A Transistor Museum Interview with Jack Haenichen The Development of the 2N2222 – The Most Successful and Widely Used Transistor Ever Developed.
Curator’s Introduction While at the Motorola Semiconductor Division in the late 1950s and early 1960s, John (Jack) Haenichen was the transistor device designer responsible for the development of the annular process, which provided the basis for the fabrication of a very successful line of silicon NPN and PNP transistors manufactured by Motorola. Building on this initial breakthrough, Jack further refined the transistor device design and process activities to include the STAR geometry.  This pioneering work culminated with the introduction of the 2N2222 series of transistors by Motorola at the 1962 IRE Convention.  Since the initial product launch, the 2N2222 has become the most widely used and universally recognized transistor of all time.  Billions of units have been manufactured over the past 45 years and there is continuing high volume annual production.  This Oral History will highlight Jack’s breakthrough transistor device and process achievements at Motorola in the 1960s. In addition, Jack’s detailed recollections of the early days of Motorola’s silicon transistor program provide a unique and first-hand account of the state of semiconductor technology coincident with the development of modern transistors and ICs. Go To Haenichen Oral History, Page 2 Haenichen Historic Audio Recordings	Curator’s Introduction Here is a brief summary of Jack Haenichen’s major career accomplishments and positions: ● He joined the Motorola Semiconductor Division in 1959, when this organization was still making only germanium transistors, and participated in the first silicon transistor work at Motorola. ● In the early 1960s, as a device designer at Motorola, Jack developed the key device structures and processes, including the annular process and the STAR geometry, which provided the basis for the highly successful 2N2222 line of transistors. ● Jack was granted numerous patents related to the annular device structure and processes.  In addition, he wrote extensively and made frequent industry presentations, on the subject of 1960s transistor technology. ● Jack was promoted to a Corporate Vice President position at Motorola in the late 1960s and remained with them until retiring in 1975. ● Jack began a second career with the State of Arizona and managed various state organizations involved with energy development.  He retired from this second career in 2002, as the Deputy Director of the Arizona State Economic Development Department. ______________
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