Rockwell Semiconductor
| Company type | Public (formerly) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Semiconductor, software |
| Predecessor | Rockwell Semiconductor Systems, Inc. |
| Founded | January 4, 1999 |
| Fate | Acquired by Synaptics, Inc. in July 2017 |
| Successor | Synaptics, Inc. |
| Headquarters | Irvine , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Dwight W. Decker (first CEO and chairman) |
| Products | AudioSmart audio processors, ImagingSmart image processors and modems |
Conexant Systems, Inc. was a US-based fabless semiconductor and software enterprise focused on voice and audio processing technologies (AudioSmart) as well as imaging solutions. Originally part of Rockwell International as a division, it was separated into an independent public entity in 1999. Subsequently, it launched other publicly traded companies including Skyworks Solutions and Mindspeed Technologies. In July 2017, Conexant was acquired by Synaptics, Inc..
History
In 1996, Rockwell International established its semiconductor operations as Rockwell Semiconductor Systems, Inc.. On January 4, 1999, Conexant Systems, Inc. was spun off, becoming the largest independent communications IC firm globally and listed on NASDAQ under the ticker CNXT. Dwight W. Decker was appointed as the inaugural CEO and chairman, with corporate headquarters located in Newport Beach, California.
Throughout the early 2000s, Conexant divested several divisions: in 2002, its wireless communications segment merged with Alpha Industries to form the publicly traded Skyworks Solutions Inc.; the following year, its Internet infrastructure unit became Mindspeed Technologies Inc, which was later acquired by M/A-COM Technology Solutions. Also in 2002, Conexant partnered with The Carlyle Group to create Jazz Semiconductor, a joint venture managing its wafer fabrication facility.
In 2004, Conexant combined operations with New Jersey’s GlobespanVirata but retained the Conexant brand. The company sold off its broadband media processing division to NXP Semiconductors in 2008 and transferred ownership of Jazz Semiconductor to Tower Semiconductor (TowerJazz) the same year. Its broadband access product portfolio was divested to Ikanos Communications in 2009.
Golden Gate Capital, a San Francisco-based investment firm, took Conexant private in 2011 at $2.40 per share. However, significant debt from earlier acquisitions coupled with revenue decline due to Eastman Kodak’s bankruptcy forced Conexant to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February 2013. After restructuring debt through QP SFM Capital Holdings Ltd, the company emerged from bankruptcy in July 2013. It relocated its headquarters to Irvine and concentrated on voice input processing chips, video surveillance technology, and printer SoCs.
Following 2013, Conexant’s AudioSmart silicon and software products gained widespread adoption within consumer electronics for voice-enabled applications such as AI assistants, smart speakers, televisions, and robots. In 2016, LG Electronics incorporated Conexant’s CX2092x far-field voice input SoC into its smart home devices. That same year, Qualcomm embedded AudioSmart software into its Hexagon DSP family found in over one billion Snapdragon-powered gadgets.
December 2016 saw the launch of the AudioSmart 2-Mic Development Kit for Amazon AVS through a collaboration between Conexant and Amazon to facilitate accelerated development of Alexa-enabled third-party products.
In May 2017, security analysts uncovered that audio drivers from Conexant installed keylogging software on numerous HP laptops, raising concerns about user privacy.
Synaptics finalized its acquisition of Conexant Systems on July 26, 2017. By November of that year, the official Conexant website had ceased operation.
Product line
Conexant's core offerings were divided into two main categories: the AudioSmart series of audio processors and the ImagingSmart range of image processors and modems.
AudioSmart
The AudioSmart portfolio encompassed analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), codecs, USB-based digital signal processor (DSP) codecs, voice and speech processors, as well as software solutions aimed at optimizing audio signal processing in electronic gadgets.
- AD Converters – Designed for far-field voice acquisition, these ADCs transformed analog inputs into digital signals to enhance quality before relaying them to external speech recognition platforms. A low-power variant featuring standby and rapid wake modes was ideal for battery-operated devices.
- Codecs – Responsible for encoding and decoding digital audio streams, these codecs facilitated transmission, storage, encryption, playback, and editing. They enhanced sound quality in devices such as tablets, personal computers, and consumer electronics including conferencing and streaming systems.
- USB & I2S DSP codecs – Equipped with USB and integrated interchip sound (I2S) interfaces, these codecs provided connectivity between headsets or docking stations and host devices.
- VoiceSpeech processors – These system-on-chip (SoC) speech processors enabled voice command functionality in smart televisions. Employing far-field pre-processing algorithms alongside 24-bit ADCs reduced noise interference from TVs. The Smart Source Pickup technology ensured reliable speech recognition despite ambient noise. At CES 2016, Conexant introduced a four-microphone voice input processor integrated with Smart Source Locator (SSL) software capable of 360-degree voice detection and recognition within .
- AudioSmart software – This suite supported far-field voice communication and control across various platforms including smart homes, smartphones, IoT devices, robotics, wearables, social media calls, and Skype. It was compatible with Windows, Android, and Linux operating systems.
ImagingSmart
The ImagingSmart line comprised silicon chips and software engineered to improve performance in image-reliant electronic products such as document and photo imaging controllers, digital video devices, and integrated fax or data modem equipment like printers and point-of-sale terminals.
- Document and photo imaging controllers – Conexant offered solutions tailored for single-function and multi-function printers, photo printers, and advanced printing systems. These controllers incorporated I/O capabilities like USB and serial ports along with embedded firmware to enable printing directly from tablets or smartphones. The technology also supported Wi-Fi connectivity compatible with multiple cloud computing printing services.
- Digital video – The product range included digital video encoders and high-definition processors designed to enhance video communication quality, complemented by analog video decoders that converted broadcast signals.
- Fax modem and data modem chips – Conexant's energy-efficient fax modem chips featured VoIP compatibility for multi-function printers, supporting V.34 standard connectivity over enterprise networks in accordance with ITU-T G.1050 guidelines. Data modem chips found application in point-of-sale terminals.
Operations
The company was based in Irvine, California.
See also
- Brooktree, a semiconductor firm acquired by Rockwell Semiconductor in 1996 whose assets were later owned by Conexant