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Robert H. Dennard

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Robert H. Dennard
Born(1932-09-05)September 5, 1932
Terrell, Texas, U.S.
DiedApril 23, 2024(2024-04-23) (aged 91)
Croton on Hudson, New York, U.S.
Known forInventing DRAM, Dennard scaling
AwardsHarvey Prize (1990)
IEEE Edison Medal (2001)
IEEE Medal of Honor (2009)
Kyoto Prize (2013)
Robert N. Noyce Award (2019)
Scientific career
ThesisBehavior of the ferroresonant
series circuit containing
a square-loop reactor (1958)
Doctoral advisorLeo A. Finzi

Robert Heath Dennard (September 5, 1932 – April 23, 2024) was an American electrical engineer and inventor.[1]

Biography

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Dennard was born in Terrell, Texas. 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.[1]

Single Transistor DRAM

At the time of the invention, Dennard and his colleagues were fixated on a bulky, costly memory system that used a series of six transistors to store just 1 bit of data.[2]

One night while lying on the couch and pondering a presentation given by his peers earlier in the day, he had a notion: What if he could store a bit of information in a single transistor? The insight was the catalyst for DRAM — Dennard’s most important innovation.[3]

In 1966 he invented the one transistor memory cell consisting of a transistor and a capacitor for which a patent was issued in 1968.[4] It became the basis for today's dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) and almost all other memory types such as SRAM and FLASH memory. DRAM was instrumental in changing the world of computing through faster and higher capacity memory access.[1] Today, DRAM is used pervasively across many devices from servers to personal computers to mobile devices.

Dennard Scaling

Dennard was also among the first to recognize the tremendous potential of downsizing MOSFETs. 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 the achievement of Moore's Law and the evolution of microelectronics over the last few decades.[1]As of 2024, the DRAM market is estimated to be over $100 billion.[5]

Awards and Recognition

In 1984, Dennard was elected a member of the National Academy of Engineering for pioneering work in FET technology, including invention of the one transistor dynamic RAM and contributions to scaling theory.

Besides his technical accomplishments, Dennard was involved in other creative fields. Throughout his retirement, Dennard continued to fuel his creativity through choral singing and Scottish dancing.[3]

Dennard died on April 23, 2024, at the age of 91.[6][1]

Awards and honors

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Lohr, Steve (May 16, 2024). "Robert Dennard, IBM Inventor Whose Chip Changed Computing, Dies at 91". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  2. ^ "Dynamic random-access memory (DRAM)". IBM. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "The inventor of DRAM laid the foundation for modern computing and received the US National Medal of Technology". IBM. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
  4. ^ US3387286A, Dennard, Robert H., "Field-effect transistor memory", issued 1968-06-04 
  5. ^ "DRAM Market Size, Share, Trends, Growth | Forecast [2032]". Fortune Business Insights. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
  6. ^ "Robert Dennard Obituary – Death Notice and Service Information". Legacy.com. May 2, 2024.
  7. ^ Russell, John (November 12, 2019). "SIA Recognizes Robert Dennard with 2019 Noyce Award". HPC Wire. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  8. ^ Taft, Darryl K. (June 24, 2013). "IBM Researcher Wins Kyoto Prize for DRAM Invention". eWeek. Archived from the original on October 26, 2013. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  9. ^ "Edison Medal", Awards, IEEE, 2001, archived from the original on December 5, 2008.
  10. ^ Benjamin Franklin Medal in Electrical Engineering, Franklin Institute, 2007, archived from the original on October 12, 2007.
  11. ^ "APS Member History". search.amphilsoc.org. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  12. ^ "Dennard, Robert H", People, Computer History Museum, retrieved February 9, 2012.
  13. ^ National Medal of Technology recipients, 1988, archived from the original on August 12, 2006.
  14. ^ "Robert H. Dennard". National Science and Technology Medals Foundation. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
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