origins of silicon valley · 2013-11-06 · now lick-wilmerding high school, san francisco...

“The Origins of Silicon Valley”For Int’l Wafer Level Packaging Conference

November 6, 2013

1

Paul WeslingIEEE Life Fellow

IEEE SF Bay Area Council Communications Director

Presented at Int’l Wafer Level Packaging ConferenceNovember 6, 2013

The Origins of Silicon Valley: Why and How

It Happened Here

or … You Are There!

A step back through Santa Clara Valley and

SF Bay Area history


November 6, 2013

2

Classic Silicon Valley: 1976

Homebrew Computer Club (hobbyists)– 6502 Processor Design-around Motorola 6800 Cheap (1/6th the price) Hobbyist-level device

– Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak

– The Apple I (to sell to friends)

1975, MP; Gordon French garage; O

Classic Silicon Valley: 1976

Wozniak-Jobs partnership – called it “Apple Computer Company”– Started in a garage in Los Altos– Sold 200 or so; attracted attention of

investors– IPO in 1980: 2nd-largest IPO since Ford

Motor Company 25 years before – Now largest stock market capitalization

How could this happen? Why in the SF Bay Area?


November 6, 2013

3

Before 1920

This was more typical …

Let’s Go Back …Federal Telegraph– Formed in 1909 in

Palo Alto (by a Stanford grad)

– Lee de Forest invented the audion oscillator and amplifier in 1907

– Pioneered continuous-wave radio

– Sold equipment to US Navy in World War I

De Foresttube


November 6, 2013

4

Let’s Go Back …

1st commercial radio broadcast– Charles “Doc” Herrold Early Stanford EE grad Started an SF firm

– Destroyed in the 1906 earthquake/fire

Then started a San Jose school nearSJSU to teach radio arts (1909)

– First Commercial broadcast, San Jose, 1909

voice and music: “San Jose Calling”

– FN, then SJN, then KQW, becomes KCBS740 AM, 106.9 FM

Clear-Channel;Music til Dawn

Near Fairmont;Audio in 1910

Early Roots …

Otis Moorhead– Early Stanford EE grad– Radio amateur & vacuum tube

entrepreneur– Established Moorhead Laboratories A vacuum tube firm Set up in San Francisco in 1917

– Moorhead manufactured “bootleg” receiving tubes for radio sets

– A patent-infringement lawsuit put him out of business in the early 1920s.


November 6, 2013

5

Defining Events

Independent privatewealth, from gold rushTitanic Sinkingin 1912World War IImportance oftechnologyUS Navy “push”for ship-to-shoreand other communications modesDesire to replace expensive telegraph lines, undersea cables with the new “wireless” technologyBrought frenzy of activity, funds to S.F. Bay Area

We Now Follow Three Pioneers

William EitelJack McCullough Charles Litton

Deep roots in the Bay Area Families with a strong history of entrepreneurship Born/raised here


November 6, 2013

6

William Eitel

Took shop class at Los Gatos High SchoolWorked in his father’s quarry – ass’t blacksmith, machine operatorVisited shops of Hall-Scott Motor Car Co.– Operation of Complex machinery

William Eitel, W6UF1908 - 1989

Jack McCullough, Charles Litton

Attended California School of Mechanical ArtsNow Lick-Wilmerding High School, San Francisco (private)

Founded in S.F. by James Lick, $540,000Opened in 1895; free education for boys, girlsOne of the best West Coast technical hi schools– Rigorous training in the mechanical trades – Many became excellent machinists– Gained "a realistic 'feel' of materials and

processes” [Litton]

Jack McCullough, W6CHE1908 - 1989

Ghirardelli;land baron in SJ; patron


November 6, 2013

7

Jack McCullough, Charles Litton

McCullough continued at a local junior collegeLitton enrolled in Stanford's ME dept:– Curriculum with strong practical flavor– Courses in shop work & administration,

machine drawing & design, power plant engineering, chemistry courses

– BS-ME in 1924

Eitel, Litton, and McCullough

Introduced to amateur “ham” radiothrough their families and friends in 1910’s, ’20’s – Became acquainted with the technology of

power tubes through activities in ham radio– Bay Area had 1,200 licensed amateurs 10 percent US total


November 6, 2013

8

Ham Radio in SF Bay AreaIsolated and peripheral region– A continent away from urban and industrial centers– But a large and vibrant ham radio community

Geographical and cultural factors: – Strong maritime orientation– SF was one of the largest seaports on the West

Coast of USA– Several military bases; US Navy presence – Commercial shipping firms relied on radio comm’n– Considerable visibility for technology in 1900s ’10’s– Navy, shipping companies employed radio

operators, many of whom were involved in amateur radio

Ham Radio in SF Bay AreaActive center of radio mfg in the 1910s, ‘20sElectronics firms:– Remler - made radio sets

– Magnavox - leading manufacturer of loudspeakers

– Heintz and Kaufman Designed custom radio equipment

– Federal Telegraph One of the earliest radio companies in the US Produced radio transmitters in the 1910s.

These firms made radio parts available to local hobbyists, and hired radio amateurs


November 6, 2013

9

Ham Radio Subculture

Camaraderie and intense sociability– A way to make friends– Communicating "over the air," face to face in clubs

Egalitarianism and a democratic ideology– little heed to distinctions of class,

education– Santa Clara County radio club, which Eitel

chaired in the mid 1920s, had “farm boys, Stanford students, Federal Telegraph technicians, and retired executives”

Ham Radio Subculture

Representatives of the citizenry– Opposed to large companies, patent

monopolies, undemocratic organizations

Interest in extending radio technology– Built reputations: innovating new circuitry,

devising clever transmitters, contacts with faraway lands

Mix of competitiveness and collaboration A lot like Home Brew Computer Club, and today’s Silicon Valley …


November 6, 2013

10

Following our Heroes …

Eitel, Litton, McCullough, ham friends– Learned about vacuum tubes– Built their own equipment, parts– Made notable contributions – 1924: Litton and Stanford radio club made

first contact with Australia and New Zealand

– 1928: Eitel pioneered 10-meter waves (30 MHz) for transcontinental communication

– Opened VHF bands to radio communication

The Tube Business

General Electric, Westinghouse, AT&T– All East Coast companies– Developed hi-power transmitting tubes in

early 1920s – Difficulties in producing consistent, reliable – Required precise machining, glass blowing

(Pyrex)– Exotic materials, sophisticated sealing

techniques


November 6, 2013

11


Litton got local job through ham friend– Research at Federal Telegraph– Built to 60 engineers and scientists – Became sole supplier of radios to IT&TEitel got local job through ham friend– Mechanic at Heintz and Kaufman Inc Heintz was a ham; focus on HF radio equipment

– Recruited McCullough a year later

The Tube Business in the ’20sCould not buy transmitting tubes on open market– RCA, GE, Western Electric, and Westinghouse Exclusive cross-licensing of 2000 patents

– RCA set up by GE, US Navy to ensure US dominance

– Sole producers/distributors of power-grid tubes Refused sale to Federal Telegraph,

Heintz & Kaufman– Threats to RCA’s domination

So both companies developed triodes– Litton and Eitel headed their tube shops


November 6, 2013

12

Tube Shops’ Challenge

Design around ~250 RCA patents– Enormously difficult task (Samsung vs Apple case)

– RCA had shut down Sylvania’s tube businessHired locally (many hams); got resources from IT&T (French engineers)–Eitel, Litton collaborated with each other

(novel!)

–Based on friendships over the years–Didn’t compete with other’s marketWorked closely with patent attorneys

Tube Shops’ ChallengesHeintz, Eitel, and McCullough engineered a rugged new power tube: – New materials, manufacturing methods– Tube’s plates of tantalum (avoid patents)– New shock-resistant seals – Create high vacuums (> reliability)More reliable, longer life than RCA’s tubesDidn’t infringe RCA’s patents


November 6, 2013

13

Tube Shops’ ChallengeLitton invented the glass lathe – For assembly, glass blowing, and sealing– Make complex tubes in large quantities– Allowed high repeatability, precision Built tube shop on parents' property

The Ham Radio Market

Heintz and Kauffman 354 Power Triode Tube


November 6, 2013

14

The US Depression Formed Eitel-McCullough Inc (Eimac)– To build high-power, high-frequency tubesFinancing: – Harrison: real-estate agent in San Bruno– Preddey: ran movie theaters in San

Francisco– Eitel and McCullough

brought their know-how – Profits to be shared

Precursor to today’s Menlo Park Venture-Capital Firms

The US DepressionLitton, Eitel, McCullough cooperated closely– Litton helped set up vacuum tube shop– Gave castings, engineering blueprints for lathe– Freely exchanged technical, commercial

information – Reduced risks, for the two small tube-

related businesses

Like Jobs & Wozniak, Homebrew Computer Club


November 6, 2013

15

The US Depression

1936: Frederick Terman asked Litton to join Stanford EE department as lecturer– Shared knowledge with staff, students– Litton $1000 grant: let Terman bring

Packard to campus for grad studies, work with Litton, Hewlett, others

Start of University/Industry cooperation

Threats to Peace Growing threats from Japan and Germany– President Roosevelt rebuilt the Army, Navy– New electronic system: radio detection

and ranging (radar)Needed high-voltage transmitting tubes – Only Eimac’s best tubes worked at the

high voltages and frequencies


November 6, 2013

16

The Klystron

Russell and Sigurd Varian developed the klystron in 1937– Russell went to Stanford, then worked at

Farnsworth’s Television Laboratory in SF– Philo Farnsworth pioneered TV in 1920’sThey worried about Germany– Hoped to use microwaves to detect planes– 1937: Moved to Stanford’s labs to work

with HansenUsed Litton’s free adviceUsed Hansen’s theoretical assistance

The Klystron – PA Times, Jan. 30, 1939


November 6, 2013

17

Pre-War Expansion

RCA, Western Electric selected for producing Eimac’s best tubes– NRL helped Eimac get sub-contracts– Bank of America financing, volume

productionManagerial techniques to thwart unions, keep employees happy, productive– Profit-sharing, cafeteria, medical clinic

Similar to Hewlett-Packard, Fairchild, Intel, Tandem …

Post-War Realignment RCA, others focused on TV, broadcastEimac developed new line of better tubes– Power tetrodes for high frequencies– FCC’s surprise shift of FM radio to VHF– RCA, others’ tubes wouldn’t work at VHF– RCA copied Eimac’s tubes, which did work


November 6, 2013

18

Reversal of Fortunes

In 1947, Eimac sued RCA and GE– alleging patent infringement on tetrode– GE, RCA lost the lawsuit, halted

production – Eimac transformed them into its own

sales force and distribution network– Let them buy Eimac products and resell

them under their own names

The “Big Dog” was now Silicon Valley!

Charles Litton After the War

Focus on higher-power klystrons– For physics research, linear accelerators– Scaled from 30 kilowatts to 30 megawatts– Transformed Stanford into a major player

– Developed “Recipe" to build a firm: little initial capital; R&D contracts; engineering teams and a product line; move to production


November 6, 2013

19

Varian Associates

1948: Russell and Sigurd Varian, Edward Ginzton, Myrl Stearns, Frederick Salisbury, Donald Snow (Russell, Edward, Myrl: Stanford)

– Families of modest means, progressive politics– Worker control and share in ownership– Small cooperative-like laboratory closely

linked to university research – Several small defense contracts (Litton

recommended)– From GE: specialty klystron for new UHF TV

(while GE worked on color television)

Egalitarian relations among engineers, companies

Varian Associates1948: Sold microwave measurement instrument plans to H-P for $20,000Enabled Hewlett-Packard to enlarge its product line, increase revenues in 1950s

David Packard and Bill Hewlett


November 6, 2013

20

Frederick Terman, with schematic, encourages Hewlett and Packard to

start a company; client wasWalt Disney, for Fantasia

Philo Farnsworth with first all-electronic TV tube

Ralph Heintz, short wave radio pioneer

Frederick Kolster, pioneer in radio compasses for

marine navigation

Ernest O. Lawrence, UC-B Cyclotron

Charles Litton, inventor of the

glass tube lathe Artist’s wife Susan listening

to Herrhold broadcast

Lee DeForest, inventor of audion

Leonard Fuller, Cyril Elwell,

Federal Telegraph

Jack McCullough & Bill Eitel, cutting-edge

Eimac vacuum tubes

Charles “Doc” Herrold, radio broadcasting

Robert Semans, 9’ x 18’ 3-panel mural; Court House Plaza, Palo Alto, 2002

Origins of the CPMT Society, SCV Chapter

1949: Charles (Bud) Eldon’s frat mate Fred Terman Jr. suggested his dad as an advisor (Fred Terman, son of Lewis Terman)Introduced to Don Fink (ELECTRONICS Magazine; IRE president; first Gen Mgr of IEEE)Bud joined HP, working for Barney Oliver

In 1955, Barney sat on Bud’s desk:“Bill wants you to start an IRE Group

on Product Engineering”(Bill Hewlett was the IRE president)

Using networking and volunteering to “create” opportunities


November 6, 2013

21


Bud gathered engineers from Varian, SRI, Litton, other local companiesMerged with Component Parts, PMP, PHP (at merger in 1962), CHMT, then CPMTNow it’s Components, Packaging and Manufacturing Technology!


Bud became Chairman of the PHP SocietySecured local IEEE ownership of WESCONBud was Region 6 Director, then IEEE President in 1985Retired in Arizona; diedjust last yearLew Terman also went on to become President of the IEEE

(source: IEEE Oral History Project)


November 6, 2013

22

Fast Forward to 1950’s

William Shockleyinvented transistorwhile at Bell Labs

Raised in Palo Alto; MIT

Point-contact Germanium deviceDeveloped to replace vacuum tubes

William Shockley (seated), John Bardeen, and Walter

Brattain, 1948.

Fast Forward to 1950’s

William Shockley left the East Coast, returned to CalTech, then to Palo Alto– His mother, graduate of

Stanford, lived there– Funded by Beckman– 1955: Shockley

Semiconductor in Mt View – “Traitorous 8” left him in

1957 to form Fairchild,with first real venturecapital funding (Sherman)


November 6, 2013

23

The Planar Process

Developed by Dr. Jean Hoerni at Fairchild Semiconductor in 1959Required a special infrastructure– High-vacuum technology; precise

furnaces– Glass/quartz capability– Ultra-pure gasses/water; cleanliness– Process control; continuous improvement

Built on top of all of the capabilities developed here during the ’20’s, 30’s, ’40’s

The Planar ProcessIt all happened here …


November 6, 2013

24

The Planar Process

Isaac Asimov said this was

"the most important moment since man emerged as a life

form"… perhaps with a bit of exaggeration.

At the end … (1960’s)Situation had changed dramaticallyPeninsula had become major electronics center– A workforce of 58,000– Half to 2/3rds employed in electronics

The main center for development and production of power-grid tubes, microwave tubes, semiconductors, ICs – Half of the microwave tubes – In virtually every advanced weapons, space system – In a wide range of industrial goods (broadcast, uWave

ovens)Central to the US defense effort and to the US manufacturing economy

Why?


November 6, 2013

25

Silicon Valley Business Climate

East’s large, vertically integrated firms– Protect their current products; adjust

slowly to swift technological and market changes

– Protective, inward, monopolistic (ATT, RCA, IBM); Dependent on Government

SV: highly fragmented, decentralized structure– Specialized firms, flexible, engineering-driven– Dense regional network of small & medium-size

firms that support each other; common work force– Autonomous and often competing teams– Adapt more rapidly to change– Thrived in the new environment

(Ref: Arjun Saxena 1994)

Silicon Valley – ThemesPractices, skills, and competencies– Accumulating here for more than 40 years– Communities of hobbyists - Collaboration– Strong universities (SJSU, UC-B, Stanford …)– Analog and digital techniques (now biotech, sw, cloud)– Access to networks of engineers, financiers and

entrepreneurs– Unique expertise in process, manufacturing,

product engineering, sales, and marketing – Formula to develop and grow electronics companies– Work around/supersede monopolies, patents


November 6, 2013

26

The ’40’s and ’50’s

The ’60’s


November 6, 2013

27

The ’70’s

The ’80’s


November 6, 2013

28

The ’90’s and beyond

Major companies moving here …


November 6, 2013

29

Other Technology CentersSilicon Roundabout (London)Silicon Forest (Oregon)Silicon Allee (Berlin)Silicon Cape (S. Africa)Silicon Alley (New York City)Silicon Prairie (Omaha; DFW)Silicon Valley-India (Bangalore)Silicon Valley-Taiwan (Hsinchu)Silicon Oasis (Dubai)Silicon Wadi (Israel)Silicon Hills (Austin)

Where is Innovation Today in SV?

It’s still accessible (for those with an interest)“Hacker Spaces” – funded by US Dept of Defense (DARPA; $10 million program)– In local high schools and more– 200 of them: Hazard Factory, Hacker Dojo,

Noisebridge, Alpha One Labs, Space Gambit …– Resulted in Pinterest and other new companies– Avoids bureaucracy; incubators for

innovation– Collaboration, teamwork (rather than

isolation)


November 6, 2013

30

Where is Innovation Today?

Hackathons and other get-togethers– Usually each with a purpose or goal

“Random Hacks of Kindness”– Sized for a weekend HackathonTechShop (several in SF Bay Area)Maker FaireOpen Source software projects– Egalitarian use of jointly-developed softwareBuilding your own Apps (android, iOS)

Like Ham Radio, Homebrew Computer Club

How Different are We?

“In Silicon Valley, great ‘collaborators’ are prized; in Washington, DC, they are hanged. When they say ‘collaborator’, they mean ‘traitor’; here [SV], they mean ‘colleague’.”

Thomas Friedman, NY Times, Jan 13, 2013

“The key thing is to get rid of the fear of failurebecause these’s nothing wrong with failure. It’s not going to kill you.”

Arnold Schwartzenegger, former California Governor, TIME Magazine, “10 Questions”, Jan 21, 2013

“Err on the side of the employee”Tandem Computer, cultural values


November 6, 2013

31

Get the book!

Learn MUCH more about those early days …

Anotherfun book

Norm Pond was president of

Varian Associates (Sigurd and Russell’s

company), then formed Intevac

and is CEO

2008, ISBN 978-0-9816923-0-2www.russcochran.com


November 6, 2013

32

To understand how H-P was a

product of Silicon Valley, and shaped its

culture through a number of

re-inventions(1930s, up

through 2009)

I also recommend

Leslie Berlin’s recent book on

Bob Noyce


November 6, 2013

33

For another view of

Silicon Valley

For a view of another Innovation

Environment


November 6, 2013

34

On Netflix Streaming:2011 video, 85 minutes

(SXSW Best Documentary)

Covers funding and startup of Apple,

Intel, Genentech, Tandem, Cisco, with views from the key

funders (Rock, Perkins …) and entrepreneurs

(Moore, Treybig …)

On PBS’s American

Adventure:“Silicon Valley:

Where the Future was Born”

video, 85 minutes, $20(Broadcast on Feb. 5, 2013)Can be streamed online

“The creativity of the founders of Fairchild Semiconductor, including physicist Robert Noyce, helps transform Santa Clara County into Silicon Valley …. the story of the pioneering scientists.”


November 6, 2013

35

Reviewing the Good Ol’ Days

… and understanding how Silicon Valley became the hub of technology development

… and STILL is …

Download the slides (1.2 MB) at:www.e-grid.net/docs/1311-wesling.pdf

[email protected] www.e-grid.net

Citations

Making Silicon Valley – Innovation and the Growth of High Tech, 1930-1970, Christophe Locuyer, MIT Press, 2006– Department of History at Stanford University – Dibner Institute for the History of Science and

Technology at Massachusetts Institute of Technology – Department of Science, Technology, and Society at the

University of Virginia – Georgia Institute of Technology– Hagley Museum and Library – London School of Economics – National Museum of American History – Charles Babbage Institute – IEEE History Center – Individuals, including Leslie Berlin, Eugene Kleiner, Jay

Last


November 6, 2013

36

"Making Silicon Valley: Roots in Ham Radio"

In Christophe Lécuyer's book "Making Silicon Valley: Innovation and the Growth of High Tech, 1930-1970", it is clear that without ham radio, none of this would have happened -- the Santa Clara Valley would likely have remained an agricultural area. "Silicon Valley" would have been in New York or New Jersey. Paul Wesling will relive some of the developments from the 1930's, when local hams re-invented around the RCA patents on tubes, won Navy contracts during WW II, then developed the vacuum technology that became the cornerstone for vapor-phase epitaxy, the key technology for the transistor and planar IC processes. Isaac Asimov said this was "the most important moment since man emerged as a life form," perhaps with a bit of exaggeration. Paul Wesling (KM6LH) was present at the dedication of an IEEE Engineering Milestone plaque in Palo Alto last spring on the 50th anniversary of the development of the planar process at Fairchild Semiconductor. He is an engineering graduate of Stanford, and is communications director and editor/webmaster for the SF Bay Area Council of the IEEE.

Silicon Valley – Themes

Practices, skills, and competencies – Accumulating here for more than 40 years– Community of electronics hobbyists – Analog and digital techniques – Access to networks of engineers,

entrepreneurs, and financiers – Unique expertise in manufacturing, product

engineering, sales, and marketing – Develop and grow electronics corporations


November 6, 2013

37

Before 1920 …

“Valley of the Heart’s Delight”

The Santa Clara Mission

Humble Beginnings

San Francisco Peninsula in the ’20’s – An industrial backwater (NY, NJ, Chicago,

Detroit)

– A few radio enterprises– Workforce of a few hundred machinists,

maybe 80 engineers – Operating in shadow of Radio Corporation

of America (RCA) and large East Coast firms Controlled most of the electronics technology Made most of the components, tubes, etc


November 6, 2013

38

William Eitel

Family with strong mechanical orientationFather designed aircraft engines (1910s) Managed a granite quarry, small stone-carving businessE. J. Hall (uncle) established Hall-Scott Motor Car Company in Oakland– One of first automotive companies on the West

Coast– Specialty: small-scale production of sports cars– Designed and built an aircraft engine

"Liberty engine" Used in most American military aircraft during World

War I

Status of Spectrum

Short waves were forsaken portion of spectrum– Under 200 meters (over 1.6 MHz) were “worthless”

– Above the current AM broadcast band – Given by Dept of Commerce to amateurs in 1922

Waves over 200 meters “more potential”– Assigned to the military, RCA, AT&T, broadcasting

networksSo hobbyists took over the short waves– 1923: used 100-meter waves (3 MHz) to Europe– Found short waves far superior over great

distances – A fraction of power used by the long-wave stations


November 6, 2013

39


Litton did graduate work in EE at Stanford– Small department (3 instructors)– Electric circuits, AC machinery, pwr transmission– Theory of vacuum tubes– Course (first in 1925) on communication

engineering fundamentals – Thesis: instrument that recorded, helped

visualize short radio waves– Worked at Bell Labs 2 years: short-wave

radio system for transatlantic telephony

The Depression

IT&T, Dollar did poorly– IT&T moved Federal Telegraph to New Jersey

– Dollar layoffs: kept only Eitel, McCulloughLitton stayed in California– 1932, used $6,000 in savings– Established a small proprietorship– Litton Engineering Laboratories– Built vacuum tube shop on parents'

property


November 6, 2013

40

The Depression

Eitel, McCullough built a commercial business– Within smaller Heintz and Kaufman– Commercialized a new transmitting tube– Developed for their own use in amateur radio– More reliable than the one from RCA

Operating poorly at the very high frequencies Work only at low voltages Serious limitations for ham radio use

– Hams applied high voltages for high power output– Doubling the voltage increase power by a factor of

4 Operated efficiently at high (HF) and very high (VHF)

frequencies – sold to ham markets

Patents expiring;Sherman antitrust suit; consent decree

The Klystron

Sperry (NY) invested, got exclusive rights– Bought lathes, welders, pumps from LittonLitton made klystrons for IT&T, for France– Needed for war effort, French radar– Split with Stanford group to avoid patent

issues– Transformed klystron from lab to

production– Too late for France to use (armistice with

Germany in 1940) – Litton became IT&T’s de facto VHF and

microwave design arm– Continuous-wave klystrons, VHF/radar


November 6, 2013

41

Litton During the War

As Litton improved the klystron, Sperry patented inventions and methodsLitton consulted for Federal Telegraph (NJ)New plant design for quality, yield:– Vacuum pumps, maintenance in basement– First-floor plant reconfigurable; cleanliness– Gas-purifying machines, materials purityHelped refine magnetron for late War work

Litton During the War

National Defense Research Committee – Threat from Japan: deployed microwave

radar – Contract to develop jamming capability– Continuous waves at high power– Operate at 10 centimeters (3 GHz)– Novel methods to get “hard” vacuum– Very different from GE, Sylvania

magnetrons– NDRC cancelled GE contract– Navy, Army, Army Air Force wanted

jammers– Very profitable for Litton Engineering Labs


November 6, 2013

42

Fast Forward to Silicon Valley

Silicon Valley continues to be the leading high-tech hub: – Large number of cutting-edge

entrepreneurs– Engineers and venture capitalists– Local universities and research– Supporting industriesThis phenomenon can be traced back to ham radio operators– Early developments in radio in S.F.– Breaking of RCA patents to make better

tubes– Collegial spirit from hams, hobbyists

Remembering the Good Ol’ Days

Do some of you remember these pioneers? Did you work with them? Know them as hams?Did any of you work at these companies?What other stories can be told?

Thank you for attending!

Download the slides at:www.e-grid.net/docs/1206-

wesling.pdf


November 6, 2013

43

Paul Wesling, IEEE Life FellowIEEE SF Bay Area Council Communications Director,

Editor, Webmaster

Presented at the SJSU CPMT Student Branch Chapter Meeting, November 7, 2012

The Origins of Silicon Valley: Why and How It Happened Here

… and the start of the Santa Clara Valley Chapter of the Components, Packaging and Manufacturing Technology Society

… and how it affects YOU, as an engineering student!

The Depression

Eimac advertised in ARRL’sQST Magazine


November 6, 2013

44

Origins of the CPMT SCV Chapter

1949: Charles (Bud) Eldon’s frat mate Lew Terman suggested his dad as an advisor (Fred Terman, son of Lewis Terman)Introduced to Don Fink (ELECTRONICS Magazine; IRE president; first Gen Mgr of IEEE)Bud joined HP, working for Barney Oliver

In 1955, Barney sat on Bud’s desk:“Bill wants you to start an IRE Group

on Product Engineering”(Bill Hewlett was the IRE president)

Using networking and volunteering to “create” opportunities


Bud gathered engineers from Varian, SRI, Litton, other local companiesMerged with Component Parts, PMP, PHP (at merger in 1962), CHMT, then CPMTNow it’s Components, Packaging and Manufacturing Technology!Our Chapter serves the whole Bay Area (even though we were assigned to the SCV Section after the SF Section was split into three)


November 6, 2013

45


Bud became Chairman of the PHP SocietySecured local IEEE ownership of WESCONBud was Region 6 Director, then IEEE President in 1985Retired in Arizona; diedjust a few weeks ago

(source: IEEE Oral History Project)

Where is Innovation Today?

Where do YOU find this local innovation and support?


November 6, 2013

46

To explore the invention of

the integrated

circuit:

Paul WeslingIEEE Life Fellow

IEEE SF Bay Area Council Communications Director

Presented at the Sunnyvale Historical Society, Oct. 14 2013

The Origins of Silicon Valley: Why and How

It Happened Here


November 6, 2013

47

Reviewing the Good Ol’ Days

… and understanding how Silicon Valley became the hub of technology development

… and STILL is …Do some of you remember these pioneers?

Did you work with them? Download the slides (1.5 MB) at:

www.e-grid.net/docs/1310-wesling.pdf

[email protected] www.e-grid.net

origins of silicon valley · 2013-11-06 · now lick-wilmerding high school, san francisco...

Documents