American Physicists William B. Shockley, Walter H. Brattain, and John Bardeen Produce the First Transistor, Initiating the Semiconductor Revolution
Overview
In 1947 Bell Laboratories scientists invented the transistor—a semiconductor device that could amplify electrical signals transmitted through it. Those in the "know" recognized the significance of the transistor as a compact, reliable replacement for the inefficient vacuum tube; but the development of what many now consider the twentieth century's most important invention, was not prominently reported. Not even the team responsible for the transistor, John Bardeen (1908-1987), Walter Houser Brattain (1902-1987), and William Bradford Shockley (1910-1989), were aware of the singular role their discovery was about to play in initiating the information age and making possible everything from miniature hearing aids to high-speed computers.
Background
In 1904 John A. Fleming (1849-1945) developed a vacuum tube diode—known as a "valve" because it forced current within the tube to flow in one direction. This was essential for converting alternating currents to direct current. In 1907 Lee De Forest (1873-1961) patented the Audion vacuum tube, which functioned as a valve as well as amplifying current. De Forest achieved amplification by inserting a metal grid into the tube. Varying grid input current allowed him to control the flow of a secondary current in the tube such that weak grid inputs resulted in strong secondary currents.
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