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"The Traitorous Eight" of Silicon Valley, c.1960. From left to
right: Gordon Moore, C. Sheldon Roberts, Eugene Kleiner, Robert Noyce, Victor Grinich,
Julius Blank, Jean Hoerni and Jay Last. - Wikipedia
If you are not familiar with "The Traitorous Eight" in Silicon Valley history,
this account should prove interesting. It was generated entirely by the ChatGPT
AI engine. My fairly extensive experience with ChatGPT is that it is generally very
reliable, especially the 4.0 version with its much more current database. Trust,
but verify, though, for critical work.
Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory: The Origin
The Origin
William Shockley, a Nobel Prize-winning physicist, co-invented the transistor
at Bell Labs in 1947. After leaving Bell Labs, he sought to commercialize transistor
technology and chose Palo Alto, California, as the location for his new venture,
Shockley
Semiconductor Laboratory, which he founded in 1956. The lab was a division of
Beckman Instruments,
and Shockley aimed to revolutionize electronics through his work in semiconductors.
Issues at Shockley Semiconductor
Shockley recruited a team of highly talented engineers, but his management style
soon led to friction. Shockley was known for his authoritarian approach, micromanagement,
and erratic behavior, which alienated his employees. He insisted on working on a
complex and unproven four-layer diode, rather than focusing on the silicon transistor,
which the engineers believed had more commercial potential. This decision, along
with Shockley’s mistrust of his team, including implementing lie detector tests
to find a suspected mole, further eroded morale.
The Traitorous Eight: Members and Roles
Robert Noyce: Known as the "Mayor of Silicon Valley," Noyce
was instrumental in the development of the integrated circuit (IC). After leaving
Shockley, he co-founded Fairchild Semiconductor and later Intel Corporation, where
he played a key role in shaping the semiconductor industry.
Gordon Moore: A chemist and physicist, Moore co-founded Fairchild
Semiconductor and Intel Corporation alongside Noyce. He is best known for "Moore's
Law," which predicted the exponential growth of computing power, specifically that
the number of transistors on a microchip would double approximately every two years.
Julius Blank: A mechanical engineer, Blank was responsible for
setting up the manufacturing processes at Fairchild Semiconductor. His expertise
in semiconductor fabrication helped establish Fairchild as a leader in the industry.
Victor Grinich: Grinich was an expert in semiconductor physics
and played a critical role in the early development of semiconductor devices at
Fairchild. He later became a professor at Stanford University, where he influenced
the next generation of engineers.
Jean Hoerni: A physicist and inventor, Hoerni is best known
for inventing the planar process, a method of manufacturing semiconductor devices
that became the foundation for modern integrated circuits. His invention was crucial
for the mass production of transistors and ICs.
Eugene Kleiner: Kleiner was an engineer with a strong background
in business. After co-founding Fairchild Semiconductor, he went on to co-found Kleiner
Perkins, a venture capital firm that funded many of Silicon Valley's early technology
companies, including Google and Amazon.
Jay Last: Last was a physicist who played a vital role in the
development of the integrated circuit at Fairchild Semiconductor. He later became
an entrepreneur and art collector, contributing to various cultural institutions.
Sheldon Roberts: A materials scientist, Roberts was responsible
for the quality control of silicon crystals at Fairchild Semiconductor. His work
ensured that the company produced reliable and high-quality semiconductor devices.
Formation of Fairchild Semiconductor
Frustrated with Shockley's management, the eight engineers began looking for
an opportunity to start their own company. They approached several potential investors
but struggled to secure funding due to concerns about the risks involved. Eventually,
they were introduced to Sherman Fairchild, an inventor, and entrepreneur who owned
Fairchild Camera and Instrument Corporation.
Sherman Fairchild recognized the potential of the group and agreed to fund their
new venture. In 1957,
Fairchild Semiconductor
was established as a division of Fairchild Camera and Instrument Corporation, with
the "Traitorous Eight" as its founding members.
Achievements at Fairchild Semiconductor
Fairchild Semiconductor quickly became a leader in the semiconductor industry,
thanks to the expertise of the Traitorous Eight. Some of their key achievements
include:
Planar Process (Jean Hoerni, 1958): This process allowed for
the production of reliable, high-performance transistors and integrated circuits.
It involved laying down layers of silicon dioxide on the wafer surface, which protected
the underlying layers and allowed for precise control of the manufacturing process.
The First Commercially Viable Integrated Circuit (Robert Noyce, 1959):
Noyce's work at Fairchild led to the development of the first monolithic integrated
circuit, where all the components of the circuit were placed on a single piece of
silicon. This invention revolutionized the electronics industry, making it possible
to produce smaller, faster, and more reliable devices.
The Birth of Silicon Valley: Fairchild Semiconductor's success
attracted other talented engineers and entrepreneurs to the region, leading to the
creation of many other semiconductor companies. The culture of innovation and entrepreneurship
that emerged at Fairchild became the foundation of what is now known as Silicon
Valley.
Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory: The Origin
William Shockley, a Nobel Prize-winning physicist, co-invented the transistor
at Bell Labs in 1947. After leaving Bell Labs, he sought to commercialize transistor
technology and chose Palo Alto, California, as the location for his new venture,
Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory, which he founded in 1956. The lab was a division
of Beckman Instruments, and Shockley aimed to revolutionize electronics through
his work in semiconductors.
Issues at Shockley Semiconductor
Shockley recruited a team of highly talented engineers, but his management style
soon led to friction. Shockley was known for his authoritarian approach, micromanagement,
and erratic behavior, which alienated his employees. He insisted on working on a
complex and unproven four-layer diode, rather than focusing on the silicon transistor,
which the engineers believed had more commercial potential. This decision, along
with Shockley’s mistrust of his team, including implementing lie detector tests
to find a suspected mole, further eroded morale.
The Traitorous Eight: Members and Roles
-
Robert Noyce: Known as the "Mayor of Silicon Valley," Noyce
was instrumental in the development of the integrated circuit (IC). After leaving
Shockley, he co-founded Fairchild Semiconductor and later Intel Corporation, where
he played a key role in shaping the semiconductor industry.
-
Gordon Moore: A chemist and physicist, Moore co-founded Fairchild
Semiconductor and Intel Corporation alongside Noyce. He is best known for "Moore's
Law," which predicted the exponential growth of computing power, specifically that
the number of transistors on a microchip would double approximately every two years.
-
Julius Blank: A mechanical engineer, Blank was responsible for
setting up the manufacturing processes at Fairchild Semiconductor. His expertise
in semiconductor fabrication helped establish Fairchild as a leader in the industry.
-
Victor Grinich: Grinich was an expert in semiconductor physics
and played a critical role in the early development of semiconductor devices at
Fairchild. He later became a professor at Stanford University, where he influenced
the next generation of engineers.
-
Jean Hoerni: A physicist and inventor, Hoerni is best known
for inventing the planar process, a method of manufacturing semiconductor devices
that became the foundation for modern integrated circuits. His invention was crucial
for the mass production of transistors and ICs.
-
Eugene Kleiner: Kleiner was an engineer with a strong background
in business. After co-founding Fairchild Semiconductor, he went on to co-found Kleiner
Perkins, a venture capital firm that funded many of Silicon Valley's early technology
companies, including Google and Amazon.
-
Jay Last: Last was a physicist who played a vital role in the
development of the integrated circuit at Fairchild Semiconductor. He later became
an entrepreneur and art collector, contributing to various cultural institutions.
-
Sheldon Roberts: A materials scientist, Roberts was responsible
for the quality control of silicon crystals at Fairchild Semiconductor. His work
ensured that the company produced reliable and high-quality semiconductor devices.
Formation of Fairchild Semiconductor
Frustrated with Shockley's management, the eight engineers began looking for
an opportunity to start their own company. They approached several potential investors
but struggled to secure funding due to concerns about the risks involved. Eventually,
they were introduced to Sherman Fairchild, an inventor, and entrepreneur who owned
Fairchild Camera and Instrument Corporation.
Sherman Fairchild recognized the potential of the group and agreed to fund their
new venture. In 1957, Fairchild Semiconductor was established as a division of Fairchild
Camera and Instrument Corporation, with the "Traitorous Eight" as its founding members.
Achievements at Fairchild Semiconductor
Fairchild Semiconductor quickly became a leader in the semiconductor industry,
thanks to the expertise of the Traitorous Eight. Some of their key achievements
include:
-
Planar Process (Jean Hoerni, 1958): This process allowed for
the production of reliable, high-performance transistors and integrated circuits.
It involved laying down layers of silicon dioxide on the wafer surface, which protected
the underlying layers and allowed for precise control of the manufacturing process.
-
The First Commercially Viable Integrated Circuit (Robert Noyce, 1959):
Noyce's work at Fairchild led to the development of the first monolithic integrated
circuit, where all the components of the circuit were placed on a single piece of
silicon. This invention revolutionized the electronics industry, making it possible
to produce smaller, faster, and more reliable devices.
-
The Birth of Silicon Valley: Fairchild Semiconductor's success
attracted other talented engineers and entrepreneurs to the region, leading to the
creation of many other semiconductor companies. The culture of innovation and entrepreneurship
that emerged at Fairchild became the foundation of what is now known as Silicon
Valley.
The "Fairchildren" and Legacy
The "Traitorous Eight" not only founded Fairchild Semiconductor but also spawned
a wave of spin-offs known as "Fairchildren." These companies, founded by former
Fairchild employees, included giants like Intel (founded by Noyce and Moore), AMD,
and National Semiconductor. The ripple effects of the Traitorous Eight's departure
from Shockley Semiconductor are still felt today in the global technology industry.
The legacy of the Traitorous Eight is monumental. They helped transform the San
Francisco Bay Area into the world's leading technology hub, and their innovations
laid the groundwork for the modern electronics industry. The companies they founded
and the technologies they developed have had a profound impact on virtually every
aspect of modern life, from computing to telecommunications, and their story continues
to inspire entrepreneurs and innovators worldwide.
The "Traitorous Eight" not only founded Fairchild Semiconductor but also spawned
a wave of spin-offs known as "Fairchildren." These companies, founded by former
Fairchild employees, included giants like Intel (founded by Noyce and Moore), AMD,
and National Semiconductor. The ripple effects of the Traitorous Eight's departure
from Shockley Semiconductor are still felt today in the global technology industry.
The legacy of the Traitorous Eight is monumental. They helped transform the San
Francisco Bay Area into the world's leading technology hub, and their innovations
laid the groundwork for the modern electronics industry. The companies they founded
and the technologies they developed have had a profound impact on virtually every
aspect of modern life, from computing to telecommunications, and their story continues
to inspire entrepreneurs and innovators worldwide.
"ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info."
Posted September 6, 2024
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