Dr. Robert N. Hall

(1989) General Electric Company, USA

"For the first realization of the semiconductor injection laser, a basic element of optical fiber communications"

Presented by: HRH Princess Anne, The Princess Royal, at Stationers' Hall, London

In 1962, at General Electric's Research and Development Center, Dr. Hall developed the semiconductor injection laser. Today, semiconductor lasers are used in all CD and CD-ROM units, laser printers, some remote controls, and most fiber-optic communications systems. Also, Dr. Hall is credited with the invention of a process to purify germanium and the invention of the semiconductor pin rectifier.

Bibliographies

National Inventors Hall of Fame

Oral History