A Dresden semiconductor company that evolved from East Germany's principal microelectronics research institute into a fabless designer of mixed-signal integrated circuits.
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Overview
ZMDI, short for Zentrum Mikroelektronik Dresden, was a German semiconductor company whose institutional history began in Dresden in 1961. It originated as the Arbeitsstelle für Molekularelektronik, a state-backed research organization created under Werner Hartmann to develop integrated-circuit manufacturing technologies. During the Cold War, the organization became one of the central pillars of East Germany's microelectronics program. It developed early bipolar and MOS integrated circuits, memory devices, and manufacturing expertise, while operating under a succession of names and state-industrial structures. The Dresden organization produced its first p–n junction in 1966, a working bipolar transistor in 1967, and its first integrated circuit in 1968. These early devices were technically modest by international standards but important to East Germany's effort to establish a domestic semiconductor capability. The institute's designs were transferred for volume production to other East German semiconductor facilities, including the Halbleiterwerk Frankfurt (Oder) and the VEB Mikroelektronik "Karl Marx" Erfurt. Its work later expanded into dynamic random-access memory, including the U253 1-kilobit device, the U2164 64-kilobit device, the U61256 256-kilobit device, and the U61000 1-megabit device. The latter two remained largely at pilot or limited-production stages before reunification. The organization changed names several times as East Germany reorganized its electronics sector: AMD in 1969, Institut für Mikroelektronik Dresden in 1976, VEB Zentrum für Forschung und Technologie Mikroelektronik in 1980, and VEB Forschungszentrum Mikroelektronik Dresden in 1987. These changes reflected shifts in state industrial administration as much as changes in commercial identity. ZMD was regarded as a major research and development center in East German microelectronics and, together with TU Dresden and VEB Spurenmetalle Freiberg, helped provide the institutional base for the later Silicon Saxony cluster. After German reunification, ZMD entered the Treuhandanstalt restructuring system and was placed within PTC-electronic AG. It was privatized as ZMD GmbH in 1993 and remained closely associated with the Free State of Saxony's effort to preserve a semiconductor industry in the region. Persistent losses and declining employment led to a transfer to Sachsenring AG in 1998 for a symbolic price. The company became ZMD AG in 2001. In 2007 it sold its foundry to X-FAB Semiconductor Foundries, completing its transition to a fabless semiconductor model. From 2009, the company used the ZMDI logo while retaining the legal name Zentrum Mikroelektronik Dresden. In its later phase, ZMDI designed and marketed application-specific integrated circuits and systems-on-chip, particularly mixed-signal devices intended to combine analog and digital functions with low power consumption. Its application areas included automotive electronics, industrial systems, medical technology, and infrared communication interfaces such as IrDA. Automotive electronics became an especially important area, reflecting the company's historical connection with Sachsenring and the broader Saxon technology ecosystem. ZMDI was acquired by Integrated Device Technology in December 2015. Following that acquisition, ZMDI ceased to operate as an independent brand and company, although its technologies and business activities became part of IDT's portfolio.
History
ZMDI's history began in Dresden in 1961, when Werner Hartmann led the creation of the Arbeitsstelle für Molekularelektronik, or Department of Molecular Electronics. The institute was established to develop integrated-circuit technologies shortly after the first commercial and experimental breakthroughs associated with Jack Kilby and Robert Noyce. It initially reported to East Germany's Office of Nuclear Research and Technology and was transferred in 1965 to VVB Bauelemente und Vakuumtechnik, the state combine responsible for much of the country's electronic-component production. The institute's early work established a domestic research and production base. Researchers produced a p–n junction in 1966, a working bipolar junction transistor in 1967, and the C10 integrated circuit in April 1968. The C10 was a four-input NAND gate containing seven transistors and was made using a 20-micrometer process. A later C30 test chip achieved a higher yield in a 10-micrometer process. These designs were subsequently adapted for volume production elsewhere in East Germany. The D120C and related 7400- and 74H00-series-compatible devices were publicly presented at the Leipzig Trade Fair in 1971. In 1969 the organization was renamed Arbeitsstelle für Molekularelektronik Dresden, abbreviated AMD. This designation was unrelated to the American chip company AMD. During the early 1970s, East Germany's changing economic priorities reduced investment in microelectronics, and AMD was required to reduce staff in 1973. The policy was later reversed. In the same period, the organization produced the U820D PMOS integrated circuit for electronic calculators. The device contained approximately 6,000 transistors and used a 6-micrometer process. Hartmann, who had led the organization since its creation, was forced to leave in 1974. The institute became Institut für Mikroelektronik Dresden in 1976. In 1978 it was incorporated into VEB Kombinat Mikroelektronik Erfurt after the restructuring of East Germany's electronics combines. The organization's memory research included development of the U253, a 1-kilobit dynamic RAM device publicly announced in 1977. It later worked on the 16-kilobit U256 and the 64-kilobit U2164. Laboratory samples of the U2164 appeared in 1981, the device was presented at the Leipzig Spring Fair in 1984, and pilot production began in 1986. Mass production was carried out at VEB Mikroelektronik "Karl Marx" Erfurt from 1988. In 1980 the institute was combined with VEB Elektromat Dresden, a producer of semiconductor manufacturing equipment, to form VEB Zentrum für Forschung und Technologie Mikroelektronik. In 1986 it was transferred from the Erfurt microelectronics combine to Kombinat Carl Zeiss Jena. The name changed again in 1987 to VEB Forschungszentrum Mikroelektronik Dresden. During this period, researchers developed the U61256 256-kilobit memory device and the U61000 1-megabit device. Pilot production of the U61256 began in 1988, but an industrial accident that year sharply damaged its already low yield. Around 35,000 U61000 devices were manufactured in 1988 and 1989, while neither the U61256 nor U61000 reached sustained mass production before German reunification. The U61000 was promoted as evidence of East German technological capability and sometimes carried the Carl Zeiss Jena logo because it was used in marketing associated semiconductor-manufacturing equipment. After reunification in 1990, ZMD and other former East German microelectronics businesses were placed in a Treuhandanstalt-owned holding company called PTC-electronic AG. In 1993, ZMD was privatized as ZMD GmbH. The Free State of Saxony sought to preserve the company as an anchor for the region's semiconductor industry, but ZMD continued to record losses and reduced its workforce from 575 employees in 1993 to 434 in 1998. In 1998 it was transferred to Sachsenring AG for a symbolic two deutsche marks. The company became a stock corporation in December 2001 and used the name Zentrum Mikroelektronik Dresden AG. Its foundry was sold to X-FAB Semiconductor Foundries in 2007, turning ZMD into a fabless semiconductor company. From May 2009, the ZMDI logo became the principal market identity, although the legal company name remained Zentrum Mikroelektronik Dresden. The later company concentrated on low-power mixed-signal ASICs and systems-on-chip for automotive, industrial, medical, and infrared-interface applications. ZMDI was acquired by Integrated Device Technology in December 2015, after which it no longer operated as an independent company.
- 2015
Acquisition by Integrated Device Technology
[1]Integrated Device Technology acquired ZMDI, ending its independent corporate history.
- 2009
ZMDI branding introduced
[1]The company began using the ZMDI logo as its principal market identity while retaining its legal name.
- 2007
Foundry divestment
[1]ZMD sold its semiconductor foundry to X-FAB Semiconductor Foundries and adopted a fabless business model.
- 2001
Conversion to an Aktiengesellschaft
[1]The company changed its corporate form to an Aktiengesellschaft, or stock corporation.
- 1998
Transfer to Sachsenring AG
[1]After continued losses, ZMD was transferred to Sachsenring AG for a symbolic price.
- 1993
Privatization as ZMD GmbH
[1]Following reunification and Treuhand restructuring, ZMD was privatized as ZMD GmbH.
- 1988
U2164 entered mass production
[1]The 64-kilobit U2164 memory device entered mass production at VEB Mikroelektronik "Karl Marx" Erfurt after earlier development and pilot manufacturing in Dresden.
- 1987
Renamed VEB Forschungszentrum Mikroelektronik Dresden
[1]The organization adopted the ZMD name that became the basis for its later corporate identity.
- 1980
Formation of ZFTM
[1]The microelectronics institute was combined with VEB Elektromat Dresden to form VEB Zentrum für Forschung und Technologie Mikroelektronik.
- 1977
U253 memory device announced
[1]The organization publicly announced the U253 1-kilobit dynamic RAM device.
Products and positioning
A specialist semiconductor design company focused in its later years on low-power, mixed-signal ASICs and systems-on-chip for automotive, industrial, medical, and infrared-interface applications.
Early logic integrated circuits · 1968
C10 and C30
The C10 and C30 were among the first integrated circuits developed by the Dresden organization. The C10 was a four-input NAND gate with seven transistors, fabricated in a 20-micrometer process. The later C30 contained two four-input NAND gates and fourteen transistors and was produced in a 10-micrometer process. Related designs were later transferred to other East German facilities for volume production.
Calculator integrated circuit · 1973
U820D
The U820D was a PMOS integrated circuit developed for electronic calculators. Working samples appeared in 1973. The device contained approximately 6,000 transistors and represented the organization's move from foundational semiconductor research toward application-oriented integrated-circuit production.
Dynamic RAM · 1977
U253
The U253 was a 1-kilobit dynamic random-access memory device developed by the Dresden institute. It was described as a clone of Intel's 1103 and was publicly announced at the Leipzig Spring Fair in 1977. The device marked an important stage in the organization's transition toward semiconductor memory development.
Dynamic RAM · 1988
U2164
The U2164 was a 64-kilobit dynamic RAM device developed through the Dresden research program. Laboratory samples were obtained in 1981, and the device was presented publicly in 1984. Pilot production began in Dresden in 1986, followed by mass production at VEB Mikroelektronik "Karl Marx" Erfurt from 1988.
Dynamic RAM · 1988
U61256
The U61256 was a 256-kilobit dynamic RAM device whose pilot production began in 1988. Its production suffered from an industrial accident that year, and its yield fell from an already low level to below one percent. The device did not reach sustained mass production before German reunification.
Dynamic RAM · 1989
U61000
The U61000 was a 1-megabit dynamic RAM device developed in the final years of East Germany. Approximately 35,000 units were manufactured in 1988 and 1989, but the device did not progress to full mass production before reunification. It was heavily publicized as evidence of East German semiconductor capability.
Application-specific semiconductor devices
Mixed-signal ASICs and systems-on-chip
In its later fabless phase, ZMDI designed and marketed application-specific integrated circuits and systems-on-chip combining analog and digital functions. The company emphasized low energy consumption and targeted automotive electronics, industrial equipment, medical technology, and infrared communication interfaces such as IrDA. Individual product model names are not specified in the available reference material.
Brand decisions
2015
Acquisition by Integrated Device TechnologyM&ABackground
After operating as an independent German fabless semiconductor company, ZMDI became an acquisition target in the international chip industry.
Action taken
Integrated Device Technology acquired ZMDI in December 2015.
Aftermath
ZMDI ceased to operate as an independent company and its business and technology became part of IDT.
2007
Adoption of a fabless semiconductor modelStrategyBackground
ZMD operated both semiconductor design activities and a manufacturing foundry, but the company later sought a more focused design-and-marketing role.
Action taken
The company sold its foundry to X-FAB Semiconductor Foundries and continued as a fabless semiconductor business.
Aftermath
The change concentrated ZMD's activities on mixed-signal ASIC and system-on-chip design, while fabrication was handled by an external foundry.
Sources1 sources
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