Linear Technology

Founded in 1981 in Milpitas by Robert Swanson and Robert Dobkin, both from National Semiconductor. While the rest of the industry chased digital volume, Linear made high-margin parts for power supplies, amplification and voltage references – components nobody talks about until they stop working.

To many engineers the name is still synonymous with LTspice, a free circuit simulator the company gave away so that people would design its parts into their boards. The strategy worked, and the program became a de facto standard in classrooms and labs. Analog Devices bought the company in 2017 and kept LTspice alive.