Editing Zilog (section)

==History==
Zilog was started in [[California]] in 1974 by [[Federico Faggin]] and [[Ralph Ungermann]] with support and encouragement from [[ExxonMobil|Exxon]]'s computing division.<ref name=oral>{{cite web|url=http://archive.computerhistory.org/resources/text/Oral_History/Zilog_Z80/102658073.05.01.pdf|title=ZILOG Oral History Panel on the Founding of the Company and the development of the Z80 Microprocessor}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://historyofcomputercommunications.info/section/9.6/zilog/|title=9.6 Zilog Ungerman-Bass in Brief|access-date=2022-04-04|archive-date=2021-11-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120111827/https://historyofcomputercommunications.info/section/9.6/zilog/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Both left [[Intel]] after working on the [[Intel 4004|4004]] and [[Intel 8080|8080]] microprocessors and custom chips. [[Masatoshi Shima]], who also worked with Faggin on the 4004 and 8080, joined Zilog in 1975.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Liebson |first=Steven |date=2019-02-19 |title=In Memoriam: Dr. Bernard Peuto, Architect of Zilog's Z8000 and Z8 |url=https://www.eejournal.com/article/in-memoriam-dr-bernard-peuto-architect-of-zilogs-z8000-and-z8/ |access-date=2022-08-15 |website=EEJournal |language=en-US}}</ref> Ungermann did not want the company to become an Exxon subsidiary and left Zilog in 1978.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://historyofcomputercommunications.info/interviews/ralph-ungermann/ | title=Ralph Ungermann &#124; History of Computer Communications | access-date=2023-03-30 | archive-date=2023-02-04 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204213007/https://historyofcomputercommunications.info/interviews/ralph-ungermann/ | url-status=dead }}</ref>

On January 1, 1979, Zilog released the first issue of their comic book ''Captain Zilog'', which featured the Z8000 computer.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.computerhistory.org/collections/catalog/102646293 |title=Captain Zilog! |date=1979 |publisher=Zilog, Inc. |others=Lou Brooks, Joe Kuber |location=U.S.}}</ref> The Z8000, introduced that year, was the company's first 16-bit microprocessor.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lot |first=Chris |date=2022-08-21 |title=Clover Computer: A Modern Z8000 CP/M Machine |url=https://hackaday.com/2022/08/21/clover-computer-a-modern-z8000-cp-m-machine/ |access-date=2022-09-01 |website=Hackaday |language=en-US}}</ref>

The company became a subsidiary of Exxon in 1980. Exxon initially acquired 51 percent of the company before buying it outright;<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2013/05/the-time-exxon-went-into-the-semiconductor-business-and-failed/275993/ | title=The Time Exxon Went into the Semiconductor Business (And Failed) | website=[[The Atlantic]] | date=17 May 2013 }}</ref> however, the management and employees bought it back in 1989, led by [[Edgar Sack]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/06/15/business/company-news-zilog-team-seeks-company.html | title=COMPANY NEWS; Zilog Team Seeks Company | work=The New York Times | date=15 June 1989 }}</ref>

[[File:Zilog Z80.jpg|thumb|Zilog's iconic 8-bit processor, the Z80. Pictured is one of the first Z80s ever made.]]

Zilog went public in 1991, but was acquired in 1998 by [[TPG Capital|Texas Pacific Group]] for $527 million.<ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=1997-07-22 |title=Zilog Agrees to Be Acquired for $527 Million |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/07/22/business/zilog-agrees-to-be-acquired-for-527-million.html |access-date=2022-08-15 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Curtis Crawford replaced Sack and changed the company's direction towards 32-bit data communications processors.

In 1999, Zilog acquired Production Languages Corporation for an unspecified amount less than $10 million.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |last2= |date=1999-12-14 |title=Zilog acquires software-core developer Production Languages Corp. |url=https://www.eetimes.com/zilog-acquires-software-core-developer-production-languages-corp/ |access-date=2022-08-22 |website=EETimes}}</ref>

Bonds were sold against the company to fund the new developments, but after the [[Dot-com bubble|Internet bubble]] burst in 2000 and the resultant reduction in customer demand for such products, Curtis Crawford was replaced by James (Jim) Thorburn, who reorganized the company under [[Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code|Chapter 11 bankruptcy]] in late 2001 and refocused it on the 8- and 16-bit microcontroller market.

{{plain image with caption|Zilog early logo.svg|upright=0.75|Earliest logo of Zilog}}
{{plain image with caption|Zilog logo 1991.svg|upright=0.75|Logo of Zilog introduced in the 1990s}}

[[Jim Thorburn]] led Zilog back into profitability, and by FY 2007, Zilog had $82 million in sales. During this time, the company developed the Z8 Encore! 8-bit Flash MCU and ZNEO 16-bit Flash MCU product families. In February 2007, Zilog hired Darin Billerbeck to replace Jim Thorburn as president and CEO.

The last year Zilog introduced any new 8-bit microcontroller products was 2007. With no new product road map, FY2008 sales fell 20% to $67.2 million. Sales fell 46% in FY2009 to $36.2 million.{{citation needed|date=April 2018}}

In January 2008, Zilog declined an unsolicited proposal made by Universal Electronics Inc. to acquire the company.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://investor.zilog.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=107835&p=irol-newsArticle&t=Regular&id=1103434& |date=February 4, 2008 |title=Zilog Board of Directors Declines Universal Electronics Inc.'s Unsolicited Proposal |publisher=Zilog |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120711180411/http://investor.zilog.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=107835&p=irol-newsArticle&t=Regular&id=1103434& |archive-date=11 July 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

On February 19, 2009, Zilog announced that it had sold off its 8-bit Crimzon Universal Remote Control infrared microcontroller product line, as well as its ARM9 32-bit microcontrollers, including the Zatara security microcontrollers and 15 patents, to Maxim Integrated Products. Remote control manufacturer Universal Electronics Inc. purchased all of Zilog's software and intellectual property assets related to Zilog's universal remote control business, including all ROM code, software, and database of infrared codes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.microcontroller.com/news/Zilog_Sells_Crimzon_Zatara.asp|title=Zilog Sells Off Two Product Lines (February 19, 2009)}}</ref> Zilog sold these assets for $31 million cash.

In December 2009, [[IXYS Corporation]] bought the company for $62.4 million in cash, which was significantly below the market valuation of Zilog's stock at the time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/945699/000095012309068753/0000950123-09-068753.txt|title=SEC filing: IXYS and Zilog merger}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.microcontroller.com/news/Zilog_IXYS.asp|title=Zilog Acquired by IXYS}}</ref> Details of the acquisition have been under investigation.

[[File:Zilog Z-80 Microprocessor ad May 1976.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|A May 1976 advertisement for the Zilog Z-80 8-bit microprocessor]]Since early 2010, Zilog has refocused on the industrial and consumer markets for motion detection, motor control, RF wireless and embedded security applications, and is currently producing a number of reference designs that integrate its 8- and 16-bit microcontrollers with IXYS power management products.

In February 2012, Zilog announced the release of its Z8051 family of microcontrollers and tool sets to fill a vacancy in the developer market for [[Intel MCS-51|8051]] cores that was created when chip-maker [[NXP Semiconductors]] exited the 8051 market. Later that year, Zilog announced its ZGATE Embedded Security solution, which incorporates its eZ80F91 MCU and TCP/IP stack with an embedded firewall to offer protection against cyber threats and attacks at the chip level.

In August 2017, Zilog and its parent IXYS Corporation were acquired by [[Littelfuse Inc]] in exchange for $750 million in cash and stocks.<ref>{{cite web | title=IXYS Corp. agrees to be bought by Littelfuse Inc. in $750 million cash and stock deal | website=Silicon Valley Business Journal | date=August 28, 2017 | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2017/08/28/ixys-littelfuse-acquisition.html | access-date=January 10, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/business/508082-2017-08/|title=Littelfuse buys Ixys for $750m|date=2017-08-29|work=Electronics Weekly|access-date=2017-09-19|language=en-GB}}</ref>