Title:
Oral History of Federico Faggin

Date:
2004-09-222004-12-132005-03-03

Pages:
139 p.

Interviewer:
Hendrie, Gardner; interviewer
Faggin, Federico; interviewee

Abstract:
Federico Faggin describes his childhood and early education in Italy where he received a Laurea Degree in physics, summa cum laude, at the University of Padua. After graduation Faggin went on to work at Olivetti. In 1968 he moved to Palo Alto, where he worked for Fairchild Semiconductor, where he invented the MOS Silicon Gate technology, the basis of all modern CMOS computer chips. In 1970 Faggin moved to Intel where, with Marcian Hoff, Stanley Mazor and Intel customer Masatoshi Shima, he developed the Intel 4004, the world's first microprocessor. He also supervised the design of the Intel 8008, the world's first 8-bit microprocessor. In 1974 Faggin left Intel to cofound Zilog with Ralph Ungermann. At Zilog, Faggin conceived of the architecture of the Z80 and Z8000 microprocessors. In 1982 Faggin started Cygent Technologies, and in 1986 he cofounded Synaptics, which produces the most widely used touchpad in the computer industry.

Keywords:
Olivetti
SGS Fairchild
Fairchild Semiconductor
MOS Silicon Gate technology
Intel Corporation
Noyce Bob
Mazor, Stan
Hoff, Ted
Shima, Masatoshi
MCS-4
4004
Busicom
8008
Feeney, Hal
8080
4040
Zilog, Inc.
Ungermann, Ralph
Z80
Z8000
MOS
Cygnet Technologies
Synaptics, Inc.
Borel, Daniel
Foveon, Inc.
Mead, Carver

Rights:
Computer History Museum

102658025