In short
In 1958, engineers at Texas Instruments and Fairchild Semiconductor independently demonstrated that multiple transistors and other components could be built on a single piece of silicon—eliminating the need to wire components together by hand. This invention made electronics smaller, faster, cheaper, and more reliable, setting the stage for everything from pocket calculators to smartphones.
How it unfolded.
The five-minute version
What actually happened.
The first planar monolithic integrated circuit (IC) chip was demonstrated in 1960. The idea of integrating electronic circuits into a single device was born when the German physicist and engineer Werner Jacobi developed and patented the first known integrated transistor amplifier in 1949 and the British radio engineer Geoffrey Dummer proposed to integrate a variety of standard electronic components in a monolithic semiconductor crystal in 1952. A year later, Harwick Johnson filed a patent for a prototype IC. Between 1953 and 1957, Sidney Darlington and Yasuo Tarui proposed similar chip designs where several transistors could share a common active area, but there was no electrical isolation to separate them from each other.
As it was happening
13 voices, 18910 days.
One beat at a time. Click any dot on the timeline to jump, press play for autoplay, or use the arrow keys to step.
Jacobi's integrated transistor amplifier patent
Werner Jacobi (Germany) patents the first known integrated transistor amplifier concept.
Voices from this moment (1)
Jacobi's integrated transistor amplifier patent
Jan 1
“Werner Jacobi (Germany) patents the first known integrated…”
As it was happening
13 voices, 18910 days.
Day 0 · January 1, 1949
Jacobi's integrated transistor amplifier patent
Werner Jacobi (Germany) patents the first known integrated transistor amplifier concept.
“Werner Jacobi (Germany) patents the first known integrated…”
- Jacobi's integrated transistor amplifier patent, Jan 1
Day 3541 · September 12, 1958
Kilby demonstrates first IC at Texas Instruments
Jack Kilby successfully demonstrates an integrated circuit made of germanium with five components connected by wires on a single substrate.
“Jack Kilby successfully demonstrates an integrated circuit…”
- Kilby demonstrates first IC at Texas Instruments, Sep 12
Day 3683 · February 1, 1959
Noyce files planar IC patent at Fairchild
Robert Noyce develops and files a patent for the planar process—a manufacturing method using silicon that proves more practical than Kilby's approach.
“Robert Noyce develops and files a patent for the planar…”
- Noyce files planar IC patent at Fairchild, Feb 1
Day 4082 · March 6, 1960
First planar monolithic IC publicly demonstrated
Fairchild Semiconductor publicly demonstrates a monolithic silicon integrated circuit using Noyce's planar process at the IRE Show in New York.
“Electronics Firm Demonstrates Integrated Circuit - Says…”
- The New York Times, Sep 7
“Integrated Circuits Signal New Competition for Component…”
- Radio Corporation of America (RCA) Press Release / Trade Coverage, Sep 15
“Monolithic Integrated Circuit Achieved - New Kilby…”
- Electronics Magazine, Oct 15
“Integrated Circuits - The Next Step in Miniaturization”
- Wireless World, Nov 1
“American Electronics Breakthrough - Tiny Circuits Point New…”
- The Times (London), Oct 22
“Fairchild Semiconductor publicly demonstrates a monolithic…”
- First planar monolithic IC publicly demonstrated, Mar 6
Day 4383 · January 1, 1961
Commercial IC production begins
Both Texas Instruments and Fairchild begin commercial production of integrated circuits for military and aerospace applications.
“Both Texas Instruments and Fairchild begin commercial…”
- Commercial IC production begins, Jan 1
Day 5952 · April 19, 1965
Moore's Law prediction
Gordon Moore publishes observations that transistor density on chips doubles approximately every two years—a prediction that becomes foundational to IC industry planning.
“Gordon Moore publishes observations that transistor density…”
- Moore's Law prediction, Apr 19
Day 8353 · November 15, 1971
Intel 4004 microprocessor released
Intel releases the 4004, a 4-bit microprocessor with 2,300 transistors—demonstrating IC density and complexity reaching consumer-viable levels.
“Intel releases the 4004, a 4-bit microprocessor with 2,300…”
- Intel 4004 microprocessor released, Nov 15
Day 18910 · October 10, 2000
Kilby awarded Nobel Prize in Physics
Jack Kilby receives the Nobel Prize in Physics for his part in the invention of the integrated circuit. Robert Noyce had died in 1990 and could not be honored.
“Jack Kilby receives the Nobel Prize in Physics for his part…”
- Kilby awarded Nobel Prize in Physics, Oct 10
The numbers.
3 numbers that anchor the scale.
By the numbers
The countable parts.
Kilby's chip components
0 components (transistor, resistors, capacitors)
Nobel Prize recognition
0 (Kilby; Noyce died in 1990)
Integration density milestone
0: Intel 4004 had 2,300 transistors on one chip
Front pages.
3 outlets carried the story: The New York Times, Electronics Magazine, The Times (London).
Media coverage
What the world was reading.
5 pieces, ranked by how much they shaped the discourse.
Electronics Magazine
Tech press · United States · Oct 15, 1960
"Monolithic Integrated Circuit Achieved - New Kilby Invention Points to Miniaturization Era"
Synthesized from period reporting - Texas Instruments' breakthrough in creating a functioning integrated circuit on a single germanium wafer represents a watershed moment for circuit design. Industry observers predict this development could obsolete traditional printed circuit board assembly within a decade.
- Sep 7, 1960
The New York Times
Newspaper · United States
"Electronics Firm Demonstrates Integrated Circuit - Says Device Could Revolutionize Industry"
Texas Instruments announced the successful demonstration of the first integrated circuit, a single semiconductor device combining multiple transistors and resistors on one chip. The achievement, credited to engineer Jack Kilby, could fundamentally reshape how electronic equipment is manufactured.
- Sep 15, 1960
Radio Corporation of America (RCA) Press Release / Trade Coverage
Tech press · United States
"Integrated Circuits Signal New Competition for Component Manufacturers"
Synthesized from period reporting - Industry insiders react to Kilby's integrated circuit with alarm and fascination, recognizing that the discrete transistor and resistor business faces existential disruption. Electronic component suppliers scramble to understand the commercial timeline.
- Nov 1, 1960
Wireless World
Tech press · United Kingdom
"Integrated Circuits - The Next Step in Miniaturization"
Synthesized from period reporting - British electronics engineers examine the implications of Texas Instruments' integrated circuit development for UK manufacturing. Experts debate whether British firms can compete in this emerging segment of semiconductor design.
- Oct 22, 1960
The Times (London)
Newspaper · United Kingdom
"American Electronics Breakthrough - Tiny Circuits Point New Way Forward"
Synthesized from period reporting - An American firm has successfully combined multiple electronic components into a single minute device, a development British electronics manufacturers are watching closely. The achievement underscores accelerating American progress in semiconductor technology.
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Sources & citations.
Sources
Where this came from.
Every claim on this page traces to a public, license-clean source. We don't asterisk well.
Wikipedia
1 source- 1.Invention of the integrated circuit
en.wikipedia.org