Edwin H. Colpitts
Encyclopedia
Edwin Henry Colpitts was a communications pioneer best known for his invention of the Colpitts oscillator
. As research branch chief for Western Electric
in the early 1900s, he and scientists under his direction achieved significant advances in the development of oscillators and vacuum tube
push-pull amplifiers. In 1915, his team successfully demonstrated the first transatlantic radio telephone.
, he began his education at Mount Allison University
and was later a teacher and school principal in Newfoundland
. In 1895 he entered Harvard University
where he studied physics and mathematics. He received a BA in 1896 and a Master's degree in 1897 from that institution. He remained at Harvard for two additional years while taking advanced courses and serving as a laboratory assistant to John Trowbridge, director of the Jefferson Physical Laboratory.
invented an inductive coupling oscillator which Colpitts improved in 1915. It was first reported a paper he published, with Edward B. Craft, in 1919. He patented it as the "Oscillation Generator" in 1920. Colpitts and Craft wrote that "the possibility of communication by speech between any two individuals in the civilized world is one of the most desirable ends for which engineering can strive."
Colpitts served in the US Army Signal Corps during World War I and spent some time in France as a staff officer involved with military communication.
Colpitts and Otto B. Blackwell
published an important paper on carrier multiplex telephony and telegraphy in the Transactions of the AIEE in 1921. They summarized work on bandpass filters and vacuum-tube electronics, which had enabled a four-channel commercial system to be placed in operation between Baltimore, MD, and Pittsburgh, PA, in 1918.
Western Electric research laboratories became part of Bell Laboratories in 1925. Colpitts reached the position of vice-president of Bell Labs
before retirement.
In 1940, Colpitts was called out of retirement to head a committee reviewing the state of sonar
development in the United States Navy. The committee report identified critical limitations of American sonar compared with German developments, which spurred American fundamental sonar research.
He was awarded the Elliott Cresson Medal
in 1948.
, Canada
. He was survived by his wife Grace Penney Colpitts and his son Donald B. Colpitts.
Colpitts oscillator
A Colpitts oscillator, invented in 1920 by American engineer Edwin H. Colpitts, is one of a number of designs for electronic oscillator circuits using the combination of an inductance with a capacitor for frequency determination, thus also called LC oscillator...
. As research branch chief for Western Electric
Western Electric
Western Electric Company was an American electrical engineering company, the manufacturing arm of AT&T from 1881 to 1995. It was the scene of a number of technological innovations and also some seminal developments in industrial management...
in the early 1900s, he and scientists under his direction achieved significant advances in the development of oscillators and vacuum tube
Vacuum tube
In electronics, a vacuum tube, electron tube , or thermionic valve , reduced to simply "tube" or "valve" in everyday parlance, is a device that relies on the flow of electric current through a vacuum...
push-pull amplifiers. In 1915, his team successfully demonstrated the first transatlantic radio telephone.
Education
Born in Point de Bute, New BrunswickPoint de Bute, New Brunswick
Point de Bute is a community in Westmorland County in the Province of New Brunswick, Canada.Point de Bute is the birthplace of World War I flying ace, Albert Desbrisay Carter and the scientist Edwin Colpitts....
, he began his education at Mount Allison University
Mount Allison University
Mount Allison University is a primarily undergraduate Canadian liberal arts and science university situated in Sackville, New Brunswick. It is located about a half hour from the regional city of Moncton and 20 minutes from the Greater Moncton International Airport...
and was later a teacher and school principal in Newfoundland
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
. In 1895 he entered Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
where he studied physics and mathematics. He received a BA in 1896 and a Master's degree in 1897 from that institution. He remained at Harvard for two additional years while taking advanced courses and serving as a laboratory assistant to John Trowbridge, director of the Jefferson Physical Laboratory.
Career
In 1899, Colpitts accepted a position with American Bell Telephone Company. He moved to Western Electric in 1907. His colleague, Ralph HartleyRalph Hartley
Ralph Vinton Lyon Hartley was an electronics researcher. He invented the Hartley oscillator and the Hartley transform, and contributed to the foundations of information theory.-Biography:...
invented an inductive coupling oscillator which Colpitts improved in 1915. It was first reported a paper he published, with Edward B. Craft, in 1919. He patented it as the "Oscillation Generator" in 1920. Colpitts and Craft wrote that "the possibility of communication by speech between any two individuals in the civilized world is one of the most desirable ends for which engineering can strive."
Colpitts served in the US Army Signal Corps during World War I and spent some time in France as a staff officer involved with military communication.
Colpitts and Otto B. Blackwell
Otto B. Blackwell
Otto B. Blackwell was an American electrical engineer known for his pioneer contributions to the art of telephone transmission. He received the IEEE Edison Medal in 1950.-External links:*...
published an important paper on carrier multiplex telephony and telegraphy in the Transactions of the AIEE in 1921. They summarized work on bandpass filters and vacuum-tube electronics, which had enabled a four-channel commercial system to be placed in operation between Baltimore, MD, and Pittsburgh, PA, in 1918.
Western Electric research laboratories became part of Bell Laboratories in 1925. Colpitts reached the position of vice-president of Bell Labs
Bell Labs
Bell Laboratories is the research and development subsidiary of the French-owned Alcatel-Lucent and previously of the American Telephone & Telegraph Company , half-owned through its Western Electric manufacturing subsidiary.Bell Laboratories operates its...
before retirement.
In 1940, Colpitts was called out of retirement to head a committee reviewing the state of sonar
Sonar
Sonar is a technique that uses sound propagation to navigate, communicate with or detect other vessels...
development in the United States Navy. The committee report identified critical limitations of American sonar compared with German developments, which spurred American fundamental sonar research.
He was awarded the Elliott Cresson Medal
Elliott Cresson Medal
The Elliott Cresson Medal, also known as the Elliott Cresson Gold Medal, was the highest award given by the Franklin Institute. The award was established by Elliott Cresson, life member of the Franklin Institute, with $1,000 granted in 1848...
in 1948.
Decline
Colpitts died at home in 1949 in Orange, NJ, USA and his body was interred in Point de Bute, New BrunswickPoint de Bute, New Brunswick
Point de Bute is a community in Westmorland County in the Province of New Brunswick, Canada.Point de Bute is the birthplace of World War I flying ace, Albert Desbrisay Carter and the scientist Edwin Colpitts....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He was survived by his wife Grace Penney Colpitts and his son Donald B. Colpitts.
Publications
- E. H. Colpitts and O.B.Blackwell, Carrier Current Telephony and Telegraphy, Journal AIEE , vol. 40, no. 4, April 1921, 301-315; no. 5, May 1921, 410-421; no. 6, June 1921, 519-526.