Robert Noyce: The Inventor of the Microchip and Co-Founder of Intel Corporation
Robert Noyce is one of the most prominent innovators and inventors of the 20th century, and his contributions and developments to the computer and technology industry remain unmatched. Most famously known as the co-founder of Intel Corporation and the inventor of the microchip, Noyce’s legacy is respected and honored today. Here, we look into how Noyce became one of the most prominent figures in the computer and technology industry and examine his legacy today.
Early Life
Robert Noyce, born in 1927. Grew up in an Iowa farming family, born to immigrants from Norway. Later raised in Grinnell, he attended college at the Grinnell College and earned a degree in Physics and Mathematics. From 1945 to 1949 he served in the United States Navy. Noyce married twice, first in 1951 to Elizabeth “Betty” Frese and later to Ann Bowers in 1971.
Life at Shockley Semiconductor
Noyce’s journey to becoming one of the most prominent figures in the computer and technology industry began when he joined Shockley Semiconductor Lab. located in Mountain View, California in 1956. To this day, Shockley Semiconductor remains a primary pioneer in the computer and technology industry. Here he worked on the technology behind the transistor, a fundamental building block of electronic devices.
Founding Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
Noyce, alongside Gordon Moore and other scientists from the lab decided to start their own independent business. In 1957, Noyce and Moore, alongside six other scientists, founded the Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation. The corporation was the first semiconductor company to develop the beginnings of integrated circuit, essential for modern computer and electronics. The newly created microchip, also known as the integrated circuit, is still being used today to power many of the world’s electronic devices.
The Formation of Intel Corporation
Shortly after the establishment of Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation, Noyce and Moore decided to start their own independent business in 1968. Intel, the company both co-founded, made its industry revolutionizing impact by creating the first successful microprocessor. The slightly bigger and more powerful version of the microchip, the microprocessor, powers and controls PCs and laptop computers. Today, Intel is one of the world’s most leading computer and technology technology companies and it is still widely used and respected today.
Legacy of Robert Noyce
Robert Noyce sadly passed in 1990, but his legacy remains respected and honored to this day. He is celebrated for being not just one of the most respected figures in the industry, but for being one of the most beloved figures as well. He has been included on Time’s list of 100 Most Important People of the 20th Century, included in the National Inventors Hall of Fame, and remains one of the most iconic personalities in the computer and technology industry.
Robert Noyce is one of the most influential personalities in the computer and technology industry. He is known for his contributions to semiconductors, integrated circuits, and microprocessors, as well as for co-founding Intel Corporation with Gordon Moore. His legacy and inventions are respected and honored to this day and are used in modern technology across the globe.
