Gerhard Sessler
Encyclopedia
Gerhard M. Sessler is a German
inventor and scientist. Sessler invented together with James E. West
the foil electret microphone at Bell Laboratories 1962 and the silicon microphone (co-inventor: D. Hohm) in 1983.
He received his Ph.D. from the University of Göttingen in 1959. After working in the United States at Bell Labs
until 1975, he returned to academia in Germany. From 1975 up to 2000, he worked as a professor of electrical engineering at the Darmstadt University of Technology
where he invented the silicon microphone. He is an IEEE fellow and holds over 100 international patents and 18 US; the first one, US3,118,022, with James E. West, was issued on January 14, 1964. Sessler is the author/editor of several books on electrets and acoustics. Furthermore, he is well known for his over 300 scientific papers in prestigious international magazines and journals. In the year 2000, he was awarded an honorary doctors degree from the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus
.
He is currently Professor emeritus at Darmstadt University of Technology and still active in research.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
inventor and scientist. Sessler invented together with James E. West
James Edward Maceo West
James Edward Maceo West is an American inventor and acoustician. Along with Gerhard Sessler, West developed the foil electret microphone in 1962...
the foil electret microphone at Bell Laboratories 1962 and the silicon microphone (co-inventor: D. Hohm) in 1983.
He received his Ph.D. from the University of Göttingen in 1959. After working in the United States at 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...
until 1975, he returned to academia in Germany. From 1975 up to 2000, he worked as a professor of electrical engineering at the Darmstadt University of Technology
Darmstadt University of Technology
The Technische Universität Darmstadt, abbreviated TU Darmstadt, is a university in the city of Darmstadt, Germany...
where he invented the silicon microphone. He is an IEEE fellow and holds over 100 international patents and 18 US; the first one, US3,118,022, with James E. West, was issued on January 14, 1964. Sessler is the author/editor of several books on electrets and acoustics. Furthermore, he is well known for his over 300 scientific papers in prestigious international magazines and journals. In the year 2000, he was awarded an honorary doctors degree from the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus
National Academy of Sciences of Belarus
The National Academy of Sciences of Belarus is the national academy of Belarus.-History:...
.
He is currently Professor emeritus at Darmstadt University of Technology and still active in research.
Awards
- George R. Stibitz Trophy, AT&TAT&TAT&T Inc. is an American multinational telecommunications corporation headquartered in Whitacre Tower, Dallas, Texas, United States. It is the largest provider of mobile telephony and fixed telephony in the United States, and is also a provider of broadband and subscription television services...
, 1993 - Helmholtz-medal of the DEGA, Deutsche Gesellschaft für AkustikDeutsche Gesellschaft für AkustikDeutsche Gesellschaft für Akustik e.V. was established 1988 to promote research and application of acoustics.DEGA is a member ofEuropean Acoustics Association ,International Commission for Acoustics and...
, 1993 - Silver Helmholtz-Rayleigh-medalASA Silver MedalThe ASA Silver Medal is an award presented by the Acoustical Society of America to individuals, without age limitation, for contributions to the advancement of science, engineering, or human welfare through the application of acoustic principles or through research accomplishments in acoustics...
of the Acoustical Society of AmericaAcoustical Society of AmericaThe Acoustical Society of America is an international scientific society dedicated to increasing and diffusing the knowledge of acoustics and its practical applications.-History:...
, 1997 - Induction into the National Inventors Hall of FameNational Inventors Hall of FameThe National Inventors Hall of Fame is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to recognizing, honoring and encouraging invention and creativity through the administration of its programs. The Hall of Fame honors the men and women responsible for the great technological advances that make human,...
, 1999 - Technology Award of the Eduard Rhein Foundation, 2007
- Benjamin Franklin Medal in Electrical Engineering of The Franklin Institute, with James E. West, 2010.