Semiconductor History

  Fairchild's introduction of the integrated circuit and its 900 series RTL logic in 1961 revolutionised electronics. Eventually 25 standard logic circuits comprised the 900 series. The major downside of RTL (Resistor Transistor Logic) was the very high power dissipation through its on-chip resistors. In 1962 Signetics a spin out from Fairchild, introduced the SE-1000 series, the first major DTL (Diode Transistor Logic) family of ICs. In 1963, Sylvania introduced the first family of the further improved and faster TTL (Transistor - Transistor Logic), called SUHL (Sylvania Universal High Level Logic). Very quickly, Texas Instruments and others introduced their own families of standard logic functions. Initially TI gave the logic family the prefix 54, then the 74 series with a narrower operating temperature range. Fairchild and Signetics like other semiconductor companies, eventually followed the lead of TI and the part numbering system for bipolar TTL. '000' in the series wa...

Germanium transistors from 1955. In the early 1950s Sylvania established transistor and diode manufacturing at their tube (valve) facility in Emporium PA. Manufacturing was transferred to the Electronics Divsions in Woburn Mass. In 1957 it was divided into two new organizations, the Semiconductor Division and Special Tube Operations. Skyworks, one of the current world leaders in RF components for smartphones has its roots in Sylvania, Woburn.