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Bernard (Bob) Slade has been
actively involved in semiconductor technology since the earliest days of
transistor development. His career has been notable for the number of
significant “firsts” associated with his transistor work in the 1950s and
1960s. Here is a partial list:
1. Bob joined RCA on June 30,
1948, which was the same day that Bell Labs made the public announcement of
the invention of the transistor. Bob soon became the first transistor
engineer at RCA’s world class Vacuum Tube Division in Harrison N.J.
2. He developed the processes
required to produce high speed point contact transistors which demonstrated
sufficient stability and performance to allow the development of the first
transistorized TV receiver [1]
by researchers at the RCA Labs. One of these devices was also used to
power the first transistorized “Ham Radio” transmitter. [2]
3. He established one of first
point contact transistor manufacturing lines in the industry, with
pioneering work that led to the 1953 announcement by RCA of the commercial
availability of the 2N32 and 2N33 point contact transistors.
4. Bob authored the first
comprehensive survey of industry-wide transistor development in the early
1950s – his series, “Survey of Transistor Development, Parts 1,2 and 3”
appeared in the September, October, and November 1952 issues of Radio and
Television News. [3]
5. He developed the prototype power transistors which
were used in the first solid state “Hi-Fi” amplifier. [4]
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