Product category:
Microprocessors, Microcontrollers and DSPs
News Release from: Zilog
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 12 July 2002
Faggin returns to his Zilog roots
Zilog cofounder Federico Faggin, a coinventor of the microprocessor, has joined the company's board of directors.
Zilog cofounder Federico Faggin, a coinventor of the microprocessor, has joined the company's board of directors The award-winning Faggin cofounded Zilog in 1974 after his departure from Intel
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 7 Dec 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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As Zilog CEO from 1974 to 1980, Faggin conceived the well-known Z80, a rival to Intel's 8080 and one of the best-selling microprocessors in industry history.
"Federico's unparalleled industry experience and his passion, as Zilog's cocreator, will be invaluable to our continued evolution", said Jim Thorburn, Zilog Chairman and CEO.
"His insight will enhance our technology innovation as we continue to launch new products and deliver greater shareholder value".
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Throughout his distinguished career, Faggin has earned many awards and honors, including the IEEE W Wallace McDowell Award for his role in the development of silicon gate technology and the world's first microprocessor, and the Kyoto Prize for Advanced Technology.
In 1996, Faggin was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in Akron, Ohio.
"Zilog has performed well over the last year.
It is a more focused company with a great brand name, a legacy of products, and a sizeable target market", Faggin said.
"Zilog holds a unique position in the semiconductor industry as an established, experienced company with the nimble, aggressive attitude of an up-and-coming startup.
I look forward to being involved in its continued evolution".
In addition to cofounding Zilog, in 1986 Faggin cofounded Synaptics, an innovator of human interface technologies and products using neural networks and mixed-signal technologies.
He also served as president and CEO of the company until January 1999, and since then has served as Chairman of the Board.
Prior to Synaptics, Faggin cofounded and was CEO of Cygnet Technologies, which developed an intelligent voice and data peripheral for the personal computer.
In 1968, Faggin developed the silicon gate technology at Fairchild Semiconductor, the world's first commercial self-aligned metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) process technology that made possible the creation of semiconductor memories and the microprocessor.
He also coinvented and designed the world's first microprocessor, the Intel 4004, and conceived and supervised the design of the Intel 8080, the first high-performance microprocessor.
Additionally, Faggin held design and management positions at Intel Corporation, Fairchild Semiconductor, SGS-Fairchild (now ST Microelectronics), and Olivetti.
He serves on the board of directors for Avanex, BlueArc, and Foveon, and is the Chairman of the Board of Integrated Device Technology.
He is also an advisory board member of numerous organisations.
Faggin holds a doctorate in physics, summa cum laude, from the University of Padua, Italy.
He also holds an honorary doctorate degree in computer science from the University of Milan, Italy.
"I cofounded Zilog nearly 30 years ago.
What a rewarding experience to return to this company and apply the knowledge that I have built over the years to help it achieve its exciting, new objectives", Faggin said.
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