Mindspeed Technologies

Last updated
Mindspeed Technologies, Inc.
Company type Public (Nasdaq: MSPD)
Industry Semiconductors
Electronics
FoundedJune 27, 2003
Headquarters Newport Beach, California, United States
Key people
Raouf Y. Halim (President, CEO), Amukurajah Das, Head - India operations, IDC, Hyderabad.
Products Integrated Circuits
Wireless networks
Mobile communications
Network switches
Digital subscriber line
VoIP
crosspoint switches
FTTx
Revenue$162 million USD (2011)
Increase2.svg-$0.76 million USD (2011)
Number of employees
550 (2012)
Website www.mindspeed.com

Mindspeed Technologies, Inc. designs, manufactures, develops, and sells fabless semiconductors for communications applications in wireless and wired networks. [1]

Contents

Products

Wireless

Mindspeed’s products are used in wireless infrastructure and small cell base-stations. The company's ARM-based processors include low-power, multi-core digital signal processor system-on-chip (SoC) products for fixed and mobile (3G/4G) carrier infrastructure (the Transcede family) and Picochip's SoCs for 3G (HSPA) femtocells and small cells.

Mindspeed announced the Transcede family of wireless baseband processors [2] in 2010, including the single-core Transcede 3000, which serves the eNodeB processing needs of a picocell, while consuming less than 10 watts (W) of power, and the dual-core Transcede 4000, which delivers three sectors of LTE processing for macro cells serving thousands of subscribers. The Transcede 4000 integrates 26 programmable processors into a single device, [3] including two ARM® Cortex A9® multi-core symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) reduced instruction set computer (RISC) processors, 10 CEVA (digital signal processors (DSPs) and 10 DSP accelerators, enabling equipment manufacturers to fully support the complete processing needs of single- and multi-sector base stations using the WCDMA/HSPA, LTE, LTE time-division duplex (TD-LTE), time division synchronous code division multiple access (TD-SCDMA, in China) and other air-interface standards.

The Transcede 4000 processor was honored as the Best Mobile Technology Breakthrough at the 2010 Mobile Excellence Awards. [4]

Following the acquisition of Picochip, that company's small cell SoC products are part of Mindspeed's Wireless Business Unit.

Communications convergence processing

Mindspeed Comcerto M86200G-12, used in WD My Cloud Controller of a Western Digital My Cloud 4 TB - ARM Cortex-A9-9888.jpg
Mindspeed Comcerto M86200G-12, used in WD My Cloud

Mindspeed’s ARM-based products include low-power, multi-core digital signal processor system-on-chip (SoC) for residential and enterprise platforms (the Comcerto Product line) and carrier-grade VoIP systems.

These are embedded packet processors for a wide variety of applications ranging from high-end VoIP enabled home gateways, small-to-midsized business (SMB) security appliances to Ethernet powered 802.11n enterprise access points. The Comcerto family are based on ARM host processors.

Mindspeed announced the new generation of this family, the Comcerto 2000 in June 2012. [5]

High-performance analog

Analog products include high-density crosspoint switches, optical drivers, equalization and signal-conditioning products. The high-performance analog transmission devices and switching products support storage area network, fiber-to-the-premise, OTN and broadcast video typically operating at data transmission rates between 155 megabits per second (Mbit/s) and 10 gigabits per second (Gbit/s).

The transmission products include laser drivers, transimpedance amplifiers, post amplifiers, clock and data recovery circuits, signal conditioners, serializers/deserializers, video reclockers, cable drivers and line equalizers. These products serve as the connection between a fiber optic or coaxial cable component interface and the remainder of the electrical subsystem in various network equipment.

The switching products include a family of high-speed crosspoint switches capable of switching traffic within network switching equipment. Typical equipment applications for switching products include OTN systems, add-drop multiplexers, high-density IP switches and storage-area routers. In addition, crosspoint switches are used for broadcast video routing and production switching applications.

Wide area networking

The legacy wide area network communications portfolio includes carrier Ethernet devices, Layer 2 processors, T-carrier and E-carrier devices [6] and symmetric digital subscriber line (SDSL) devices. [7]

History

Mindspeed Technologies was formed from the spin-off of the Network Access division of Conexant Systems, Inc. to shareowners on June 27, 2003; creating two independent, publicly traded communications semiconductor companies. [1]

Conexant Systems was established four years earlier when Rockwell International spun off its Rockwell Semiconductor Systems (RSS) division [8] to shareholders as an independent company focused exclusively on providing semiconductor products for communications electronics. The Network Access division (which became Mindspeed) helped to develop and commercialize 56 kbps client-side and central-site modem technology in the mid- to late-1990s that was used to deploy dial-up Internet access services offered by Internet service providers (ISPs). [1]

As an independent company, Mindspeed used its experience in analog and mixed-signal communications semiconductor technology to create multi-core packet-processing devices for Voice over IP (VoIP) gateways, routers and other communications systems. [9]

In January 2012, Mindspeed acquired British company Picochip for about $52 million. [10]

Mindspeed was acquired by MACOM [11] and Mindspeed wireless acquired by Intel.

Manufacturing

Mindspeed is a Fabless semiconductor company. It outsources all semiconductor manufacturing to merchant foundries, such as TSMC, Samsung and others.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">System on a chip</span> Micro-electronic component

A system on a chip or system-on-chip is an integrated circuit that integrates most or all components of a computer or other electronic system. These components almost always include on-chip central processing unit (CPU), memory interfaces, input/output devices and interfaces, and secondary storage interfaces, often alongside other components such as radio modems and a graphics processing unit (GPU) – all on a single substrate or microchip. SoCs may contain digital and also analog, mixed-signal and often radio frequency signal processing functions.

Enhanced 911 is a system used in North America to automatically provide the caller's location to 911 dispatchers. 911 is the universal emergency telephone number in the region. In the European Union, a similar system exists known as E112 and known as eCall when called by a vehicle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WiMAX</span> Wireless broadband standard

Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) is a family of wireless broadband communication standards based on the IEEE 802.16 set of standards, which provide physical layer (PHY) and media access control (MAC) options.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nordic Semiconductor</span> Norwegian multinational semiconductors manufacturer

Nordic Semiconductor ASA was founded in 1983 and is a Norwegian fabless technology company with its headquarters in Trondheim, Norway. The company specializes in designing ultra-low-power wireless communication semiconductors and supporting software for engineers developing and manufacturing Internet of Things (IoT) products.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mixed-signal integrated circuit</span> Integrated circuit

A mixed-signal integrated circuit is any integrated circuit that has both analog circuits and digital circuits on a single semiconductor die. Their usage has grown dramatically with the increased use of cell phones, telecommunications, portable electronics, and automobiles with electronics and digital sensors.

Conexant Systems, Inc. was an American-based software developer and fabless semiconductor company that developed technology for voice and audio processing, imaging and modems. The company began as a division of Rockwell International, before being spun off as a public company. Conexant itself then spun off several business units, creating independent public companies which included Skyworks Solutions and Mindspeed Technologies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VoIP phone</span> Phone using one or more VoIP technologies

A VoIP phone or IP phone uses voice over IP technologies for placing and transmitting telephone calls over an IP network, such as the Internet. This is in contrast to a standard phone which uses the traditional public switched telephone network (PSTN).

Wi-Fi calling refers to mobile phone voice calls and data that are made over IP networks using Wi-Fi, instead of the cell towers provided by cellular networks. Using this feature, compatible handsets are able to route regular cellular calls through a wireless LAN (Wi-Fi) network with broadband Internet, while seamlessly change connections between the two where necessary. This feature makes use of the Generic Access Network (GAN) protocol, also known as Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA).

Mobile VoIP or simply mVoIP is an extension of mobility to a voice over IP network. Two types of communication are generally supported: cordless telephones using DECT or PCS protocols for short range or campus communications where all base stations are linked into the same LAN, and wider area communications using 3G or 4G protocols.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ceva (semiconductor company)</span> American company

Ceva Inc. is a publicly traded semiconductor intellectual property (IP) company, headquartered in Rockville, Maryland and specializes in digital signal processor (DSP) technology. The company's main development facility is located in Herzliya, Israel and Sophia Antipolis, France.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Femtocell</span> Small, low-power cellular base station

In telecommunications, a femtocell is a small, low-power cellular base station, typically designed for use in a home or small business. A broader term which is more widespread in the industry is small cell, with femtocell as a subset. It typically connects to the service provider's network via the Internet through a wired broadband link ; current designs typically support four to eight simultaneously active mobile phones in a residential setting depending on version number and femtocell hardware, and eight to sixteen mobile phones in enterprise settings. A femtocell allows service providers to extend service coverage indoors or at the cell edge, especially where access would otherwise be limited or unavailable. Although much attention is focused on WCDMA, the concept is applicable to all standards, including GSM, CDMA2000, TD-SCDMA, WiMAX and LTE solutions.

Picochip was a venture-backed fabless semiconductor company based in Bath, England, founded in 2000. In January 2012 Picochip was acquired by Mindspeed Technologies, Inc and subsequently by Intel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">QorIQ</span> Microprocessor range

QorIQ is a brand of ARM-based and Power ISA–based communications microprocessors from NXP Semiconductors. It is the evolutionary step from the PowerQUICC platform, and initial products were built around one or more e500mc cores and came in five different product platforms, P1, P2, P3, P4, and P5, segmented by performance and functionality. The platform keeps software compatibility with older PowerPC products such as the PowerQUICC platform. In 2012 Freescale announced ARM-based QorIQ offerings beginning in 2013.

In telecommunications, long-term evolution (LTE) is a standard for wireless broadband communication for mobile devices and data terminals, based on the GSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSPA standards. It improves on those standards' capacity and speed by using a different radio interface and core network improvements. LTE is the upgrade path for carriers with both GSM/UMTS networks and CDMA2000 networks. Because LTE frequencies and bands differ from country to country, only multi-band phones can use LTE in all countries where it is supported.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ARM Cortex-A9</span> 32-bit multicore processor developed by SR1

The ARM Cortex-A9 MPCore is a 32-bit multi-core processor that provides up to 4 cache-coherent cores, each implementing the ARM v7 architecture instruction set. It was introduced in 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MACOM Technology Solutions</span> American semiconductor manufacturer

MACOM Technology Solutions is a developer and producer of radio, microwave, and millimeter wave semiconductor devices and components. The company is headquartered in Lowell, Massachusetts, and in 2005 was Lowell's largest private employer. MACOM is certified to the ISO 9001 international quality standard and ISO 14001 environmental standard. The company has design centers and sales offices in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DSP Group</span> American semiconductor company

DSP Group, Inc. was an American company that manufactured chipsets for VoIP, multimedia, and digital cordless applications. Founded in 1987 with headquarters in San Jose, California, DSP Group employed over 400 people at three US sites and offices in Germany, Scotland, Israel, India, Hong Kong and Japan until it was acquired by Synaptics.

SunComm Technology is a Taiwan multinational computer technology and GSM Voice over IP gateway manufacturer. The main products in 2010 focused on GSM VoIP gateways & IP surveillance camera devices. Core members have been engaging in the communication & networks industry since 1977.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Exynos</span> Family of ARM based system-on-a-chips made by Samsung

The Samsung Exynos, formerly Hummingbird (Korean: 엑시노스), is a series of ARM-based system-on-chips developed by Samsung Electronics' System LSI division and manufactured by Samsung Foundry. It is a continuation of Samsung's earlier S3C, S5L and S5P line of SoCs.

Hexagon is the brand name for a family of digital signal processor (DSP) products by Qualcomm. Hexagon is also known as QDSP6, standing for “sixth generation digital signal processor.” According to Qualcomm, the Hexagon architecture is designed to deliver performance with low power over a variety of applications.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Conexant Spins Off Mindspeed". EDN. March 24, 2003. Archived from the original on January 21, 2013. Retrieved 2011-05-18.
  2. Wilson, Ron (January 26, 2010). "Mindspeed visualizes an opening in the base-station market". EDN. Archived from the original on January 21, 2013. Retrieved 2011-05-18.
  3. Merritt, Rick (August 23, 2010). "Update: Mindspeed describes 26-core basestation DSP". EE Times . Retrieved 2011-05-18.
  4. "Mobile Excellence Award Winners". CisionWire. December 7, 2010. Retrieved 2011-05-18.
  5. Maxfield, Clive (6 November 2012). "Mindspeed's multi-core ARM Cortex-A-based comms processor family". EE Times . Retrieved 2012-08-30.
  6. "Mindspeed Introduces Next-Generation Family of System-on-Chip Carrier Access VoIP Processors". design-reuse.com. 2008-01-23. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
  7. "Mindspeed races ahead in G.shdsl transceiver stakes". eetimes.com. 2002-07-10. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
  8. "Conexant Begins Operations as Independent Company Following Spin-Off from Rockwell". Business Wire. January 4, 1999. Retrieved 2011-05-18.
  9. "Mindspeed Announces High-Performance, Multi-Core ARM Cortex-A CPU-Based Communications Processor Family". design-reuse.com. 2012-06-11. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
  10. Ben Rooney (6 January 2012). "Small-Cell Maker Picochip Acquired by Mindspeed". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
  11. "MACOM - MACOM Successfully Completes Tender Offer for Mindspeed Technologies".

Further reading