International Rectifier was an American power management technology company manufacturing analog and mixed-signal ICs, advanced circuit devices, integrated power systems, and high-performance integrated components for computing. On 13 January 2015, the company became a part of

Infineon Technologies Infineon Technologies AG is a German semiconductor manufacturer founded in 1999, when the semiconductor operations of the former parent company Siemens AG were spun off. Infineon has about 50,280 employees and is one of the ten largest semicond ...

. IR's products, as a part of Infineon Technologies' overall semiconductor portfolio, continue to be used in many applications including lighting, automobile, satellite, aircraft, and defense systems; as well as key components in power supply systems in electronics-based products that include especially microcomputers, servers, networking and telecommunications equipment.

History

* 1954: commercialization of germanium rectifiers * 1959: creation of the first silicon-based rectifier * 1974: first power and

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transistors which used glass passivation * 1979: first hexagonal

power MOSFET A power MOSFET is a specific type of metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) designed to handle significant power levels. Compared to the other power semiconductor devices, such as an insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IG ...

* 1983: first intelligent power ICs * 1983: lost a patent infringement lawsuit over the rights to

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Pfizer, Inc. Pfizer Inc. ( ) is an American multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology corporation headquartered on 42nd Street in Manhattan, New York City. The company was established in 1849 in New York by two German entrepreneurs, Charles Pfizer ...

, resulting in a judgment of $55 million to Pfizer. To avoid bankruptcy, International Rectifier gave Pfizer its animal health and feed additive businesses. * 2000: developed FlipFET wafer packaging * 2002: developed DirectFET, a MOSFET packaging technology developed to address thermal limitations found in advanced computing, consumer and communications applications * 2003: developed iMOTION Integrated Design Platform for motor control applications * 2006: introduced SmartRectifier IC for AC/DC applications * 2007: launched SupIRBuck integrated voltage regulators * 2008: introduced revolutionary GaN-based power device platform * 2011: introduced PowIRstage devices and CHiL digital controllers * 2012: launched micro integrated power modules for motor control applications and COOLiRIGBTs for automotive. * 2014: bought by

for $3 billion.https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/08/20/infineon-to-buy-international-rectifier-a-chip-maker-for-3-billion/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0 Infineon to Buy International Rectifier, a Chip Maker, for $3 Billion * 2015: officially becomes a part of Infineon Technologies

Manufacturing

International Rectifier also had wafer fabrication and assembly facilities around the world. The locations include: *

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Temecula, California Temecula (; es, Temécula, ; Luiseño: ''Temeekunga'') is a city in southwestern Riverside County, California, United States. The city had a population of 110,003 as of the 2020 census and was incorporated on December 1, 1989. The city is a t ...

Leominster, Massachusetts Leominster ( ) is a city in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. It is the second-largest city in Worcester County, with a population of 43,782 at the 2020 census. Leominster is located north of Worcester and northwest of Boston. Both ...

Mesa, Arizona Mesa ( ) is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, Maricopa County, in the U.S. state of Arizona. It is the most populous city in the East Valley (Phoenix metropolitan area), East Valley section of the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. It is bordered by ...

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References

External links

*
International Rectifier Corporation History
{{Authority control Companies formerly listed on the New York Stock Exchange Equipment semiconductor companies Companies based in El Segundo, California 2014 mergers and acquisitions Electronics companies established in 1947 Electronics companies disestablished in 2014 1947 establishments in California 2014 disestablishments in California Defunct semiconductor companies of the United States Defunct manufacturing companies based in Greater Los Angeles