Discover Our Alumni
Illinois Entrepreneurs
Photo Credit: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois |
Nick Holonyak: Lighting Pioneer With applications in almost anything from traffic lights to high definition televisions or Christmas lights, the light-emitting diode (LED) is as versatile as it is practical. It has been characterized as one of the most influential devices of the late twentieth century. Its inventor, Nick Holonyak, received his start at the University of Illinois. Holonyak was born on November 3, 1928 in Zeigler, Illinois. He earned his B.S. (1950), M.S. (1951), and Ph.D. (1954) in Electrical Engineering from the University. At Illinois, Holonyak was the first graduate student of John Bardeen, a co-inventor of the transistor. After graduation, Holonyak began to work on a number of silicon devices, including transistors, at Bell Labs before joining General Electric. In 1962, while at GE, Holonyak developed the first practical visible-spectrum (red) LED, which has since evolved into the LED used in technology today. He returned to the University of Illinois in 1963, where he continues to do research today in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. In addition to the LED, Holonyak holds the patents for over thirty other inventions including the first visible-spectrum semiconductor laser and the household dimmer switch. Holonyak’s research and discoveries have revolutionized the lighting industry, global communications, and consumer products. |
