Robert Dennard

Inventor of RAM

United States of America

Robert Dennard invented one of the most significant advances in computer technology: dynamic random access memory, best known as "RAM."

Robert Dennard was Born in Terrell, Texas; on Sep 5 1932 he received BS (1954) and MS (1956) degrees in Electrical Engineering from Southern Methodist University. In 1958 he received a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Carnegie Institute of Technology and joined IBM's Research Division.

In 1966, Dennard invented one-transistor Dynamic Random Access Memory (or DRAM, better known simply as RAM).At that time, he was at IBM's Thomas J. Watson Research Center, where he has worked on field-effect transistors, integrated circuit design, and memory cells and organizations.

Dennard received the patent for one-transistor DRAM in 1968.

Before his invention, computers were too large and heavy to be installed in private homes or desk tops. In fact, they required separate storage space and air conditioning to cool them.This invention of one-transistor Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) allowed major increases in computer memory density and decreases in cost.