This week marks 65 years since Jean Hoerni applied for a patent for his 'planar process' a key step towards the creation of the modern monolithic integrated circuit.
Shockley semiconductors were at the time trying to develop Germanium based transistors. The choice of silicon as the future of semiconductors by the folks at Fairchild was an important one.
Thanks so much Vikram. I think it'd hard to forget that many of the things we take for granted today weren't obvious at all at the time they were invented. And the Fairchild engineers not only had to invent, they had to turn those inventions into successful commercial products too!
Shockley semiconductors were at the time trying to develop Germanium based transistors. The choice of silicon as the future of semiconductors by the folks at Fairchild was an important one.
Great read!
Thanks so much Vikram. I think it'd hard to forget that many of the things we take for granted today weren't obvious at all at the time they were invented. And the Fairchild engineers not only had to invent, they had to turn those inventions into successful commercial products too!
Such a cool read. Noyce is a rockstar.