Bob Widlar – Distinguished Engineer, Integrated Circuits Pioneer

>"Widlar invented the basic building blocks of linear ICs including the Widlar current source, the Widlar bandgap voltage reference[9] and the Widlar output stage.[10] From 1964 to 1970, Widlar, together with David Talbert, created the first mass-produced operational amplifier ICs (μA702, μA709), some of the earliest integrated voltage regulator ICs (LM100 and LM105), the first operational amplifiers employing single capacitor frequency compensation (LM101), an improved LM101 with FET internal current control (LM101A), and super-beta transistors (LM108).[11] Each of Widlar's circuits had "at least one feature which was far ahead of the crowd"[5] and became a "product champion" in its class.[12] They made his employers, Fairchild Semiconductor and National Semiconductor, the leaders in linear integrated circuits.[13][14]

He was a "legendary chip designer"[15] at the age of 33. Widlar voluntarily retired into a hideout in Mexico and became "the Valley's most celebrated dropout."[15] Four years later he returned to National Semiconductor as a contractor,[16] and produced a series of advanced linear ICs, including the first ultra-low-voltage operational amplifier with precision 200mV voltage reference (LM10).[17][18]

Widlar's eccentric, and outspoken personality, as well as his bohemian lifestyle, made him the enfant terrible of Silicon Valley. He is remembered in legends, myths, and anecdotes that are largely true.[12][19] According to Bo Lojek, author of History of Semiconductor Engineering, he was "more artist than an engineer ... in the environment where Human Relations Departments define what engineers can and cannot comment about, it is very unlikely that we will see his kind again."[5]"

Widlar was an absolutely brilliant Engineer in Silicon Valley's history.

For that reason, his life, in the context of the historical place and time that he lived (along with the technological constraints of that time period -- there were many!), may be worth studying to any student of history, or any student of Integrated Circuit Electrical Engineering...