Bernard V. Vonderschmitt

Bernard Valentine Vonderschmitt (October 14, 1923 – June 9, 2004) was an electrical engineer, most noted as a co-founder of leading FPGA producer Xilinx.

Bernard V. Vonderschmitt
Born
Bernard Valentine Vonderschmitt[1]

(1923-10-14)October 14, 1923
DiedJune 9, 2004(2004-06-09) (aged 80)
Jasper, Indiana, United States
NationalityAmerican
CitizenshipAmerican
EducationRose Polytechnic Institute (BS) University of Pennsylvania (MS) Rider University (MBA)
Engineering career
DisciplineElectrics
InstitutionsXilinx
Employer(s)RCA
ProjectsFabless business model

Biography

edit

He was born on October 14, 1923, in Jasper, Indiana.

Vonderschmitt graduated with a BSEE from Rose Polytechnic Institute in 1944. He also received an MSEE degree from the University of Pennsylvania, an MBA from Rider University, and eventually an honorary doctorate from that same institution.[2]

Vonderschmitt began his career with RCA, and worked with them for 34 years, taking a short time during World War II to serve in the US Navy as an electronics officer. He holds 13 patents that cover color television and solid state electronics.

After leaving RCA, he worked briefly for Zilog, before co-founding Xilinx together with Ross Freeman in 1984. With Xilinx, he pioneered the fabless business model which is now used by a large number of semiconductor companies around the world.

Vonderschmitt died on June 9, 2004, in Jasper, Indiana.[3]

References

edit
  1. ^ U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
  2. ^ "Xilinx's Bernard Vonderschmitt dead". EE Times. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  3. ^ Markoff, John (June 19, 2004). "Bernard Vonderschmitt, 80, Semiconductor Designer, Dies". The New York Times. Retrieved 2007-07-21.
edit