Inventor of the integrated circuit: Who is Robert Noyce?

Many of the devices, from laptops to ignition control in modern automobiles, programming of video cassette recorders, and others, are connected to the integrated circuit system invented by Robert Noyce. His skills are not limited to just being an inventor. He is also a successful entrepreneur who is among the founding partners of Robert Noyce Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation and Intel Corporation.

Throughout history, we have encountered very important names who developed technology. Most of these are actually well-known and well-known names today. Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, and many other manufacturers are among the people who helped technology reach today. However, it would not be correct to say that they shouldered all this burden alone.

Robert Norton Noyce (December 12, 1927 – June 3, 1990), nicknamed "the Mayor of Silicon Valley", was an American physicist and entrepreneur who co-founded Fairchild Semiconductor in 1957 and Intel Corporation in 1968. He was also credited with the realization of the first monolithic integrated circuit or microchip, which fueled the personal computer revolution and gave Silicon Valley its name.

The efforts of people who remain in more obscure corners of technology history, such as Robert Noyce or Ralph Baer, are extremely valuable. The products they develop and produce are actually the basic parts of the technological tools we use. In other words, if it weren't for their inventions, it might not have been possible for Bill Gates or Steve Jobs to develop these technologies.

Therefore, it would be unfair to ignore what Robert Noyce or Gordon Moore did. The inventions of these people are just some of the fundamental parts of today's technology. Without further ado, let's look at the life of Robert Noyce and the invention of the integrated circuit.

Robert Noyce was born in the USA in 1927. He opens his eyes to life as the third of four sons of priest Palp Brewster Noyce and Harriet May. As can be seen from his family's profession, Noyce grew up in a religious and crowded family.

The information in the archive about Robert Noyce shows that he had a creative spirit at an early age. Little Noyce invented a radio when he was 12 years old. In addition, there is information in the records that he motorized his sled with a propeller part he took from an old washing machine. So the love of inventing things has been present since Noyce's childhood.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that Noyce, who has a productive spirit, is also a naughty child. This naughty side of him becomes dominant during adolescence. Young Noyce, who attracted attention with his interest in physics and mathematics during his high school years, reportedly entered the farm of the Mayor of Grinnell and kidnapped a pig belonging to him. This news was first reported to the management of Grinnell High School, where he studied.

The news soon reaches his family's ears. Things get a little complicated when the school administration calls his family. Because in the state of Iowa, there are severe sanctions for breaking into someone else's property and stealing a pet.

However, the school administration decides to expel Noyce from school. However, this is where the physics professor, who later gave him private physics lessons, comes into play.

His teacher helps Noyce get over his crime with a light punishment because he is a student with high potential. The price Robert Noyce paid was being suspended from school for a semester.

It would not be wrong to say that Noyce's childhood inventor spirit stalled a bit during his high school years. This young man, who is equally talented as well as his mischievous nature, spends his high school life singing, playing instruments, and acting. In 1945, Noyce successfully graduated from Grinnell High School after a difficult journey.

After high school, Noyce enrolled in the Department of Physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It is obvious from these days that Noyce, who was entitled to enter one of the most prestigious universities in the world, will be a great person. After completing his bachelor's degree, he crowned his achievements in the field of education by completing his master's degree and doctorate. However, these successes are only the beginning of his career.

Robert Noyce's education life ended in 1953. He first started working as a research engineer at a company called Philco, located in Philadelphia. After 3 years, he ended his career in the company.

After his teacher Grant Gale, William Shockley was the second person who contributed to his attempt to pursue a career in physics. These two men, who were known to be very similar in terms of their hard work, were also very different from each other. Noyce would understand this much later.

But before he realizes this, he leaves Pennsylvania to join Shockley's laboratory. He, his wife, and two children are moving to California on the first plane. Once there, Noyce heads to Mountain View to see Shockley and discuss business.

The two reach an agreement. Thus, Noyce is among the young talents with Ph.D. degrees who have joined his research laboratory. However, after a while, he, like his 7 friends, does not like Shockley's strict management style. Thus, Noyce's name is mentioned in the group known as the Traitor Eight.

The reason why he and his 7 friends are called the Treacherous Eight is as follows: Shockley paves the way for new Ph.D. graduates to develop and produce semiconductor devices. He hires them and provides a space.

However, eight people among these young talents decided to leave the job. Shockley, who thinks that he was let down by 8 people, interprets this move towards him as a betrayal. In fact, this move, which he made to pave the way for creative young people who are tired of difficult working conditions, is of great importance for the future of the technology world.

That's why the group that includes Gordon Moore and Noyce is recorded as the Treacherous Eight. Other names in the group are Julius Blank, Victor Grinich, Jean Hoemi, Eugene Kleiner, Jay Last, and Sheldon Roberts.

Here, after leaving the treacherous eight with Shockley, they founded Fairchild Semiconductor in 1957. One of the points where the rope breaks actually starts with the establishment of this company.

Integrated Circuit

Noyce invented a new type of integrated circuit in 1959: Monolithic Integrated Circuit. In fact, just before his invention, the hybrid circuit was invented by Jack Kliby. However, compared to Jack's, Noyce's invention attracts more attention because its design is made of silicone and is more practical in terms of application.

Even for a machine as simple as a radio, individual transistors had to be wired together by hand until you had a small panel. In the case of a computer, the wires inside it were very thin.

Noyce had produced a solution to this problem. But making it up was another matter. It was quite primitive to cut individual transistors from wafers of silicon and then connect them back together in various series.

The integrated circuit was based on the transistor. However, the integrated circuit even opened up areas that the transistor did not offer. This method made it possible to create miniature computers, placing all the functions of the powerful ENIAC on a board the size of a playing card.

Thus, Noyce's invention opened up every imaginable field of engineering, from trips to the moon to robots and electronic guidance consultancy, to many never-before-imagined fields.

In 1968, Gordon Moore and Robert Noyce sought a decision to leave Fairchild. The duo sets off on a new adventure and thus establishes Intel. In fact, it is possible to read what happened next from the current situation of the company. However, it is still useful to take a closer look at this wonderful adventure.

First, they opened a place with a few electrical engineers, a few office staff, and maintenance staff. The two men invest all their wealth in research and product development. Noyce and Moore put on their white coats and sit at their laboratory tables. Chasing a dream, the duo works day and night.

Two years later, two colleagues, Noyce and Moore, are developing the 1103 memory chip, a silicon and polysilicon chip. This development provides them with a great profit. So much so that it is known that other companies, including Fairchild, are competing with each other to fulfill orders that Intel cannot handle.

By the end of the first year, Intel's sales totaled less than three thousand dollars. The workforce consisted of forty-two people. By 1972, sales rose to $23.4 million, thanks largely to the 1103 chip. The workforce increases to 1002. The next year, sales nearly tripled, reaching $66 million. In parallel with this increase, the workforce increased two and a half times, reaching 2528.

In addition to all this, it is known that Noyce brought a particularly relaxed business culture to Intel. This work culture is very effective in increasing the motivation of employees. It is possible to say that Noyce owes this business culture to his experiences at Fairchild Semiconductor.

Private Life of Robert Noyce

Robert Noyce decided to marry Elizabeth Bottomley in 1953. It is known that his wife graduated from Tufts University in 1951. They had four children while living in Los Altos.

They have another house in New England, which Elizabeth loves more than California. The children and Elizabeth spend the summer months here. However, due to Intel's work-intensive nature, Robert is away from his family from time to time. Ultimately, the couple decided to divorce in 1974.

That same year, Noyce married Ann Schmeltz Bowers. In addition to being Intel's first personnel manager, he is also Apple's first Vice President of Human Resources. Today, he serves on the Board of Directors of the Noyce Foundation.

Technology occupies a huge place in Robert Noyce's life. However, it is not possible to say that this occupied his entire life. It is known that he also loves literature very much. It is also stated that he pilots his private plane in his spare time and even participates in sailing and diving competitions.

The successful man passed away due to a heart attack in 1990. Today, it is known that Robert Noyce has 16 patented products. It is also estimated that he will be very happy to see Intel's current situation.