-
Inventors: John Bardeen, Walter Brattain, William Shockley
Year: 1947
Details: The point contact transistor was the first type of transistor ever created. It was the precursor to modern silicon transistors. This invention revolutionized electronics by replacing bulky vacuum tubes, enabling smaller, cheaper, and more efficient devices.
Curiosity: This breakthrough is considered the birth of the modern electronics era, and the three inventors were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1956. -
Inventors:Jack Kilby (Texas Instruments) and Robert Noyce (Fairchild Semiconductor)
Details: The integrated circuit or microchip is a small wafer that houses electronic components like transistors, diodes, and resistors. Its creation allowed the miniaturization of devices and paved the way for modern computing.
Curiosity: Jack Kilby was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2000 for this invention. The integrated circuit is the foundation of computing and mobile phone technology. -
Inventor :Nick Holonyak (First visible LED in 1962)
Details: The LED is a semiconductor device that emits light when an electric current flows through it. It is used in displays, traffic signals, lighting, etc. LEDs are more energy-efficient and have a longer lifespan than traditional incandescent bulbs.
Curiosity: Although Nick Holonyak created the first visible LED, the technology has evolved significantly to include organic LEDs used in flexible displays and high-resolution screens today. -
Inventor : Gordon Moore
Details : The continued reduction in transistor size, allowing for faster, more powerful processors in smaller devices.
Curiosities : Miniturization of electronics components is one of the most exciting and impactful trends in modern technology. Over the past few decades, we've witnessed a staggering reduction in size of electronic components, enabling the development of increasingly poweful and compact devices. -
Inventor: George Heilmeier (Development process)
Details: LCD technology uses liquid crystals to form images when an electric field is applied. These displays are thinner and more energy-efficient compared to traditional cathode ray tube (CRT) displays.
Curiosity: The invention of LCD screens didn’t just change television and computer monitors, but also revolutionized portable devices like **mobile phones ,tablets, and digital watches. -
Inventors:Ted Hoff, Federico Faggin, Stan Mazor (Intel) Details: The microprocessor is the brain of almost all modern electronic devices, from computers to smartphones. It is an integrated circuit that contains the central processing unit (CPU) of a computer. The first microprocessor was the Intel 4004.
Curiosity:This invention marked the beginning of the personal computer era, and today, microprocessors are used in everything from smartwatches to self-driving cars -
Inventors : Alexey E. Koshelev and Mark S. Shur
Details : researching into quantum computing, quantum dots, and quantum transistors has been rapidly expanding.
Curiosities : Quantum electronics is a fascinating and rapidly evolving field! It sits at the intersection of quantum mechanics and electrical engineering, and its applications are driving advancements in computing, communication, and sensing. -
Inventor: Fujio Masuoka (Toshiba)
Details: Flash memory is a type of non-volatile memory, meaning it retains data even when the device is turned off. It is used in storage devices like USB drives, SD cards, SSDs, and embedded systems.
Curiosity: Flash memory is faster and more durable than traditional hard disk drives, and its miniaturization has led to the creation of smaller, more powerful storage devices. -
Inventors:Vic Hayes, Bruce Tuch (IEEE 802.11)
Details: Wi-Fi enables data transmission over radio waves, providing internet access without cables. Today, Wi-Fi is crucial for connectivity in homes, offices, and public spaces.
Curiosity: The Wi-Fi technology is based on radiofrequency standards set by IEEE 802.11, and it has contributed to the creation of a connected society on a global scale. -
Inventor/ Contributor : John Rogers
Details : Wearable devices like smartwatches and health-monitoring patches have been developed using flexible materials
Curiosities : Flexible and wearable electronics are fascinating and rapidly evolving field that blends materials science, engineerings and cutting-edge technology.