Cypress Semiconductor history, product migration and legacy-part buying guide
What Happened to Cypress Semiconductor? Legacy-Part Buying Guide
The company changed ownership, but a legacy Cypress name still creates three separate questions: who owns the portfolio, whether the exact part remains supported, and whether the offered material is acceptable.
Short answer: Infineon Technologies completed its acquisition of Cypress Semiconductor on April 16, 2020. Cypress is no longer an independent public company, but many CY-, CY8C-, CYW- and S29-origin families remain in Infineon’s portfolio. Before a purchase or substitution, verify the complete MPN, lifecycle record, document revision, software path, source traceability and offered lot; corporate ownership alone does not approve the part.
Verify a Cypress part
Primary-source review: 5 September 2026Scope: company history + exact-MPN procurementNo universal interchangeability claim
INFINEON
Keep three records separate
Company owner, orderable MPN status, and the condition of the shipped material answer different questions.
Answer first: condition, action, evidence and stop boundary
What Does the Infineon Acquisition Mean for Buyers Today?
“Infineon bought Cypress” explains why the website, logo and document owner changed. It does not tell you whether a full order code is active, whether an old reel is acceptable, or whether a proposed successor can enter your BOM without qualification.
| Condition | Recommended action | Evidence required | Stop / failure boundary |
|---|---|---|---|
| You only need to know what happened to the company | Record Infineon as the acquirer | Infineon closing announcement dated April 16, 2020 and Cypress/SEC merger records | Do not describe the event as a bankruptcy, collapse or simple rebrand |
| A BOM or quote contains a CY-, CY8C-, CYW- or S29-origin code | Search the complete orderable MPN | Current Infineon product record, latest datasheet and exact ordering table | Stop if the search uses only a family name, base number or truncated suffix |
| A supplier calls the same MPN “Cypress” while another calls it “Infineon” | Compare the physical and documentary identity | Manufacturer record, label photos, full MPN, lot/date code, packing type, source and chain of custody | Do not approve or reject solely from the brand field or logo |
| A newer Infineon part is offered as a replacement | Run engineering change control | Form, fit, function, electrical limits, package, grade, software, qualification and PCN/PD references | No automatic substitution from “successor,” “recommended” or “pin compatible” wording |
| Old Cypress-branded stock is offered | Review source and material condition | Seller authority, traceability, labels, photos, seal/MSL state, storage, date/lot and an application-specific inspection/test plan | Quarantine if custody, identity, moisture/storage history or acceptance criteria are unresolved |
Practical verdict: the Cypress corporate name ended as an independent public company, but valid Cypress-origin technology and order codes did not vanish on one date. Treat the Infineon acquisition as the starting point for verification—not as a blanket lifecycle, authenticity or interchangeability decision.
The verified history in five events
What Happened to Cypress Semiconductor in 2020?
16 Apr 2020Infineon announced completion of the Cypress acquisition.
$23.85/shareCash merger consideration for qualifying outstanding Cypress shares.
€9.0bnEnterprise value stated in Infineon’s closing release.
€8.254bnTotal consideration transferred in Infineon’s 2020 annual-report purchase-price accounting.
The two euro figures describe different accounting ideas. Infineon’s closing announcement used enterprise value; its audited annual report listed total consideration transferred. Repeating either number without its label can create a false contradiction.
DECEMBER 1982
Cypress was incorporated
Cypress began as a U.S. semiconductor company and later built positions in programmable systems, memories, USB and timing.
12 MARCH 2015
Cypress completed its merger with Spansion
The combination expanded Cypress’s embedded-memory position, including NOR flash product heritage that buyers still encounter in S29 and related families.
5 JULY 2016
Cypress completed its Broadcom IoT asset acquisition
The $550 million transaction covered specified Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Zigbee IoT product lines, IP and the WICED ecosystem—not Broadcom’s entire wireless business.
3 JUNE 2019
Infineon and Cypress announced the agreement
The announced cash consideration was $23.85 per share, subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals.
16 APRIL 2020
Infineon completed the acquisition
Cypress became part of Infineon; its independent Nasdaq-listed company status and ticker CY ended after closing.
PORTFOLIO
What did not happen: Cypress did not simply fail, and Infineon did not replace every Cypress-origin part number overnight. The acquired portfolio included microcontrollers, connectivity, software and high-performance memory, and those assets were integrated into Infineon’s organization.
From legacy search terms to current support paths
Which Cypress Product Families Are Now Managed by Infineon?
Current Infineon pages still expose the portfolio through familiar names and prefixes. The practical change is that product pages, quality notices, downloads and support now sit in Infineon’s ecosystem. The exact routing can differ by family and device generation.
PSoC / CapSense
Traveo automotive MCUs
CYW / WICED wireless
EZ-USB / USB-C controllers
S29 / SEMPER / HyperFlash
F-RAM / SRAM / nvSRAM Infineon PSOC™ and CAPSENSE™ resources
Infineon TRAVEO™ T2G resources
Infineon AIROC™ and connectivity resources
Infineon USB and USB-C PD resources
Infineon NOR flash and SEMPER™ resources
Infineon EXCELON™ F-RAM and specialty memories
| Cypress-era search term | Current support path | Buyer must still verify |
|---|---|---|
| PSoC, CY8C, CapSense | Infineon PSOC™ MCU pages, current datasheets, product tables and PSOC software resources | Complete suffix, package, temperature/quality grade, flash/RAM, lifecycle, tool and programming support |
| Traveo, CYT | Infineon TRAVEO™ automotive MCU pages and device-specific documentation | Device generation, safety package, grade, package, software, qualification and vehicle-program approval |
| WICED, CYW, Wi-Fi/Bluetooth | Infineon AIROC™ pages, ModusToolbox documentation, middleware and board support packages | Radio generation, regional certification, firmware/driver branch, module versus chip, coexistence and lifecycle |
| EZ-USB, CCG, USB-C | Infineon USB controller and USB-C power-delivery MCU resources | Protocol role, PD revision, package, configuration, firmware, programming flow and compliance |
| S29, SEMPER, HyperFlash | Infineon NOR flash portfolio, SEMPER™ pages and memory support resources | Density, voltage, bus/interface, speed, package, grade, sector architecture, command set and longevity program |
| FM/MB, EXCELON, F-RAM, SRAM/nvSRAM | Infineon memory portfolio and device-level datasheets | Technology, density, interface, voltage, endurance, retention, pinout, package, grade and exact order code |
| Clocks and timing | Infineon clocks and timing product pages and current device documents | Frequency plan, jitter, input/output standards, programming, package, revision and lifecycle |
A useful current proof is Infineon’s September 2025 PSOC™ 4000T datasheet: its nomenclature table explicitly describes CY8C as an Infineon prefix. That demonstrates why a CY-prefixed order code cannot be rejected merely because Cypress is no longer an independent company. It does not prove that every CY8C order code is active.
One acquisition, three different approval records
What Must Be Verified Separately: Ownership, Part Status or Shipment?
LEVEL 01 · CORPORATE
Who owns Cypress?
Infineon. Use the closing announcement, SEC records and annual report. This is a historical and legal-company question.
LEVEL 02 · PRODUCT
Can the exact MPN still be ordered or designed in?
Use the current device page, exact ordering table, lifecycle status, PCN/PD records and software support.
LEVEL 03 · MATERIAL
Is this reel, tray or tube acceptable?
Use source, traceability, labels, lot/date, packaging, storage, inspection and application-specific acceptance evidence.
Do not let evidence cross levels. An Infineon webpage cannot authenticate a broker-held reel by itself. A clean visual inspection cannot prove current lifecycle or software compatibility. A familiar Cypress logo cannot prove either authorized source or counterfeit status.
The suffix is part of the technical identity
How Can Buyers Verify a Legacy Cypress Part Number?
Begin with the raw text exactly as it appears on the approved BOM, supplier quote, manufacturer label and inner packaging. Preserve spaces, hyphens and suffixes in the record; then normalize only for searching. A family code is not an orderable-device approval.
Capture the complete MPNRecord BOM text, quoted text, label text, top marking and package/packing code separately.
Find the current manufacturer recordSearch Infineon for the exact order code and retain the product-page URL or controlled document.
Read the ordering tableMatch package, pin count, voltage, density, speed, grade, temperature and shipment type.
Check lifecycle noticesReview product status, PCNs, product-discontinuation notices, last-order and last-delivery dates.
Check software and toolsConfirm IDE, SDK, driver, programmer, middleware, device pack and OS/toolchain compatibility.
Verify source and traceabilityIdentify the seller, authorized channel evidence, custody path, manufacturer labels and packing records.
Inspect the actual materialCompare seals, MSL controls, reels/trays, lot/date, country fields and markings with documented expectations.
Approve with named scopeRecord what was approved: exact MPN, application, revision, supplier, lot, documents, reviewer and conditions.
| Field | Accept when | Stop when |
|---|---|---|
| Full MPN | All characters agree across approved BOM, current ordering information and quote | Suffix is missing, translated, guessed, or silently replaced by a family/base number |
| Datasheet | Document owner, title, device list, revision and date match the decision record | Only an undated mirror, screenshot or old engineering-vault PDF is available |
| Package and grade | Package drawing, pins/balls, dimensions, finish, temperature and quality grade meet the application | “Same family” is used to bridge a package, finish, automotive or temperature difference |
| Lifecycle | Current status and relevant notices are identified for the exact order code | A distributor category or stale spreadsheet is the only lifecycle source |
| Software | The required programmer, IDE/SDK, libraries and production process support the exact device | A new silicon option requires an unplanned port, recertification or unsupported legacy tool |
| Physical stock | Source, chain of custody, labels, packaging, date/lot, storage and inspection evidence are coherent | Identity or condition depends on a logo, one photo, or unexplained relabeling/repacking |
Illustrative scenario · not a ICNETS shipment or customer case
Why Might the Same CY8C Part Appear Under Two Manufacturer Names?
Supplier A’s database says Cypress while Supplier B’s quote says Infineon. Do not choose the “newer” brand field. Capture the complete CY8C order code, find the current Infineon ordering record, compare package and grade, and then review both suppliers’ label photos and source evidence.
Proceed whenThe exact order code and technical identity match, and each offered shipment has acceptable source and traceability.Stop whenA suffix is shortened, lots are mixed without disclosure, or a supplier cannot explain the label and custody chain.
A part can be electrically suitable and operationally unusable
Where Should Engineers Find Current Datasheets and Software?
Infineon now maintains current device documentation and software resources, but migrated content can preserve Cypress document numbers, legacy logos, “Cypress” cover notices or old tool names. Those artifacts are historical context—not automatic evidence that the PDF is current or that the device is obsolete.
| You encounter | Likely explanation | Required verification |
|---|---|---|
| A Cypress-branded PDF hosted on infineon.com | The technical document was migrated and retained with its historical artwork or document number | Use the Infineon-hosted revision/date and device list; compare with the current product page |
| A dead cypress.com bookmark | The old site route was retired or redirected during integration | Search Infineon by exact MPN and document number; do not assume product discontinuation from a dead URL |
| PSoC Creator in an existing project | Earlier PSOC generations can depend on legacy schematic/UDB workflows | Confirm the exact device and tool version; do not force a ModusToolbox migration without device and project support |
| ModusToolbox in a new support note | Infineon’s current ecosystem supports several PSOC, TRAVEO, AIROC, USB-C and other families | Check the current release notes, device/BSP support, library versions and production-tool requirements |
| WICED-era code or middleware | The acquired wireless ecosystem evolved into current AIROC/ModusToolbox resources | Map the exact CYW device, board support, radio firmware, host driver, API and certification impact |
Software stop boundary: a recommended hardware successor is not an approved replacement when the product depends on an unavailable programmer, incompatible pin configuration, changed middleware/API, new radio certification, safety evidence or production flashing flow.
Illustrative scenario · not a ICNETS engineering project
What If an Old Internal PDF Is the Only Datasheet in the BOM?
The saved file may be valid historical evidence, but it is not automatically the current release. Search Infineon by exact MPN and document number, compare revision and date, check errata and notices, and record the version used for the present decision. If the design depends on PSOC™ Creator or legacy WICED assets, preserve that environment while compatibility is reviewed.
Proceed whenThe current controlled document supports the exact MPN and the production software and tool flow remains reproducible.Stop whenThe document is an undated mirror, the order code is absent from the ordering table, or the programming flow cannot be reproduced.
Acquisition continuity is not product-lifecycle continuity
How Should Lifecycle Status Change the Purchasing Decision?
Infineon states that major changes affecting form, fit, function, quality or reliability are communicated through PCNs, and its product-discontinuation process uses a separate PD path. This is why buyers should review notices—not infer lifecycle from a logo, a distributor listing or the age of a Cypress PDF.
| Finding | Procurement action | Engineering action | Stop boundary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active / recommended for new design | Confirm authorized availability, lead time, full MPN and current packing | Approve only after datasheet and application requirements match | Availability does not override grade, software or qualification gaps |
| Active but constrained or allocation-dependent | Document allocation, factory lead time, source and schedule assumptions | Identify approved alternatives before the shortage becomes a line stop | Do not book unverified “factory stock” as committed supply |
| NRND / not recommended for new design | Protect existing demand and investigate supported supply horizon | Avoid new design-in; create a migration/qualification plan | NRND is not the same as immediate discontinuation or automatic incompatibility |
| Product discontinuation notice issued | Record last-order/last-delivery dates, NCNR terms and source options | Approve LTB forecast or replacement qualification with a named owner | Do not rely on a verbal deadline or family-level notice |
| Recommended replacement listed | Obtain both exact order codes and availability evidence | Compare form, fit, function, electrical behavior, package, grade, software and qualification | “Replacement” is not a drop-in guarantee |
| No current exact record found | Hold the quote and ask manufacturer/authorized-channel support | Recover controlled historical documents and evaluate redesign risk | Do not invent an MPN conversion or approve a suffix by similarity |
Use the notice that applies to the exact product. An acquisition press release proves ownership. A PCN describes a controlled change. A product-discontinuation notice describes lifecycle deadlines. A cross-reference proposes a candidate. None substitutes for the others.
Brand appearance is an observation—not a verdict
Is Cypress-Branded Inventory Acceptable Today?
It can be, but the logo and date alone cannot release the lot. Older genuine inventory may retain Cypress branding, while current Infineon records may preserve Cypress-origin order codes and document artwork. Acceptance depends on exact-MPN identity, source, chain of custody, packing and storage history, lot/date evidence, condition and the application’s inspection or test plan.
MARKING
- Old logo + pre-acquisition date code: plausible, but verify source, label structure, date/lot and storage.
- Old logo + recent commercial offer: possible old stock; require custody and condition evidence.
- Infineon label + CY-prefixed MPN: not inherently contradictory; verify current ordering records.
- Mixed logo layers: may reflect repacking, distribution or transition; document which entity created each label.
- Laser marking differs from a catalog photo: compare official marking rules, assembly site/date and package revision before deciding.
Do not authenticate by appearance alone. A genuine-looking logo can be copied; a legitimate transition label can look unfamiliar. Hold unexplained inconsistencies and use source, traceability, document, packaging and application-specific test evidence together.
A successor is a candidate until engineering approves it
Can an Infineon Replacement Be Used Without Requalification?
No automatic substitution follows from the acquisition. “Recommended replacement,” “same family,” “same capacity” and “pin compatible” can narrow a search, but they do not establish electrical, functional, software, reliability or qualification equivalence for the real application.
| Comparison area | Evidence to retain | Stop boundary |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical identity | Package drawing, pin or ball map, dimensions, coplanarity, finish and packing | Any unreviewed footprint, assembly or packing difference |
| Electrical and functional behavior | Absolute limits, operating range, timing, interface, memory map, commands and errata | A “pin-compatible” claim without parameter-by-parameter comparison |
| Software and production tools | IDE/SDK, middleware, drivers, programmer, security settings and production flashing flow | Required port, tool change or certification work has no owner or test plan |
| Quality and qualification | Grade, temperature range, qualification reports, functional-safety scope and change notices | The proposed device does not meet the approved application level |
| Lifecycle and supply | Exact old/new MPN status, PCN/PD records, availability and approved source | The replacement creates another unresolved lifecycle or sourcing gap |
Illustrative scenario · not a supplier offer or approved substitution
What Should Be Compared for an S29 Flash Replacement?
The buyer should request the full old and proposed MPNs. Memory substitutions can change density, voltage, interface timing, package, sector layout, command behavior, security features, endurance, qualification and software. A family cross-reference is a screening lead, not a release instruction.
Proceed whenEngineering completes the comparison and any board, firmware, boot, reliability and qualification work required by the application.Stop whenThe seller provides only “same capacity and package,” or the proposed part lacks a controlled datasheet and availability path.
Interactive screening aid
What Evidence Must Be Complete Before Approval?
This checklist shows whether the basic evidence packet is ready for procurement and engineering review. It does not authenticate material, replace manufacturer confirmation or approve a substitute.
Mark only evidence already in the file
No evidence has been evaluated. Complete the checklist using the actual file—not assumptions from a family name or supplier description.
Approval boundary: missing exact-MPN/current-record evidence blocks product identification; missing lifecycle/software evidence blocks design or substitute approval; missing source/physical evidence blocks shipment acceptance. The named engineering, quality and procurement owners must still apply the organization’s release process.
Evidence base
Which Primary Sources Should Support the Decision?
Sources were checked on 5 September 2026. Product status, notices, links and software support can change; recheck them for each transaction.
- Infineon, “Infineon Technologies AG completes acquisition of Cypress Semiconductor Corporation,” 16 April 2020 — closing date, $23.85-per-share consideration, €9.0 billion enterprise value and acquired portfolio description.
- Infineon Annual Report 2020 — 100% share acquisition, €8.254 billion consideration transferred and portfolio allocation.
- Cypress Semiconductor Form 8-K, U.S. SEC, 16 April 2020 — closing, wholly owned subsidiary status and $23.85-per-share conversion.
- Cypress Semiconductor 2015 Form 10-K, U.S. SEC — completion of the Spansion merger on March 12, 2015.
- Cypress Semiconductor 2016 Form 10-Q, U.S. SEC — July 5, 2016 completion and $550 million cash payment for specified Broadcom IoT assets.
- Infineon Product Change Notification page — current explanation of PCN and product-discontinuation processes.
- Infineon ModusToolbox Info Hub — supported families and distinction between ModusToolbox and PSOC Creator capabilities.
- Infineon PSOC™ 4000T datasheet, Rev. *L, 18 September 2025 — current CY8C nomenclature evidence.
- Infineon SEMPER™ NOR Flash information and Infineon EXCELON™ F-RAM portfolio — current Cypress-origin memory portfolio examples.
- Images: Mucber, CC BY-SA 4.0; Syced, CC0 1.0; Travis Goodspeed, CC BY 2.0. No endorsement implied.
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Send evidence, not only a family name
Need a legacy Cypress / Infineon sourcing review?
Provide the manufacturer and complete MPN, BOM text, quantity, target delivery, application and qualification level; current and legacy datasheets with revision/date; any PCN, PD or replacement notice; required software/tool versions; supplier quote and source route; date/lot and traceability requirements; packing type, seal/MSL condition, label and part photos; and the technical differences or concerns that must be approved.
Review quality controls Review shipment planning
ICNETS is an independent electronic-component sourcing partner, not Cypress Semiconductor or Infineon Technologies. Manufacturer names and trademarks belong to their respective owners.
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