XMOS
{{short description|British fabless semiconductor company}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox company
| name = XMOS Limited
| logo = XMOS_logo_2016.png
| type = Private
| industry = Semiconductors
| founded = July 2005, Bristol, UK
| hq_location_city = Bristol
| hq_location_country = United Kingdom
| key_people = Mark Lippet (CEO & President)
| products = Voice controllers, Multicore microcontrollers, xCore, xCORE-200, xCORE-AUDIO, xCORE-VOICE, xCORE VocalFusion, xTIMEcomposer
| website = {{URL|http://www.xmos.com/}}
| brands = xCORE, VocalFusion
}}
File:XCORE XS1-AnA processor.jpg
XMOS is a fabless semiconductor company that develops audio products and multicore microcontrollers. The company uses artificial intelligence and other sensors in the platforms that it develops. It creates voice interface technology developments for applications in various services that are voice activated.{{Cite web |title=XMOS Overview |url=https://pitchbook.com/profiles/company/52787-35#overview |access-date=2024-04-17 |website=pitchbook.com}}
History
XMOS was founded in July 2005 by Ali Dixon, James Foster, Noel Hurley, David May, and Hitesh Mehta.{{Cite web |last= |date=2018-06-25 |title=SETsquared Bristol case study: XMOS |url=https://setsquared-bristol.co.uk/news/setsquared-bristol-case-study-xmos/ |access-date=2023-12-13 |website=SETsquared Bristol |language=en-GB}} It received seed funding from the University of Bristol enterprise fund, and Wyvern seed fund.{{Cite web |last=Wiggers |first=Kyle |date=2020-02-13 |title=XMOS unveils Xcore.ai, a powerful chip designed for AI processing at the edge |url=https://venturebeat.com/ai/xmos-unveils-xcore-ai-a-powerful-chip-designed-for-ai-processing-at-the-edge/ |access-date=2023-12-13 |website=VentureBeat |language=en-US}}
The name XMOS is a loose reference to Inmos. Some concepts found in XMOS technology (such as channels and threads) are part of the Transputer legacy.{{Cite web |title=Transputer inventor gets funding for his latest semiconductor start up |url=https://sciencebusiness.net/news/73219/Transputer-inventor-gets-funding-for-his-latest-semiconductor-start-up |access-date=2023-12-13 |website=Science{{!}}Business |language=en}}
In the autumn of 2006, XMOS secured funding from Amadeus Capital Partners, DFJ Esprit, and Foundation Capital.{{cite news
| title = XMOS raises $16 million in Series A funding
| author = Peter Clarke
| url = http://www.eetimes.eu/201804397
| newspaper = EE Times Europe
| date = 2007-09-06
| access-date = 2009-02-02
}} It also has strategic investors Robert Bosch Venture Capital GmbH, Huawei Technologies, and Xilinx Inc, which in 2014 invested $26.2 million.{{Cite web |date=2014-07-21 |title=XMOS Adds Bosch, Huawei and Xilinx as Strategic Investors to Complete $26M Investment Round |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20140721005474/en/XMOS-Adds-Bosch-Huawei-and-Xilinx-as-Strategic-Investors-to-Complete-26M-Investment-Round |access-date=2023-12-13 |website=www.businesswire.com |language=en}} Additionally, they received an investment through the sale of 22.3% of the Company's shares to Prelude Trust plc of Cambridge.{{Cite web |date=2006-10-02 |title=Transputer inventor gets funding for his latest semiconductor start up |url=https://sciencebusiness.net/news/73219/Transputer-inventor-gets-funding-for-his-latest-semiconductor-start-up |access-date=2024-01-26 |website=Science{{!}}Business |language=en}} In September 2017, XMOS secured $15M in an investment round led by Infineon.{{cite news
| title = Funding Boost for U.K. Chip Firm Aiming at Amazon, Apple Voice-Control Market
| author = Stefan Nicola
| url = https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-09-07/infineon-eyes-amazon-apple-voice-control-market-with-xmos-stake
| newspaper = Bloomberg
| date = 2017-09-07
| access-date = 2017-09-07
}}
In July 2017, XMOS acquired SETEM,{{cite web
|url=http://www.newelectronics.co.uk/electronics-news/xmos-acquires-setem-technologies-to-drive-the-development-of-next-generation-voice-interfaces/157333/
|title= XMOS acquires Setem Technologies to drive the development of next generation voice interfaces
|publisher=new electronics
|date=2017-07-10
|author=Neil Tyler
|access-date=2017-07-10}}{{cite web
|author=Clive Maxfield
|url=http://www.embedded.com/electronics-blogs/max-unleashed-and-unfettered/4458616/XMOS---Setem-could-be-a-game-changer-for-embedded-speech
|title=XMOS + Setem could be a game-changer for embedded speech
|publisher=Embedded.com
|date=2017-07-12
|access-date=2017-07-14}} a company that specialises in audio algorithms for source separation.{{Cite web |date=2017-07-14 |title=XMOS acquires Setem Technologies, Inc., to drive the development of next generation voice interfaces |url=https://www.eejournal.com/industry_news/xmos-acquires-setem-technologies-inc-to-drive-the-development-of-next-generation-voice-interfaces/ |access-date=2023-12-13 |website=EEJournal |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2017-07-12 |title=XMOS + Setem could be a game-changer for embedded speech |url=https://www.embedded.com/xmos-setem-could-be-a-game-changer-for-embedded-speech/ |access-date=2023-12-13 |website=embedded.com}}
In 2019, XMOS raised $19 million in funding from Harbert European Growth Capital and existing investors.{{Cite web |title=XMOS secures $19M funding to accelerate growth |url=https://www.design-reuse.com/news/46848/xmos-funding.html |access-date=2023-12-13 |website=Design And Reuse |language=en}}
In December 2023, XMOS signed a joint development agreement with Sonical for Headphone 3.0 technology.{{Cite web |last=Flaherty |first=Nick |date=2023-12-08 |title=Sonical, XMOS team on Headphone 3.0 dongle |url=https://www.eenewseurope.com/en/sonical-xmos-team-on-headphone-3-0-dongle/ |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=eeNews Europe |language=en-US}}
Products
Xmos designs multicore microcontrollers under the xCORE series. While the second generation launched in 2015, had dedicated audiocontroller spun off{{cite web|access-date=2024-02-07 |date=2015-03-23 |title=XMOS shipping hi-res audio |publisher=electronicsweekly.com |url=https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/products/analog/xmos-shipping-hi-res-audio-2015-03/}} and were used in soundboards as well as headphone amplifiers,{{cite web|access-date=2024-02-07 |date=2020-02-17 |title=EVGA Nu Audio Pro Review: Who Needs a Sound Card in 2020? |publisher=tomshardware.com |url=https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/evga-nu-audio-pro-sound-card}}{{cite web|access-date=2024-02-07 |date=2019-08-28 |title=miniDSP Launches IL-DSP Tiny Headphone Amplifier Based on XMOS xCORE-200 |publisher=audioxpress.com |url=https://audioxpress.com/news/minidsp-launches-il-dsp-tiny-headphone-amplifier-based-on-xmos-xcore-200}} the third generation was launched in 2020 and focused on applications within the AIoT.{{cite web|access-date=2024-02-07 |date=2020-02-10 |title=XMOS adapts Xcore into AIoT 'crossover processor' |publisher= |url=https://www.eetimes.com/xmos-adapts-xcore-into-aiot-crossover-processor/}} The fourth generation added RISC-V compatibility and was announced in December 2022.{{cite web|access-date=2024-02-07 |date=2022-12-12 |title=Brit chip company picks RISC-V for next-gen microcontrollers |publisher=theregister.com |url=https://www.theregister.com/2022/12/12/uk_chip_firm_picks_riscv/}}{{cite web|access-date=2024-02-07 |date=2023-05-30 |title=XMOS Joins RISC-V Ecosystem |publisher=eetimes.com |url=https://www.eetimes.com/xmos-joins-risc-v-ecosystem/}}
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Xmos}}
Category:Microcontroller companies
Category:Fabless semiconductor companies
Category:Technology companies established in 2005
Category:Semiconductor companies of the United Kingdom