Reincorporated to Delaware with approval of the shareholders and through a subsequent merger transaction, and by written consent of ESS stockholders, ESS became a wholly owned subsidiary of Imperium Partners Group, LLC on June 30, 2008.
Introduced the Sabre Reference, World's Best Studio-Quality Audio DAC delivering unprecendented dynamic range of 134 db.
2007
Introduced the Phoenix II second generation HD Enhanced DVD processor with integrated servo/AFE and USB connectivity.
Introduced the ES7108 1080p Video Scaler with integrated HDMI transmitter as a companion chip to the Phoenix II DVD processor.
2006
Introduced the ES6430, a new Digital Media Player Processor for Digital TV, Digital Photo Frame and Hard-Drive Media Player applications.
Introduced the ES4810, a Digital Audio Player Processor for Audio Component applications.
Introduced the ES7120 HDMI transmitter as a companion chip to the Phoenix DVD processor.
2005
Introduced the Phoenix single-chip HD Enhanced DVD processor with integrated servo/AFE and USB connectivity.
Introduced 2.0 Mega Pixel CMOS sensor in February.
2004
No 1 supplier worldwide of Video Decoders chips per IDC Research
Introduced our Vantage II MX integrated MPEG-2 encoder/decoder chip
with DivX® and Nero® playback support.
Introduced 1.3 Mega Pixel CMOS sensor and Dorado2 image processing
chip.
ESS celebrated its 20th year in business. Founded in 1984 by Fred
Chan and Forest Mozer, ESS now has annual revenues of approximately
$200 million and more than 500 employees globally.
2003
ESS introduced new MPEG-4/DivX® DVD player products and exited
the year with the number one market position in this market. These
new products enable consumers to play back MPEG-4/DivX video downloaded
from the Internet and burned onto a CD.
Other product introductions included a new Vibratto™ II DVD
system-on-a-chip (SOC) that integrates both the servo and MPEG decoder
functions of a DVD player.
ESS Technology acquired Pictos, a manufacturer of CMOS image sensors
and image processors.
ESS also acquired Divio, whose MPEG-4 encoding technology and products
provided the platform for high-compression video for the digital video
recorder market.
Introduced Digital Media Player (DMP) enabling digital media playback
on digital TV sets.
2002
ESS Technology in 2002 continued to be the global leader in digital
video products in the consumer entertainment industry.
ESS Technology completed a follow-on offering of our common stock
to raise capital for future growth and to improve stock liquidity.
ESS Technology expanded into new geographic markets, winning design
wins at companies based in new markets such as Japan and Korea, and
introduced form factors such as automotive DVDs, integrated DVD receivers
and amplifiers, VCR/DVD and TV/DVD combination players, mini-stereos,
and portable DVD players.
ESS added even more functionality to its flagship Vibratto™
products by including leading-edge features such as Memory Stick™
playback, SACD and DVD audio decoding capability for high-quality
24-bit digital audio, and Dolby® Pro Logic.
2001
Both DVD and VCD in 2001 became the fastest-growing consumer products
in history.
ESS Technology became the world leader in the DVD chip market, capturing
a 40 percent market share, and a 60 percent market share in the growing
VCD chip market.
ESS completed its transition away from being a PC-centric company
to a company that had fully 90 percent of company revenue derived
from products other than the PC.
ESS Technology became the first company to introduce new DVD features
such as the ability to play MP3 audio files, Kodak Picture CDs, JPEG
digital photos, WMA audio files, and Sony's new SACD audio.
ESS shipped 35 million digital video chips to the DVD and VCD markets
in 2001.
ESS spun off its wholly owned subsidiary, Vialta, through a common
stock dividend.
2000
ESS Technology acquires NetRidium Communications, Inc., a California-based
company developing advanced broadband HPNA 2.0 home networking solutions.
The acquisition allows ESS Technology to create custom “systems-on-a-chip”
solutions.
Matt Fong, former treasurer for the State of California, is named
vice-chairman of ESS Technology.
ESS announces the launch of a new interactive Digital Information
Video Broadcasting (DIVB) system for cable TV in China. The system
includes an easy-to-use set-top box, connects to existing cable TV
networks, and requires no cable equipment upgrades. ESS Technology
partners with Skyworth (Group) Co., Ltd. to produce the set-top boxes
and jointly promote the new system to cable operators throughout China,
which has more than 80 million cable TV users.
ESS Technology announces its intention to spin off its 61-percent
ownership position in its Vialta subsidiary, following an initial
public offering by Vialta, early in 2001.
1999
ESS Technology introduces the Video Internet Computer (VIC), a revolutionary
family of appliances for the Chinese consumer markets that provides
digital video capabilities, Internet access, and computer-like functions.
The VIC is the first application for the new Chinese WindowsCE, a scaled-down
version of the popular Microsoft operating system.
ESS Technology establishes its subsidiary, Vialta, to leverage its
core technologies to introduce user-friendly products and applications
for the Internet. Vialta.com raises total equity financing of $141
million, including $62.1 million from ESS Technology, which maintains
majority ownership position.
ESS Technology maintains its lead of worldwide PC audio market and
also becomes No.1 provider of consumer video technology.
Robert Blair, executive vice-president of operations, is named president
and chief executive officer of ESS Technology. He succeeds Fred Chan,
who continues as chairman. Mr. Chan also continues as chairman, president,
and chief executive officer of Vialta.
ESS Technology 1999 unit shipments reach 77 million, an increase
of 50 percent over the prior year.
ESS Technology reports a record year in 1999, achieving total revenues
of $311 million and net income of $40 million.
1998
ESS Technology completes construction of a 77,000-square-foot building
and an 11,000-square-foot dormitory to support headcount growth at its
corporate headquarters.
ESS Technology total unit shipments grow to 51 million, rising 45
percent over the prior year.
1997
ESS Technology begins shipments of its first V.34 modem solutions
and introduces V.90 56 modem solutions.
ESS Technology completes acquisition of Platform Technology, Inc.,
a California-based company developing integrated circuits for the
PC audio market incorporating the PCI standard.
ESS Technology introduces its first MPEG-2 video chip solution, a
fully programmable, single-chip processor that incorporates additional
features needed for consumer electronics applications, such as DVD
players, set-top boxes, multimedia personal computers, and home entertainment
units.
ESS Technology 1997 unit shipments reach a new high of 35 million.
1996
ESS Technology enters the VCD market with the acquisition of VideoCore
Technology, Inc., a California-based company developing integrated circuits
that incorporate advanced compression technology for digital video products.
ESS Technology completes acquisition of OSEE Technology, Inc., a
California-based company and developer of advanced fax/modem algorithm
technology. This enables ESS Technology to provide modem and computer
fax/modem applications on its multimedia processor.
ESS Technology introduces its VideoDrive product, a single-chip MPEG-1
decoder that provides full-screen, full-motion video, and selectable
CD-quality audio for VCD players.
ESS Technology completes construction and moves into a two-story,
93,000-square-foot headquarters.
ESS Technology 1996 unit shipments grow nearly 200 percent to 20
million.
1995
ESS Technology completes an initial public offering and begins trading
on the Nasdaq National Stock Market under the symbol “ESST”.
ESS Technology takes the lead in the PC audio market, claiming the
No. 1 worldwide market share position.
ESS Technology purchases 16 acres of land in Fremont, California
for new corporate headquarters.
ESS Technology achieves total unit shipments of seven million.
1990
ESS Technology leads the audio toy chip market.
1984
ESS Technology is founded and incorporated in California.
