Federico Faggin, lead engineer on the world's first microprocessor TITLE: Microelectronics & Microprocessors: The Early Years Date & time: Feb 19, 10:30am-12:00pm, 540a/b Cory Hall Talk abstract: Today we are so used to the enormous capabilities of microelectronics that we can hardly imagine what it might have been like in the early sixties and seventies. This lecture will illustrate the environment existing in the early years of the microelectronics revolution, and describe the seminal inventions that produced in less than 10 years the first integrated circuit and the first microprocessor, as experienced by one of the early pioneers, Federico Faggin, the co-inventor of the MOS silicon gate technology and co-inventor of the microprocessor -- inventions that changed forever our way of life. Speaker bio: Federico Faggin was born in Vicenza, Italy in 1941 and graduated from the Technical Institute "A. Rossi" of Vicenza in 1960. Working for Olivetti, he co-designed and built a small experimental electronic computer in 1961, at the age of 19. During 1961-1965 he studied physics at the University of Padua, Italy, receiving a Laurea degree, summa cum laude. In 1967 Faggin joined SGS-Fairchild in Agrate Brianza, Milan where he developed SGS's first MOS process technology and designed their first two commercial MOS integrated circuits (ICs). In February 1968 Faggin joined Fairchild Semiconductor R&D; Lab in Palo Alto, California, where he led the development of the MOS Silicon Gate Technology and designed the world's first commercial IC with silicon gate, the Fairchild 3708. Adopted worldwide, the Silicon Gate Technology was the world's first MOS self-aligned-gate process technology used for nearly all contemporary ICs until recently. Faggin worked for Intel Corporation from 1970 to 1974. In 1970-'71 he led the design and development of the 4004, the world's first microprocessor, and the other 3 chips of the MCS-4 product family. In 1971-'72, Faggin led the development of the 8008, the world's first 8-bit microprocessor. He also conceived, architected and led the developments of the Intel 8080 and the Intel 4040 microprocessors. Faggin was Department Manager of Intel's Research and Development Group from 1973 to 1974. In 1974 Faggin co-founded Zilog, Inc., the first company entirely dedicated to the emergent microprocessors and microcontrollers market. Faggin was Director, President and CEO of Zilog from 1974 to 1980. At Zilog Faggin conceived, architected and led the development of the Z80 microprocessor, one of the most successful microprocessors ever produced, still in high volume production in 2014. In 1982, Faggin co-founded Cygnet Technologies, Inc., which developed the first personal integrated voice and data communication product. After the sale of Cygnet Technologies in 1986, Faggin co-founded Synaptics, Inc., which developed the early touchpads and touchscreen now universally used in notebook computers and mobile devices. Faggin served as Director, President, and CEO from March 1987 to January 1999. From January 1999 until November 2008 he served as Chairman of the Board, and he is currently Chairman Emeritus. In 2003 Faggin became President, CEO, and Director of Foveon, Inc., a company that developed a breakthrough technology for image sensors. Foveon was acquired by Sigma Corporation in 2008. Faggin is now President of Federico and Elvia Faggin Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the scientific study of consciousness. Faggin is the recipient of many honors and awards, including the 1988 International Marconi Fellowship Award, the 1994 IEEE W. Wallace McDowell Award, the 1997 Kyoto Prize, and the 2009 National Medal for Technology and Innovation from President Obama. In 1996, Faggin was inducted in the National Inventor's Hall of Fame for the co-invention of the microprocessor. Mr. Faggin also received many honorary degrees in Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, including a PhD in Electronics from the Polytechnic University of Armenia, and a PhD in Science from Chapman University. Recorded by Electronic Support Group at EECS Department, U. C. Berkeley

• published: 20 Feb 2014
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