Linear Technology

Linear Technology Corporation was an American semiconductor company focused on the design, manufacture, and marketing of high-performance analog integrated circuits. Founded in 1981 by Robert H. Swanson Jr. and Robert C. Dobkin, the company built its identity around precision, reliability, and specialized analog performance rather than the high-volume digital logic products that dominate much of the semiconductor industry. Its components were used in telecommunications equipment, cellular phones, networking products, notebook and desktop computers, video and multimedia systems, industrial instrumentation, automotive electronics, factory automation, process-control equipment, and military and space systems. The company developed a broad portfolio covering data conversion, signal conditioning, power management, interfaces, radio-frequency functions, oscillators, and specialized integrated circuits for space and military applications. Its catalog included analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters, operational amplifiers, comparators, voltage references, switching and linear regulators, battery-management devices, LED drivers, RS-232 and RS-485 interface products, mixers, quadrature modulators, and oscillators. The breadth of the portfolio allowed Linear Technology to serve both general electronic-design requirements and demanding applications where electrical precision, thermal behavior, long product life, or dependable supply were important. A notable part of the company's engineering ecosystem was LTspice, a freely downloadable SPICE-based simulation program with schematic-capture capabilities. LTspice supported circuit analysis and design work around analog and power circuits and helped make Linear Technology's component portfolio more accessible to engineers. The software became an important practical connection between the company's semiconductor products and the design process in which those products were selected. Linear Technology operated from corporate headquarters in Milpitas, California. Its United States design-center network included locations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Texas, and Vermont, while international centers included Munich and Singapore. Wafer fabrication facilities were located in Camas, Washington, and Milpitas, California. This combination of internal manufacturing and distributed design capability supported the company's emphasis on specialized analog products. In July 2016, Analog Devices agreed to acquire Linear Technology for approximately $14.8 billion. The transaction was completed on March 10, 2017, ending Linear Technology's existence as an independently listed company and eliminating its LLTC stock listing. The acquisition combined two major analog semiconductor portfolios. Although the corporate entity was absorbed into Analog Devices, the Linear name continued in the market through the “Power by Linear” branding used for combined power-management offerings from Linear Technology and Analog Devices. Linear Technology is therefore best understood today as a defunct independent company whose products, engineering heritage, and brand identity remain represented within Analog Devices.

Linear Technology was established in 1981 by Robert H. Swanson Jr. and Robert C. Dobkin as an American company dedicated to analog semiconductor technology. Its business was centered on integrated circuits that process, condition, convert, regulate, or otherwise manage electrical signals and power. This focus placed the company in a technically specialized part of the semiconductor industry, where product performance and application-specific characteristics can be more important than the scale and rapid product turnover associated with many digital devices. Over the course of its independent existence, Linear Technology developed and marketed a wide range of analog products. Its portfolio included data-conversion devices such as analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters; signal-conditioning products such as operational amplifiers, comparators, and voltage references; and power-management components including switching regulators, linear regulators, battery-management devices, and LED drivers. The company also offered interface products supporting standards such as RS-232 and RS-485, radio-frequency devices including mixers and quadrature modulators, oscillators, and integrated circuits designed for space and military applications. The applications served by these products were broad. Linear Technology components appeared in telecommunications and cellular equipment, networking products, personal computers, video and multimedia systems, industrial instrumentation, automotive electronics, factory automation, and process-control systems. The company also addressed military and space electronics, areas in which long operating life and specialized performance requirements are significant considerations. By August 2010, the company reported a catalog of more than 7,500 products organized into seven broad categories: data conversion, signal conditioning, power management, interface, radio frequency, oscillators, and space and military integrated circuits. Linear Technology's engineering presence extended beyond physical components. LTspice, a freely downloadable version of SPICE with schematic-capture functionality, provided engineers with a tool for simulating circuits and evaluating designs. The software connected the company's component business with the wider workflow of analog and power-electronics development and became a recognizable part of the Linear Technology technical offering. The company's corporate headquarters were in Milpitas, California. It maintained design centers across the United States, including sites in Phoenix, Grass Valley, Santa Barbara, Colorado Springs, North Chelmsford, Manchester, Cary, Plano, and Burlington. International design centers were located in Munich and Singapore. Linear Technology also operated wafer fabrication facilities in Camas, Washington, and Milpitas, California, giving the business manufacturing operations alongside its design activities. A major turning point came in July 2016, when Analog Devices agreed to acquire Linear Technology for approximately $14.8 billion. The transaction was completed on March 10, 2017. The completion ended Linear Technology's independent corporate and public-market status and brought its products and operations into Analog Devices. The Linear name did not disappear entirely: Analog Devices subsequently used the Power by Linear brand for combined power-management offerings. Linear Technology's independent history therefore concluded with the acquisition, while its product families, engineering capabilities, and brand legacy continued within the acquiring company.

• 2017

  Acquisition is completed

  [1]Linear Technologyen.wikipedia.org

  Analog Devices completes the acquisition on March 10, 2017, ending Linear Technology's independent corporate existence.

• 2017

  Power by Linear branding continues

  [1]Linear Technologyen.wikipedia.org

  The Linear name remains visible through Analog Devices' Power by Linear branding for combined power-management products.

• 2016

  Analog Devices announces acquisition agreement

  [1]Linear Technologyen.wikipedia.org

  Analog Devices agrees to acquire Linear Technology in a transaction valued at approximately $14.8 billion.

• 2010

  Portfolio exceeds 7,500 products

  [1]Linear Technologyen.wikipedia.org

  By August 2010, the company reported more than 7,500 products across data conversion, signal conditioning, power management, interface, radio frequency, oscillators, and space and military categories.

• 1981

  Linear Technology is founded

  [1]Linear Technologyen.wikipedia.org

  Robert H. Swanson Jr. and Robert C. Dobkin establish Linear Technology as an American analog semiconductor company.

A high-performance, precision-oriented analog semiconductor supplier serving demanding industrial, communications, automotive, computing, and aerospace-related applications.

• Data conversion

  Data-conversion products

  Linear Technology's data-conversion portfolio included analog-to-digital converters and digital-to-analog converters. These products served as interfaces between continuous electrical signals and digitally processed information, supporting applications such as instrumentation, communications, computing, and industrial equipment. The category formed one of the principal groupings in the company's reported product portfolio.

• Analog signal processing

  Signal-conditioning products

  This group included operational amplifiers, comparators, and voltage references. Such components are used to amplify, compare, stabilize, and accurately condition analog signals. Linear Technology positioned these products for applications requiring precision and dependable electrical performance, including industrial instrumentation, communications equipment, automotive electronics, and other embedded systems.

• Power management

  Power-management products

  Power management was a central part of the Linear Technology portfolio. Products included switching regulators, linear regulators, battery-management ICs, and LED drivers. These devices support the conversion, regulation, monitoring, and distribution of electrical power in systems ranging from portable electronics to industrial, automotive, and communications equipment. Later offerings were marketed in part through the Power by Linear brand.

• Interface ICs

  Interface products

  Linear Technology offered interface integrated circuits supporting communications standards including RS-232 and RS-485. These products helped electronic systems exchange signals across equipment and interconnects and were relevant to industrial, networking, instrumentation, and embedded applications. They complemented the company's broader signal-conditioning and data-conversion businesses.

• RF semiconductors

  Radio-frequency products

  The company's radio-frequency category included devices such as mixers and quadrature modulators. These components supported the handling and transformation of high-frequency signals in communications and related electronic systems. They extended Linear Technology's scope beyond low-frequency precision analog functions into selected RF applications.

• Aerospace and defense semiconductors

  Space and military integrated circuits

  Linear Technology maintained a product category for space and military integrated circuits. These offerings addressed specialized electronics applications where the operating environment and expected service requirements differ from those of ordinary commercial systems. The category reflected the company's participation in demanding aerospace and defense markets.

• Engineering software

  LTspice

  LTspice was a freely downloadable SPICE-based circuit-simulation program that included schematic capture. It enabled engineers to model and evaluate analog and power circuits during design. Although not a semiconductor device, the software supported Linear Technology's engineering ecosystem by helping users explore circuit behavior and work with component-level designs.

• 2017

  Continue the Linear identity through Power by LinearStrategy

  Background

  After completing the acquisition, Analog Devices had to present combined power-management offerings associated with both companies.

  Action taken

  Analog Devices used Power by Linear as a market-facing brand for combined power-management portfolios.

  Aftermath

  The Linear name continued in product marketing even though Linear Technology no longer operated as an independent company.

  Source

• 2016

  Agree to acquisition by Analog DevicesM&A

  Background

  Linear Technology was an established analog semiconductor supplier with a broad product portfolio and manufacturing and design infrastructure. Analog Devices agreed to acquire the company in July 2016.

  Action taken

  The companies entered into an acquisition agreement valued at approximately $14.8 billion.

  Aftermath

  The transaction was completed on March 10, 2017. Linear Technology ceased to exist as an independent listed company, while its portfolio and selected brand identity continued within Analog Devices.

  Announced acquisition value. Approximately $14.8 billion (Agreement announced in July 2016)

  Source

• 2017

  Analog Devices completes acquisition of Linear Technology[1]Linear Technologyen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  The acquisition was completed on March 10, 2017. Linear Technology ceased operating as an independent listed company, while elements of its portfolio and brand continued within Analog Devices.

• 2017

  Power by Linear brand continues after integration[1]Linear Technologyen.wikipedia.org

  M&A · Other

  Following the acquisition, Analog Devices used the Power by Linear name to market combined power-management offerings associated with Linear Technology and Analog Devices.

• 2016

  Analog Devices agrees to acquire Linear Technology[1]Linear Technologyen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Analog Devices announced an agreement to purchase Linear Technology for approximately $14.8 billion, initiating the combination of two major analog semiconductor businesses.

1. 1Linear Technologyen.wikipedia.org