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Semiconductor

Material with conductivity between conductor and insulator.

Semiconductors have properties like passing current easier in one direction, variable resistance, and sensitivity to light or heat. Doping and electrical fields modify their electrical properties for amplification, switching, and energy conversion. Silicon and gallium arsenide are common semiconductors used in various electronic devices. The discovery of semiconductors led to the invention of the transistor in 1947 and the integrated circuit in 1958.

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Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory Fairchild Semiconductor TSMC Micron Technology Applied Materials Gordon Moore Light Emitting Diode Quantum Mechanics Intel Silicon Valley

Timeline

Discovery of Silicon by Jöns Jakob Berzelius

In 1824, the Swedish chemist and physician Jöns Jakob Berzelius was able to define silicon in its elementary form and gave the semimetal its name.

First Semiconductor Effect Recorded

Michael Faraday discovers that electrical conduction increases with temperature in silver sulfide crystals, which is opposite to that observed in copper and other metals.

Invention of the rectifier

The birth history of semiconductors can be traced back to the invention of the rectifier (AC-DC converter) in 1874.

Telephone and Telegraph by Alexander Graham Bell

Alexander Graham Bell is credited with inventing the telephone, a revolutionary communication device that transformed the way people interact over long distances.

Light Bulb by Thomas Alva Edison

Thomas Alva Edison invented the first commercially practical incandescent light bulb, which laid the foundation for modern lighting systems.

Wireless Telegraphy by Guglielmo Marconi

Guglielmo Marconi's invention of wireless telegraphy enabled long-range communication without the need for physical connections, paving the way for modern wireless technology.

Cathode Ray Tube by Karl Ferdinand Braun

Karl Ferdinand Braun's development of the cathode ray tube laid the groundwork for television and computer monitor displays, contributing to the advancement of visual technology.

Two-Electrode Vacuum Tube Invention

The invention of the two-electrode vacuum tube marked a significant milestone in the evolution of electronic devices, setting the stage for the development of semiconductor technology.

Field Effect Semiconductor Device Concepts Patented

Julius Lilienfeld filed a patent in 1926 describing a three-electrode amplifying device based on the semiconducting properties of copper sulfide. The attempts to build such a device continued through the 1930s.

Invention of the Transistor

On December 23, 1947, the invention of the transistor was announced by William Shockley, John Bardeen, and Walter Brattain at Bell Laboratories.

Invention of the Mechanically Solid Junction-Type Transistor

William Shockley and his team announced the invention of the mechanically solid junction-type transistor in June 1948.

Innovations in Power Semiconductors

Highly developed power semiconductors, particularly in MOSFET and IGBT technology, have significantly advanced due to progressive innovations in microelectronics.

Development of Zone Refining

The process of zone refining was developed in 1951.

Transistorized Computers Emerge

In 1953, a prototype of a transistorized computer showcased the compact size and low-power benefits of semiconductors over vacuum tubes.

Silicon Transistors Offer Superior Operating Characteristics

Morris Tanenbaum created the first silicon transistor at Bell Labs, while Texas Instruments' engineers were the first to manufacture and market commercial devices.

Photolithography Techniques for Silicon Devices

In 1955, Jules Andrus and Walter Bond utilized photoengraving techniques to enable precise etching of diffusion 'windows' in silicon wafers, marking a significant advancement in silicon device manufacturing.

Nobel Prize in Physics Awarded for Semiconductor Research

The Nobel Prize in Physics was jointly awarded to Shockley, Bardeen and Brattain for their pioneering contribution to semiconductor research and the development of the transistor.

Invention of Esaki diode

Leo Esaki invented the Esaki diode in 1957 while pursuing a research project for creating faster transistors. This diode applied the electron tunneling effect, becoming a major springboard for subsequent development of LSIs.

Invention of the Integrated Circuit (IC)

The invention of the integrated circuit (IC) in 1958 was a significant milestone in semiconductor history, leading to the development of modern microelectronics.

Invention of Bipolar Integrated Circuit (ICs)

Kilby of Texas Instruments and Noyce of Fairchild Semiconductor in the US invented the bipolar integrated circuit (ICs) in 1959, marking the dawn of the IC era and having a major impact on the history of semiconductors.

Metal Oxide Semiconductor (MOS) Transistor Demonstrated

Robert Noyce builds on Jean Hoerni's planar process to patent a monolithic integrated circuit structure that can be manufactured in high volume.

Silicon Transistor Exceeds Germanium Speed

Computer architect Seymour Cray funds the development of the first silicon device to meet the performance demands of the world's fastest machine, marking a significant milestone in semiconductor technology.

First Application of ICs in Aerospace Systems

In 1962, integrated circuits were first used in aerospace systems, offering advantages in size, weight, and power consumption compared to discrete transistor designs, justifying their higher cost in military and aerospace applications.

Introduction of Standard Logic IC Families

In 1963, the introduction of Diode Transistor Logic (DTL) families created a high-volume market for digital ICs, while Transistor Transistor Logic (TTL) emerged as the most popular standard logic configuration due to its speed, cost, and density advantages by the late 1960s.

The First Widely-Used Analog Integrated Circuit is Introduced

David Talbert and Robert Widlar at Fairchild pioneer commercially successful ICs for analog applications, catalyzing a major industry sector.

Kilby Patent on Integrated Circuit

The Kilby patent refers to the patent on the basic concept of the integrated circuit developed by Jack St. Kilby at Texas Instruments. It yielded huge royalties to TI and had a significant impact on the semiconductor industry.

Development of Computer Aided Design Tools for ICs

In 1966, IBM engineers pioneer computer-aided electronic design automation tools, aiming to reduce errors and accelerate the design process for integrated circuits.

Utilization of Computer-Aided Design in Application Specific Integrated Circuits

In 1967, Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) start employing computer-aided design tools, marking a significant advancement in the design process for specialized integrated circuits.

Silicon Gate Technology Developed for ICs

Federico Faggin and Tom Klein improve the reliability, packing density, and speed of MOS ICs with a silicon-gate structure. Faggin designs the first commercial silicon-gate IC â€“ the Fairchild 3708.

Schottky-Barrier Diode Doubles the Speed of TTL Memory & Logic

In 1969, the Schottky-Barrier Diode was developed, which doubled the speed of TTL memory and logic. This design innovation led to enhanced speed and reduced power consumption of the industry standard 64-bit TTL RAM architecture, and was quickly applied to new bipolar logic and memory designs.

Application of Microcontrollers in Embedded Systems

Microcontrollers found applications in various embedded systems, including temperature and level controllers, motor controls, alarm systems, timers, and washing machines, due to their integrated design and diverse functionality.

Introduction of Microprocessors & Microcontrollers

On November 15, 1971, the first microprocessor, the Intel 4004, was introduced, revolutionizing the development of microcontrollers and becoming the basic building blocks of modern technology.

Scaling of IC Process Design Rules Quantified

In 1974, the quantification of scaling IC process design rules marked a significant advancement in semiconductor technology.

Introduction of PAL User-Programmable Logic Devices

John Birkner and H. T. Chua of Monolithic Memories develop easy-to-use programmable array logic (PAL) devices and tools for fast prototyping custom logic functions.

Introduction of Single Chip Digital Signal Processor

Bell Labs' single-chip DSP-1 Digital Signal Processor device architecture is optimized for electronic switching systems.

Invention of Flash Memory

Flash memory, a rewritable semiconductor memory device that is non-volatile, was invented by Fujio Masuoka in 1980. It was designed to erase the entire block of data at once, reducing the cost per bit by 75% or more.

Release of Nintendo's Family Computer (Famicom)

In 1983, Nintendo released the Family Computer (Famicom), a video game console equipped with an 8-bit CPU. It gained immense popularity with the launch of Super Mario Bros., a game developed specifically for this platform.

First Practical Blue LED Developed

In 1993, Nichia Corporation and Shuji Nakamura successfully developed the blue LED technology, enabling the creation of full color LED displays and advanced applications like blue laser technology for DVD recorders.

Introduction of PIC16F886-I/SP Microcontroller

The PIC16F886-I/SP microcontroller, manufactured by Microchip, was introduced in 1997. It is an 8-bit microcontroller with a clock speed of 20 MHz and comes in a DIP-28 package. It is widely used in various electronic applications.

Isolation of Graphene

In 2004, Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov successfully isolated graphene by applying clear adhesive tape to a block of graphite, cleaving a thin layer of graphene.

Development of SMARTFETs

Intelligent MOSFETs known as SMARTFETs have been developed, featuring robust circuit breakers, low on-resistance, and integrated analog circuits for diagnostic, protection, and control functions.

End of the Timeline
Semiconductor

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