FREMONT, Calif., Sept. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Leveraging nearly two decades of academic and industry expertise in analog signal processing, GTronix, Inc., a privately held, fabless semiconductor company, was launched today. GTronix is dedicated to becoming a market and technology leader in bringing local intelligence to sensory interfaces. The innovative start-up has received more than $13M in funding to date, including an initial seed round from a Georgia Tech incubator, and two rounds of venture funding from Menlo Ventures, a California-based VC firm. The company headquarters is based in Fremont, CA, with additional offices in Atlanta, GA.
What began as a vision of three Georgia Tech PhD students became GTronix, which was founded in 2003 to revolutionize the use of a new and intelligent programmable analog structure and architecture to completely integrate the signal processing chain for sensors -- Smart Analog for Sensory Processing. With those founders still active in the further development of proprietary technology, GTronix's immediate thrust will be to address the human-machine (sensory interface) micro-sensor market. That market represents a $5B opportunity today, and it is forecast to grow at a rate of nearly 16 percent per year over the next five years, according to market research firm, Frost & Sullivan.
GTronix CEO, Hubert Engelbrechten, said that the company is at the threshold of completing the development of novel analog technology -- one that will likely change the face of information-extraction from sensors in portable electronic devices.
According to the GTronix executive, the company will initially target user-interface sensory applications in consumer products, including cell phones, wired/wireless headsets, PDAs, laptop computers and audio/video personal electronic devices. Eventually, the company will address sensor- based applications in automotive, industrial and medical markets.
"For more than 20 years," says Engelbrechten, "the industry has been applying analog signal conditioning, data conversion and DSP- or MPU-based processors in the sensory signal chain to convert real-world stimuli into usable data. That approach, while successful, often has come with penalties: increased software overhead, higher power and size, and significantly higher costs. "Our approach," Engelbrechten continued, "is completely in the analog domain and applies adaptive analog techniques as the solution. It will allow us to offload the processor and integrate the entire sensory processing chain into a single CMOS chip or module. Devices based on that technology will enable our customers to create lower-cost portable consumer products that require very fast and efficient real-time signal processing."
The GTronix Technology Unveiled
At the company's corporate launch today, GTronix also unveiled its proprietary APT(TM) Technology, a novel analog core competency. The APT technology comprises a programmable analog structure and architecture that intelligently can process real-world data, such as acoustic, visual, positioning and haptic stimuli. Covered by more than a dozen patents, the APT technology leverages a unique combination of three elements: proprietary analog algorithms; a programmable floating gate transistor structure; and a unique circuit design technique for creating signal processing functions.
According to GTronix, the underlying breakthrough was in the development of a very compact programmable structure, which made the creation of new circuits possible and practical. For example, common signal processing functions that typically are implemented with DSPs, now can be implemented in the analog domain, with orders of magnitude less power and at lower cost -- an ideal combination for portable consumer electronics.
GTronix plans to deliver a family of products based on the APT technology within six months. The company will use Vanguard International Semiconductor Company (a TSMC spin-off) as its manufacturing partner.
About the Management
GTronix's management team delivers a unique blend of academic, engineering and corporate experience in the semiconductor industry. Hubert Engelbrechten, GTronix's CEO, and Director, has spent the last 25 years in analog semiconductors with key management positions at National Semiconductor, Raytheon and Fairchild. Most recently, Engelbrechten was general manager of Fairchild's IC business, which reached about $800M in revenue. Dr. Paul Hasler is one of the founders and currently serves as Chief Science Officer; he is also a Director. An Associate Professor at Georgia Tech, Dr. Hasler's pioneering efforts in analog technology began in the late 1980s when he was a PhD student of industry luminary Carver Mead while at CalTech. Dr. Hans Klein serves as GTronix's vice president of engineering. Dr. Klein has more that 20 years of semiconductor experience in programmable analog developments and held key positions at IMP and Lattice Semiconductor. Tom Darbonne serves as GTronix vice president of marketing. Darbonne has spent the last 18 years in semiconductor marketing at Altera and start-up Cradle Technology. Young Kim, vice president of business development has 14 years of experience. He was in charge of business development for start-up organizations such as Algorithm, Cobalt and Jacket Micro Devices. Mark Wagner serves as vice president of sales for GTronix. Wagner has more than 25 years in the industry with such firms as IQV, Xicor, Synaptics and Zeevo.
Dr. Jeff Dugger, Dr. Matt Kucic, and Dr. Paul Smith are the three Georgia Tech PhD students that provided the initial vision for GTronix. The three work in GTronix's core technology group advancing the company in technology and new applications.
About GTronix
Founded in 2003, GTronix is a fabless semiconductor company developing novel analog technology to extract real-world sensory information for portable consumer electronic products. Its mission is to become a market and technology leader in bringing local intelligence to sensory interfaces through the application of its leading edge programmable and adaptive analog VLSI signal processing capability.
The company's APT(TM)Technology -- Smart Analog for Sensory Processing -- leverages proprietary analog algorithms, a programmable floating gate transistor structure and new circuit design techniques for implementing signal processing functions. GTronix will apply its patented APT Technology to create ICs and integrated module products for customers requiring ultra-low power, size and cost effective implementations for portable consumer electronics.
Headquartered in Fremont, Calif. with offices in Atlanta, the venture- backed start-up firm has secured more than $13M in funding including an initial seed funding by a grant from the Georgia Tech incubator and subsequent rounds from Menlo Ventures, a leading VC firm in Menlo Park, CA. Its products will be manufactured by Vanguard International Semiconductor Company using standard CMOS technology. For more information, contact GTronix at (510) 770-8300 or visit http://www.gtronix.com/ .
NOTE: The GTronix name and logo, APT Technology, and 'Smart Analog for Sensory Processing' are trademarks of GTronix Inc. All other trademarks and servicemarks are the property of their respective owners.
GTronix, Inc.
CONTACT: Tom Darbonne of GTronix, Inc., +1-510-770-8300, ext. 234, or tdarbonne@gtronix.com
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