Xemics

Xemics SA was a Swiss-based fabless semiconductor company established in 1997 as a spin-off from the Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology (CSEM). The firm specialized in the design and development of ultra-low-power analog, radio frequency (RF), and digital integrated circuits (ICs), carving out a niche in a research-and-development-intensive market. Xemics' business model was centered on providing proprietary technology and intellectual property for battery-powered wireless and sensing applications. Its product sales were derived from both custom and standard ICs.

The company’s core technologies included sensor interfacing and data acquisition, 8-bit RISC microcontrollers (under the CoolRISC brand), RF transceivers, and audio codecs. These components were designed for next-generation, highly integrated applications where low power consumption and low voltage were critical. Xemics served a diverse client base across industrial, medical, automotive, and home security markets. Its products were integral to remote metering, portable equipment, sensor networks, building automation, and GPS platforms. By 2004, the company had generated approximately $23 million in net sales.

In a significant milestone, Xemics was acquired by Semtech Corporation in June 2005 for $43 million in cash, with an additional potential payout based on performance milestones. The acquisition was a strategic move for Semtech to incorporate Xemics' expertise in low-power design into its own portfolio. Following the acquisition, Xemics was integrated into Semtech as its Wireless and Sensing Products business unit, continuing its work in close collaboration with CSEM to commercialize new technologies.

Keywords: Xemics, Semtech, fabless semiconductor, ultra-low-power ICs, analog semiconductors, mixed-signal semiconductors, radio frequency ICs, sensor interfacing, data acquisition, 8-bit RISC microcontrollers, CoolRISC, RF transceivers, audio codecs, battery-powered applications, wireless connectivity, CSEM, integrated circuits, remote metering, building automation, medical devices, automotive semiconductors