Synaptics is a publicly owned San Jose, California-based developer of human interface hardware and software, including touchpads for computer laptops; touch, display driver, and fingerprint biometrics technology for smartphones; and touch, video and far-field voice technology for smart home devices and automotives.
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Synaptics sells its products to original equipment manufacturers and display manufacturers.
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Synaptics invented the computer touchpad, the click wheel on the classic iPod, Android phones' touch sensors, touch and display driver integrated chips, and fingerprint sensors.
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In 1991, Synaptics patented a refined "winner take all" circuit for teaching neural networks how to recognize patterns and images.
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Synaptics provided a similar but vertical click wheel for the Creative Zen Touch portable media player.
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In 2005, Synaptics sensors were featured in the Samsung B310, the first mobile phone to use capacitive-touch technology.
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In October 2006, Synaptics provided a live demonstration of the Onyx, a concept smartphone with a color touchscreen enabled by its ClearPad touch controller technology.
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In 2009, Synaptics announced the development of the Fuse concept smartphone.
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In 2012, Synaptics introduced the first pressure recognizing touchscreen, which allowed multi-finger and variable-force input.
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In late 2013, Synaptics acquired Validity Sensors, a fingerprint sensor vendor, adding fingerprint sensing technology to the company.
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The acquisition enabled Synaptics to combine touch and display driver technologies into a single "TDDI" chip.
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In July 2015, Synaptics announced a unique “match-in-sensor” fingerprint authenticator for laptops and other devices that authenticates the fingerprint within the chip.
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In July 2017, Synaptics acquired Conexant Systems, an Amazon Alexa partner that creates voice and audio software and silicon products for smart homes.
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In July 2020, Synaptics acquired DisplayLink, the developer of software and semiconductors that connect visual devices to computers.
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Synaptics completed the acquisition of DSP Group, a provider of chipsets for VoIP, multimedia, and digital cordless applications, in December 2021.
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Many Synaptics products are based on capacitive sensing technology, sensing the electrical properties of the finger touching the sensor, as opposed to a resistive touchscreen.
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Synaptics is a founding member of the FIDO Alliance and the Universal Stylus Initiative.
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