The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Agere Systems sold its RF LDMOS product line to Ciclon Semiconductor Device Corp. on April 12, 2005, as Agere said it was leaving RF power to focus on technologies it considered central to its long-term business. The announcement covered specified assets, inventory, intellectual property and software associated with Agere’s ARF4 and ARF5 technologies—not Agere as a whole—and did not disclose a sale price.
What Agere sold, and who bought it
Ciclon Semiconductor announced the acquisition of Agere Systems’ RF LDMOS product line on April 12, 2005. The announced scope included certain research and development and manufacturing assets, along with inventory associated with the ARF4 and ARF5 high-voltage LDMOS technologies. Agere also agreed to license and assign critical intellectual property and software associated with the line to Ciclon. The company announcement describes a product-line transaction and specified related assets; it does not say Ciclon acquired all of Agere or all of its RF operations.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Contemporaneous EDN coverage described Ciclon as a company formed in 2004 and composed primarily of former Agere employees. It reported that key team members had worked on Agere’s first-generation ARF4 technology.
Why Agere said it was exiting RF power
Agere’s stated reason was to concentrate resources on technologies it regarded as core to its long-term business. Sohail Khan, then Agere’s executive vice president and chief strategy and development officer, said: “We decided to exit the RF power business as part of our plans to focus our resources on core technologies critical to the long-term success of Agere’s business.”
#1 Best Overall
- Replacing part numbers: 2SC1945, which is a direct replacement for the old or broken one.
- Compatible with AB class amplifier applications, RF amplification circuits, communication equipment, wireless radio systems and walkie talkie devices, providing reliable amplification for both professional electronic projects and equipment maintenance or repair needs.
- With a maximum power of 20W, providing 16W output on the 40-metre band.
- Manufactured using semiconductor materials, this RF power transistor offers strong thermal stability, dependable electrical characteristics and long service life.
- Featuring a standard 3 pin configuration, this transistor allows easy integration into existing circuit boards, simplifying installation and replacement while maintaining stable electrical connections for efficient heat dissipation and long-term operational reliability.
Ciclon CEO Mark Granahan framed the purchase as a way to build on Agere’s investment and continue Ciclon’s work in high-frequency power products. He said the transaction offered “a unique opportunity to leverage the investment Agere has made in the technology” and to focus on customers and technology development. These were the companies’ stated reasons and expectations at the time, not independent evidence of the transaction’s later results.
What RF LDMOS meant in the 2005 announcement
LDMOS stands for laterally diffused metal oxide semiconductor. Agere’s 2005 announcement described the technology as a high-voltage option for high-power applications, with an application-frequency range of 400 MHz to 3 GHz. It connected the products to wireless infrastructure, power amplifiers and the then-anticipated rollout of 3G networks. That range and market framing describe the announcement’s 2005 context; they are not a current limit on RF LDMOS technology.
Rank #2
- Package contents:2SC1969 TO-220 (5pieces )
The announcement attributed a nearly $700 million annual-sales estimate for the relevant market to Allied Business Intelligence. EE Power’s April 11, 2005 report repeated the figure and attribution. It is a historical estimate, not a current market-size measure.
What is—and is not—known about the products today
RF power LDMOS remains a component category: current STMicroelectronics listings and DigiKey’s RF transistor catalog include LDMOS products. Catalog listings and availability can change; the ST examples surfaced for this topic included 50 V devices specified for HF through 500 MHz that were shown out of stock when accessed.
Rank #3
- ALLECIN RFP30N06LE N-Channel Power MOSFET Transistors - commonly used electronic components.
- Rated Voltage: 60V ; Rated Current: 30A ; Dissipation Power: 96W.
- Features & Advantages: Durable material & Advanced process technology & Long service life.
- Widely Application: RFP30N06LE N-Channel Power MOSFET Transistors is widely used in various applications.
- Humanized packaging for easy storage and use. # Printed markings for easy identification.
Those current catalog examples do not establish that Ciclon still exists, who owns the former Agere ARF4/ARF5 line today, whether those specific devices remain available, or whether any current product is compatible with them. They are not evidence of a transfer or a drop-in replacement. Readers evaluating a component should verify current manufacturer specifications and availability rather than infer equivalence from the LDMOS label.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- NPN PNP transistor set, 30 individual compartment
Transaction details at a glance
| Detail | What the sources establish |
|---|---|
| Announcement date | April 12, 2005; Ciclon Semiconductor announcement. |
| Buyer | Ciclon Semiconductor Device Corp. |
| Assets and products | Certain R&D and manufacturing assets and inventory associated with ARF4 and ARF5, plus related IP and software, according to the announcement. |
| Agere’s stated rationale | To focus resources on technologies it considered core to its long-term business. |
| Sale price | Not disclosed in the announcement; contemporaneous EE Power coverage also reported no disclosed price. |
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
