Robert Dennard
Encyclopedia
Robert Dennard is an American
electrical engineer and inventor.
Dennard was born in Terrell, Texas
, U.S.
. He received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Electrical Engineering from Southern Methodist University
, Dallas, in 1954 and 1956, respectively. He earned a Ph.D. from Carnegie Institute of Technology
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
, in 1958. His professional career was spent as a researcher for International Business Machines.
In 1968, he invented dynamic random access memory
(DRAM). Dennard was also among the first to recognize the tremendous potential of downsizing MOSFET
s. The scaling theory he and his colleagues formulated in 1974 postulated that MOSFETs continue to function as voltage-controlled switches while all key figures of merit such as layout density, operating speed, and energy efficiency improve provided geometric dimensions, voltages, and doping concentrations are consistently scaled to maintain the same electric field. This property underlies Moore's Law
and the evolution of microelectronics over the last few decades.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
electrical engineer and inventor.
Dennard was born in Terrell, Texas
Terrell, Texas
Terrell is a city in Kaufman County, Texas, United States, and a southeastern suburb of Dallas. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 13,606...
, U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Electrical Engineering from Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
, Dallas, in 1954 and 1956, respectively. He earned a Ph.D. from Carnegie Institute of Technology
Carnegie Institute of Technology
The Carnegie Institute of Technology , is the name for Carnegie Mellon University’s College of Engineering. It was first called the Carnegie Technical Schools, or Carnegie Tech, when it was founded in 1900 by Andrew Carnegie who intended to build a “first class technical school” in Pittsburgh,...
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
, in 1958. His professional career was spent as a researcher for International Business Machines.
In 1968, he invented dynamic random access memory
Dynamic random access memory
Dynamic random-access memory is a type of random-access memory that stores each bit of data in a separate capacitor within an integrated circuit. The capacitor can be either charged or discharged; these two states are taken to represent the two values of a bit, conventionally called 0 and 1...
(DRAM). Dennard was also among the first to recognize the tremendous potential of downsizing MOSFET
MOSFET
The metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistor is a transistor used for amplifying or switching electronic signals. The basic principle of this kind of transistor was first patented by Julius Edgar Lilienfeld in 1925...
s. The scaling theory he and his colleagues formulated in 1974 postulated that MOSFETs continue to function as voltage-controlled switches while all key figures of merit such as layout density, operating speed, and energy efficiency improve provided geometric dimensions, voltages, and doping concentrations are consistently scaled to maintain the same electric field. This property underlies Moore's Law
Moore's Law
Moore's law describes a long-term trend in the history of computing hardware: the number of transistors that can be placed inexpensively on an integrated circuit doubles approximately every two years....
and the evolution of microelectronics over the last few decades.
Awards and honors
- Carnegie Mellon UniversityCarnegie Mellon UniversityCarnegie Mellon University is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States....
Honorary Doctor of Science and Technology (2010) - IEEE Medal of HonorIEEE Medal of HonorThe IEEE Medal of Honor is the highest recognition of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers . It has been awarded since 1917, when its first recipient was Major Edwin H. Armstrong. It is given for an exceptional contribution or an extraordinary career in the IEEE fields of...
(2009) - IEEE Edison MedalIEEE Edison MedalThe Edison Medal is presented by the IEEE "for a career of meritorious achievement in electrical science, electrical engineering or the electrical arts." It is the oldest and most coveted medal in this field of engineering in the United States. The award consists of a gold medal, bronze replica,...
(2001) - Benjamin Franklin Medal in Electrical Engineering from The Franklin InstituteFranklin InstituteThe Franklin Institute is a museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and one of the oldest centers of science education and development in the United States, dating to 1824. The Institute also houses the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial.-History:On February 5, 1824, Samuel Vaughn Merrick and...
(2007) - U.S. 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...
(NAE) Charles Stark Draper Prize (2009) - U.S. National Medal of TechnologyNational Medal of TechnologyThe National Medal of Technology and Innovation is an honor granted by the President of the United States to American inventors and innovators who have made significant contributions to the development of new and important technology...
(1988) - IEEE Cledo Brunetti AwardIEEE Cledo Brunetti AwardThe IEEE Cledo Brunetti Award is an award is presented for outstanding contributions to nanotechnology and miniaturization in the electronics arts. It may be presented to an individual or a team of up to three...
(1982)