Who Invented the Microprocessor? Meet Federico Faggin

It can be difficult to imagine what everyday life might be like if not for the invention of the microprocessor. Containing the arithmetic, logic and control circuitry to power technology we use every day – from personal computers to traffic lights – the microprocessor has become essential to modern life. But what do you know about the inventors behind this revolutionary piece of technology?

The microprocessor was developed by Federico Faggin, Marcian E. (Ted) Hoff and Stanley Mazor – and each of these influential inventors has been inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame^® for their world-changing work. Read on to learn about Faggin and his innovative legacy.

Shaping an Industry

Faggin was born in Vicenza, Italy, in 1941. Showing an interest in mechanics and technology from a young age, his earliest passions included model airplanes and electronics. After graduating from a technical high school, he took a job with Olivetti, where he co-designed and built a small, transistorized computer in 1961, when he was just 19.

After earning his doctorate in physics from the University of Padua in 1965, Faggin immigrated to the United States in 1968 and began working for Fairchild Semiconductor International Inc. in Palo Alto, California. Here, he developed MOS silicon gate technology (SGT), which enabled the design of semiconductor RAMs, EPROMs and CCDs, as well as the microprocessor. SGT eventually replaced the metal-gate MOS technology and bipolar technology for the manufacturing of nearly all integrated circuits.

In 1970, Faggin joined Intel Corp. as project leader and designer of the MCS-4 family of integrated circuits that had been defined by co-inventors Marcian (Ted) Hoff Jr. and Stanley Mazor. The MCS-4 included the Intel 4004 microprocessor. Faggin was also the project leader of the 8008, 4040 and 8080 microprocessors.

The Intel 4004 was the world’s first single-chip microprocessor, and Faggin proudly etched his initials on it. Intel announced the invention in an issue of Electronic News in November 1971.

Creating New Possibilities

Though Faggin had been promoted to manager of Intel’s research and development department, in 1974, he left the company and took a turn into entrepreneurship with a number of successful businesses.

Faggin first founded Zilog Inc. – the first company entirely dedicated to the emergent microprocessor and the microcontroller market. At Zilog, he led the design of the Z80 microprocessor, an 8-bit processor used for personal computers that was introduced in 1976 and is still in heavy production.

After launching Cygnet Technologies, which designed intelligent voice and data devices to be used with personal computers, in 1986, Faggin co-founded Synaptics Inc. with fellow National Inventors Hall of Fame Inductee Carver Mead. At Synaptics, Faggin led the development of the touchpads and touchscreens that have revolutionized the way we use mobile devices.

In recognition of his work as a pioneer of the information age, Faggin has received many honors and awards. These include the Marconi Prize in 1988, the IEEE W. Wallace McDowell Award in 1994, the Kyoto Prize in 1997, the National Medal of Technology and Innovation in 2009, and the Enrico Fermi Prize in 2014.

Sharing His Story

To hear Faggin tell his story in his own words, watch this video created by the National Inventors Hall of Fame in partnership with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Shot in California, both in nature and at Synaptics, this video offers a unique look into his life and work.

To discover even more groundbreaking inventors, keep exploring our website.