How RCA Lost the LCD

Did you know that RCA invented the LCD as an electronic display device? If I did, I don't remember it. RCA had a research center in nearby Princeton University. In 1962, RCA researcher Richard Williams figured out that he could use electrical signals to coax liquid crystals into proper alignment for creating an opaque or clear medium. By 1967, the invention was ready for prime time. Quite a lot of effort was expended in publicizing and promoting the LCD display, but ultimately infighting between company divisions on issues of management, manufacturing , and engineering killed a potential windfall for RCA. Eventually, Japanese firms developed their own superior LCDs and because of process improvements were able to sell them at a lower cost. An article in the November 2012 issue of IEEE's Spectrum magazine goes into all the gory detail.

Posted November 2012

everythingRF RF Engineering Resources Database - RF Cafe Website

RF Cafe began life in 1996 as "RF Tools" in an AOL screen name web space totaling 2 MB. Its primary purpose was to provide me with ready access to commonly needed formulas and reference material while performing my work as an RF system and circuit design engineer. The World Wide Web (Internet) was largely an unknown entity at the time and bandwidth was a scarce commodity. Dial-up modems blazed along at 14.4 kbps while tying up your telephone line, and a lady's voice announced "You've Got Mail" when a new message arrived...