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'''Signetics Corporation''' was an American electronics manufacturer specifically established to make [[integrated circuit]]s.<ref name="SVHA">{{cite web|publisher=Silicon Valley Historical Association|title=NXP Semiconductors: Company History|url=http://www.siliconvalleyhistorical.org/home/nxp_semiconductors|access-date=2013-02-08}}</ref> Founded in 1961, they went on to develop a number of early microprocessors and support chips, as well as the widely used [[555 timer IC|555 timer chip]]. The company was bought by [[Philips]] in 1975 and incorporated in [[NXP Semiconductors|Philips Semiconductors (now NXP)]].<ref name="SVHA"/>
'''Signetics Corporation''' was an American electronics manufacturer specifically established in [[Silicon Valley]] to make [[integrated circuit]]s.<ref name="SVHA">{{cite web|publisher=Silicon Valley Historical Association|title=NXP Semiconductors: Company History|url=http://www.siliconvalleyhistorical.org/home/nxp_semiconductors|access-date=2013-02-08}}</ref> Founded in 1961, they went on to develop a number of early microprocessors and support chips, as well as the widely used [[555 timer IC|555 timer chip]]. The company was bought by [[Philips]] in 1975 and incorporated in [[NXP Semiconductors|Philips Semiconductors (now NXP)]].<ref name="SVHA"/>


==History==
==History==
{{pic|Signetics 1960s logo.svg|upright=0.5|Logo used from the 1960s to 1971}}
{{plain image with caption|Signetics 1960s logo.svg|upright=0.5|Logo used from the 1960s to 1971}}
Signetics was started in 1961, by a group of engineers (David Allison, David James, Lionel Kattner, and Mark Weissenstern) who had left [[Fairchild Semiconductor]].<ref name="SVHA"/> At the time, Fairchild was concentrating on its discrete component business (mostly [[transistor]]s), and its management felt that by making integrated circuits (ICs) it would lose its customers. Signetics founders believed that ICs were the future of electronics (much like another contemporary Fairchild spinoff, [[Amelco]]) and wished to commercialize them. The name of the new company was coined from '''Sig'''nal '''Net'''work Electron'''ics'''.
The formation of Signetics at 680 West Maude Avenue<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=Aviation Week |date=30 October 1961 |title=Custom Miniaturized Circuits |page=80 |url=https://archive.org/details/Aviation-Week_1961-10-30/page/n39/mode/1up?q=%22signetics%22}}</ref> in [[Sunnyvale, California]] was announced on October 16, 1961 by a group of engineers formerly with [[Fairchild Semiconductor]].<ref name="SVHA"/><ref name="cfc_1961-11-06"/>
 
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Signetics founders<ref name="cfc_1961-11-06">{{cite news |newspaper=Commercial and Financial Chronicle |volume=194 |issue=6105 |date=6 November 1961 |title=Signetics Corp. - New Company |page=12 |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_commercial-and-financial-chronicle-monday_1961-11-06_194_6105/page/12/mode/1up?q=%22signetics%22}}</ref>
! Name !! Position !! at Fairchild
|-
| Dr. B. David James || President || head of Physics Dept
|-
| David F. Allison || rowspan=3 | Vice-President || head of Device Development Dept
|-
| Lionel E. Kattner || rowspan=2 | technical staff
|-
| Mark Weissenstern
|}
 
{| class=wikitable
|+ Board of Directors<ref>{{cite web |title=Signetics founding history |url=https://www.computerhistory.org/collections/catalog/102770828/}}</ref>
|-
| Warren Hellman || Lehman Brothers
|-
| Theodore Petterson || former president of Standard Oil of California
|-
| David James
|-
| Lionel Kattner
|-
| Whit Budge || attorney
|}
 
At the time, Fairchild was concentrating on its discrete component business (mostly [[transistor]]s), and its management felt that by making integrated circuits (ICs) it would lose its customers. Signetics founders believed that ICs were the future of electronics (much like another contemporary Fairchild spinoff, [[Amelco]]) and wished to commercialize them. The name of the new company was coined from '''Sig'''nal '''Net'''work Electron'''ics'''.
 
Lionel Kattner in 2007 recollected that "Sig" and "netics" as common word fragments in the industry had just popped into his head.<ref name="kattner2007">{{cite interview |last=Kattner |first=Lionel |date=20 November 2007 |location=Napa, California |title=Oral History of Lionel Kattner |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160823061307/http://archive.computerhistory.org/resources/text/Oral_History/Kattner_Lionel/102658230.05.01.acc.pdf |archive-date=23 August 2016 |url=http://archive.computerhistory.org/resources/text/Oral_History/Kattner_Lionel/102658230.05.01.acc.pdf}}</ref>{{rp|13}}


The venture was financed by a group organized through [[Lehman Brothers]], who invested $1M. The initial idea was to design and manufacture ICs for specific customers. In order to facilitate this goal, Signetics did not have a separate R&D lab; instead, the engineering was all done in technical development department, and was closely tied to marketing.
The venture was financed by a group organized through [[Lehman Brothers]], who invested $1M. The initial idea was to design and manufacture ICs for specific customers. In order to facilitate this goal, Signetics did not have a separate R&D lab; instead, the engineering was all done in technical development department, and was closely tied to marketing.


Signetics first developed a series of standard [[Diode–transistor logic|DTL]] ICs, which it announced in 1962. However, it was struggling to sell custom-made circuits, which was the original goal, and was quickly exhausting the initial investment money, so new investors had to be found. In November 1962, [[Corning Glass]] invested another $1.7M in Signetics, in exchange for 51% ownership. This money enabled Signetics to survive, and much of the funding was put into a marketing and sales campaign.
Signetics first developed a small number of standard [[Diode–transistor logic|DTL]] ICs, which it announced in 1962.
 
{| class=wikitable
|+ Early Signetics DTL ICs,<ref name="Khambata63">{{cite book |title=Introduction to Integrated Semiconductor Circuits |author=Adi J. Khambata |date=1963 |url=https://archive.org/details/introduction_to_integrated_semiconductor_circuits_1963}}</ref>{{rp|185}} {{rp|98}}
! Name !! Die || Description !! Pins !! Transistors !! Diodes{{efn|Diodes were not separately manufactured. There were 2 kinds of diodes: VFD1 consisting of the base-collector and VFD2 of the base-emitter junction of the standard VFT1 transistor}} !! Resistors !! Capacitors
|-
| SE101 || rowspan=2 | VF101 || 4-input NAND{{efn|called NAND/NOR gate by Signetics. The exact same circuit functions as NAND in positive logic (Vcc is logic 1) and NOR in negative logic (Vcc is logic 0).}} || 10 || 1 || 6 || 3 || 0
|-
| SE102 || 3-input NAND{{efn|Presumably a partially defective die}} || 9
|-
| SE104 || ?{{efn|presumably a VF101 die}} || 6 diodes array || 8 || 0 || 6 || 1 || 0
|-
| SE120 || rowspan=3 | VF120 || flip-flop || 7 || 2 || 10 || 8 || 2
|-
| SE121 || rowspan=2 colspan=6 style="align: center" | ?
|-
| SE122
|-
| SE130 || ? || buffer || 5 || 5 || 5 || 6 || 0
|-
| SE140 || VF140 || 2-input XOR || 8 || 1 || 7 || 3 || 0
|-
! colspan=7 | TTL
|-
| SE200 || ? || 3-input TTL NAND || 7 || 2{{efn|One standard and one multi-emitter transistor}} || 0 || 2 || 0
|}
 
{{table alignment}}
{| class="wikitable defaultright" style="float:right"
|+ Revenue (bold = official)<ref>{{cite web |title=Signetics Corporation - Key Event Chronology |author=Donald F. Liddie |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240528055437/http://archive.computerhistory.org/resources/still-image/PENDING/X3665.2007/Signetics/SIGNETICS%20Timeline.pdf |archive-date=2024-05-28 |url=http://archive.computerhistory.org/resources/still-image/PENDING/X3665.2007/Signetics/SIGNETICS%20Timeline.pdf}}</ref><ref name="annual_1973"/>
|-
! Year !! Revenue !! Headcount
|-
| 1963 || $1,892,000 || 307
|-
| 1964 || $4,942,000 || 309
|-
| 1965 || $5,803,000 || 646
|-
| 1966 || $12,635,000 || 1,224
|-
| 1967 || $20,932,000 || 1,928
|-
| 1968 || $29,054,000 || 2,745
|-
| '''1969''' || $41,357,000 || 4,052
|-
| '''1970''' || $33,726,000 || 2,322
|-
| '''1971''' || $31,840,000 || 3,698
|-
| '''1972''' || $48,428,000 || 5,194
|-
| '''1973''' || $98,274,000 || 9,557
|-
| 1974 || $120,836,000 || 6,688
|-
| 1975 || $77,600,000 || 6,400
|-
| 1976 || $127,400,000 || 8,635
|-
| 1977 || $172,300,000 || 8,042
|-
| 1978 || $201,275,000 || 9,793
|-
| 1979 || $257,645,000 || 11,742
|-
| 1980 || $367,805,000 || 13,888
|}
 
The standard dies (VF101, VF120, VF140) were the basis for the ''variFEBS''{{efn|FEB: Functional Electronic Block, a term for integrated circuit (that did not stick).<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Oakland Tribune|date=28 February 1962|page=42|title=Think Small - Signetics FEB May Replace 'Big' Transistors|url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=OT19620228.1.42&srpos=1&e=------196-en--20--1--txt-txIN-signetics----1962---}}</ref>}} customization option, where the interconnect (metallization) layer was specified by the customer. [[Texas Instruments]] offered a similar service with their ''Master Slice'' product. The ''preFEBS'' option on the other hand allowed customers to send in full-custom designs prototyped on [[breadboard]]s with Signetics-approved discrete components. Fairchild offered a similar service with their ''Integrated Circuit Breadboards'' product.<ref name="Khambata63"/>{{rp|96}} Everything above except the SE200 TTL was advertised for in January 1963 and perhaps a little earlier.<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=Electronics |date=4 January 1963 |title=Signetics offers three ways to planar integrated circuits (advertisement) |volume=36 |issue=1 |url=https://archive.org/details/bitsavers_electronic_92891485/page/5/mode/1up}}</ref>
 
However, it was struggling to sell custom-made circuits, which was the original goal, and was quickly exhausting the initial investment money, so new investors had to be found. In November 1962, [[Corning Glass Works]] invested another $1.7M in Signetics, in exchange for 51% ownership. This money enabled Signetics to survive, and much of the funding was put into a marketing and sales campaign.


In 1963, the [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] made a decision to begin a shift towards microelectronics and ICs, due to their small size, higher reliability, and lower power consumption. As a result, military contractors began to explore the field, and as Signetics was one of the few firms selling custom circuits, it benefited greatly. In the fall of 1963 and throughout most of 1964, sales grew quickly, and the company finally became profitable. Signetics also grew rapidly, hiring more engineers and increasing its manufacturing space. In 1964, Signetics opened a large new fabricating plant ("fab") in [[Sunnyvale, California]]. At this time, it was by far the largest manufacturer of ICs in [[Silicon Valley]]. It later expanded also to factories in [[Orem, Utah]] and [[Albuquerque, New Mexico]], where there were two fabs, FAB22 (4-inch) and FAB23 (6-inch).
In 1963, the [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] made a decision to begin a shift towards microelectronics and ICs, due to their small size, higher reliability, and lower power consumption. As a result, military contractors began to explore the field, and as Signetics was one of the few firms selling custom circuits, it benefited greatly. In the fall of 1963 and throughout most of 1964, sales grew quickly, and the company finally became profitable. Signetics also grew rapidly, hiring more engineers and increasing its manufacturing space. In 1964, Signetics opened a large new fabricating plant ("fab") in [[Sunnyvale, California]]. At this time, it was by far the largest manufacturer of ICs in [[Silicon Valley]]. It later expanded also to factories in [[Orem, Utah]] and [[Albuquerque, New Mexico]], where there were two fabs, FAB22 (4-inch) and FAB23 (6-inch).
President James F. Riley announced on June 8, 1966 that Signetics would establish a plant in [[Provo, Utah]] at 1450 North State Street in a 30,000sqft former bowling alley, with production to begin in September 1966. A payroll of $1 million per year was to support a work force of 150.<ref>{{cite news |title=Signetics Corp. Will Locate Plant in Provo |date=June 8, 1966 |volume=93 |issue=222 |page=1 |newspaper=The (Provo) Daily Herald |url=https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/details?id=23835852}}</ref> The plant closed on December 15, 1992, final employment was 900, down from a prior all-time high of 2000. Operations were moved to Albuquerque, Sunnyvale and [[Caen]]. Plant additions in 1974, 1981 and 1988 had increased the square footage to an eventual 530,000.<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=The (Provo) Daily Herald |date=14 December 1992 |page=1 |title=Orem's Signetics Plant Prepares for Closure |url=https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/details?id=24143137}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |newspaper=The (Provo) Daily Herald |page=1 |date=16 December 1992 |title=Signetics, county's high tech catalyst, officially closes doors |url=https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/details?id=24143203}}</ref>


In 1964, Fairchild began to muscle its way into the IC business. Since Signetics circuits were the [[de facto standard]] in the market, Fairchild decided to copy them. However, it used its superior cash position, marketing power, and manufacturing strength to undercut its competitor by slashing prices and flooding the market. Signetics was struggling to compete, and began losing money again. Corning saw this as proof of poor management, and used its controlling interest to drive out most of the founders and take complete control of the company.
In 1964, Fairchild began to muscle its way into the IC business. Since Signetics circuits were the [[de facto standard]] in the market, Fairchild decided to copy them. However, it used its superior cash position, marketing power, and manufacturing strength to undercut its competitor by slashing prices and flooding the market. Signetics was struggling to compete, and began losing money again. Corning saw this as proof of poor management, and used its controlling interest to drive out most of the founders and take complete control of the company.
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+ {{nowrap|Chips sold in 1966}}
|-
|
{| class=wikitable
|+ DTL ICs (Sep 12, 1966)<ref name="1966_list"/>
|-
! rowspan=5 | Name !! rowspan=5 | Description !! colspan=5 | Price 1-24pcs
|-
! SE1xxK !! SE1xxG !! SE1xxJ !! NE1xxJ !! NE1xxA
|-
! colspan=3 | -55-125&nbsp;°C !! colspan=2 | 0-70&nbsp;°C
|-
! TO-5 !! colspan=3 | flat pack !! DIP
|-
! colspan=2 | 10-lead !! colspan=3 | 14-lead
|-
| 101 || 4-input NAND || 15.00 || 16.80
|-
| 102 || 3-input NAND || 14.70 || 16.55
|-
| 105 || 6-input gate expander || 10.50 || 12.40
|-
| 106 || dual 5-input gate expander || colspan=2 | || 7.30 || 5.10 || 4.50
|-
| 110 || 3-input high fanout NAND || 16.55 || 18.60
|-
| 111 || dual 4-input high fanout NAND || colspan=2 | || 15.50
|-
| 112 || dual 3-input high fanout NAND || colspan=2 | || 15.50 || 7.65 | 6.85
|-
| 113 || dual 3-input high fanout NAND || 16.55
|-
| 115 || dual 2-input NAND || 16.55 || 18.60
|-
| 116 || dual 4-input NAND || colspan=2 | || 13.35 || 6.55 || 5.90
|-
| 124 || RST flip-flop || 20.20 || 22.40 || 17.85 || 10.40 || 6.85
|-
| 125 || J-K flip-flop || colspan=2 | || 19.80 || 11.55 || 8.45
|-
| 150 || 2-input clock/capacitive line driver || 17.20 || 19.15
|-
| 155 || dual 4-input clock/capacitive line driver || colspan=2 | || 15.50
|-
| 156 || dual 4-input clock/capacitive line driver || colspan=2 | || 15.50 || 7.65 || 6.85
|-
| 157 || dual 3-input clock/capacitive line driver || 17.20
|-
| 160 || one-shot multivibrator || 57.50 || 59.90
|-
| 161 || one-shot multivibrator || 72.00 || || 59.90 || 26.10
|-
| 170 || triple 3-input NAND || colspan=2 | || 14.80 || 7.45 || 5.90
|-
| 180 || quad 2-input NAND || colspan=2 | || 14.80 || 7.45 || 5.90
|-
| 181 || quad inverter || 20.20
|-
! colspan=2 | !! CS7xxK !! CS7xxG !! CS7xxJ
|-
| 700 || dual 3-2-input NAND || 17.20 || 19.15
|-
| 701 || dual 3-2-input NAND || 17.20 || 19.15
|-
| 704 || RST flip-flop || 21.00 || 23.20
|-
| 705 || dual 3-input AND || 13.00 || 15.00
|-
| 709 || dual 3-input gate expander || 8.30 || 10.50
|-
| 715 || dual 2-input clock/capacitive line driver || 20.00
|-
| 716 || dual 2-input high fanout NAND || 19.50
|-
| 720 || quad 2-input NAND || colspan=2 rowspan=7 | || 15.60
|-
| 721 || triple 3-input NAND || 15.60
|-
| 727 || triple 2-input NAND || 15.60
|-
| 729 || RST flip-flop || 18.60
|-
| 730 || dual 5-input NAND || 14.10
|-
| 731 || quad 2-input gate expander || 8.00
|-
| 732 || 12-input gate expander || 8.00
|}
{| class=wikitable
|+ UTILOGIC (low cost) 10-lead ICs (Sep 12, 1966)<ref name="1966_list"/>
! rowspan=4 | Name !! rowspan=4 | Description !! colspan=3 | Price 1-24pcs
|-
! SU3xxK !! SU3xxG !! LU3xxK
|-
! colspan=2 | -20-85&nbsp;°C !! 10-55&nbsp;°C
|-
! TO-5 !! flat pack !! TO-5
|-
| 300 || dual 3-input gate expander || 7.35 || 10.15 || 3.90
|-
| 305 || 6-input AND || rowspan=5 | 8.20 || rowspan=5 | 11.00 || rowspan=5 | 4.20
|-
| 306 || dual 3-input AND
|-
| 314 || 7-input NOR
|-
| 315 || dual 3-input NOR
|-
| 316 || dual 2-input NOR
|-
| 320 || J-K flip-flop || 13.30 || 16.10 || 5.55
|-
| 331 || dual 2-input OR || rowspan=2 | 8.20 || rowspan=5 | 11.00 || rowspan=2 | 4.20
|-
| 332 || dual 3-input OR
|}
{| class=wikitable
|+ Low Power ICs (Sep 12, 1966)<ref name="1966_list">{{cite book |title=Signetics Integrated Circuits Price List Effective September 12, 1966 |date=1966 |url=https://archive.org/details/TNM_Various_circuits_-_Signetics_Corp_1966_20171106_0030/page/n6/mode/1up}}</ref>
! rowspan=4 | Name !! rowspan=4 | Description !! colspan=5 | Price 1-24 pcs
|-
! SE4xxJ !! NE4xxJ !! NE4xxA !! SP4xxA !! ST4xxA
|-
! -55-125&nbsp;°C !! 0-70&nbsp;°C !! 0-70&nbsp;°C !! 15-55&nbsp;°C !! 0-70&nbsp;°C
|-
! colspan=2 | flat pack !! colspan=3 | DIP
|-
| 416 || dual 4-input NAND || rowspan=2 | 22.50 || rowspan=2 | 11.25 || rowspan=2 | 6.60 || rowspan=2 | 5.25 || rowspan=2 | 5.75
|-
| 417 || dual 3-input NAND
|-
| 424 || dual flip-flop || 30.00 || 15.00 || 12.00 || 10.00 || 11.00
|-
| 440 || dual XOR || rowspan=3 | 23.20 || rowspan=3 | 12.00 || rowspan=3 | 6.60 || rowspan=3 | 5.25 || rowspan=3 | 5.75
|-
| 455 || dual 4-input buffer
|-
| 480 || quad 2-input NAND
|}
{| class=wikitable
|+ Linear ICs (Sep 12, 1966)<ref name="1966_list"/>
! rowspan=4 | Name !! rowspan=4 | Description !! colspan=3 | Prices 1-24pcs
|-
! SE5xxK !! SE5xxG !! NE5xxK
|-
! colspan=2 | -55-125&nbsp;°C !! 0-70&nbsp;°C
|-
! TO-5 !! flat pack !! TO-5
|-
| 500 || gated sense amplifier || 22.50 || 25.50 || 11.25
|-
| 501 || video amplifier || 34.40 || 37.40 || 17.15
|-
| 504 || gated sense amplifier || rowspan=2 | 22.50 || rowspan=2 | 25.50 || rowspan=2 | 11.25
|-
| 505 || general purpose differential amplifier
|-
| 506 || differential operational amplifer || 52.50 || 54.50 || 26.25
|-
| 518 || analog comparator || 22.50 || 25.50 || 11.25
|}
{| class=wikitable
|+ TTL ICs (Sep 12, 1966)<ref name="1966_list"/>
! rowspan=4 | Name !! rowspan=4 | Description !! colspan=5 | Prices 1-24pcs
|-
! SE8xxJ !! NE8xxJ !! SP8xxA !! ST8xxA !! NE8xxA
|-
! -55-125&nbsp;°C !! 0-70&nbsp;°C !! 15-55&nbsp;°C !! colspan=2 | 0-70&nbsp;°C
|-
! colspan=2 | flat pack !! colspan=3 | DIP
|-
| 806 || dual 4-input gate expander || 10.40 || 5.20 || 4.65 || 4.88 || 5.25
|-
| 807 || 8-input NAND || rowspan=2 | 13.35 || rowspan=2 | 6.55 || rowspan=2 | 4.65 || rowspan=2 | 5.10 || rowspan=2 | 5.75
|-
| 816 || dual 4-input NAND
|-
| 825 || J-K flip-flop || 19.80 || 11.55 || 7.20 || 7.90 || 9.00
|-
| 826 || dual AC flip-flop || 30.00 || 15.00 || 12.60 || 13.80 || 15.00
|-
| 840 || dual XOR || 14.20 || 7.10 || rowspan=4 | 5.25 || rowspan=4 | 5.75 || rowspan=4 | 6.60
|-
| 855 || dual 4-input power gate || 15.50 || 7.65
|-
| 870 || triple 3-input NAND || rowspan=2 | 14.80 || rowspan=2 | 7.45
|}
|}


Signetics managed to stabilize and become profitable again, but it never regained its market leadership, which was now firmly held by Fairchild. Its engineers continued to innovate in IC technology, and remained a significant force. Around 1971, the Signetics introduced the innovative [[555 timer IC]], which it called "The IC Time Machine".<ref name="Cimbala"/> This was the first and only low-cost commercial IC timer available at the time, and soon became a best-seller. Signetics was known for creating innovative ICs for both [[analog electronics]] and the rapidly-growing [[digital electronics]] applications.
Signetics managed to stabilize and become profitable again, but it never regained its market leadership, which was now firmly held by Fairchild. Its engineers continued to innovate in IC technology, and remained a significant force. Around 1971, the Signetics introduced the innovative [[555 timer IC]], which it called "The IC Time Machine".<ref name="Cimbala"/> This was the first and only low-cost commercial IC timer available at the time, and soon became a best-seller. Signetics was known for creating innovative ICs for both [[analog electronics]] and the rapidly-growing [[digital electronics]] applications.
{{pic|Signetics 1980s logo.svg|upright=0.75|Logo used from 1981 until its closure}}
 
In November 1973, Signetics raised $20,600,000 with the sale of 1,300,000 shares of common stock to the public. This diluted Corning's stake from 92% to 70.2%. The first annual report to shareholders was published for the year ending December 30, 1973.<ref name="annual_1973">{{cite report |title=Signetics Annual Report 1973 |date=30 December 1973 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240329231938/https://archive.computerhistory.org/resources/access/text/2017/03/102770829-05-01-acc.pdf |archive-date=2024-03-29 |url=https://archive.computerhistory.org/resources/access/text/2017/03/102770829-05-01-acc.pdf}}</ref>
 
In 1975 second source production began of 2 chips of the Intel 3000 series bit slice microprocessor.<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=Microcomputer Digest |volume=1 |issue=9 |date=March 1975 |title=Bipolar uC Second Source Announced |page=1 |url=https://archive.org/details/bitsavers_MicrocomputerDigestv01n09Mar75_2482652/mode/1up}}</ref>
 
{{plain image with caption|Signetics 1980s logo.svg|upright=0.75|Logo used from 1981 until its closure}}
In 1975, the company was acquired by [[Philips]], who continued the brand for some years. In the United States, Signetics reached its manufacturing height at around 1980. Later it was fully integrated into [[NXP Semiconductors|Philips Semiconductors (now NXP)]].<ref name="SVHA" />
In 1975, the company was acquired by [[Philips]], who continued the brand for some years. In the United States, Signetics reached its manufacturing height at around 1980. Later it was fully integrated into [[NXP Semiconductors|Philips Semiconductors (now NXP)]].<ref name="SVHA" />


Line 53: Line 357:
==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
{{notelist}}


==Further reading==
==Further reading==
Line 84: Line 389:
[[Category:1975 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:1975 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:NXP Semiconductors]]
[[Category:NXP Semiconductors]]
[[Category:Defunct computer companies based in California]]

Latest revision as of 07:16, 24 November 2025

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Signetics Corporation was an American electronics manufacturer specifically established in Silicon Valley to make integrated circuits.[1] Founded in 1961, they went on to develop a number of early microprocessors and support chips, as well as the widely used 555 timer chip. The company was bought by Philips in 1975 and incorporated in Philips Semiconductors (now NXP).[1]

History

Template:Plain image with caption The formation of Signetics at 680 West Maude Avenue[2] in Sunnyvale, California was announced on October 16, 1961 by a group of engineers formerly with Fairchild Semiconductor.[1][3]

Signetics founders[3]
Name Position at Fairchild
Dr. B. David James President head of Physics Dept
David F. Allison Vice-President head of Device Development Dept
Lionel E. Kattner technical staff
Mark Weissenstern
Board of Directors[4]
Warren Hellman Lehman Brothers
Theodore Petterson former president of Standard Oil of California
David James
Lionel Kattner
Whit Budge attorney

At the time, Fairchild was concentrating on its discrete component business (mostly transistors), and its management felt that by making integrated circuits (ICs) it would lose its customers. Signetics founders believed that ICs were the future of electronics (much like another contemporary Fairchild spinoff, Amelco) and wished to commercialize them. The name of the new company was coined from Signal Network Electronics.

Lionel Kattner in 2007 recollected that "Sig" and "netics" as common word fragments in the industry had just popped into his head.[5]Template:Rp

The venture was financed by a group organized through Lehman Brothers, who invested $1M. The initial idea was to design and manufacture ICs for specific customers. In order to facilitate this goal, Signetics did not have a separate R&D lab; instead, the engineering was all done in technical development department, and was closely tied to marketing.

Signetics first developed a small number of standard DTL ICs, which it announced in 1962.

Early Signetics DTL ICs,[6]Template:Rp Template:Rp
Name Die Description Pins Transistors DiodesTemplate:Efn Resistors Capacitors
SE101 VF101 4-input NANDTemplate:Efn 10 1 6 3 0
SE102 3-input NANDTemplate:Efn 9
SE104 ?Template:Efn 6 diodes array 8 0 6 1 0
SE120 VF120 flip-flop 7 2 10 8 2
SE121 ?
SE122
SE130 ? buffer 5 5 5 6 0
SE140 VF140 2-input XOR 8 1 7 3 0
TTL
SE200 ? 3-input TTL NAND 7 2Template:Efn 0 2 0

Template:Table alignment

Revenue (bold = official)[7][8]
Year Revenue Headcount
1963 $1,892,000 307
1964 $4,942,000 309
1965 $5,803,000 646
1966 $12,635,000 1,224
1967 $20,932,000 1,928
1968 $29,054,000 2,745
1969 $41,357,000 4,052
1970 $33,726,000 2,322
1971 $31,840,000 3,698
1972 $48,428,000 5,194
1973 $98,274,000 9,557
1974 $120,836,000 6,688
1975 $77,600,000 6,400
1976 $127,400,000 8,635
1977 $172,300,000 8,042
1978 $201,275,000 9,793
1979 $257,645,000 11,742
1980 $367,805,000 13,888

The standard dies (VF101, VF120, VF140) were the basis for the variFEBSTemplate:Efn customization option, where the interconnect (metallization) layer was specified by the customer. Texas Instruments offered a similar service with their Master Slice product. The preFEBS option on the other hand allowed customers to send in full-custom designs prototyped on breadboards with Signetics-approved discrete components. Fairchild offered a similar service with their Integrated Circuit Breadboards product.[6]Template:Rp Everything above except the SE200 TTL was advertised for in January 1963 and perhaps a little earlier.[9]

However, it was struggling to sell custom-made circuits, which was the original goal, and was quickly exhausting the initial investment money, so new investors had to be found. In November 1962, Corning Glass Works invested another $1.7M in Signetics, in exchange for 51% ownership. This money enabled Signetics to survive, and much of the funding was put into a marketing and sales campaign.

In 1963, the Department of Defense made a decision to begin a shift towards microelectronics and ICs, due to their small size, higher reliability, and lower power consumption. As a result, military contractors began to explore the field, and as Signetics was one of the few firms selling custom circuits, it benefited greatly. In the fall of 1963 and throughout most of 1964, sales grew quickly, and the company finally became profitable. Signetics also grew rapidly, hiring more engineers and increasing its manufacturing space. In 1964, Signetics opened a large new fabricating plant ("fab") in Sunnyvale, California. At this time, it was by far the largest manufacturer of ICs in Silicon Valley. It later expanded also to factories in Orem, Utah and Albuquerque, New Mexico, where there were two fabs, FAB22 (4-inch) and FAB23 (6-inch).

President James F. Riley announced on June 8, 1966 that Signetics would establish a plant in Provo, Utah at 1450 North State Street in a 30,000sqft former bowling alley, with production to begin in September 1966. A payroll of $1 million per year was to support a work force of 150.[10] The plant closed on December 15, 1992, final employment was 900, down from a prior all-time high of 2000. Operations were moved to Albuquerque, Sunnyvale and Caen. Plant additions in 1974, 1981 and 1988 had increased the square footage to an eventual 530,000.[11][12]

In 1964, Fairchild began to muscle its way into the IC business. Since Signetics circuits were the de facto standard in the market, Fairchild decided to copy them. However, it used its superior cash position, marketing power, and manufacturing strength to undercut its competitor by slashing prices and flooding the market. Signetics was struggling to compete, and began losing money again. Corning saw this as proof of poor management, and used its controlling interest to drive out most of the founders and take complete control of the company.

Chips sold in 1966
DTL ICs (Sep 12, 1966)[13]
Name Description Price 1-24pcs
SE1xxK SE1xxG SE1xxJ NE1xxJ NE1xxA
-55-125 °C 0-70 °C
TO-5 flat pack DIP
10-lead 14-lead
101 4-input NAND 15.00 16.80
102 3-input NAND 14.70 16.55
105 6-input gate expander 10.50 12.40
106 dual 5-input gate expander 7.30 5.10 4.50
110 3-input high fanout NAND 16.55 18.60
111 dual 4-input high fanout NAND 15.50
112 dual 3-input high fanout NAND 15.50 6.85
113 dual 3-input high fanout NAND 16.55
115 dual 2-input NAND 16.55 18.60
116 dual 4-input NAND 13.35 6.55 5.90
124 RST flip-flop 20.20 22.40 17.85 10.40 6.85
125 J-K flip-flop 19.80 11.55 8.45
150 2-input clock/capacitive line driver 17.20 19.15
155 dual 4-input clock/capacitive line driver 15.50
156 dual 4-input clock/capacitive line driver 15.50 7.65 6.85
157 dual 3-input clock/capacitive line driver 17.20
160 one-shot multivibrator 57.50 59.90
161 one-shot multivibrator 72.00 59.90 26.10
170 triple 3-input NAND 14.80 7.45 5.90
180 quad 2-input NAND 14.80 7.45 5.90
181 quad inverter 20.20
CS7xxK CS7xxG CS7xxJ
700 dual 3-2-input NAND 17.20 19.15
701 dual 3-2-input NAND 17.20 19.15
704 RST flip-flop 21.00 23.20
705 dual 3-input AND 13.00 15.00
709 dual 3-input gate expander 8.30 10.50
715 dual 2-input clock/capacitive line driver 20.00
716 dual 2-input high fanout NAND 19.50
720 quad 2-input NAND 15.60
721 triple 3-input NAND 15.60
727 triple 2-input NAND 15.60
729 RST flip-flop 18.60
730 dual 5-input NAND 14.10
731 quad 2-input gate expander 8.00
732 12-input gate expander 8.00
UTILOGIC (low cost) 10-lead ICs (Sep 12, 1966)[13]
Name Description Price 1-24pcs
SU3xxK SU3xxG LU3xxK
-20-85 °C 10-55 °C
TO-5 flat pack TO-5
300 dual 3-input gate expander 7.35 10.15 3.90
305 6-input AND 8.20 11.00 4.20
306 dual 3-input AND
314 7-input NOR
315 dual 3-input NOR
316 dual 2-input NOR
320 J-K flip-flop 13.30 16.10 5.55
331 dual 2-input OR 8.20 11.00 4.20
332 dual 3-input OR
Low Power ICs (Sep 12, 1966)[13]
Name Description Price 1-24 pcs
SE4xxJ NE4xxJ NE4xxA SP4xxA ST4xxA
-55-125 °C 0-70 °C 0-70 °C 15-55 °C 0-70 °C
flat pack DIP
416 dual 4-input NAND 22.50 11.25 6.60 5.25 5.75
417 dual 3-input NAND
424 dual flip-flop 30.00 15.00 12.00 10.00 11.00
440 dual XOR 23.20 12.00 6.60 5.25 5.75
455 dual 4-input buffer
480 quad 2-input NAND
Linear ICs (Sep 12, 1966)[13]
Name Description Prices 1-24pcs
SE5xxK SE5xxG NE5xxK
-55-125 °C 0-70 °C
TO-5 flat pack TO-5
500 gated sense amplifier 22.50 25.50 11.25
501 video amplifier 34.40 37.40 17.15
504 gated sense amplifier 22.50 25.50 11.25
505 general purpose differential amplifier
506 differential operational amplifer 52.50 54.50 26.25
518 analog comparator 22.50 25.50 11.25
TTL ICs (Sep 12, 1966)[13]
Name Description Prices 1-24pcs
SE8xxJ NE8xxJ SP8xxA ST8xxA NE8xxA
-55-125 °C 0-70 °C 15-55 °C 0-70 °C
flat pack DIP
806 dual 4-input gate expander 10.40 5.20 4.65 4.88 5.25
807 8-input NAND 13.35 6.55 4.65 5.10 5.75
816 dual 4-input NAND
825 J-K flip-flop 19.80 11.55 7.20 7.90 9.00
826 dual AC flip-flop 30.00 15.00 12.60 13.80 15.00
840 dual XOR 14.20 7.10 5.25 5.75 6.60
855 dual 4-input power gate 15.50 7.65
870 triple 3-input NAND 14.80 7.45

Signetics managed to stabilize and become profitable again, but it never regained its market leadership, which was now firmly held by Fairchild. Its engineers continued to innovate in IC technology, and remained a significant force. Around 1971, the Signetics introduced the innovative 555 timer IC, which it called "The IC Time Machine".[14] This was the first and only low-cost commercial IC timer available at the time, and soon became a best-seller. Signetics was known for creating innovative ICs for both analog electronics and the rapidly-growing digital electronics applications.

In November 1973, Signetics raised $20,600,000 with the sale of 1,300,000 shares of common stock to the public. This diluted Corning's stake from 92% to 70.2%. The first annual report to shareholders was published for the year ending December 30, 1973.[8]

In 1975 second source production began of 2 chips of the Intel 3000 series bit slice microprocessor.[15]

Template:Plain image with caption In 1975, the company was acquired by Philips, who continued the brand for some years. In the United States, Signetics reached its manufacturing height at around 1980. Later it was fully integrated into Philips Semiconductors (now NXP).[1]

In 1995, Philips spun off the assembly and test operation in South Korea, which was started by Signetics in 1966, as an independent subcontract service provider. They continue to use the name "Signetics". Since 2000, the Signetics brand is primarily used by the Young Poong Group.[16]

Notable devices

Signetics introduced a number of innovative analog and digital integrated circuits which became de facto standard products widely used in mass-produced electronics. Freely-distributed application notes published by Signetics were key in educating students and practicing engineers in the usefulness and simplicity of their ICs. Some designs remain iconic and are still used today in basic electronics lab exercises.[14]

See also

References

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  1. ↑ a b c d Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ a b c d e Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ 2513 text display ROM
  19. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  20. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  21. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1". Press release on Signetics 82S100 and 82S101 field programmable logic arrays. Sixteen inputs pins, 8 output pins and 48 product terms. NiCr fuse link programming.
  22. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  23. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  24. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  25. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

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Template:Notelist

Further reading

  • Lécuyer, C. Making Silicon Valley: Innovation and the Growth of High Tech, 1930-1970, MIT Press, 2006. Template:ISBN

External links

Template:NXP Semiconductors Template:Programmable Logic

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