Signal Processing Devices Sweden

Signal Processing Devices Sweden AB (SP Devices), now operating as Teledyne SP Devices, is a specialized manufacturer of high-performance digital signal processing hardware and software. The company originated from research conducted at Linköping University in Sweden and was established in 2004. The founders identified a market need for advanced analog-to-digital conversion technology to overcome performance bottlenecks in demanding applications.

In January 2016, SP Devices was acquired by the UK-based e2v technologies plc for approximately $18 million, a strategic move to enhance e2v's semiconductor business and signal chain solutions. This acquisition integrated SP Devices' patented interleaving technology for A/D converters into a larger portfolio, while the original management team remained to drive the business. The company is now part of the Teledyne Technologies conglomerate, which provides access to extensive R&D capabilities, manufacturing facilities, and a global network of experts.

The core of the business is the design and production of modular data acquisition instruments, commonly known as digitizers, and signal generation tools. These products are sold primarily to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and research institutions across a variety of sectors, including medical imaging, scientific instrumentation, telecommunications, remote sensing, and aerospace and defense. Revenue is generated through the sale of these hardware products, accompanying software development kits (SDKs), and firmware packages. The company also offers custom engineering and design services, allowing clients to tailor software, firmware, and hardware to their specific system requirements.

Teledyne SP Devices' product portfolio features a wide range of high-speed digitizers with varying resolutions (10, 12, and 14-bit) and sampling rates from 500 MSPS up to 10 GSPS (gigasamples per second). A key feature of their hardware is the use of open Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), which enables customers to implement their own real-time signal processing algorithms directly on the device. This architecture provides flexibility for computationally intensive applications such as time-of-flight mass spectrometry, swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT), and signals intelligence. The products are available in various form factors, including PCIe, PXIe, and USB, to ensure compatibility with different system integrations.

Keywords: data acquisition, digitizers, signal processing, analog-to-digital conversion, OEM hardware, waveform generators, FPGA, high-speed data acquisition, test and measurement, medical imaging, scientific instrumentation, signals intelligence, remote sensing, modular instruments, PCIe digitizers, PXIe, custom engineering, firmware development, software development kit, ADC technology