Monolithic Power Systems Snapshot
Monolithic Power Systems (MPS) doesn't make enormous electrical equipment, but rather tiny silicon chips. The fabless semiconductor company offers analog and mixed-signal microchips -- especially DC-to-DC converters for powering digital still cameras, wireless LAN equipment, wireless phones, and other consumer electronic devices. MPS outsources production of its chips to two China-based silicon foundries. The company's products are incorporated into electronic gear from tech heavyweights such as Dell, Hewlett-Packard, Samsung Electronics, and Sony. MPS earns most of its sales in the Asia/Pacific region, primarily from China. The company was founded in 1997.