Cambridge Semiconductor Limited

CamSemi

Industry	Semiconductors
Founded	Cambridge, UK (2002 (2002) with A round funding)
Headquarters	Cambridge , United Kingdom
Number of locations	Taipei, Taiwan (2007) Shenzhen, China (2008) Hong Kong (2011)
Products	Power management ICs
Website	CamSemi.com

Cambridge Semiconductor Limited (CamSemi) is a fabless semiconductor business based in Cambridge, England that was acquired by US-based competitor Power Integrations Inc., in January 2015.[1]

The company specializes in power management integrated circuits and was spun out of Cambridge University in August 2000 with seed investment from the Cambridge University Challenge Fund, as a commercial venture arising out of the research conducted by Professors Gehan Amarantunga and Florin Udrea at the Cambridge University Engineering Department.[2]

CamSemi is developing a range of new ICs for use in power conversion products such as mains power supplies and lighting. The company’s products are enabling power supply manufacturers to develop low cost products that comply with Energy Star, the European code of conduct and related energy-efficiency regulations. All CamSemi products are based on a proprietary portfolio of technologies and topologies including advanced control architectures, RDFC and PowerBrane.

The company’s venture capital investors included DFJ Esprit, Scottish Equity Partners and cleantech investors The Carbon Trust and NES Partners.

Launched products

• C2470 mixed signal controllers and RDFC (Resonant Discontinuous Forward Converter) topology for switched-mode power supplies (SMPS)[3]
• C2140, C2150, C2183 and C2283 primary side sensing (PSS) flyback controllers for SMPS[4][5]
• C2160 and C2170 PSS flyback controller families targeting 5 star-rated mobile phone chargers with <30 mW no-load[6][7]
• C5183 PSS flyback controller with active start-up for SMPS[8]
• C3120, C3183 and C3682 LED drivers ICs for solid-state lighting[9]

Development milestones

Sales and application design centre in Neihu district, Taipei.

• 2002 CamSemi secured series A funding led by 3i to raise $6.1 million.
• 2004 Announced PowerBrane, a new technology to integrate IGBTs and controllers onto the same die.[10]
• 2007 Launched RDFC controller family [11] Company announcement.
• Opened sales office and application design centre in Taiwan.[12]
• 2008 Closed series C funding to raise $34 million;[13][14] introduced first primary side sensing controllers [15] and named ‘Start up of the year’ by National Microelectronics Institute Company announcement
• 2009 Named as ‘University Spin-out of the Year’ in New Energy Awards [16] Company announcement
• Launched C2160 family of PSS controllers to help manufacturers develop power supplies with <30 mW no load power
• 2011 Awarded ‘Business Weekly’s East of England International Trade Award’ [17] Company announcement
• 2012 Listed in 29th position in '2012 Sunday Times Hiscox Tech Track 100' report.[18] Also Company announcement
• 2013 Awarded NMI 'Low Power Design Innovation' award for C2172 PSS controller with features to reduce no load power consumption.[19] Also Company announcement

References

1. "Silicon Valley buyer has major plans for CamSemi | Business Weekly | Technology News | Business news | Cambridge and the East of England".
2. "Profile - Gehan Amaratunga - Cambridge Semiconductor: how to spinout from university". Archived from the original on 2008-12-25. Retrieved 2009-01-30.
3. "CamSemi Introduces First Family Of Controller ICs". eepower.com. 2007-10-07. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
4. "Flyback Controller". electronicdesign.com. 2012-11-30. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
5. "CamSemi : PSS flyback controllers offer 5 percent I and V regulation". eetimes.com. 2008-11-28. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
6. "CamSemi : PSS controllers deliver 5 star performance". eetimes.com. 2009-07-20. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
7. "Primary-Side Sensing Controllers target 8W and 10W Smartphone Chargers". eepower.com. 2014-03-23. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
8. "Flyback Controller Targets Lower Cost USB Chargers". electronicdesign.com. 2013-02-01. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
9. "CamSemi Adds Low-Cost, Flexible Approach for LED Lamps to 20W". eepower.com. 2013-04-07. Retrieved 2024-04-04.
10. Udrea, F., Trajkovic, T., and Amaratunga, G.A.J. 2004. High voltage devices - a milestone concept in power ICs. Electron Devices Meeting, 2004. IEDM Technical Digest. IEEE International. pages 451- 454.
11. Peter Clarke, “CamSemi unveils power supply control IC” . EETimes Europe, 8 Oct 2007. page 1. Also EETimes website. Checked 14 Jun 2009.
12. "CamSemi Opens Sales & Application Design Center In Taiwan". eepower.com. 2007-12-02. Retrieved 2024-04-04.
13. “CamSemi signs second ‘clean technology’ investor in C round extension” , PowerPulse.Net, 21 May 2008. Checked 14 Jun 2009.
14. Peter Purton, "UK pumps funding into CamSemi" . 24 Oct 2007. Red Herring.com Archived 2008-11-21 at the Wayback Machine. Checked 14 Jun 2009.
15. Steve Bush, "Novel design lifts power efficiency" . Electronics Weekly, 5 Dec 2008. page 5
16. Barber, M., "Time for a change" . Business XL, Apr 2009. pages 22 - 26. Also Growth Business. Checked 14 Jun 2009.
17. “International Trade Award for CamSemi” . Business Weekly, 24 – 31 March 2011. Also [1] Checked 16 Sept 2011.
18. "CamSemi - energy saving chip developer" FastTrack.co.uk website Archived 2012-10-29 at the Wayback Machine Checked 24 Sept 2012.
19. Kate Sweeney "CamSemi innovation is rewarded" Business Weekly website Checked 29 Nov 2013.

External links

• CamSemi