Synaptics, Inc. is an American neural network technologies and computer-to-human interface devices development company based in San Jose, California. It develops touchpads and fingerprint biometrics technology for computer laptops; touch, display driver, and fingerprint biometrics technology for smartphones; and touch, video and far-field voice, low-power AI processors, and wireless technology for smart home devices, wearables, and automobiles. Synaptics sells its products to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and display manufacturers. Examples of technologies developed by the company include computer touchpads, the click wheel on the classic iPod, touch sensors for Android phones, touch and display driver integrated chips (TDDI), and fingerprint sensors. These designs are used in devices such as PCs, wearables, drones, gaming systems, media systems, cars, industrial security and monitoring equipment, and virtual reality headsets.
History
1986–1998: Early history Federico Faggin and Carver Mead founded Synaptics in 1986. They used their research on neural networks and transistors on chips to build pattern recognition products such as the "Silicon Retina", a circuit board emulating the human retina's visual processing. In 1991, Synaptics patented a refined "winner take all" circuit for teaching neural networks how to recognize patterns and images. The circuit uses basic physics principles in order to select the strongest signal from the different processors. In 1992, the company used the pattern recognition techniques it developed to build the world's first touchpad for laptop computers that allowed users to control the cursor and click with no additional mechanical buttons. The pad was a replacement for trackballs and mice used at the time. By 1994, Twinhead and Epson America had adopted Synaptics' touchpad for their computers (Epson with the ActionNote), followed by Apple in 1995 and later by other computer manufacturers, including Compaq and Dell.
1999–2010: Initial public offering and growth In 1999, Francis Lee took over as CEO. A year later, in 2000, Synaptics started selling touch technology for digital media players. In 2002, Synaptics had an initial public offering. As adoption of the touchpad grew, Synaptics sought to integrate the technology with other products. In 2004, Apple debuted the iPod Mini and fourth-generation iPod, both featuring a scrolling click wheel that used Synaptics' capacitive touch technology. Synaptics also provided a similar but vertical click wheel for the Creative Zen Touch portable media player. In 2005, Synaptics sensors were featured in the Samsung B310, the first mobile phone to use capacitive-touch technology. In October 2006, Synaptics provided a live demonstration of the Onyx, a concept smartphone with a color touchscreen enabled by its ClearPad touch controller technology. The Onyx's touch sensor could tell the difference between a finger and a cheek, preventing accidental inputs during calls. The company's touch technology was used in LG's Prada phone in 2007, which was the world's first mobile phone with a capacitive touchscreen. In 2008, touch sensors developed by Synaptics were used in T-Mobile's G1 phone, one of the first Android phones. In the same year, Federico Faggin retired from the board of directors of Synaptics. In 2009, Synaptics announced the development of the Fuse concept smartphone. It had touch sensitivity on the back of the phone, the ability to interact with the phone by squeezing, animated icons, a user interface sensitive to the phone's orientation and tilt, and haptic gestures.
2011–2019: Expansion, acquisitions, and further growth In 2011, Synaptics appointed Rick Bergman to succeed Francis Lee as CEO. In 2012, Synaptics introduced the first pressure recognizing touchscreen, which allowed multi-finger and variable-force input. In 2013, Synaptics acquired Validity Sensors, a fingerprint sensor vendor, adding fingerprint sensing technology to the company. In the same year, Synaptics relocated its headquarters to San Jose from Santa Clara. Six months after the move, Synaptics expanded its campus, purchasing nearby property for $10 million. Synaptics is a founding member of the FIDO (Fast ID Online) Alliance and the Universal Stylus Initiative (USI). In 2014, Synaptics acquired Renesas SP Drivers Inc., a Japanese company specializing in chips that manage LCD displays. The acquisition enabled Synaptics to combine touch and display driver technologies into a single "TDDI" (Touch and Display Driver Integration) chip. In 2015, Synaptics expanded into additional markets, including automotive, wearables and PC peripherals. In July 2015, Synaptics announced a unique “match-in-sensor” fingerprint authenticator for laptops and other devices that authenticates the fingerprint within the chip. In 2016, Synaptics introduced its first optical-based fingerprint sensor, which would allow the sensor to be placed under smartphones' glass displays rather than under a separate button. After improving the technology, the company sent it into full production a year later. In 2017, Synaptics acquired Conexant Systems, an Amazon Alexa partner that creates voice and audio software and silicon products for smart homes. At the same time, Synaptics acquired Marvell Technology Group's Multimedia Solutions unit, which creates video and audio processing technology. The two acquisitions were intended to aid Synaptics' expansion into the Internet of things (IoT) market. In 2018, the Chinese company Vivo announced a smartphone featuring Synaptics' optical fingerprint sensor. This was the world’s first full-production smartphone with fingerprint authentication directly in the OLED display. In 2019, the board of directors appointed Michael Hurlston as the new CEO. Under Hurlston's leadership the company focused on growing its IoT business, expanding from its focus on sensors on glass towards development of low-power sensors to IoT devices.
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