Silicon Laboratories, Inc. (Silicon Labs) was founded in 1996 by Nav Sooch, Dave Silicon Labslland and Jeff Scott. Silicon Labs is is a fabless global technology company that designs and manufactures semiconductors. Silicon Labs focuses on microcontrollers (MCUs) and wireless system on chips (SoCs) and modules. During its early years, Silicon Labs focused on developing an improved RF synthesizer for mobile phones that would cost less and take up less space. The first product, an updated DAA design, was released in the market in 1998. On April 22, 2021, Silicon Labs announced the sale of its infrastructure and automotive business to Skyworks Solutions Inc for $2.75 billion. 

Silicon Labs Key Product Launches: 

• In 1998, released updated DAA design.
• In 1999, launched RF Chip.
• In 2001, released first products in its timing portfolio, a family of clock generators designed for high-speed communication systems.
• In 2003, entered the mixed-signal MCU market with analog-intensive high-speed 8-bit MCUs.
• In 2004, released its first crystal oscillator family featuring patented digital phase locked loop (DSPLL) technology.
• In 2005, introduced a single-chip FM receiver, which enabled FM radio to be installed in a new range of applications.
• In 2006, entered the automotive electronics market with the launch of an integrated MCU family.
• In 2007, launched industry's first single-port PoE interface with integrated DC-DC controller.
• In 2008, released industry's smallest fully integrated automotive AM/FM radio receiver IC.
• In 2009, entered the human interface market with a portfolio of fast-response touch, proximity and ambient light sensor devices.
• In 2010, introduced industry's first single-chip multimedia digital TV demodulator.
• In 2011, released industry's first single-chip hybrid TV receiver.
• In 2012, entered the ARM-based 32-bit MCU market with a line of mixed-signal MCUs with USB and non-USB options.
• In 2013, introduced the world's first single-chip digital radio receivers for consumer electronics.
• In 2014, released the world's first digital ultraviolet index sensors.
• In 2015, launched Thread networking technology for connecting devices including wireless sensor networks, thermostats, connected lighting devices and control panels.
• In 2016, released Gecko family of multiprotocol wireless SoC devices.
• In 2017, launched industry's first wireless clocks that support 4G/LTE and Ethernet.
• In 2018, launched Z-Wave 700 hardware/software IoT platform.
• In 2019, launched updated version of wireless Gecko web development platform.
• In 2021, launched Wi-SUN® technology.
• In 2021, announced that Silicon Labs wireless devices support Matter end products.

Silicon Labs' Achievements

1996

Silicon Labs' story begins in Austin, Texas with three engineers and a passion for mixed-signal design

Based on a mutual respect for one another’s talents, Nav Sooch, Jeff Scott and Dave Silicon Labslland become friends. At an after-work happy hour, they discuss the pros and cons of starting their own company. Dave suggests they toss a coin—heads they strike out on their own, tails they don’t. Heads it is, and Silicon Labs is born. When asked what they would’ve done if it came up tails, they said, “Silicon Labs would’ve gone two out of three.”

1998

Silicon Labs' DAA replaces a bulky mess of components with more elegant, efficient integrated circuits (ICs)

Silicon Labs' solution allows a single modem to work worldwide, cost half as much as competitors’ products and uses one-fifth the circuit board space. In November, we ship our 1 millionth DAA unit, transitioning from prototype to profitability in just two years.

1999

The RF Synthesizer helps mobile phones go mainstream

Silicon Labs' core design team creates the world’s first CMOS radio-frequency (RF) synthesizer for cell phones. Silicon Labs realize that redesigning the RF in CMOS could make mobile phones easier and cheaper to produce. By squeezing nearly 80 components onto a single chip, handset makers are able to save valuable space. 

2000

As the new millennium begins, we’re poised for growth

In March 2000, we raise $99M with an initial public offering—listed on the NASDAQ as SLAB—and our valuation hits $1.2B. Shares nearly triple in the following months, enabling us to repay our venture capital investors.

2003

Silicon Labs enter a multi-billion-dollar market with hardworking 8-bit MCUs

Silicon Labs' acquisition of Cygnal Integrated Products significantly strengthens our participation in channel sales and opens the door to the multi-billion-dollar, 8-bit MCU market, making it possible for us to provide customers with design flexibility, improved time-to-market and superior system performance.

2005

Turning up the volume with our single-chip FM Tuner

In 2005, we launch our FM tuner product line that enables customers to easily add FM radio functionality to handsets. This single-chip solution is such a success that it becomes the fastest-ramping product in our history. Now that’s something to sing about.

2009

Spoiler alert: Silicon Labs' silicon TV tuners are a big hit 

The Si2170 debuts as the first single-chip hybrid TV tuner. By eliminating more than 100 discrete components while enabling TV makers to improve picture quality and reception for both analog and digital broadcasts, our tuners achieve what our competitors had been trying to accomplish for more than a decade. 

2011

Timing is everything

By 2011, timing emerges as a key product area and grows to a $50M business as we increase our penetration with leading communications equipment providers. Silicon Labs introduce a series of breakthrough products, including programmable and crystal-less oscillators and an entire family of frequency-flexible clocks and buffers that reduce our customers’ lead times and provide improved reliability, energy efficiency and performance.

2012

New leadership, new focus

Tyson Tuttle is named President and CEO and spearheads our focus on developing innovative solutions for the Internet of Things (IoT).

2015

Industry-leading microcontrollers

Silicon Labs introduce next-generation EFM32 MCU families, providing advancements in security and energy management technologies, and the EFM8 family, delivering the highest analog performance and peripheral integration in the 8-bit market.

2016

The debut of Thunderboard

Silicon Labs make it easy for for developers of all skill levels to create cloud-connected wireless sensing products for the IoT with our Thunderboard Sense development kit. 

2017

The more the merrier: Multiprotocol

Silicon Labs release dynamic multiprotocol software for our Wireless Gecko portfolio, a first-of-its-kind solution with real-time operating system (RTOS) scheduling, enabling simultaneous operation of Zigbee and Bluetooth low energy on a single SoC.

2018

Silicon Labs’ve got you covered, from A to Z-Wave

With the acquisition of Sigma Designs, we launch the next-generation Z-Wave® 700 on the Wireless Gecko platform, improving energy efficiency and adding longer range RF capabilities. Matt Johnson joins us as Vice President of IoT.

2019

One billion wireless chips sold

Silicon Labs launch BG22, an industry-leading Bluetooth system-on-chip (SoC) solution delivering a market-leading combination of security features, wireless performance, energy efficiency, and software tools and stacks to meet demand for high-volume, battery-powered IoT products.

2020

Secure from design to decommissioning

Silicon Labs' products with Secure Vault technology achieve Gold in the 2020 LEAP Awards and are the first system-on-a-chip (SoC) and module with a radio to earn PSA Level 2 security certification.

2021

Doubling down on IoT

During the year of our 25th anniversary, we divest our Infrastructure and Automotive business to Skyworks, narrowing in with a laser-sharp focus on the large, diverse and growing IoT opportunity.