It was the decade of diminishing dimensions. Hundreds of thousands of components could now be packed on a microchip the size of a thumbnail. But while components grew smaller, competition in the world of electronics grew fiercer.
With U.S. supremacy in semiconductors being challenged, the nation invested more in basic research. Large, multidisciplinary research centers sprang up in university laboratories across the country, CSL included.
With U.S. supremacy in semiconductors being challenged, the nation invested more in basic research. Large, multidisciplinary research centers sprang up in university laboratories across the country, CSL included.
Semiconductor research in the 1980's.
Graduate students W. Kopp and T. J. Drummond prepare a semiconductor thin film by molecular beam epitaxy.
Graduate students W. Kopp and T. J. Drummond prepare a semiconductor thin film by molecular beam epitaxy.
Very High Speed Integrated Circuits
CSL won a major VHSIC contract to build reliable very high-speed
integrated circuits.
CSL won a major VHSIC contract to build reliable very high-speed
integrated circuits.
Sizing Up the Competition
The Semiconductor Research Corporation established CSL as a lead institution in the design of very large-scale integration (VLSI) circuits.
The Semiconductor Research Corporation established CSL as a lead institution in the design of very large-scale integration (VLSI) circuits.
Where Dreams Meet
Computers and space have been inseparably linked, and CSL has been part of the adventure. CSL and the Department of Computer Science created a NASA Center for Excellence in Aerospace Computing.
Computers and space have been inseparably linked, and CSL has been part of the adventure. CSL and the Department of Computer Science created a NASA Center for Excellence in Aerospace Computing.
Entering a Nano World
To carry out research in the realm of the ultra-small, CSL professors helped to form the EpiCenter and purchase an electron beam lithography machine.
To carry out research in the realm of the ultra-small, CSL professors helped to form the EpiCenter and purchase an electron beam lithography machine.
Routing and Reliability
CSL did cutting-edge work on the scheduling and routing of information packets.
CSL did cutting-edge work on the scheduling and routing of information packets.
New Frontiers in Control
Adaptive controllers and manufacturing systems were among the major themes in the control work of the 1980s.
Adaptive controllers and manufacturing systems were among the major themes in the control work of the 1980s.
Frequency Hopping
By studying the detection of collisions, CSL made significant improvements to coded frequency-hopped communication systems.
By studying the detection of collisions, CSL made significant improvements to coded frequency-hopped communication systems.
The Wave of the Future
The Signal and Image Processing group had an impact on computer vision, video compression, computer animation, image reconstruction, and CT scanning.
The Signal and Image Processing group had an impact on computer vision, video compression, computer animation, image reconstruction, and CT scanning.
Robotics Revisited
CSL solved two significant problems in robotics.
CSL solved two significant problems in robotics.
Beckman and CSRD
CSL professors played a key role in establishing two internationally respected centers of research at U of I.
CSL professors played a key role in establishing two internationally respected centers of research at U of I.