Maxim Integrated

Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.

Company type	Public
Industry	Semiconductor
Founded	April 1983 (1983-04)
Founder	Jack Gifford
Defunct	2021 (2021)
Fate	Acquired by Analog Devices
Headquarters	San Jose, California , United States
Area served	Worldwide
Products	Analog and mixed-signal integrated circuits, power management ICs, battery ICs, sensors, interface chips, communication components, embedded security solutions, microcontrollers
Parent	Analog Devices

Maxim Integrated Products, Inc., was a U.S.-based semiconductor firm focused on the development, production, and distribution of analog and mixed-signal integrated circuits serving automotive, industrial, communications, consumer electronics, and computing sectors. Its range of offerings encompassed power management and battery ICs, sensor technology, interface chips, communication components, embedded security solutions, and microcontrollers. Headquartered in San Jose, California, Maxim maintained a global presence with design centers, manufacturing sites, and sales offices worldwide. In 2021, the company was acquired by Analog Devices.

History

Established in April 1983 by industry veterans including Jack Gifford, a co-founder of Advanced Micro Devices, Maxim launched with $9 million in venture capital funding backed by a succinct business plan. Early milestones featured successful products such as the MAX600 in 1985 and the highly profitable MAX232 introduced in 1987. The company went public through an initial public offering in 1988.

Maxim grew its manufacturing footprint by acquiring wafer fabrication plants: Saratoga Semiconductor in Sunnyvale (1989), IC Works located in San Jose (1997), Philips’ facility in San Antonio (2003), and Atmel’s Texas site in Irving (2007), which enhanced both capacity and technological capabilities.

The firm pursued strategic acquisitions to diversify its product portfolio and expand market penetration: the integrated circuits division of Tektronix (1994) added wireless RF and fiber-optic technologies; Dallas Semiconductor (2001) strengthened expertise in digital and mixed-signal CMOS design; Vitesse Semiconductor’s Storage Products Division (2007) broadened storage interface offerings; Mobilygen (2008) contributed H.264 video compression technology; Innova Card (2009) expanded semiconductors for financial transaction terminals; Zilog product lines (2009) enhanced secure transaction and wireless control solutions; Teridian Semiconductor (2010) marked entry into smart meter SoCs; Trinity Convergence Limited and Phyworks (2010) extended video conferencing and broadband communication capabilities; SensorDynamics and Cambridge Analog Technologies (2011) enriched sensor and analog design assets; Genasic Design Systems (2012) added LTE RF chip specialization; Volterra Semiconductor (2013) strengthened power management products; Icron Technologies (2018) introduced USB/video extension technologies; Trinamic (2020) expanded motion control solutions.

During 2007-2008, Maxim encountered Nasdaq delisting threats due to stock option backdating irregularities but addressed these issues by restating financial results and achieved relisting in October 2008.

Maxim Integrated’s approach combined organic development with selective acquisitions to broaden its footprint across diverse semiconductor markets. Prior to its acquisition by Analog Devices in 2021, the company reported revenues of $2.632 billion along with robust operating income.