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{{update|date=December 2013}}
{{update|date=December 2013}}
{{Infobox company
{{Infobox company
|name = P.A. Semi Inc.
| name = P.A. Semi Inc.
|logo = pasemilogo.png
| logo = pasemilogo.png
|logo_size = 260px
| logo_size = 260px
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
|type = Private subsidiary of Apple Inc.
| founded = 2003
|genre =
⚫
| founder = [[Daniel W. Dobberpuhl]]
|foundation = 2003
⚫
| hq_location_city = [[Santa Clara, California]]
⚫
|founder = [[Daniel W. Dobberpuhl]]
⚫
| hq_location_country = [[United States]]
⚫
|location_city = [[Santa Clara, California]]
⚫
| industry = [[Fabless semiconductor company]]
⚫
|location_country = [[United States]]
⚫
| products = [[PWRficient]] processor
|location = <!--modifies "Headquarters" entry-->
⚫
| num_employees = 150 person engineering team
|key_people =
⚫
| parent = [[Apple Inc.]]
|area_served =
⚫
| fate = Acquired by Apple in 2008.
⚫
|industry = [[Fabless semiconductor company]]
}}
⚫
|products = [[PWRficient]] processor
|services =
|revenue =
|operating_income =
|net_income =
⚫
|num_employees = 150 person engineering team
⚫
|parent = [[Apple Inc.]]
|divisions =
|subsid =
|owner = [[Apple Inc.]]
|dissolved =
|footnotes =
⚫
|fate = acquired by Apple in 2008.}}


⚫
'''P. A. Semi''' (originally '''Palo Alto Semiconductor'''<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kanellos|first=Michael|date=2005-10-24|title=Start-up plans new energy-efficient processor|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/start-up-plans-new-energy-efficient-processor/|url-status=live|access-date=2020-06-25|website=ZDNet|language=en}}</ref>) was an American [[fabless semiconductor company]] founded in [[Santa Clara, California]] in 2003 by [[Daniel W. Dobberpuhl]] ([[bachelor of science|BS]] [[electrical engineering|EE]] 1967 [[University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign]]),<ref>{{cite web|last=Maiellaro|first=Bridget|date=2008-08-24|title=Apple purchases alum's microchip company|url=https://ece.illinois.edu/newsroom/news/2531|url-status=live|archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6DGM1QJ7y?url=http://engineering.illinois.edu/news?xId=074108000700|archive-date=2012-12-29|access-date=2008-06-13|website=ECE Illinois|publisher=[[University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=MacCrae|first=Afred U.|date=April 2003|title=EDS Members Named Winners of the 2003 IEEE Technical Field Awards|url=http://www.ieee.org/organizations/pubs/newsletters/eds/apr03/field_award.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030726012756/http://www.ieee.org/organizations/pubs/newsletters/eds/apr03/field_award.html|archive-date=2003-07-26|website=[[IEEE]]}}</ref> who was previously the lead designer for the [[Digital Equipment Corporation|DEC]] [[Alpha 21064]] and [[StrongARM]] processors. The company employed a 150-person engineering team which included people who had previously worked on processors like [[Itanium]], [[Opteron]] and [[SPARC|UltraSPARC]]. [[Apple Inc]] acquired P.A. Semi for $278 million in April 2008.<ref>{{cite news|title=Apple Buys Chip Designer |publisher=[[Forbes]] |url=https://www.forbes.com/technology/2008/04/23/apple-buys-pasemi-tech-ebiz-cz_eb_0422apple.html |accessdate=2008-04-23 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080424162510/http://www.forbes.com/technology/2008/04/23/apple-buys-pasemi-tech-ebiz-cz_eb_0422apple.html |archivedate=April 24, 2008 }}</ref>
'''P. A. Semi''' (originally '''Palo Alto Semiconductor'''<ref>{{cite web
|title = Start-up plans new energy-efficient processor
|publisher = [[News.com]]
|url = http://www.news.com/Start-up-plans-new-energy-efficient-processor/2100-1006_3-5907281.html
|accessdate = 2005-10-23
⚫
}}</ref>) was an American [[fabless semiconductor company]] founded in [[Santa Clara, California]] in 2003 by [[Daniel W. Dobberpuhl]] ([[bachelor of science|BS]] [[electrical engineering|EE]] 1967 [[University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign]]),<ref>{{cite web|author=Bridget Maiellaro|date=2008-08-24|url=http://www.engr.uiuc.edu/news/?xId=074108000700|title=ECE alumnus' company purchased by Apple|publisher=[[University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign]]|access-date=2008-06-13|archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6DGM1QJ7y?url=http://engineering.illinois.edu/news?xId=074108000700|archive-date=2012-12-29|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ieee.org/organizations/pubs/newsletters/eds/apr03/field_award.html|title=EDS Members Named Winners of the 2003 IEEE Technical Field Awards|publisher=[[IEEE]]|date=April 2003|author=Afred U. MacCrae|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030726012756/http://www.ieee.org/organizations/pubs/newsletters/eds/apr03/field_award.html|archivedate=2003-07-26}}</ref> who was previously the lead designer for the [[Digital Equipment Corporation|DEC]] [[Alpha 21064]] and [[StrongARM]] processors. The company employed a 150-person engineering team which included people who had previously worked on processors like [[Itanium]], [[Opteron]] and [[SPARC|UltraSPARC]]. [[Apple Inc]] acquired P.A. Semi for $278 million in April 2008.<ref>{{cite news|title=Apple Buys Chip Designer |publisher=[[Forbes]] |url=https://www.forbes.com/technology/2008/04/23/apple-buys-pasemi-tech-ebiz-cz_eb_0422apple.html |accessdate=2008-04-23 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080424162510/http://www.forbes.com/technology/2008/04/23/apple-buys-pasemi-tech-ebiz-cz_eb_0422apple.html |archivedate=April 24, 2008 }}</ref>


==History==
==History==
Line 55: Line 38:
}}</ref>
}}</ref>


There were rumors that P. A. Semi had a relationship with [[Apple Inc.|Apple]] that suggested Apple would be the premier user of the PWRficient processors. That relationship supposedly ended with the [[Apple–Intel transition]] when Apple switched from the PowerPC to [[Intel]]'s [[Intel Core|Core]] processors for their entire line of computers.<ref>{{cite web
There were rumors that P. A. Semi had a relationship with [[Apple Inc.|Apple]] that suggested Apple would be the premier user of the PWRficient processors. That relationship supposedly ended with the [[Apple–Intel transition]] when Apple switched from the PowerPC to [[Intel]]'s [[Intel Core|Core]] processors for their entire line of computers.<ref>{{cite web|last=Vance|first=Ashlee|date=2006-05-19|title=Apple shunned superstar chip start-up for Intel|url=http://www.theregister.com/2006/05/19/pasemi_apple/|url-status=live|accessdate=2006-05-19|website=[[The Register]]}}</ref>
|title = Apple shunned superstar chip start-up for Intel
|url = http://www.theregister.com/2006/05/19/pasemi_apple/
|first = Ashlee
|last = Vance
|accessdate = 2006-05-19
|publisher = [[The Register]]
}}</ref>


== Acquisition by Apple ==
== Acquisition by Apple ==
On 23 April 2008, Apple announced that they had acquired P. A. Semi. While Apple's previous relationship with P. A Semi (see above) would indicate that Apple could use their processors, P. A. Semi manufactures only Power ISA processors, which Apple does not currently use. At present, Apple only uses [[ARM architecture|ARM]] and [[x86 architecture|x86]] processors.
On 23 April 2008, Apple announced that they had acquired P. A. Semi. While Apple's previous relationship with P. A Semi (see above) would indicate that Apple could use their processors, P. A. Semi manufactures only Power ISA processors, which Apple does not currently use. At present, Apple only uses [[ARM architecture|ARM]] and [[x86 architecture|x86]] processors.


On 11 June 2008, during the annual Worldwide Developer's Conference, Apple CEO [[Steve Jobs]] said that the acquisition was meant to add the talent of P. A. Semi's engineers to Apple's workforce and help them build custom chips for the [[iPod]], [[iPhone]], and other future mobile devices <ref>{{cite news
On 11 June 2008, during the annual Worldwide Developer's Conference, Apple CEO [[Steve Jobs]] said that the acquisition was meant to add the talent of P. A. Semi's engineers to Apple's workforce and help them build custom chips for the [[iPod]], [[iPhone]], and other future mobile devices<ref>{{cite news
|title = Jobs Still Hearts Intel
|title = Jobs Still Hearts Intel
|url = https://blogs.wsj.com/biztech/2008/04/24/jobs-still-hearts-intel/?mod=WSJBlog
|url = https://blogs.wsj.com/biztech/2008/04/24/jobs-still-hearts-intel/?mod=WSJBlog
Line 74: Line 50:
|last = Wingfield
|last = Wingfield
|publisher = [[The Wall Street Journal]]
|publisher = [[The Wall Street Journal]]
⚫
}}</ref> such as the [[iPad]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Vance|first=Ashlee|last2=Stone|first2=Brad|date=2010-02-02|title=A Little Chip Designed by Apple Itself|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/02/technology/business-computing/02chip.html|accessdate=2010-02-02|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> P.A. Semi has said that they were willing to supply their PWRficient PA6T-1682M chip on an end-of-life basis, if the Power ISA license that P.A. Semi holds from [[IBM]] could be transferred to the acquiring company.<ref>{{cite web
}}</ref> such as the [[iPad]].<ref>{{cite news
| title = A Little Chip Designed by Apple Itself
| url = https://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/02/technology/business-computing/02chip.html
| accessdate = 2010-02-02
| publisher = [[The New York Times]]
| first1=Ashlee
| last1=Vance
| first2=Brad
| last2=Stone
| date=2010-02-02
⚫
}}</ref> P.A. Semi has said that they were willing to supply their PWRficient PA6T-1682M chip on an end-of-life basis, if the Power ISA license that P.A. Semi holds from [[IBM]] could be transferred to the acquiring company.<ref>{{cite web
|title = DoD may push back on Apple's P. A. Semi bid
|title = DoD may push back on Apple's P. A. Semi bid
|url = http://www.eetimes.com/news/latest/showArticle.jhtml;?articleID=207401605
|url = http://www.eetimes.com/news/latest/showArticle.jhtml;?articleID=207401605

Revision as of 16:59, 25 June 2020

P.A. Semi Inc.
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryFabless semiconductor company
Founded2003
FounderDaniel W. Dobberpuhl
FateAcquired by Apple in 2008.
Headquarters
Santa Clara, California
,
United States
ProductsPWRficient processor
Number of employees
150 person engineering team
ParentApple Inc.

P. A. Semi (originally Palo Alto Semiconductor[1]) was an American fabless semiconductor company founded in Santa Clara, California in 2003 by Daniel W. Dobberpuhl (BS EE 1967 University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign),[2][3] who was previously the lead designer for the DEC Alpha 21064 and StrongARM processors. The company employed a 150-person engineering team which included people who had previously worked on processors like Itanium, Opteron and UltraSPARC. Apple Inc acquired P.A. Semi for $278 million in April 2008.[4]

History

P. A. Semi concentrated on making powerful and power-efficient Power ISA processors called PWRficient, based on the PA6T processor core. The PA6T was the first Power ISA core to be designed from scratch outside the AIM alliance (i.e. not by Apple, IBM, or Motorola/Freescale) in ten years. Texas Instruments was one of the investors in P.A. Semi and it was suggested that their fabrication plants would be used to manufacture the PWRficient processors.[5]

PWRficient processors were shipping to select customers, and were set to be released for worldwide sale in Q4 2007.[6]

There were rumors that P. A. Semi had a relationship with Apple that suggested Apple would be the premier user of the PWRficient processors. That relationship supposedly ended with the Apple–Intel transition when Apple switched from the PowerPC to Intel's Core processors for their entire line of computers.[7]

Acquisition by Apple

On 23 April 2008, Apple announced that they had acquired P. A. Semi. While Apple's previous relationship with P. A Semi (see above) would indicate that Apple could use their processors, P. A. Semi manufactures only Power ISA processors, which Apple does not currently use. At present, Apple only uses ARM and x86 processors.

On 11 June 2008, during the annual Worldwide Developer's Conference, Apple CEO Steve Jobs said that the acquisition was meant to add the talent of P. A. Semi's engineers to Apple's workforce and help them build custom chips for the iPod, iPhone, and other future mobile devices[8] such as the iPad.[9] P.A. Semi has said that they were willing to supply their PWRficient PA6T-1682M chip on an end-of-life basis, if the Power ISA license that P.A. Semi holds from IBM could be transferred to the acquiring company.[10]

References

  1. ^ Kanellos, Michael (2005-10-24). "Start-up plans new energy-efficient processor". ZDNet. Retrieved 2020-06-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ^ Maiellaro, Bridget (2008-08-24). "Apple purchases alum's microchip company". ECE Illinois. University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Archived from the original on 2012-12-29. Retrieved 2008-06-13.
  3. ^ MacCrae, Afred U. (April 2003). "EDS Members Named Winners of the 2003 IEEE Technical Field Awards". IEEE. Archived from the original on 2003-07-26.
  4. ^ "Apple Buys Chip Designer". Forbes. Archived from the original on April 24, 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-23.
  5. ^ Vance, Ashlee. "PA Semi heads to 16 cores on back of $50m boost". The Register. Retrieved 2006-10-17.
  6. ^ "Press release". P. A. Semi. Archived from the original on 2007-08-21. Retrieved 2007-02-07.
  7. ^ Vance, Ashlee (2006-05-19). "Apple shunned superstar chip start-up for Intel". The Register. Retrieved 2006-05-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. ^ Wingfield, Nick. "Jobs Still Hearts Intel". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2008-04-24.
  9. ^ Vance, Ashlee; Stone, Brad (2010-02-02). "A Little Chip Designed by Apple Itself". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2010-02-02.
  10. ^ Merritt, Rick. "DoD may push back on Apple's P. A. Semi bid". EE Times. Retrieved 2008-04-23.
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