Texas Instruments gets into solar game with National Semi purchase

Texas Instruments just got into the solar power management business.

The company on Monday announced a $6.5 billion deal to acquire National Semiconductor. While TI executives talked up the growth prospects in analog processors, a key bonus is that the chipmaker gets National Semi's SolarMagic unit.

SolarMagic last year inked a series of partnerships for its in-panel solar chipsets. SolarMagic in October also teamed up with Suntech to make smart solar panels. The unit makes controllers, gate drivers, voltage regulators and sensing products for solar panels.

Now TI can be in the solar game. Should TI go for the solar panel growth strategy, the company has the manufacturing heft to be a major player in the market.

Related:

• National Semi, Suntech team up for smart solar panels
• National Semi's SolarMagic inks series of partnerships
• National Semi: Can it reinvent itself as a solar power?

This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com