75 years since the invention of the transistor: The silent revolution

The transistor is a semiconductor electronic device used to deliver an amplified output signal in response to an input signal and replaced the bulky and inefficient vacuum valves of the early 20th century. Although initially conceived as an analog amplifier device, over time its role was enhanced and its technology was adapted as a digital switch. Thus, the transistor represents the physical embodiment of the '1's and '0's of binary logic on which microprocessor chips and memories are based, integrating thousands or millions of these devices in a small space.

The operation of the vast majority of the equipment we use every day (televisions, audio and video players, quartz watches, cell phones, computers, LED lamps, medical equipment, electric vehicles, etc.) is based on the properties of transistors and the integrated circuits built with them.

It is a fundamental invention for understanding the development of microelectronics in the 20th century, the miniaturization of electronic components and the digitalization processes of society.

The invention took place between 1947 and 1948, in December 1947 the experiment of physicists John Bardeen, Walter Houser Brattain and William Shockley was completed and the invention was published the following year.

The IMB-CNM is the only institute in Spain capable of manufacturing transistors with full CMOS technology. This means that we are the largest center in Spain dedicated to the research and development of micro nanotechnologies and electronic microsystems, with unique capabilities in silicon technology. The center is unique in the design and manufacture of integrated circuits or simply chips, in its Micro and Nanofabrication Clean Room.

The IMB-CNM organizes the microelectronics contest for students Un microchip muy grande to encourage students' interest in electronics. It will reward proposals in the field of electronics and, more specifically, to the transistor as an electronic device. The launch coincides with the 75th anniversary of the invention of the transistor. It is a proposal of the IMB-CNM-CSIC financed by the Fundación Española de Ciencia y Tecnología (FECYT) - Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación.

The institute makes available to all schools and institutes a didactic itinerary with educational materials on which to work on proposals and accompany students during the academic year. The deadline for receiving papers is open until June 30, 2023.

During 2022 and 2023, the years between which the anniversary of the invention is framed, we are organizing a cycle of conferences relocated to the province of Barcelona to offer different perspectives on the future, present and past of the transistor. The first talks of the cycle were:

May 24, 2022: El 75 aniversario del Transistor Bipolar: La invención más importante del siglo XX (in Spanish). Lecture by professor Ignacio Mártil (Professor of Electronics at the Complutense University of Madrid and member of the Royal Spanish Physical Society) on "possibly the most important invention of the 20th century". At the Institute of Catalan Studies, in Barcelona.

June 8, 2022: LA microelectrònica (in Catalan). Talk by Núria Salán (President of the Catalan Society of Technology and UPC-Terrassa Professor) on the invisible contribution of women, technicians and scientists to the history of microelectronics. At the Institute of Catalan Studies, in Barcelona.

And more talks, by invited people or institute staff, which are being held.

The exhibition explains the history of the transistor and all the technological innovations that its invention entailed. Starting with the problem of replacing vacuum tubes, we progressed to the possibilities that the transistor opened up for technology, miniaturization processes, and society, from the first compact transistor-based radios of the 1950s to today's mobile phones.

The initiative has the support of the Fundación Española para la Ciencia y la Tecnología · Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (FECYT).

The exhibition is itinerant and the dates will be announced in advance.

The exhibition schedule is as follows:

• FAB Casa del Mig (Barcelona), from June 5th to 28th, 2023.
• Escola Tècnica Superior d'Enginyeria de Telecomunicacions de Barcelona UPC (ETSETB-UPC, Barcelona), from April 20th to May 19th, 2023.
• Escola Tècnica Superior d'Enginyeria Industrial de Barcelona UPC (ETSEIB-UPC, Barcelona), from March 2nd to March 30th, 2023.
• UAB Science and Technology Library, from November 28, 2022 to January 12, 2023.