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Introduction to transistors
In Noyce's undergraduate career, Prof. Grant Gale showed his class two of the first transistors that came out of Bell labs. Noyce became instantly hooked on the topic. This moment was the beginning of his career in microelectronics. -
Joined the Shockley Transistor Laboratories
Noyce was hired by Shockley for his skill in physics and math. Noyce decided to join this lab because of Shockley's enthusiasm for pursuing the silicon transistor. Here, the team would develop ways of creating the silicon transistor but Shockley quickly abandoned the project. He would eventually meet the other 7 people that would all co-found Fairchild Semiconductors. -
Optomization of the Silicon Transistor
Up until this point, transistors were made of germanium which was extremely costly in terms of manufacture time and purification of the element. Because of the difficulty of germanium acquisition and fragility, transistors were fragile and expensive. Noyce and his team decided to put their energy into the silicon transistor which ended up being a much better material to use than germanium. They were not only able to create a more efficient product, but one that was manufactured easily. -
Co-founded Fairchild Semiconductors
Noyce founded Fairchild Semiconductors where they designed a way to manufacture batches of silicon semiconductors simultaneously. This made the product cheaper, of higher quality, and more available to the public. This is also fondly referred to as the first successful silicon firm in Silicon Valley. -
Invention of the Integrated Circuit
Robert Noyce and his team created the integrated circuit. It combined all the components necessary to perform an electronic function into a single semiconductor device. They could pack transistors, resistors, and capacitors much more tightly than ever before which lead to a faster and smaller product. This invention truly revolutionized the computer industry. -
Noyce makes insane business move
The only people that were buying the new integrated circuits was the military. This was due to its overall costliness. Noyce decided to sell Fairchild low-end integrated circuits for a significantly reduced price. The price to buy the circuit was less than it would cost a customer to buy and connect the individual components. However, this is also less than it costs Fairchild to build the device. The company would operating on a loss. The play worked and many consumers made the switch. -
Founded Intel
Noyce and Gordon Moore founded Intel as a semiconductor memory company. Now Intel is one of the largest microprocessor companies in the world. -
Revolutionizes Business Model
Noyce was known for his ability to inspire others to collaborate. He detested the traditional ways of business in which workers reported to bosses who had all the perks that come with being a boss. Noyce ran his businesses differently than everyone and that lead to the "follow your heart" style business that Silicon Valley is known for. Due to his new business ethic of listening and working with his employees, he was dubbed "Mayor of Silicon Valley" -
Intel 4004
A 4-bit central processing unit was created under the direction of Noyce at Intel. This is regarded as the first commercially available microprocessor. It was much more versatile and powerful than any other chip on the market at that time. This invention paved the way for Intel to become one of the biggest silicon microprocessor companies in the world. -
National Medal of Technology
Noyce was awarded the National Medal of Technology by President Reagan -
SEMATECH
A semiconductor manufacturing consortium. This consortium was aimed at researching new materials, processes, and equipment for semiconductor manufacturing and was international. -
Inducted into Business Hall of Fame
President George H.W. Bush inducts Noyce into Business Hall of Fame for his revolution in business conduct in Silicon Valley -
Charles Stark Draper Award
Noyce and Kilby won the Charles Stark Draper Award for their work on the integrated circuit. -
Lifetime Achievement Medal
During the bicentennial celebration of the Patent Act, Noyce received the Lifetime Achievement Medal. -
Honorary Co-recipient of Nobel Prize in Physics
For his co-invention of the integrated circuit, Noyce along with Kilby received the Nobel Prize in Physics.
