(Zilog, Inc., Milpitas, California) A semiconductor manufacturer that was founded in 1974 by Federico Faggin and Ralph Ungermann. Masatoshi Shima joined shortly thereafter, and all three were former Intel engineers. In fact, Faggin had designed the circuits for Intel's first microprocessor (see
Intel 4004).
The Z80
Zilog created the Z80 microprocessor, and because it was compatible with Intel's 8080, it provided an alternative CPU for personal computers that were exploding in the 1980s (see
Z80).
Acquired Four Times
In 1980, Zilog was acquired by Exxon and became a subsidiary of the company. After going public in 1991, Zilog was acquired by private equity firm Texas Pacific Group in 1998. In 2009, it was sold to semiconductor company IXYS Corporation. In 2017, Zilog and IXYS were acquired by Chicago-based electronics firm Littelfuse Inc. The last Z80 chip was made in 2024 after a reign of nearly a half century.