George E. Smith facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George E. Smith
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Smith in 2009
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| Born | May 10, 1930 White Plains, New York, U.S.
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| Died | May 28, 2025 (aged 95) |
| Alma mater |
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| Known for | Charge-coupled device |
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| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Applied physics |
| Institutions | Bell Labs |
| Thesis | The Anomalous Skin Effect in Bismuth (1959) |
| Doctoral advisor | E.A. Long |
George Elwood Smith (born May 10, 1930 – died May 28, 2025) was an American scientist. He was an expert in applied physics. Smith is best known for helping to invent the charge-coupled device (CCD). This invention changed how we capture images.
In 2009, he won a share of the Nobel Prize in Physics. This award was for creating the CCD sensor. It's like an electronic eye used in almost all cameras today.
Contents
Early Life and Education
George E. Smith was born in White Plains, New York. He served in the US Navy. After his time in the Navy, he went to college.
He earned his first degree, a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.), in 1955. This was from the University of Pennsylvania. Later, in 1959, he received his Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) from the University of Chicago. His Ph.D. paper was very short, only eight pages long!
Working at Bell Labs
Smith started working at Bell Labs in Murray Hill, New Jersey in 1959. He stayed there until he retired in 1986. At Bell Labs, he led important research. His work focused on new types of lasers and semiconductor devices.
During his career, Smith received many patents. These patents protected his new inventions. He eventually became the head of the department that worked on VLSI devices. VLSI stands for Very Large Scale Integration. It's about putting many tiny electronic parts onto a single chip.
Inventing the CCD Sensor
In 1969, George Smith and Willard Boyle made a huge discovery. They invented the charge-coupled device (CCD). This invention changed photography and imaging forever.
The CCD is a special sensor that can turn light into digital information. It's like the "eye" inside digital cameras, camcorders, and even telescopes. Because of their amazing invention, Smith and Boyle received many awards together.
Major Awards and Recognition
Smith and Boyle won several important awards for their CCD invention:
- The Franklin Institute's Stuart Ballantine Medal in 1973.
- The 1974 IEEE Morris N. Liebmann Memorial Award.
- The 2006 Charles Stark Draper Prize.
- The 2009 Nobel Prize in Physics. This is one of the highest honors a scientist can receive.
In 2015, Smith was also given the Progress Medal and an Honorary Fellowship. This was from the Royal Photographic Society. In 2017, he won the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering. This award recognized his big impact on digital imaging sensors.
Life After Retirement
Both George Smith and Willard Boyle loved sailing. They went on many sailing trips together. After retiring, Smith sailed around the world with his life partner, Janet. They spent seventeen years exploring the seas!
He stopped sailing in 2003. He said it was to protect his "creaky bones" from more storms. Smith lived in the Waretown area of Ocean Township, Ocean County, New Jersey.
George E. Smith passed away on May 28, 2025. He was 95 years old and died at his home in Barnegat Township, New Jersey.
Images for kids
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Smith in 2009
See also
In Spanish: George E. Smith para niños
