This week it is exactly 50 years ago that Mr. Herman Peek started working at Philips Research in silicon technology. By it self nothing special of course, but keeping in mind that he still is active in silicon technology it is a more than remarkable achievement ! I had the luck of working with him from 1983 (when I joined Philips) till 2007 (when I left DALSA). I do not recall all the history, but in 1983 Herman was already working on CCD technology when I met him for the first time. He developed the semiconductor technology that was and still is applied to fabricate these great imaging devices. Based on his ideas, Philips’ CCD reached world records in dark current as well as in area size. Together with Herman (and many others) we developed the first full resolution HDTV sensors for broadcast use in the late ’80s and early ’90s. The fundaments developed at that time can still be found in the today’s devices : stitching, tungsten strapping, low-noise output stage and dynamic pixel management. After Herman reached the age of going after a pension, he stayed part-time on board as a consultant in CCD technology and he still is working part-time for Teledyne-DALSA (after the Philips’group was acquired by DALSA). With this short message I would like to send my CONGRATULATIONS to Herman and would like to thank him for his great contributions to the CCD technology. As Eric Fossum already stated during the last IISW, it is on the shoulders of these giants that we are standing. Wish Herman a lot of pleasure in the years to come !
Albert, 30 September 2011.
I want to second your Congratulations and your kind comments. It was a pleasure when I got to work with Hermann.