The Amazing Story Of RGB Led
I saw a long documentary on YT about this, just a brief summery here.
Ever notice that back in the 70's and 80's, the only Led lights you ever saw on stereo's and electronic devices were either red, or green! Their was a reason for that, no one could make a Blue led. Try as they might, all the major electronics companies tried for ever and gave up. Red was invented in 1962 and green shortly after.
However, in Japan, a lowly but dedicated technician. who worked for a modest electronics firm was trying to make one. His maverick boss got on his case and said the research was costing too much and he should give up. He convinced the CEO that he could make one though and eventually the CEO put up a sum of money, being a bit of a maverick.
The tec went to the US and got a job as a technician working on a machine that a company was using to try and make a man made crystal which looked highly promising to be used to make a Blue led. The trouble was, it had to be pure, flawless and the machine could not do this.
With the money put up, he took one of these machines back to Japan and spent a year and a half working on the machine every day, modifying it, testing the results. During that time, the leadership of the company changed from father to son. The son sent him repeated memo's to stop his experiments, but he threw them all away, thinking he was close. At last, success, he made pure crystal, but when he tried it, the light it produced was not bright enough, so back to the drawing board, he modified the making of this crystal to emit a stronger light.
Eventually, success, and here are the implications!!! Combining Red, Green and Blue gave you a white light, hence LED light bulbs which are now used in over 50 percent of lighting. Also, you could make flat panel tv's combining these 3 colors, RGB, and monitor screens, multicoured phone screens etc. The implications for this invention were amazing. The company made billions making and selling them.
But you know what the tec got for inventing this, a $200.00 bonus. He quit the company and sued them because he was clearly the inventor. The Japanese powers that be awarded him 187 million but the company appealed and he only got 8 million which only covered his legal fees. He did however, get a Nobel Peace Prize and a much sought after doctorate in electronics. He now runs, or co runs a company in the US making ever smaller micro Led's.
What an amazing story. Just about every electronic device and lighting you own are thanks to the dedication of one man.
Ever notice that back in the 70's and 80's, the only Led lights you ever saw on stereo's and electronic devices were either red, or green! Their was a reason for that, no one could make a Blue led. Try as they might, all the major electronics companies tried for ever and gave up. Red was invented in 1962 and green shortly after.
However, in Japan, a lowly but dedicated technician. who worked for a modest electronics firm was trying to make one. His maverick boss got on his case and said the research was costing too much and he should give up. He convinced the CEO that he could make one though and eventually the CEO put up a sum of money, being a bit of a maverick.
The tec went to the US and got a job as a technician working on a machine that a company was using to try and make a man made crystal which looked highly promising to be used to make a Blue led. The trouble was, it had to be pure, flawless and the machine could not do this.
With the money put up, he took one of these machines back to Japan and spent a year and a half working on the machine every day, modifying it, testing the results. During that time, the leadership of the company changed from father to son. The son sent him repeated memo's to stop his experiments, but he threw them all away, thinking he was close. At last, success, he made pure crystal, but when he tried it, the light it produced was not bright enough, so back to the drawing board, he modified the making of this crystal to emit a stronger light.
Eventually, success, and here are the implications!!! Combining Red, Green and Blue gave you a white light, hence LED light bulbs which are now used in over 50 percent of lighting. Also, you could make flat panel tv's combining these 3 colors, RGB, and monitor screens, multicoured phone screens etc. The implications for this invention were amazing. The company made billions making and selling them.
But you know what the tec got for inventing this, a $200.00 bonus. He quit the company and sued them because he was clearly the inventor. The Japanese powers that be awarded him 187 million but the company appealed and he only got 8 million which only covered his legal fees. He did however, get a Nobel Peace Prize and a much sought after doctorate in electronics. He now runs, or co runs a company in the US making ever smaller micro Led's.
What an amazing story. Just about every electronic device and lighting you own are thanks to the dedication of one man.
-
Monetize -
[ 1 ] Thanks - Reply
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11785284].message }} -
-
DWolfe -
[ 1 ] Thanks - Reply
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11785289].message }} -