On Monday (June 30), Virage Logic Corp. said it has acquired Impinj Inc.'s logic non-volatile memory (NVM) IP business for $5.2 million. The move expands Virage's memory IP efforts, while Impinj (Seattle, Wash.) will now mainly focus on its RFID products.

Last year, Virage acquired Ingot Systems Inc., a provider of IP and design services to the semiconductor industry.

Now, Virage (Fremont, Calif.) has acquired Impinj's 50 patents in the arena. In addition, Virage Logic has hired approximately 30 former Impinj employees who were responsible for that company's IP business.

''The acquisition of Impinj's logic NVM IP business represents another element toward attainment of our core vision of establishing Virage Logic as a broad line supplier of highly differentiated physical and application specific IP to the semiconductor industry,'' said Dan McCranie, chief executive and chairman of Virage, in a statement.

''This transaction will have a neutral to slightly negative impact on our earnings in the fourth fiscal quarter of 2008, and should contribute approximately $0.03 to $0.06 per share to our earnings in fiscal 2009,'' he said.

"Moving forward as a pure-play RFID provider, Impinj will rely on Virage Logic as our provider for the logic NVM IP technology we require for our extensive RFID product offering,'' said William Colleran, president and CEO of Impinj, in a statement.

In fact, some believe there are too many memory IP houses in the market, prompting the start of a major shakeout. Some say the shakeout has already started.

Continuing to expand its IP efforts, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (TSMC) last year acquired Emerging Memory Technologies Inc. (EMT), according to a report.