EARLY TRANSISTOR HISTORY AT GENERAL ELECTRIC Dwight V. Jones
Oral History – Dwight Jones (Continued) The Semiconductor Applications group at SPD was responsible for developing useful circuits for the SCR. We used the same approach that we had done with transistors – we published the GE Controlled Rectifier Manual, just like the earlier Transistor Manual. The First Edition came out in 1960 and the Second Edition was published in 1961. I developed some circuits in these two volumes, and my name, along with others from the group, is listed in both the manuals. I was awarded a patent for my work with SCRs. The patent was filed in August 1961 and dealt with using SCRs to provide smooth regulation for DC voltages. This patent was applicable to manufacturers of vehicles using electric motors (like golf carts, fork lifts and utility carts) to provide efficient and smooth control of the motors. This circuit was widely used and became known as the “Jones Circuit”. Finally, I was co-author of a book “Transistor Audio Amplifiers”, which was published in 1968 by Wiley. Dick Shea, who had written several excellent transistor books in the 1950s, was my co-author. In all, my accomplishments include four patents, dozens of technical articles and Apps Notes relating to semiconductors, co-author of a transistor book, and industry-recognized design work for early transistor audio circuits and SCR motor control. You’ll find my name as a contributor to the GE Transistor Manuals and the SCR Manuals. ______________	Oral History – Dwight Jones (Continued) This Oral History was developed from material supplied by Mr. Dwight V. Jones in 2001 and 2002. ______________
	As Dwight mentioned in the Oral History, he co-authored a book in 1968 with Richard Shea. The book is entitled “Transistor Audio Amplifiers” and a section of the frontispiece is shown above. The following comments are excerpted from the preface by Richard Shea: All these advances (variety of transistor types, silicon transistors, FETs and ICs) have made it desirable to update the original version of Transistor Audio Amplifiers (written by Mr. Shea in 1955). To this end I have prevailed on my good friend Dwight Jones to collaborate with me in writing an entirely new book.” This book provides excellent coverage of solid state audio design in the late 1960s, and Dwight’s impact is quite evident in the dozens of practical and clearly explained circuits. ______________ Go To Jones Oral History, Page 7
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