Helix Semiconductors
| File:Helix Semiconductors company logo.png | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Semiconductor |
| Founder | Michael H. Freeman |
| Headquarters | 9980 Irvine Center Drive, Irvine, CA 92618 |
Key people | Harold Blomquist, CEO and President |
| Products | Muxcapacitor technology for power management, Tronium Power Supply System on a Chip (PSSoC), Inverter Supply System on a Chip (ISSoC) |
| Website | helixsemiconductors.com |
Helix Semiconductors, previously known as Semitrex, is a fabless semiconductor firm located in Irvine, California. The company specializes in capacitive voltage reduction solutions and holds patents for its Muxcapacitor technology, which leverages cascaded capacitors to enhance power efficiency and lower energy consumption in electronic devices.
The organization operates offices throughout the United States and Europe.
History
Michael H. Freeman, an Emmy Award-winning designer in mobile video technology, founded the company in 2012 in Tulsa, Oklahoma under the name Semitrex. Initially, the focus was on extending mobile phone battery life through capacitor-based circuit innovations.
Following a move to Laguna Beach, CA, Semitrex publicly unveiled its Muxcapacitor technology in February 2015 after operating in stealth mode. At that time, the technology was protected by 46 patents. By March 2015, the firm had progressed to developing a third-generation integrated circuit prototype aimed at producing market-ready sample chips.
In July 2015, Semitrex retained the Washington DC law firm Hogan Lovells to assist with lobbying initiatives related to energy efficiency regulations.
By February 2016, the company had broadened its international footprint by establishing design centers in Irvine, California, which became its headquarters, and Milan, Italy. These centers concentrated on mixed-signal analog and digital power control chip development.
June 2016 marked further growth with the opening of the London Integrated Design Center and the creation of UK subsidiary Semitrex Integrated Semiconductors, Limited. This expansion was intended to tailor Muxcapacitor technology for power inverter applications compliant with the European Union's Renewable Energy Directive.
In March 2017, under new leadership by CEO and President Harold Blomquist, Semitrex rebranded as Helix Semiconductors to reinforce strategic direction aimed at accelerating business expansion and market presence.
Muxcapacitor
The flagship semiconductor offering from Helix Semiconductors is the patented Muxcapacitor gate switch technology designed for energy-efficient power supply systems. It utilizes pre-voltage regulation through capacitive voltage reduction by employing cascaded capacitors that efficiently store energy on-chip. Capacitor banks within the system are selectively deactivated when not in use to conserve power. The device lowers primary voltage via a transformer prior to additional processing stages, enabling reductions in transformer size and secondary component count. By replacing inductive voltage reduction with capacitive methods, it eliminates the need for magnets and achieves highly efficient high-voltage conversions adaptable to diverse electrical loads.
Tronium PSSoC
The Tronium line’s Power Supply System on a Chip (PSSoC) incorporates Muxcapacitor technology to optimize power management and reduce energy use within electronic devices. It features a dial-a-voltage capability allowing output programming from 1.8 to 48 volts, thereby eliminating requirements for region-specific power supplies. Primary side regulation removes the necessity for conventional opto-couplers, cutting down component quantity, cost, and overall device dimensions. Additionally, Helix offers a transformer-less variant under the Tronium brand known as pwIoT (p-watt), tailored for compact Internet of Things (IoT) devices by converting AC line voltage into sensor-level voltages. Engineered for ultra-low standby consumption, pwIoT combats vampire power loss and supports remote wireless control functionality.
Inverter Supply System on a Chip
In June 2016, the firm initiated the development of the Inverter Supply System on a Chip (ISSoC) in London, designed to invert the conventional power supply flow. Whereas Tronium specializes in efficient conversion from high to low voltage, ISSoC focuses on elevating low voltage DC—often sourced from renewables—to high voltage AC. This micro-inverter facilitates adherence to EU renewable energy regulations and supports the company’s strategic growth within sustainable energy sectors.