Donald Keck
Encyclopedia
Dr. Donald B. Keck is an American research physicist and engineer most noted for his involvement in developing low-loss optical fiber
. Keck grew up in Lansing, Michigan
and attended Michigan State University
, after which he joined Corning Incorporated’s research department. As a senior research scientist for Corning, Dr. Keck, along with Robert D. Maurer
and Peter C. Schultz
, designed the first optical fiber with optical losses low enough for wide use in telecommunications, effectively launching the modern fiber optics industry.
Keck spent the entirety of his professional career at Corning, where he eventually held the position of Vice President and Technology Director of Optical Physics, during which time he guided the company into the field of photonics
. For his work with optical fiber, he was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame
in 1993, and received the prestigious National Medal of Technology
in 2000.
, where he also spent all of his youth. An active and curious child, he participated in the Boy Scout
s program throughout his early years. Keck’s father, an educated physicist, had great influence over him, encouraging and inspiring his son to engage in scientific pursuits. During his childhood, Keck was surrounded by his father’s prisms
and lenses
at home, spawning his interest in the science of light – his specialty throughout his professional career – at a very young age.
in 1958 with the intention of becoming an electrical engineer. However, during his undergraduate years, he was persuaded by his father to switch disciplines and study physics
. As a result, he received his B.S.
in Physics in 1962 and his M.S.
in Physics in 1964, both from Michigan State. He encountered optical fiber for the first time during his second year as a graduate student, and was immediately fascinated. He subsequently continued his studies, writing his doctorate thesis on infrared spectroscopy
, and ultimately received his Ph.D.
in Physics from Michigan State in 1967. Keck’s time spent at Michigan State was the foundation for his later success, providing him not only with a quality education, but also exposing him to the field of study in which he would later excel. Regarding his doctorate work, Keck said, “The particular thesis work I did revolved around infrared spectroscopy. I learned I like optics
. I learned about materials and their different spectral responses. I was ready to hit the ground running at Corning.”
, and met with Dr. Robert Maurer, who discussed Corning’s optical fiber development project and its goal of building a low-loss optical waveguide suitable for transmitting data. After listening to Maurer, Keck accepted an offer from Corning, moved to New York, and began work as a senior research scientist on the project in January 1968.
Initially, optical fibers – glass or plastic fibers which carry data in the form of light – were of little consideration for the job of replacing copper wires. The fibers that existed in the 1960s were high-loss; while they directed the light, they also absorbed so much of it that little of its signal remained after a few meters, rendering them useless for long-distance telecommunications. However, Robert Maurer, Keck’s boss, believed low-loss optical fiber could be produced, and made its invention his goal. Maurer’s goal was to invent a fiber with a loss, or attenuation
, of 20 decibels per kilometer (db/km). At the time of Keck’s hiring, the best optical fibers had attenuations of 200 to 1000 db/km.
Corning’s Optical WaveGuide
Project team, composed of Maurer, also a physicist, Keck, and Peter C. Schultz
, a chemist, approached the task differently than other researchers. Instead of trying to improve upon existing fibers by using better raw materials, Maurer sought to explore the capabilities of new materials, including pure silica. The team devised a division of labor, where Maurer focused on physics, Schultz developed new types of glass, and Keck turned this glass into fiber.
They started work on the project as soon as Keck arrived at the beginning of 1968, and had little early success. They experimented with different glass compositions and methods of heating the glass. Finally, in August 1970, the team found their breakthrough moment: late one afternoon, after both Maurer and Schultz had left for the day, Keck took measurements of the newest batch of fibers he had heat-treated. When Keck noticed the light passed through the 65 foot fiber seemingly without any loss, he exclaimed “Good grief, what do I have here?” Keck took more measurements of the fiber, and discovered it had an attenuation of 16 db/km, exceeding the goal of 20 db/km. Upon this discovery, Keck wrote in his laboratory notebook, “Attenuation equals 16 db it says. Eureka,” followed by an exclamatory “Whoopee!”. Keck and his team had invented the first low-loss optical fiber; it was composed of heat-treated titanium-doped silica. Papers were written and patents were filed, and Corning introduced the fiber to the outside world, but it would take another 10 years before the telecommunications industry began utilizing their invention.
In the meantime, Keck continued to improve upon the fiber he had invented. He replaced the titanium oxide
glass of 1970 with germanium oxide
doped glass, and eventually achieved a consistent 4 db/km attenuation in June 1972. By the end of the 1970s, Keck had four critical inventions which secured Corning’s place as frontrunner in the optical fiber revolution: fused silica doped with titanium
; fused silica doped with germanium
; the inside vapor deposition, or IV process, for making fiber; and the outside vapor deposition, or OV process, for making fiber, which would ultimately become the leading manufacturing method.
By 1979, Corning was mass producing the refined optical fiber invented by Keck in Wilmington, North Carolina
. In the early 1980s, the telecom company MCI
placed an order with Corning for 100,000 km of fiber a year, in effect signaling that the telecommunications industry had finally realized the revolutionary potential of Keck’s invention. Today, more than 90% of long-distance data in the United States is now sent through the optical fiber Keck and his team designed and produced. Optical fibers, which can now carry 65,000 times more information than the copper wires they replaced, ultimately allowed for the development of the Internet
in the early 1990s.
Moreover, Keck began to rise within the corporate ladder at Corning. After beginning as a senior research scientist in 1968, almost 30 years later, in April 1997, Corning appointed Keck the Division Vice President of Core Technology, Optics and Photonics – Science and Technology. During his management tenure, Keck was a key figure in establishing Corning’s modern innovation ethos, and also helped guide Corning into the emerging field of photonics. By the end of his tenure with Corning, Keck was well regarded in the scientific community as an expert within the fields of molecular spectroscopy, gradient and aspheric optics, guided-wave optics, fiber optic sensor
s and optical fiber
s, and research management.
, a collaborative organization between private industry and government focused on photonics and nanotechnology innovation. Due to his expertise in both photonics and research management, he was elected the first Chief Technology Officer of Infotonics, a position he held briefly.
Dr. Keck and his wife, Ruth Keck, currently reside in Big Flats, New York
, outside of Corning, New York. He has two adult children, both of whom are also involved in technological fields: Lynne Vaia, a civil engineer, and Brian Keck, a software expert. He is involved in local philanthropy in Corning, holding board membership for the American Red Cross
, the Community Foundation, and the Science Center. In addition to still consulting for Infotonics, Keck remains active in the science community, serving on the oversight board for the National Institute of Standards and Technology
, the IPO Education Foundation Board of Directors, as well as holding the position of Vice-Chair of the National Inventors Hall of Fame Board of Directors. Furthermore, Keck is a benefactor of his alma mater, Michigan State University, where he also currently sits on the Advisory Board for the university’s College of Natural Science, of which he was a graduate.
granted him an honorary degree in 2004. For his discovery of low-loss optical fiber in particular, Keck was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame
in 1993, after which he served as President of the National Inventors Hall of Fame Foundation. He is also a recipient of the Department of Commerce American Innovator Award and the SPIE Technology Achievement Award. For his work with photonics, Keck was honored with Laurin Publishing’s Distinction in Photonics Award in 2002.
In 2000, U.S. President Bill Clinton
awarded Keck, along with his fellow Corning researchers Robert Maurer and Peter Schultz, the nation’s highest honor for innovators, the National Medal of Technology
, which recognizes those who make lasting contributions to enhancing America’s competitiveness and standard of living. Their award citation read: “Their invention has enabled the telecommunications revolution, rapidly transformed our society, the way we work, learn and live – and our expectations for the future. It is the basis for one of the largest, most dynamic industries in the world today.”15
, the Optical Society of America
, the Optoelectronics Industry Development Association, and the IEEE.
(1972-05) Maurer, et al., “Fused Silica Optical Waveguide.” (1973-01) Keck, et al., “IV Method of producing optical waveguide fibers.”
Optical fiber
An optical fiber is a flexible, transparent fiber made of a pure glass not much wider than a human hair. It functions as a waveguide, or "light pipe", to transmit light between the two ends of the fiber. The field of applied science and engineering concerned with the design and application of...
. Keck grew up in Lansing, Michigan
Lansing, Michigan
Lansing is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located mostly in Ingham County, although small portions of the city extend into Eaton County. The 2010 Census places the city's population at 114,297, making it the fifth largest city in Michigan...
and attended Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
, after which he joined Corning Incorporated’s research department. As a senior research scientist for Corning, Dr. Keck, along with Robert D. Maurer
Robert D. Maurer
Dr. Robert D. Maurer is an American industrial physicist noted for his leadership in the invention of optical fiber.-Early life:...
and Peter C. Schultz
Peter C. Schultz
Peter C. Schultz, Ph.D., is co-inventor of the fiber optics now used worldwide for telecommunications. He is retired President of Heraeus Tenevo Inc., a $200 million technical glass manufacturer specializing in fiber optics and semiconductor markets, and retired Chief Technical Officer North...
, designed the first optical fiber with optical losses low enough for wide use in telecommunications, effectively launching the modern fiber optics industry.
Keck spent the entirety of his professional career at Corning, where he eventually held the position of Vice President and Technology Director of Optical Physics, during which time he guided the company into the field of photonics
Photonics
The science of photonics includes the generation, emission, transmission, modulation, signal processing, switching, amplification, detection and sensing of light. The term photonics thereby emphasizes that photons are neither particles nor waves — they are different in that they have both particle...
. For his work with optical fiber, he was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame
National Inventors Hall of Fame
The National Inventors Hall of Fame is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to recognizing, honoring and encouraging invention and creativity through the administration of its programs. The Hall of Fame honors the men and women responsible for the great technological advances that make human,...
in 1993, and received the prestigious National Medal of Technology
National Medal of Technology
The National Medal of Technology and Innovation is an honor granted by the President of the United States to American inventors and innovators who have made significant contributions to the development of new and important technology...
in 2000.
Early life
Donald B. Keck was born on January 2, 1941 in Lansing, MichiganLansing, Michigan
Lansing is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located mostly in Ingham County, although small portions of the city extend into Eaton County. The 2010 Census places the city's population at 114,297, making it the fifth largest city in Michigan...
, where he also spent all of his youth. An active and curious child, he participated in the Boy Scout
Boy Scout
A Scout is a boy or a girl, usually 11 to 18 years of age, participating in the worldwide Scouting movement. Because of the large age and development span, many Scouting associations have split this age group into a junior and a senior section...
s program throughout his early years. Keck’s father, an educated physicist, had great influence over him, encouraging and inspiring his son to engage in scientific pursuits. During his childhood, Keck was surrounded by his father’s prisms
Prism (optics)
In optics, a prism is a transparent optical element with flat, polished surfaces that refract light. The exact angles between the surfaces depend on the application. The traditional geometrical shape is that of a triangular prism with a triangular base and rectangular sides, and in colloquial use...
and lenses
Lens (optics)
A lens is an optical device with perfect or approximate axial symmetry which transmits and refracts light, converging or diverging the beam. A simple lens consists of a single optical element...
at home, spawning his interest in the science of light – his specialty throughout his professional career – at a very young age.
Education
Keck remained in his hometown for college, entering Michigan State UniversityMichigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
in 1958 with the intention of becoming an electrical engineer. However, during his undergraduate years, he was persuaded by his father to switch disciplines and study physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
. As a result, he received his B.S.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in Physics in 1962 and his M.S.
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
in Physics in 1964, both from Michigan State. He encountered optical fiber for the first time during his second year as a graduate student, and was immediately fascinated. He subsequently continued his studies, writing his doctorate thesis on infrared spectroscopy
Infrared spectroscopy
Infrared spectroscopy is the spectroscopy that deals with the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum, that is light with a longer wavelength and lower frequency than visible light. It covers a range of techniques, mostly based on absorption spectroscopy. As with all spectroscopic...
, and ultimately received his Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in Physics from Michigan State in 1967. Keck’s time spent at Michigan State was the foundation for his later success, providing him not only with a quality education, but also exposing him to the field of study in which he would later excel. Regarding his doctorate work, Keck said, “The particular thesis work I did revolved around infrared spectroscopy. I learned I like optics
Optics
Optics is the branch of physics which involves the behavior and properties of light, including its interactions with matter and the construction of instruments that use or detect it. Optics usually describes the behavior of visible, ultraviolet, and infrared light...
. I learned about materials and their different spectral responses. I was ready to hit the ground running at Corning.”
Corning years
After receiving his Ph.D., Keck began looking for a job. The market was booming for physicists in 1967, as both the space exploration and weapons development industries were thriving. Keck received numerous job offers, and had no intention of working for Corning until a recruiter visited the Michigan State campus and displayed a bundle of optical fiber. Intrigued by the fiber, Keck visited Corning Incorporated in Corning, New YorkCorning (city), New York
Corning is a city in Steuben County, New York, United States, on the Chemung River. The population was 10,842 at the 2000 census. It is named for Erastus Corning, an Albany financier and railroad executive who was an investor in the company that developed the community.- Overview :The city of...
, and met with Dr. Robert Maurer, who discussed Corning’s optical fiber development project and its goal of building a low-loss optical waveguide suitable for transmitting data. After listening to Maurer, Keck accepted an offer from Corning, moved to New York, and began work as a senior research scientist on the project in January 1968.
Optical fiber
In the early 1960s, demand emerged for a new telephone wire technology. Copper cables, which were the state-of-the-art at the time, were being pushed to their limit, as more and more telephone calls were being made. An international effort began to find the next great data transmission technology.Initially, optical fibers – glass or plastic fibers which carry data in the form of light – were of little consideration for the job of replacing copper wires. The fibers that existed in the 1960s were high-loss; while they directed the light, they also absorbed so much of it that little of its signal remained after a few meters, rendering them useless for long-distance telecommunications. However, Robert Maurer, Keck’s boss, believed low-loss optical fiber could be produced, and made its invention his goal. Maurer’s goal was to invent a fiber with a loss, or attenuation
Attenuation
In physics, attenuation is the gradual loss in intensity of any kind of flux through a medium. For instance, sunlight is attenuated by dark glasses, X-rays are attenuated by lead, and light and sound are attenuated by water.In electrical engineering and telecommunications, attenuation affects the...
, of 20 decibels per kilometer (db/km). At the time of Keck’s hiring, the best optical fibers had attenuations of 200 to 1000 db/km.
Corning’s Optical WaveGuide
Waveguide (optics)
An optical waveguide is a physical structure that guides electromagnetic waves in the optical spectrum. Common types of optical waveguides include optical fiber and rectangular waveguides....
Project team, composed of Maurer, also a physicist, Keck, and Peter C. Schultz
Peter C. Schultz
Peter C. Schultz, Ph.D., is co-inventor of the fiber optics now used worldwide for telecommunications. He is retired President of Heraeus Tenevo Inc., a $200 million technical glass manufacturer specializing in fiber optics and semiconductor markets, and retired Chief Technical Officer North...
, a chemist, approached the task differently than other researchers. Instead of trying to improve upon existing fibers by using better raw materials, Maurer sought to explore the capabilities of new materials, including pure silica. The team devised a division of labor, where Maurer focused on physics, Schultz developed new types of glass, and Keck turned this glass into fiber.
They started work on the project as soon as Keck arrived at the beginning of 1968, and had little early success. They experimented with different glass compositions and methods of heating the glass. Finally, in August 1970, the team found their breakthrough moment: late one afternoon, after both Maurer and Schultz had left for the day, Keck took measurements of the newest batch of fibers he had heat-treated. When Keck noticed the light passed through the 65 foot fiber seemingly without any loss, he exclaimed “Good grief, what do I have here?” Keck took more measurements of the fiber, and discovered it had an attenuation of 16 db/km, exceeding the goal of 20 db/km. Upon this discovery, Keck wrote in his laboratory notebook, “Attenuation equals 16 db it says. Eureka,” followed by an exclamatory “Whoopee!”. Keck and his team had invented the first low-loss optical fiber; it was composed of heat-treated titanium-doped silica. Papers were written and patents were filed, and Corning introduced the fiber to the outside world, but it would take another 10 years before the telecommunications industry began utilizing their invention.
In the meantime, Keck continued to improve upon the fiber he had invented. He replaced the titanium oxide
Titanium dioxide
Titanium dioxide, also known as titanium oxide or titania, is the naturally occurring oxide of titanium, chemical formula . When used as a pigment, it is called titanium white, Pigment White 6, or CI 77891. Generally it comes in two different forms, rutile and anatase. It has a wide range of...
glass of 1970 with germanium oxide
Germanium dioxide
Germanium dioxide, also called germanium oxide and germania, is an inorganic compound, an oxide of germanium. Its chemical formula is GeO2. Other names include germanic acid, G-15, and ACC10380...
doped glass, and eventually achieved a consistent 4 db/km attenuation in June 1972. By the end of the 1970s, Keck had four critical inventions which secured Corning’s place as frontrunner in the optical fiber revolution: fused silica doped with titanium
Titanium
Titanium is a chemical element with the symbol Ti and atomic number 22. It has a low density and is a strong, lustrous, corrosion-resistant transition metal with a silver color....
; fused silica doped with germanium
Germanium
Germanium is a chemical element with the symbol Ge and atomic number 32. It is a lustrous, hard, grayish-white metalloid in the carbon group, chemically similar to its group neighbors tin and silicon. The isolated element is a semiconductor, with an appearance most similar to elemental silicon....
; the inside vapor deposition, or IV process, for making fiber; and the outside vapor deposition, or OV process, for making fiber, which would ultimately become the leading manufacturing method.
By 1979, Corning was mass producing the refined optical fiber invented by Keck in Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...
. In the early 1980s, the telecom company MCI
MCI Inc.
MCI, Inc. is an American telecommunications subsidiary of Verizon Communications that is headquartered in Ashburn, Virginia...
placed an order with Corning for 100,000 km of fiber a year, in effect signaling that the telecommunications industry had finally realized the revolutionary potential of Keck’s invention. Today, more than 90% of long-distance data in the United States is now sent through the optical fiber Keck and his team designed and produced. Optical fibers, which can now carry 65,000 times more information than the copper wires they replaced, ultimately allowed for the development of the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
in the early 1990s.
Later work
After his initial success with low-loss optical fiber, Keck continued working with Corning to make optical communications more viable. Keck was responsible for inventing numerous optical couplers and splitters, which greatly extended the applications of optical fiber. He was elected Editor-in-Chief of the industry-leading Journal of Lightwave Technology in 1989, a position he held until 1994.Moreover, Keck began to rise within the corporate ladder at Corning. After beginning as a senior research scientist in 1968, almost 30 years later, in April 1997, Corning appointed Keck the Division Vice President of Core Technology, Optics and Photonics – Science and Technology. During his management tenure, Keck was a key figure in establishing Corning’s modern innovation ethos, and also helped guide Corning into the emerging field of photonics. By the end of his tenure with Corning, Keck was well regarded in the scientific community as an expert within the fields of molecular spectroscopy, gradient and aspheric optics, guided-wave optics, fiber optic sensor
Fiber optic sensor
A fiber optic sensor is a sensor that uses optical fiber either as the sensing element , or as a means of relaying signals from a remote sensor to the electronics that process the signals . Fibers have many uses in remote sensing...
s and optical fiber
Optical fiber
An optical fiber is a flexible, transparent fiber made of a pure glass not much wider than a human hair. It functions as a waveguide, or "light pipe", to transmit light between the two ends of the fiber. The field of applied science and engineering concerned with the design and application of...
s, and research management.
After Corning
Keck retired from Corning in 2002, after spending 34 years with the company. Throughout his career, he served the company in numerous capacities, and at the time of his retirement he held the position of Vice President and Director of Research. Immediately after his retirement, Keck helped establish the Infotonics Technology Center in Canandaigua (town), New YorkCanandaigua (town), New York
Canandaigua is a town in Ontario County, New York, USA. The population was 7,649 at the 2000 census. The name is a native word for "the chosen spot" or "the chosen place."...
, a collaborative organization between private industry and government focused on photonics and nanotechnology innovation. Due to his expertise in both photonics and research management, he was elected the first Chief Technology Officer of Infotonics, a position he held briefly.
Dr. Keck and his wife, Ruth Keck, currently reside in Big Flats, New York
Big Flats (town), New York
Big Flats is a town in Chemung County, New York, USA, New York. The population was 7,224 at the 2000 census.The Town of Big Flats is on the west border of the county, west of Elmira, New York...
, outside of Corning, New York. He has two adult children, both of whom are also involved in technological fields: Lynne Vaia, a civil engineer, and Brian Keck, a software expert. He is involved in local philanthropy in Corning, holding board membership for the American Red Cross
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
, the Community Foundation, and the Science Center. In addition to still consulting for Infotonics, Keck remains active in the science community, serving on the oversight board for the National Institute of Standards and Technology
National Institute of Standards and Technology
The National Institute of Standards and Technology , known between 1901 and 1988 as the National Bureau of Standards , is a measurement standards laboratory, otherwise known as a National Metrological Institute , which is a non-regulatory agency of the United States Department of Commerce...
, the IPO Education Foundation Board of Directors, as well as holding the position of Vice-Chair of the National Inventors Hall of Fame Board of Directors. Furthermore, Keck is a benefactor of his alma mater, Michigan State University, where he also currently sits on the Advisory Board for the university’s College of Natural Science, of which he was a graduate.
Awards and honors
For his many contributions to the science of light, Dr. Keck has received numerous accolades. His alma mater, Michigan State University, named him a Distinguished Alumnus, and Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteRensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Stephen Van Rensselaer established the Rensselaer School on November 5, 1824 with a letter to the Rev. Dr. Samuel Blatchford, in which van Rensselaer asked Blatchford to serve as the first president. Within the letter he set down several orders of business. He appointed Amos Eaton as the school's...
granted him an honorary degree in 2004. For his discovery of low-loss optical fiber in particular, Keck was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame
National Inventors Hall of Fame
The National Inventors Hall of Fame is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to recognizing, honoring and encouraging invention and creativity through the administration of its programs. The Hall of Fame honors the men and women responsible for the great technological advances that make human,...
in 1993, after which he served as President of the National Inventors Hall of Fame Foundation. He is also a recipient of the Department of Commerce American Innovator Award and the SPIE Technology Achievement Award. For his work with photonics, Keck was honored with Laurin Publishing’s Distinction in Photonics Award in 2002.
In 2000, U.S. President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
awarded Keck, along with his fellow Corning researchers Robert Maurer and Peter Schultz, the nation’s highest honor for innovators, the National Medal of Technology
National Medal of Technology
The National Medal of Technology and Innovation is an honor granted by the President of the United States to American inventors and innovators who have made significant contributions to the development of new and important technology...
, which recognizes those who make lasting contributions to enhancing America’s competitiveness and standard of living. Their award citation read: “Their invention has enabled the telecommunications revolution, rapidly transformed our society, the way we work, learn and live – and our expectations for the future. It is the basis for one of the largest, most dynamic industries in the world today.”15
Professional membership
Keck is a member of many professional organizations, including the National Academy of EngineeringNational Academy of Engineering
The National Academy of Engineering is a government-created non-profit institution in the United States, that was founded in 1964 under the same congressional act that led to the founding of the National Academy of Sciences...
, the Optical Society of America
Optical Society of America
The Optical Society is a scientific society dedicated to advancing the study of light—optics and photonics—in theory and application, by means of publishing, organizing conferences and exhibitions, partnership with industry, and education. The organization has members in more than 100 countries...
, the Optoelectronics Industry Development Association, and the IEEE.
Patents
Throughout his career at Corning, Dr. Keck acquired 36 U.S. patents and authored more than 150 papers in the areas of optical fibers and fiber components. Selected patents are listed below:(1972-05) Maurer, et al., “Fused Silica Optical Waveguide.” (1973-01) Keck, et al., “IV Method of producing optical waveguide fibers.”
See also
- Corning Incorporated
- Robert D. MaurerRobert D. MaurerDr. Robert D. Maurer is an American industrial physicist noted for his leadership in the invention of optical fiber.-Early life:...
- Peter C. SchultzPeter C. SchultzPeter C. Schultz, Ph.D., is co-inventor of the fiber optics now used worldwide for telecommunications. He is retired President of Heraeus Tenevo Inc., a $200 million technical glass manufacturer specializing in fiber optics and semiconductor markets, and retired Chief Technical Officer North...
- Optical FiberOptical fiberAn optical fiber is a flexible, transparent fiber made of a pure glass not much wider than a human hair. It functions as a waveguide, or "light pipe", to transmit light between the two ends of the fiber. The field of applied science and engineering concerned with the design and application of...