Hermann Gummel
Encyclopedia
Hermann Gummel is a pioneer in the semiconductor industry
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Gummel received his Diplom in physics (1952) from Philipps University in Marburg, Germany. He received his M.S. (1952) and Ph.D. (1957) degrees in physics from Syracuse University
. Gummel joined Bell Laboratories in 1956; his doctoral advisor, Melvin Lax, had moved from Syracuse University to Bell the previous year. At Bell, he made a number of fundamental contributions in areas central to electronic design.
Among the most important of his contributions are the Gummel–Poon model
which made accurate simulation of bipolar transisors
possible and which was central to the development of the SPICE
program; Gummel's method, used to solve the equations for the detailed behavior of individual bipolar transistors,; and the Gummel plot, used to characterize bipolar transistors. Gummel also created one of the first personal workstations, based on HP
minicomputers and Tektronix terminals and used for VLSI
design and layout, and MOTIS, the first MOS timing simulator and the basis of "fast SPICE" programs.
In 1983, Gummel received the David Sarnoff Award
for "for contributions and leadership in device analysis and development of computer-aided design tools for semiconductor devices and circuits". In 1985, Gummel was elected to the United States National Academy of Engineering for "contributions and leadership in the analysis and computer-aided design of semiconductor devices and circuits.". In 1994, he was the first recipient of Phil Kaufman Award
.
Semiconductor
A semiconductor is a material with electrical conductivity due to electron flow intermediate in magnitude between that of a conductor and an insulator. This means a conductivity roughly in the range of 103 to 10−8 siemens per centimeter...
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Gummel received his Diplom in physics (1952) from Philipps University in Marburg, Germany. He received his M.S. (1952) and Ph.D. (1957) degrees in physics from Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
. Gummel joined Bell Laboratories in 1956; his doctoral advisor, Melvin Lax, had moved from Syracuse University to Bell the previous year. At Bell, he made a number of fundamental contributions in areas central to electronic design.
Among the most important of his contributions are the Gummel–Poon model
Gummel–Poon model
The Gummel–Poon model is a model of the bipolar junction transistor. It was first described in a paper published by Hermann Gummel and H. C. Poon at Bell Labs in 1970....
which made accurate simulation of bipolar transisors
Bipolar junction transistor
|- align = "center"| || PNP|- align = "center"| || NPNA bipolar transistor is a three-terminal electronic device constructed of doped semiconductor material and may be used in amplifying or switching applications. Bipolar transistors are so named because their operation involves both electrons...
possible and which was central to the development of the SPICE
SPICE
SPICE is a general-purpose, open source analog electronic circuit simulator.It is a powerful program that is used in integrated circuit and board-level design to check the integrity of circuit designs and to predict circuit behavior.- Introduction :Unlike board-level designs composed of discrete...
program; Gummel's method, used to solve the equations for the detailed behavior of individual bipolar transistors,; and the Gummel plot, used to characterize bipolar transistors. Gummel also created one of the first personal workstations, based on HP
Hewlett-Packard
Hewlett-Packard Company or HP is an American multinational information technology corporation headquartered in Palo Alto, California, USA that provides products, technologies, softwares, solutions and services to consumers, small- and medium-sized businesses and large enterprises, including...
minicomputers and Tektronix terminals and used for VLSI
Very-large-scale integration
Very-large-scale integration is the process of creating integrated circuits by combining thousands of transistors into a single chip. VLSI began in the 1970s when complex semiconductor and communication technologies were being developed. The microprocessor is a VLSI device.The first semiconductor...
design and layout, and MOTIS, the first MOS timing simulator and the basis of "fast SPICE" programs.
In 1983, Gummel received the David Sarnoff Award
IEEE David Sarnoff Award
The IEEE David Sarnoff Award is a Technical Field Award presented annually by the IEEE.The award was established in 1959 by the RCA Corporation; in 1989 the Sarnoff Corporation became its sponsor...
for "for contributions and leadership in device analysis and development of computer-aided design tools for semiconductor devices and circuits". In 1985, Gummel was elected to the United States National Academy of Engineering for "contributions and leadership in the analysis and computer-aided design of semiconductor devices and circuits.". In 1994, he was the first recipient of Phil Kaufman Award
Phil Kaufman Award
Phil Kaufman Award is established by the EDA Consortium to recognize individuals for their impact on electronic design by their contributions to electronic design automation...
.