On Thu, 18 Nov 2004 17:21:04 +0000 (UTC), Stewart Pinkerton
wrote:

OK, I'll 'fess up. The bipolar transistor was invented in 1947, as is
well known, but almost all modern electronics uses MOSFETS, which were
patented in 1928 by the brilliant Julius Lilenfield, who also patented
the junction FET in the same year.

However, the advance in solid-state amplifier techniques since that
time has been massively greater than that of the thermionic amplifier.

But of course he never actually managed to make one work. I think that
is a pretty important part of any claim of priority.

d
Pearce Consulting
http://www.pearce.uk.com