Power Electronics CEO's: Monolithic Power System's Michael R. Hsing

Dec 1, 2008 12:00 PM

Monolithic Power Systems (MPS) is a high-performance analog semiconductor company headquartered in San Jose, Calif. The company has more than 550 employees working in design centers and sales offices in Japan, Europe, China, Korea, Taiwan and the United States.

Founded in 1997, the company has three core strengths: deep system-level and applications knowledge, strong analog design expertise and an innovative proprietary process technology. These combined advantages enable MPS to deliver highly integrated monolithic products that offer energy-efficient, cost-effective solutions.

MPS' systems and applications expertise stems from a team of industry veterans who possess a combination of highly technical electronics knowledge, sophisticated system and IC-level design capabilities, and extensive customer application experience. This allows the company to work closely with customers to identify new product opportunities, reduce time to market and competently support its applications. In addition, MPS has developed a portfolio of intellectual property and proprietary processes that enhance its products and market share.

MPS' proprietary BCD Plus process technology is a focal point to its competitive advantage. Many conventional analog technologies are handicapped by an inability to support the integration of power devices at high power levels. This results in unacceptably large semiconductors and/or significant levels of power loss. High power loss results in significant heat dissipation. This must be managed to avoid damaging or reducing the overall performance and efficiency of the system. Other analog semiconductor vendors rely on multiple chip solutions to avoid these issues.

In contrast, MPS' BCD Plus process technology resolves each of these issues. Implemented at standard CMOS foundries, this unique process integrates BiCMOS signal transistors with a highly efficient DMOS power transistor. This allows MPS to design and deliver smaller single-chip power management ICs that are highly efficient and accurate. In addition, MPS' single-process technology simplifies the design process and is applicable across a wide range of analog applications. The result is higher productivity and significant cost advantages for any MPS customer.

MPS is a fabless semiconductor company, working with third-party foundries. However, in contrast to many other fabless companies that use standard process technologies, MPS works with its foundry partners to install its own proprietary process technology in their facilities for use solely by MPS.

MPS' innovated family of products includes:

• DC-DC converter ICs that provide the supply voltage to a variety of electronic devices
• LED driver ICs used in lighting displays, such as those found in cellular handsets and handheld computing devices
• Cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) backlight inverter ICs used in lighting LCD displays, such as those found in notebook computers, flat-panel displays and televisions
• Class D audio amplifier ICs, which are well-suited for small form factor and portable electronic devices
• Linear ICs including operational and current-sense amplifiers
• Battery chargers and protection devices
• Power over Ethernet (PoE) powered-device solutions.

Michael R. Hsing is the founder, president and CEO of MPS. He is an inventor of versatile high-speed, high-power semiconductor process technology, including many patents related to the semiconductor devices. Under his leadership, MPS has grown to be one of the fastest and most profitable companies in the semiconductor industry with recognition from Wall Street. Prior to founding MPS, Hsing held various senior technical positions at Supertex and Micrel.

Hsing enjoys kayaking, competitive tennis and is an avid pilot of acrobat flying.

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