IXYS Corporation today announced that it has completed the acquisition of the LED driver IC and LCD display driver IC business units from Leadis Technology, Inc.

IXYS expects to pay about $4 million in current and deferred funds in exchange for the combined business units, including the respective units’ products, intellectual property, technologies and key employees. The newly acquired LED driver products include capacitor based DC-DC (charge pump), inductor based DC-DC (boost) and low drop-out linear LED driver ICs with integrated smart features and controls to match a wide spectrum of products and applications.

This acquisition expands IXYS’ market opportunity in the LED market, where it has a long-standing history in high-power LED-based lighting products. With features for integrated PWM drivers, LED temperature sensing/control, ambient light sensing/correction, and “smart” serial digital interfaces, the new LED driver ICs improve system design and time to market – potentially generating greater market share in IXYS’ traditional and developing applications.

The new LED driver families complement IXYS’ current product portfolio, while introducing new products in the small display (cell phones, PDAs, digital cameras), middle display backlighting (GPS units, laptops) and large display backlighting (LCD TV screens, computer screens).

Capitalizing on IXYS’ extensive range of power MOSFETs and current LED lighting solutions, the new products will seek market penetration in high-power LED based commercial lighting, including but not limited to, street lighting, architectural lighting, automotive and industrial lighting. The newly acquired technologies are equipped for this market, as the LED drivers and controllers sense temperature, determine true color fidelity in RGB, create higher light intensity and ultimately, ensure longer LED lifetimes.

“Expansion of IXYS’ LED and LCD product portfolio is well timed, as recent research suggests that the LED lighting market is actively growing into general illumination such as residential, commercial, off-grid and outdoor area applications, with worldwide sales forecasted to exceed $5 billion in 2012. Such forecasts suggest strong growth potential at IXYS,” commented Dr. Nathan Zommer, CEO of IXYS Corporation. “Simultaneously, global electronic display technologies are projected to reach $174.2 billion by 2014, with a compound annual growth rate of 12.1% from 2009 on. Our LCD technologies directly play into this burgeoning market.”