Great people died in 2012

At year 2011 we saw the passing of many of the electronics and computer industry’s greatest engineers and inventors. Several electronics great electronics inventors and related people died in year 2012. Here is my list of people that I have seen mentioned on different news sources:

Hans Camenzind was Swiss emigre analog guru who invented one of the most successful circuits in electronics history: 555 timer IC. In addition to 555 timer he designed the first integrated class D amplifier, introduced the phase-locked loop concept to ICs and invented the semi-custom IC. Hans also wrote books: “Much Ado About Almost Nothing”, A history of electricity and electronics and “Desigining Analog Chips”. He died on August 2012.

Processor pioneer Victor Poor dies of cancer at 79. Victor Poor was the modest designer of Intel’s first integrated processors (Intel’s 4004 chip together with Harry Pyle). He played a pivotal role in the development of Intel’s early architectures (8008) and is a legend in ham radio circles.

Frank Burge, who helped launch Apple, dead at 78 article tells that he was an electrical engineer turned to marketer-publisher who helped launch an obscure company named Apple and went on to mentor thousands in the tech world.

Bill Moggridge, early laptop designer, dies at age 69. He designed in 1979 a clamshell computer that debuted in 1982 and that is widely regarded as the first laptop computer. Nearly every laptop since has used some element of Moggridge’s clamshell.

N. Joseph Woodland, Inventor of the Bar Code, Dies at 91. N. Joseph Woodland, 1921-2012 If It’s for Sale, His Lines Sort It.

Neil Armstrong, 1930 to 2012: Gone but never to be forgotten. Neil Armstrong, First Human to Walk on Moon, Dies at 82. With Armstrong goes a long-standing brand of heroism. Flying to moon was really dangerous.