Fairchild Semiconductor

What Fairchild Semiconductor does

Fairchild Semiconductor was a pioneering American semiconductor company founded in 1957 by the so-called "Traitorous Eight" — including Gordon Moore, Robert Noyce, Jean Hoerni, Julius Blank, Eugene Kleiner, Jay Last, Victor Grinich, and Sheldon Roberts — and is widely credited with helping seed Silicon Valley through the commercialization of the planar transistor process. The company historically designed and manufactured power analog, power discrete, and non-power semiconductor solutions spanning MOSFETs, IGBTs, gate drivers, AC-DC and DC-DC converters, LED drivers, sensors, signal conditioning, motor control, and timing/logic/memory devices, serving automotive, industrial, consumer, computing, medical, and aerospace/defense end markets.

In 2016, ON Semiconductor (onsemi) acquired Fairchild for $2.4 billion as a strategic anchor in its transformation from a commodity component supplier into a specialized leader in intelligent power and sensing technologies. Following the acquisition, Fairchild ceased independent operations and was integrated into onsemi, where its product portfolio now sits alongside onsemi-developed SiC, GaN, Vertical GaN, the Treo analog/mixed-signal platform, and Hyperlux image and depth sensors. The combined portfolio targets high-efficiency power conversion for electric vehicles, industrial automation, AI-driven data center power, and energy infrastructure applications.

Fairchild's business model as a standalone entity was the design, fabrication, and sale of semiconductor components — primarily through distribution and direct sales to OEMs and Tier-1 system manufacturers under long qualification cycles. Post-acquisition, the legacy Fairchild lines generate revenue through onsemi's global sales channel, with design-in support provided through an ecosystem of proprietary design tools (Elite Pairing Studio, Elite Power Simulator, Product Recommendation Tools+, Interactive Block Diagrams, and the Self-Service PLECS Model Generator). No public pricing models, customer concentration figures, or independent financial disclosures are available for Fairchild alone after 2016.

Name

Fairchild Semiconductor

Legal name

Fairchild Semiconductor

Website

https://fairchildsemi.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1957

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Fairchild Semiconductor, founded in 1957, designed power analog, power discrete, and non-power semiconductor solutions. Acquired by ON Semiconductor in 2016 for $2.4 billion, it now operates as an integrated product family within onsemi's intelligent power and sensing portfolio.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Power Semiconductors

NAICS

Semiconductor and Related Device Manufacturing (334413), Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing (3344), Electrical Equipment Manufacturing (3353)

SIC

Semiconductors & Related Devices (3674), Electronic Components, Nec (3679)

akta.pro primary industry

High-Voltage, Power Discretes & Modules (IGBT/MOSFET/SiC/GaN) (HDAHAAAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Power Modules (IGBT/MOSFET/SiC/GaN Modules) (HDAHAHAH), Wide-Bandgap Power Devices (SiC/GaN Discretes) (HDAHAHAG)

Keywords

• Power semiconductors
• Silicon carbide devices
• MOSFET transistors
• IGBT power modules
• Gate driver ICs

Headquarters

HQ city

Scottsdale

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Infrastructure

Core offering

Fairchild Semiconductor designs and manufactures power semiconductor and discrete devices, including MOSFETs, IGBTs, silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) power solutions, power modules, gate drivers, AC-DC and DC-DC power conversion ICs, LED drivers, and image/sensor products. These components are supplied to automotive, industrial, computing, communications, medical, and aerospace customers through the onsemi portfolio and global sales channel.

Product overview

Fairchild Semiconductor operates as part of onsemi's intelligent power and sensing technology portfolio following the 2016 acquisition. The product portfolio includes discrete and power semiconductor technologies (MOSFETs, IGBTs, Silicon Carbide/SiC, Power Modules), power management solutions (Gate Drivers, AC-DC and DC-DC conversion, LED Drivers), intelligent sensing technologies (Sensors, Hyperlux image/depth sensors), and enabling platforms (Treo analog/mixed-signal platform, GaN and Vertical GaN technologies). The product lineup is organized around key technology platforms for automotive electrification, industrial automation, and AI-driven data center applications. Design and evaluation tools including Product Recommendation Tools+, Elite Pairing Studio, Elite Power Simulator, and Interactive Block Diagrams support product implementation. GaNEXUS represents the high-efficiency gallium nitride power conversion portfolio.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Silicon Carbide (SiC) Power Solutions Discrete SiC MOSFETs and SiC power devices for high-efficiency, high-voltage power conversion in automotive traction, industrial, and energy applications.
• MOSFETs Low-, medium-, and high-voltage silicon MOSFETs for switching and power management in automotive, industrial, computing, and consumer applications.
• IGBTs Insulated-gate bipolar transistors used in motor drives, inverters, and high-power switching for industrial and automotive applications.
• Power Modules Integrated IGBT and SiC power modules combining switching devices with thermal management for high-power industrial and traction applications.
• Gate Drivers Isolated and non-isolated gate driver ICs to control MOSFETs, IGBTs, SiC, and GaN switches in power conversion systems.
• AC-DC Power Conversion AC-DC controllers and converters that condition mains power into regulated DC rails for industrial, computing, and consumer systems.
• DC-DC Power Conversion DC-DC buck, boost, and buck-boost controllers and converters for point-of-load and intermediate-bus conversion in computing and telecom equipment.
• LED Drivers LED driver ICs for automotive exterior/interior lighting, signage, and general illumination, providing constant-current regulation and dimming control.
• Image Sensors (Hyperlux) Hyperlux image sensors providing low-light, high-dynamic-range imaging for automotive ADAS and industrial machine vision applications.
• Gallium Nitride (GaN) Solutions GaN power transistors, including Vertical GaN devices, for high-frequency, high-efficiency power conversion in compact systems.
• Treo Platform Analog and mixed-signal IC platform supporting a portfolio of standard products including timers, op amps, and interface devices.
• Wireless Connectivity Wireless connectivity semiconductors supporting IoT, industrial, and consumer connected-device applications.
• Signal Conditioning & Control Signal conditioning and motor control ICs for sensing, amplification, and motor-driver functions in industrial systems.
• Standard Products Standard logic, timing, interface, and discrete components including the custom and ASSP family of devices used across multiple end applications.

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• ON Semiconductor (onsemi)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016ON Semiconductor acquired Fairchild Semiconductor in 2016 for $2.4 billion as part of its strategic transformation from a commodity component supplier into a specialized leader in intelligent power and sensing technologies. The acquisition was a key anchor in onsemi's strategy to position itself as a leader in Silicon Carbide (SiC) power semiconductors.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Microchip Technology: Microchip is a broad-line analog, mixed-signal, and microcontroller semiconductor company with a discrete power management portfolio overlapping Fairchild's signal conditioning and power management products. Comparable breadth across industrial customers though lighter on high-voltage discretes.
• Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage: Toshiba Electronic Devices is a major power semiconductor supplier — particularly strong in IGBTs, MOSFETs, and discrete power devices — with direct overlap to Fairchild/onsemi's high-voltage power portfolio in industrial and automotive applications. Comparable as a broad Japanese incumbent in power discretes.
• Texas Instruments: Texas Instruments is the largest analog semiconductor company globally, with significant overlap with Fairchild/onsemi in power management ICs, gate drivers, and DC-DC conversion. TI does not focus on high-voltage discrete power modules, but its enormous analog scale makes it a broad incumbent in adjacent product categories.
• NXP Semiconductors: NXP is a leading automotive semiconductor supplier, overlapping with Fairchild/onsemi in automotive power management, sensors, and signal conditioning. NXP is a broad incumbent in automotive electronics with comparable end-customer reach if narrower in pure power discrete breadth.
• ON Semiconductor (onsemi): onsemi is the parent/acquirer of Fairchild and itself one of the largest direct competitors in MOSFETs, IGBTs, SiC, gate drivers, and sensors. Listed for context — since Fairchild's products now live within the onsemi portfolio, the two are no longer independent peers, but onsemi is the closest functional analog for the combined asset.
• Renesas Electronics: Renesas is a major Japanese semiconductor supplier with automotive and industrial power management, microcontroller, and analog franchises that overlap end-markets with Fairchild's portfolio. It is broader than Fairchild on MCUs but comparably positioned in automotive analog and power.

Direct peers

• STMicroelectronics: STMicroelectronics is a leading supplier of silicon carbide (SiC) MOSFETs, IGBTs, and power modules targeting EV traction inverters, on-board chargers, and industrial power conversion — the same end markets served by Fairchild's portfolio inside onsemi. ST is one of the closest direct competitors in automotive-grade SiC.
• Infineon Technologies: Infineon is the global market leader in power semiconductors, directly competing with Fairchild/onsemi in IGBTs, MOSFETs, SiC MOSFETs, gate drivers, and power modules across automotive and industrial customers. The two are the most direct head-to-head competitors in discretes and modules worldwide.
• Wolfspeed: Wolfspeed is a pure-play silicon carbide semiconductor company supplying SiC MOSFETs, SiC bare die, and power devices for EV and industrial — directly competing with Fairchild/onsemi's EliteSiC product line in the same SiC MOSFET socket. As a SiC-focused pure-play, it has higher technology concentration than diversified competitors.
• ROHM Semiconductor: ROHM is a Japanese power semiconductor specialist with strong SiC MOSFET, IGBT, and discrete power device franchises, particularly strong in automotive and industrial in Asia. ROHM competes directly with Fairchild/onsemi in SiC MOSFETs and IGBT power modules.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FairchildSemi
• Facebookfacebook.com/FairchildSemiconductor
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fairchild-semiconductor

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A2 records

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fairchild Semiconductor