronix-related operation into a significant supplier for wireless communications and other high-frequency applications. In 1988, members of the original technical group chose to leave the Tektronix structure and establish an independent company. In 1991, Gazelle Microcircuits and Gigabit Logic were combined with TriQuint under the TriQuint name. The enlarged business focused heavily on components for mobile phones and communications equipment, while also serving infrastructure, broadband, optical, military and aerospace customers. TriQuint's technology portfolio covered gallium arsenide, surface acoustic wave and bulk acoustic wave processes. Its products included power amplifiers, power-amplifier modules, switches, acoustic-wave filters, antenna-switch modules and broader radio-frequency front-end modules for handsets. The company's components were used in a range of consumer products, including devices associated with Apple, Palm, HTC and Amazon. It also supplied radio-frequency components for base stations and broadband systems, as well as optical communications parts such as modulator drivers, transimpedance amplifiers, attenuators, filters and low-noise amplifiers. In addition to selling proprietary products, TriQuint operated foundry facilities that could manufacture products for fabless semiconductor companies. Acquisitions were an important part of TriQuint's expansion. The company combined with Sawtek in 2001, adding surface-acoustic-wave expertise. In 2002 it acquired Infineon's gallium-arsenide semiconductor business and part of Agere Systems' optoelectronics business. It subsequently sold the optoelectronics unit formed from the Agere transaction to CyOptics in 2005. Other acquisitions broadened its acoustic-wave and radio-frequency capabilities, including TFR Technologies, Peak Devices and WJ Communications. TriQuint also faced legal and competitive challenges. It settled an investor lawsuit in 2009 concerning alleged stock-option backdating, while denying wrongdoing. A separate patent dispute with Avago Technologies over acoustic-wave filters began in 2009 and ended in 2012 through a cross-licensing arrangement. The company experienced several quarters of losses before returning to profitability in the third quarter of 2013. In February 2014, TriQuint and Greensboro, North Carolina-based RF Micro Devices announced plans to combine. The transaction closed on January 1, 2015, creating Qorvo, Inc. TriQuint therefore ceased to operate as an independent public company, and its former business became part of Qorvo's radio-frequency semiconductor operations.
History
TriQuint Semiconductor began in 1985 as a Tektronix subsidiary in Beaverton, Oregon. Its initial technical foundation was gallium arsenide, a compound-semiconductor material suited to high-frequency applications. The company name was selected through an internal contest and alluded to the periodic-table positions associated with gallium and arsenic. A core group within the operation reassessed its relationship with Tektronix in 1988 and decided to pursue an independent company. Alan Patz served as the first chief executive officer from 1985 to 1991. In 1991, TriQuint, Gazelle Microcircuits and Gigabit Logic were brought together under the TriQuint name. The combined business concentrated on components for mobile phones and communications systems. Patz left the CEO role in 1991; Bert Moyer served briefly as interim CEO before Steve Sharp became the permanent leader. TriQuint expanded through both acquisitions and technology development. In 2001, it announced and completed a combination with Sawtek, adding surface acoustic wave technology. In 2002, it acquired Infineon's gallium-arsenide semiconductor business through a partnership arrangement and purchased a substantial part of Agere Systems' optoelectronics business. Ralph Quinsey became CEO in 2002. TriQuint later sold the optoelectronics business created from the Agere transaction to CyOptics in 2005. The company continued broadening its product and process capabilities. It acquired TFR Technologies in 2005 to strengthen bulk acoustic wave technology, bought Peak Devices in 2007 for wide-bandwidth capabilities, and completed the acquisition of WJ Communications in 2008 to add radio-frequency products. These transactions supported a portfolio spanning handset components, base-station products, broadband equipment, optical communications and defense applications. TriQuint's commercial importance grew with the spread of smartphones and wireless data networks. Its power amplifiers, switches, filters and front-end modules were incorporated into products from several major device makers and their manufacturing partners. The company also supplied components for communications infrastructure and retained a foundry role, manufacturing products for both itself and fabless semiconductor companies. The company encountered litigation during this period. In 2009, it settled an investor case involving allegations of improper stock-option backdating, without admitting wrongdoing. It also contested acoustic-filter patents with Avago Technologies. That dispute concluded in 2012 with a cross-licensing agreement. After a period of financial pressure and several loss-making quarters, TriQuint returned to profitability in the third quarter of 2013. In February 2014, TriQuint announced a merger with RF Micro Devices, another major RF semiconductor supplier headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina. The transaction closed on January 1, 2015, creating Qorvo, Inc. TriQuint's independent corporate identity and NASDAQ listing under TQNT consequently ended, although its technologies, facilities and product capabilities continued within Qorvo.
- 2015
Qorvo is created
[1]The RF Micro Devices merger closed on January 1, ending TriQuint's independent corporate existence.
- 2014
Merger with RF Micro Devices is announced
[1]The companies announced plans to create Qorvo, a combined RF semiconductor company.
- 2012
Avago patent dispute ends in cross-licensing
[1]TriQuint and Avago resolved their acoustic-filter patent conflict through a cross-license arrangement.
- 2008
WJ Communications acquisition is completed
[1]The transaction expanded TriQuint's RF product portfolio.
- 2007
Peak Devices acquisition is completed
[1]TriQuint acquired Peak Devices to add wide-bandwidth capabilities.
- 2005
TFR Technologies is acquired
[1]The acquisition added bulk acoustic wave expertise.
- 2002
TriQuint acquires GaAs and optoelectronics assets
[1]The company acquired Infineon's GaAs semiconductor business and a substantial portion of Agere Systems' optoelectronics business.
- 2001
Sawtek merger expands acoustic-wave capabilities
[1]The combination added Sawtek's surface acoustic wave technology to TriQuint's semiconductor portfolio.
- 1991
Gazelle Microcircuits and Gigabit Logic combine with TriQuint
[1]The companies were consolidated under the TriQuint name, strengthening the focus on mobile-phone and communications components.
- 1988
Core team chooses independence from Tektronix
[1]The original group decided to develop an independent business rather than remain within Tektronix's GaAs strategic business unit.
Products and positioning
A high-performance compound-semiconductor and radio-frequency specialist serving wireless handsets, communications infrastructure, broadband, optical networking, and military customers.
Mobile communications semiconductors
Wireless handset RF front-end components
TriQuint supplied power amplifiers, power-amplifier modules, pHEMT switches, filter modules, antenna-switch modules and complete RF front-end modules for mobile handsets. These components managed signal amplification, switching and filtering between a handset's radio circuitry and antenna. The products were used in smartphones and other wireless devices, including products associated with Apple, Palm, HTC and Amazon.
Acoustic-wave RF filters
SAW and BAW filters
The company developed surface acoustic wave and bulk acoustic wave filters for selecting desired radio frequencies and suppressing interference. Sawtek and later TFR Technologies acquisitions strengthened these capabilities. The filters were used in wireless handsets, communications infrastructure and other RF systems requiring compact, selective frequency control.
Wireless infrastructure semiconductors
Base-station RF components
TriQuint supplied gallium-arsenide and acoustic-wave components for cellular base stations and related communications infrastructure. These products supported signal amplification, switching and filtering in systems designed to handle higher power and more demanding RF performance requirements than consumer handsets.
Optoelectronics and broadband components
Optical communications components
TriQuint's broadband and optical portfolio included optical modulator drivers, transimpedance amplifiers, attenuators, Bessel filters and low-noise amplifiers. These parts were designed for optical networking and broadband communications equipment. The optoelectronics business assembled through the Agere transaction was later sold to CyOptics.
Foundry manufacturing
Semiconductor foundry services
In addition to designing and selling its own components, TriQuint operated manufacturing facilities and offered foundry services. Fabless semiconductor companies could use its processes and facilities to manufacture products, particularly in compound-semiconductor and RF-related applications.
Controversies
2009
Investor lawsuit over stock-option backdating allegations
TriQuint settled an investor lawsuit concerning allegations of improper stock-option backdating. The company agreed to pay nearly three million dollars in plaintiffs' attorneys' fees as part of the settlement while maintaining that it had done nothing wrong.
Brand decisions
2014
Merger agreement with RF Micro DevicesM&ABackground
Both companies operated in RF semiconductors and sought to build a larger supplier with a broader product and customer base.
Action taken
TriQuint and RF Micro Devices announced a merger under the Qorvo name.
Aftermath
The transaction closed on January 1, 2015, creating Qorvo and ending TriQuint's independent listing and operations as a separate company.
2002
Acquisition of Infineon and Agere assetsM&ABackground
The company pursued scale and additional compound-semiconductor and optoelectronics capabilities.
Action taken
TriQuint acquired Infineon's GaAs semiconductor business and a large portion of Agere Systems' optoelectronics business.
Aftermath
The transactions broadened TriQuint's portfolio, although the optoelectronics business formed from the Agere assets was later sold to CyOptics.
2001
Combination with SawtekM&ABackground
TriQuint sought to broaden its RF technology base and add surface acoustic wave expertise.
Action taken
The companies announced and completed a merger, bringing Sawtek's acoustic-wave capabilities into TriQuint.
Aftermath
TriQuint expanded its ability to supply acoustic-wave products for wireless and communications applications.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/triquint-semiconductor · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled