Bob Widlar

Engineer, Deceased Person

1937 – 1991

65

Who was Bob Widlar?

Robert John Widlar was an American electrical engineer and a pioneer of linear integrated circuit design. Widlar invented the basic building blocks of linear ICs like the Widlar current source, the Widlar bandgap voltage reference and the Widlar output stage. From 1964 to 1970, Widlar, together with David Talbert, created the first mass-produced operational amplifier ICs, the first integrated voltage regulator ICs, the first operational amplifiers employing full internal compensation, field-effect transistors, and super-beta transistors. Each of Widlar's circuits had "at least one feature which was far ahead of the crowd" and became a "product champion" in its class. They made his employers, Fairchild Semiconductor and National Semiconductor, the leaders in linear integrated circuits.

Already a "legendary chip designer" at the age of 33, Widlar voluntarily retired into a hideout in Mexico and became "the Valley's most celebrated dropout." Four years later he returned to National Semiconductor as a consultant and produced a series of advanced linear ICs, including the first ultra-low-voltage operational amplifier.

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Born
Nov 30, 1937
Cleveland
Nationality
  • United States of America
Profession
Education
  • University of Colorado Boulder
Died
Feb 27, 1991
Puerto Vallarta

Submitted
on July 23, 2013

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