Irvine-based networking chipmaker ClariPhy Inc. has raised $14 million in a round of venture funding led by Europe’s Nokia Siemens Networks.
The company plans to use the funding to ramp up sales of its chips, which help speed the flow of data in servers, switches and other networking equipment.
The round brings ClariPhy’s total funding raised to an estimated $50 million.
Lead investor Nokia Siemens Networks is a Netherlands-based venture of Germany’s Siemens AG and Finland’s Nokia Corp.
Nokia Siemens makes wireless and other networking gear. It’s looking to ClariPhy’s chips to help meet growing demand for network capacity spurred by digital TV, smartphones, cloud computing and other uses.
ClariPhy makes chips that allow for the transfer of data at speeds of 40 gigabits or 100 gigabits per second, an emerging market.
The company also makes chips that handle data at 10 gigabits per second, the current standard.
Its chips convert analog signals to digital in optical networks, which use pulses of light to transmit data.
ClariPhy’s existing investors also took part in the funding. They include Norwest Venture Partners and Allegis Capital LLC, both of Palo Alto.
San Jose-based Oclaro Inc., a maker of electronics of optical networks, also is an investor, as are some undisclosed networking companies.
ClariPhy moved to Orange County from Santa Clara in 2004.
