How Robert Noyce Invented the Modern Integrated Circuit
Robert Noyce's 1959 patent for a semiconductor device that uses evaporated metal leads to connect components directly on a single silicon chip.
Original patent title: “Semiconductor device-and-lead structure”
Robert Noyce's 1959 patent for a semiconductor device that uses evaporated metal leads to connect components directly on a single silicon chip. Granted to Fairchild Semiconductor Corp in 1961 with 165 forward citations, and it is now in the public domain.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes the planar process, a method for creating integrated circuits by layering materials on a silicon wafer. Instead of using fragile wires to connect individual transistors, the invention uses a thin, evaporated metal film deposited directly onto the silicon surface. This creates a reliable, permanent electrical connection between components on the same chip. It effectively allowed engineers to mass-produce complex electronic circuits as a single, solid piece of material.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover the invention of the transistor itself.
- Does not cover non-planar methods of manufacturing semiconductors.
- Does not cover the specific chemical doping recipes used to create the P-N junctions.
- Does not cover discrete components that are not integrated onto a single substrate.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
Noyce realized that by using a protective insulating layer of silicon oxide, he could 'print' the wiring directly onto the chip, solving the problem of how to connect tiny components without manual soldering.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Modern microprocessors like Intel Core series
Smartphone application processors
Memory chips in solid state drives
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This is the foundational patent for the modern computer age. By enabling the mass production of integrated circuits, it moved electronics from bulky, hand-wired assemblies to the compact, powerful chips that drive every smartphone, computer, and car today. It was the key innovation that allowed Fairchild Semiconductor to dominate the early silicon industry.
Filed
July 30, 1959
Granted
April 25, 1961
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Every major semiconductor company today, including Intel, TSMC, and Samsung, relies on the fundamental principles established in this patent. Robert Noyce himself went on to co-found Intel, which scaled this technology into the global standard for computing.
Market impact
This patent triggered the transition from discrete electronics to the integrated circuit era, effectively creating the multi-billion dollar semiconductor industry. It allowed for the exponential growth in computing power known as Moore's Law by making it feasible to pack millions of transistors onto a single piece of silicon.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes the planar process, a method for creating integrated circuits by layering materials on a silicon wafer. Instead of using fragile wires to connect individual transistors, the invention uses a thin, evaporated metal film deposited directly onto the silicon surface. This creates a reliable, permanent electrical connection between components on the same chip. It effectively allowed engineers to mass-produce complex electronic circuits as a single, solid piece of material.
The clever bit
Noyce realized that by using a protective insulating layer of silicon oxide, he could 'print' the wiring directly onto the chip, solving the problem of how to connect tiny components without manual soldering.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover the invention of the transistor itself.
- Does not cover non-planar methods of manufacturing semiconductors.
- Does not cover the specific chemical doping recipes used to create the P-N junctions.
- Does not cover discrete components that are not integrated onto a single substrate.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
This patent is in the public domain
See the Freedom to Build guide — what is free to use, what is not, and how to cite this patent.
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Moderate
Citation count
40/40
Highly cited
Claim breadth
0/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$42K – $134K
Midpoint $84K · expired or expiring · industry ×1.4
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Noyce, R. N. (1961). How Robert Noyce Invented the Modern Integrated Circuit (U.S. Patent No. 2,981,877). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2981877/noyce-planar-integrated-circuit
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Robert Noyce Invented the Modern Integrated Circuit cover?
Robert Noyce's 1959 patent for a semiconductor device that uses evaporated metal leads to connect components directly on a single silicon chip.
Who owns patent US 2981877?
Fairchild Semiconductor Corp owns this patent, granted in 1961.
When does this patent expire?
This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely.
What is patent US 2981877 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 165 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This is the foundational patent for the modern computer age. By enabling the mass production of integrated circuits, it moved electronics from bulky, hand-wired assemblies to the compact, powerful chips that drive every smartphone, computer, and car today. It was the key innovation that allowed Fairchild Semiconductor to dominate the early silicon industry.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover the invention of the transistor itself.
Patent monitoring