Jun-ichi Nishizawa

Jun-ichi Nishizawa
Born (1926-09-12) September 12, 1926
Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan
Nationality Japan
Alma mater Tohoku University
Awards IEEE Edison Medal (2000)
Order of Culture
Scientific career
Institutions Tohoku University
Iwate Prefectural University
Tokyo Metropolitan University
Sophia University
Layers of a PIN diode.
The PIN photodiode was invented by Jun-ichi Nishizawa in 1950 (+ -).

Jun-ichi Nishizawa (西澤 潤一, Nishizawa Jun'ichi, born September 12, 1926) is a Japanese engineer and inventor. He is known for his electronic inventions since the 1950s, including the PIN diode, static induction transistor, and static induction thyristor.

He is currently a professor at Sophia University. He is considered the "Father of Japanese Microelectronics".

Biography

Nishizawa was born in Sendai, Japan, on September 12, 1926. He earned a B.S. in 1948, and a Doctor of Engineering degree in 1960, from Tohoku University.

In 1953, he joined the Research Institute of Electrical Communication at Tohoku University. He became a professor there and was appointed director to two research institutes. From 1990 to 1996, Nishizawa served as the President of Tohoku University.

He became the president of Iwate Prefectural University in 1998.

Research

In 1950, the static induction transistor was invented by Jun-ichi Nishizawa and Y. Watanabe.[1] The PIN photodiode was also invented by Nishizawa and his colleagues in 1950.[2]

In 1952, he invented the avalanche photodiode.[3]

While working at Tohoku University in the 1960s, Nishizawa invented technologies that contributed to the development of optical fiber communications, such as the graded-index optical fiber as a channel for transmitting light from semiconductor lasers.[4] He patented the graded-index optical fiber in 1964.

In 1971, he invented the static induction thyristor.[3][5]

Recognition

Nishizawa is a Life Fellow of the IEEE. He is a Fellow of several other institutions, including the Physical Society, the Russian Academy of Sciences, and the Polish Academy of Sciences. Nishizawa was decorated with Order of Culture by the emperor of Japan in 1989.[6] He also received the Japan Academy Prize (1974),[6] IEEE Jack A. Morton Award (1983),[7] the Honda Prize and the Laudise Prize of the International Organization for Crystal Growth (1989).[8] IEEE conferred the Edison Medal on him in 2000,[9] and introduced the IEEE Jun-ichi Nishizawa Medal in 2002.[10][11][12]

References

  1. ↑ McCluskey, F. Patrick; Podlesak, Thomas; Grzybowski, Richard, eds. (1996). High Temperature Electronics (illustrated ed.). CRC. p. 82. ISBN 9780849396236.
  2. ↑ Dummer, G. W. A. (2013). Electronic Inventions and Discoveries: Electronics from Its Earliest Beginnings to the Present Day (3rd, revised ed.). Elsevier. p. 137. ISBN 9781483145211.
  3. 1 2 Jun-ichi Nishizawa: Engineer, Sophia University Special Professor (interview), Japan Quality Review, 2011
  4. ↑ "New Medal Honors Japanese Microelectrics Industry Leader". Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.
  5. ↑ Dummer, G. W. A. (2013). Electronic Inventions and Discoveries: Electronics from Its Earliest Beginnings to the Present Day (3rd, revised ed.). Elsevier. p. 231. ISBN 9781483145211.
  6. 1 2 "Prize Winners" (PDF). Tohoku University.
  7. ↑ "IEEE Jack A. Morton Award Recipients" (PDF). IEEE. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 13, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Prizes". International Organization for Crystal Growth.
  9. ↑ "IEEE Edison Medal Recipients" (PDF). IEEE.
  10. ↑ "IEEE Jun-ichi Nishizawa Medal -Summary-". IEEE.
  11. ↑ "IEEE Jun-ichi Nishizawa Medal". IEEE.
  12. ↑ "IEEE Jun-ichi Nishizawa Medal Recipients" (PDF). IEEE.
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