Reticon
Encyclopedia
The Reticon Corporation was incorporated by Christopher Raanes on Thursday, January 28, 1971 in the Sunnyvale, CA. It is one of several semiconductor companies formed in the 60s and 70s by former employees of Fairchild Semiconductor
. Intel, another one of these companies, was an early investor, holding a 22% share in the company.
Co-founder, Gene Weckler, started Reticon after several years at Shockley
and eight years at Fairchild Semiconductor
. He served as VP from March 1971 until January 1997. He states that Reticon developed and marketed the first solid state imaging devices, the first digital imaging cameras, and the first computer controlled vision systems marketed in the USA. They also introduced the first commercially available switched capacitor filters, and a variety of discrete time analog signal processing. Other founders included Ed Snow and John Rado.
The company is known as a pioneer in certain technologies including the BBD (Bucket-brigade device) and CCD (Charge-coupled device
). This included the creation of integrated circuits such as the SAD1024, SAD4096, R5101 and R5601. These were popularly used by companies such as MXR
, Boss Corporation
, A/DA and others in various electric guitar effects such as analog delay, chorus and flanging devices through the 1970s and 1980s.
In 1977, EG&G
made an offer to buy Reticon, and ultimately bought the company.
In June 1999, EG&G
purchased Perkin-Elmer Analytical Instruments for $425 million. Reticon then became the new PerkinElmer Optoelectronics division.
Gene went on to form Rad-icon Imaging Corporation in 1997, where he continues to work in semi-retirement.
Fairchild Semiconductor
Fairchild Semiconductor International, Inc. is an American semiconductor company based in San Jose, California. Founded in 1957, it was a pioneer in transistor and integrated circuit manufacturing...
. Intel, another one of these companies, was an early investor, holding a 22% share in the company.
Co-founder, Gene Weckler, started Reticon after several years at Shockley
Shockley
Shockley is the family name of* William Shockley — Nobel Prize–winning physicist* D.J. Shockley — Atlanta Falcons football quarterbackIt can also refer to* Detective Ben Shockley, the protagonist of the 1977 movie The Gauntlet...
and eight years at Fairchild Semiconductor
Fairchild Semiconductor
Fairchild Semiconductor International, Inc. is an American semiconductor company based in San Jose, California. Founded in 1957, it was a pioneer in transistor and integrated circuit manufacturing...
. He served as VP from March 1971 until January 1997. He states that Reticon developed and marketed the first solid state imaging devices, the first digital imaging cameras, and the first computer controlled vision systems marketed in the USA. They also introduced the first commercially available switched capacitor filters, and a variety of discrete time analog signal processing. Other founders included Ed Snow and John Rado.
The company is known as a pioneer in certain technologies including the BBD (Bucket-brigade device) and CCD (Charge-coupled device
Charge-coupled device
A charge-coupled device is a device for the movement of electrical charge, usually from within the device to an area where the charge can be manipulated, for example conversion into a digital value. This is achieved by "shifting" the signals between stages within the device one at a time...
). This included the creation of integrated circuits such as the SAD1024, SAD4096, R5101 and R5601. These were popularly used by companies such as MXR
MXR
MXR, also known as MXR Innovations, was a manufacturer of guitar effects units, co-founded in 1973 by Keith Barr and Terry Sherwood . MXR was based in the United States in Rochester, New York. MXR Innovations, Inc. was incorporated in 1974...
, Boss Corporation
Boss Corporation
Boss is a manufacturer of effects pedals for electric guitar and bass guitar. It is a division of the Roland Corporation, a Japanese manufacturer that specializes in musical equipment and accessories...
, A/DA and others in various electric guitar effects such as analog delay, chorus and flanging devices through the 1970s and 1980s.
In 1977, EG&G
EG&G
EG&G, formally known as Edgerton, Germeshausen, and Grier, Inc., is a United States national defense contractor and provider of management and technical services. The company was involved in contracting services to the United States government during World War II, and conducted weapons research and...
made an offer to buy Reticon, and ultimately bought the company.
In June 1999, EG&G
EG&G
EG&G, formally known as Edgerton, Germeshausen, and Grier, Inc., is a United States national defense contractor and provider of management and technical services. The company was involved in contracting services to the United States government during World War II, and conducted weapons research and...
purchased Perkin-Elmer Analytical Instruments for $425 million. Reticon then became the new PerkinElmer Optoelectronics division.
Gene went on to form Rad-icon Imaging Corporation in 1997, where he continues to work in semi-retirement.