International Rectifier
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Power management technology, Semiconductor |
| Founded | 1947 |
| Fate | Acquired by Infineon Technologies |
| Successor | Infineon Technologies |
| Headquarters | El Segundo, California , United States |
| Products | Analog and mixed-signal integrated circuits, power transistors, MOSFETs, integrated power systems, semiconductor components |
| Parent | Infineon Technologies |
International Rectifier was a U.S.-based company focused on power management technologies, specializing in analog and mixed-signal integrated circuits, sophisticated circuit components, integrated power systems, and high-performance parts for computing applications. On January 13, 2015, it was acquired by Infineon Technologies.
Products originally developed by IR continue to be a vital part of Infineon's semiconductor offerings, catering to sectors such as lighting, automotive, satellite communications, aerospace, defense, and power supply solutions within electronic devices including microcomputers, servers, networking infrastructure, and telecommunications hardware.
History
During the 1950s, International Rectifier brought germanium rectifiers to market (1954) and later engineered the first silicon rectifier in 1959. By 1974, the company introduced power transistors and Darlington transistors featuring glass passivation technology. It was also the pioneer behind the first hexagonal power MOSFET in 1979 and rolled out intelligent power integrated circuits in 1983.
That same year, IR faced a patent infringement ruling against Pfizer, Inc., which resulted in a $55 million penalty and compelled the sale of its animal health and feed additive divisions to prevent insolvency.
In 2000, IR unveiled FlipFET wafer packaging technology, followed by DirectFET in 2002—a MOSFET packaging innovation aimed at enhancing thermal management for advanced computing devices, consumer electronics, and communication products.
Further advancements included the iMOTION Integrated Design Platform for motor control introduced in 2003; the SmartRectifier IC for AC/DC applications launched in 2006; SupIRBuck integrated voltage regulators released in 2007; GaN-based power device platforms developed in 2008; PowIRstage devices along with CHiL digital controllers debuted in 2011; and in 2012, micro-integrated power modules designed for motor control as well as COOLiRIGBTs targeting automotive applications.
In 2014, Infineon Technologies completed the acquisition of International Rectifier for $3 billion. By the following year, IR had been fully incorporated as a subsidiary of Infineon.
Manufacturing
International Rectifier maintained wafer fabrication and assembly plants worldwide at locations including: