Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Semiconductor |
| Founded | 1955 |
| Founder | William Shockley |
| Fate | Acquired by Clevite in 1960; later transferred to ITT in 1968; eventually ceased operations |
| Headquarters | Mountain View, California , United States |
Area served | Semiconductor market |
Key people | William Shockley (founder) |
| Products | Silicon-based semiconductor components, Shockley diode, solar energy research |
| Parent | Beckman Instruments, Clevite, ITT (successive owners) |
Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory, later renamed Shockley Transistor Corporation, was an early innovator in semiconductor technology, established in 1955 by founder William Shockley with financial support from Beckman Instruments, Inc. It holds the distinction of being the first advanced technology firm in the region that evolved into Silicon Valley to specialize in silicon-based semiconductor components, securing a prominent position in the emerging market.
In 1957, eight pivotal researchers departed to create what would evolve into Fairchild Semiconductor, a move that significantly affected Shockley's expansion and competitive standing. The company encountered difficulties regaining momentum and was acquired by Clevite in 1960, later transferred to ITT in 1968, before eventually ceasing operations.
The original facility at 391 San Antonio Road, Mountain View, California—Shockley’s initial headquarters—was converted for retail use until redevelopment initiatives commenced in 2015. By 2017, this site was officially recognized as the "Real Birthplace of Silicon Valley," honoring its foundational role and leadership within the semiconductor industry.
Shockley's return to California
William Shockley, a founder and influential figure in semiconductor development, earned his undergraduate degree at Caltech and completed his doctorate in physics at MIT. After joining Bell Labs in 1936, he contributed to groundbreaking work on solid-state electronics, culminating in the 1947 invention of the first transistor alongside colleagues John Bardeen and Walter Brattain. Despite his technical achievements, Shockley’s difficult interpersonal style hindered his career progression, prompting him to take a leave and return to Caltech as a visiting professor in 1953.
During his time at Caltech, Shockley established a connection with entrepreneur Arnold Orville Beckman, renowned for inventing the pH meter. Shockley predicted that silicon would become the dominant material for transistors over germanium, foreseeing a strategic advantage as companies like Texas Instruments began producing silicon transistors. Beckman provided funding through Beckman Instruments to support Shockley’s new venture, leading to the creation of Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory in 1956 based in Mountain View, California. Concurrently, Shockley moved to Palo Alto to be closer to his elderly mother, integrating personal priorities with business objectives.
Shockley assembled a team of four PhD physicists: William W. Happ, formerly at Raytheon; George Smoot Horsley and Leopoldo B. Valdes from Bell Labs; and recent graduate Richard Victor Jones from Berkeley. Although he sought to recruit additional Bell Labs scientists, most chose to remain on the East Coast—the primary center for high-tech research at the time. The group concentrated on perfecting crystal-growth techniques for producing single-crystal silicon boules—a vital advancement given silicon’s elevated melting temperature—forming the technological foundation for their semiconductor manufacturing efforts.
Shockley diodes
During transistor development, Shockley created a four-layer semiconductor device capable of maintaining stable "on" or "off" states without continuous control signals. This breakthrough simplified complex switching circuits by substituting multiple transistors with a single component now known as the Shockley diode. Shockley considered this invention potentially as impactful as the transistor itself and kept its development confidential within the company. However, his unpredictable management approach and suspicion—including administering lie detector tests to employees—fostered internal discord and hindered project progress.
Traitorous eight
A cadre of ambitious young engineers—Julius Blank, Victor Grinich, Jean Hoerni, Eugene Kleiner, Jay Last, Gordon Moore, Robert Noyce, and Sheldon Roberts—confronted Shockley's management by appealing to Arnold Beckman. When Beckman maintained his support for Shockley, this group departed to establish Fairchild Semiconductor in 1957, dedicating themselves to silicon transistor manufacturing. Shockley disparagingly labeled them the "traitorous eight" and expressed skepticism regarding their prospects.
These pioneers played a pivotal role in the emergence of Silicon Valley; within two decades, 65 enterprises could trace their lineage back to former Shockley Semiconductor staff. By 2014, over 2,000 companies were associated with Fairchild’s founders, including 92 publicly traded firms collectively valued at more than US$2.1 trillion.
Although Shockley's invention of the four-layer diode did not achieve market viability—its benefits overshadowed by the advent of integrated circuits—the company made important strides in solar energy research. Notably, it established the Shockley–Queisser limit, which defines a theoretical maximum efficiency of approximately 30% for silicon-based solar cells.
See also
- Thyristor – a concept initially introduced by William Shockley
External links
- Interview with Adolf Goetzberger, a Shockley alumnus recruited following the mass departure from Shockley Semiconductor
- Video covering 391 San Antonio Road and the "traitorous eight" phenomenon