DigitalQuake acquisition boosts National's display

National Semiconductor has acquired all the capital stock of DigitalQuake, a California-based developer of digital display products.

National Semiconductor has acquired all the capital stock of DigitalQuake, a California-based developer of digital display products.

Terms of the acquisition have not been disclosed.

"DigitalQuake adds several key technologies to National's existing digital display capabilities", said David Handorf, vice president of National Semiconductor's Displays Group, "including an industry-leading, fourth-generation scaling solution, a triple analogue-to-digital convertor and an advanced digital video interface with the latest encryption/decryption technologies.

DigitalQuake's intellectual property helps National Semiconductor provide a total system solution for flat panel monitors".

National is a recognised leader in providing semiconductor solutions for companies that manufacture PC notebook displays and desktop monitors.

"Combining DigitalQuake's technologies with National's strengths - its advanced low emissions LVDS and RSDS interface technologies, integrated timing controllers and high-volume manufacturing capabilities - enables National to provide fully integrated semiconductor solutions for the display market", said Paul A Lessard, who served as CEO of DigitalQuake since its founding in February 2000.

In its first two years DigitalQuake quickly developed an innovative scaler chip for digital displays.

Scaling is one of the features needed to change the resolution and size of the display.

DigitalQuake's highly skilled designers will be integrated into National Semiconductor's Displays Group.

The company has worked with National's design engineers since February 2002 to combine its scaler technology with National's integrated timing controller technology.

As a result of this collaboration, an advanced mixed-signal, system-on-chip solution has already been demonstrated to customers.

Flat panel displays take up much less space and use less electrical power than conventional cathode ray tube (CRT) monitors.

They are replacing CRTs in desktop computer systems and also gaining acceptance in the digital TV market.

According to industry estimates, the market for flat-panel monitors is forecast to exceed $20 billion in calendar 2002.

In addition to driving integration in flat-panel displays, National is also a leading supplier of circuits for conventional CRT monitors.

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