Raymond W. Ketchledge
Encyclopedia
Raymond W. Ketchledge was an American engineer
, known for his contributions to the first computerized
telephone switching control systems.
Born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
,
he earned a B.Sc. and M.Sc. (1942) in electrical engineering
from Massachusetts Institute of Technology
before joining Bell Labs
where he stayed his whole
professional career (1942-1982).
At Bell Labs he first worked on the Mark 24 FIDO Torpedo
used in World War II
,
then he took part in developing the first underwater repeater
systems and the L3 coaxial carrier
for
Transatlantic telephone cable
systems (1946-54), before he became leader of the Switching systems development group
(1956). This brought him fame due to the pioneering work on
applying stored program architecture to telephone switching systems.
Ketchledge oversaw the installation project for the first 1ESS switch
in Succasunna (1965).
Following this
he directed the Indian Hill laboratories of Naperville, Illinois
(1966-75) before returning
to New Jersey where he oversaw the Ocean systems research division in Whippany, New Jersey
until his retirement.
He held sixty patents in diverse areas, including thirty-one in switching system.
Ketchledge died of cancer
in Englewood, Florida
.
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
, known for his contributions to the first computerized
telephone switching control systems.
Born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania...
,
he earned a B.Sc. and M.Sc. (1942) in electrical engineering
Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
from Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
before joining 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...
where he stayed his whole
professional career (1942-1982).
At Bell Labs he first worked on the Mark 24 FIDO Torpedo
Mark 24 FIDO Torpedo
The Mark 24 Mine was a US air-dropped passive acoustic homing anti-submarine torpedo used during the Second World War against German and Japanese submarines. It entered service in March 1943 and continued in service with the US Navy until 1948...
used in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
,
then he took part in developing the first underwater repeater
Repeater
A repeater is an electronic device that receives asignal and retransmits it at a higher level and/or higher power, or onto the other side of an obstruction, so that the signal can cover longer distances.-Description:...
systems and the L3 coaxial carrier
L-carrier
SystemYearFrequencyCoax per cableDistance between repeatersVoice circuits per coax tubeL-119413 MHz48 miles600L-21942840 kHz416 miles360L-319508 MHz84 miles1,860L-4196717 MHz202 miles3,600L-5197257 MHz221 mile10,800L-5E197566 MHz221 mile13,200...
for
Transatlantic telephone cable
Transatlantic telephone cable
A transatlantic telecommunications cable is a submarine communications cable running under the Atlantic Ocean. All modern cables use fibre optic technology....
systems (1946-54), before he became leader of the Switching systems development group
(1956). This brought him fame due to the pioneering work on
applying stored program architecture to telephone switching systems.
Ketchledge oversaw the installation project for the first 1ESS switch
1ESS switch
The Number One Electronic Switching System, the first large-scale Stored Program Control telephone exchange or Electronic Switching System in the Bell System, was introduced in Succasunna, New Jersey, in May 1965. The switching fabric was composed of reed matrixes controlled by wire spring relays...
in Succasunna (1965).
Following this
he directed the Indian Hill laboratories of Naperville, Illinois
Naperville, Illinois
Naperville is a city in DuPage and Will Counties in Illinois in the United States, voted the second best place to live in the United States by Money Magazine in 2006. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 141,853. It is the fifth largest city in the state, behind Chicago,...
(1966-75) before returning
to New Jersey where he oversaw the Ocean systems research division in Whippany, New Jersey
Whippany, New Jersey
Whippany is an unincorporated area located within Hanover Township in Morris County, New Jersey. Whippany's name is derived from the Whippanong Native Americans, a tribe that once inhabited the area...
until his retirement.
He held sixty patents in diverse areas, including thirty-one in switching system.
Ketchledge died of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
in Englewood, Florida
Englewood, Florida
Englewood is a census-designated place in Charlotte and Sarasota counties in the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2000 census, it had a population of 16,196.Englewood also was the original name for Vineland, Florida...
.
Awards
- National Academy of EngineeringNational Academy of EngineeringThe National Academy of Engineering is a government-created non-profit institution in the United States, that was founded in 1964 under the same congressional act that led to the founding of the National Academy of Sciences...
inductee (1970) - IEEE Alexander Graham Bell MedalIEEE Alexander Graham Bell MedalThe IEEE Alexander Graham Bell Medal is an award honoring "exceptional contributions to the advancement of communications sciences and engineering" in the field of telecommunications...
(1976) with Amos E. Joel, Jr.Amos E. Joel, Jr.Amos Edward Joel, Jr. was an American electrical engineer, known for several contributions and over seventy patents related to telecommunications switching systems....
and William Keister - IEEE FellowIEEE FellowAn IEEE member is elevated to the grade of IEEE Fellow for "unusual distinction in the profession and shall be conferred by the Board of Directors upon a person with an extraordinary record of accomplishments in any of the IEEE fields of interest"...
- New Jersey Inventors Hall of Fame inductee