TI engineers elected as IEEE Fellows

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--Three engineers from Texas Instruments Inc. (TI) have been elected as IEEE Fellows for "extraordinary accomplishments" in the semiconductor space and their contributions to the electrical engineering community.

TI's Ajith Amerasekera, director of Kilby Labs, Ahmad Bahai, Analog Chief Technology Officer, and Luigi Colombo, TI Fellow in the External Development and Manufacturing (EDM) group, all received the IEEE's highest level of membership, joining 19 other TI engineers who hold the title of IEEE Fellow.

Dr. Ajith Amerasekera received his honor for "leadership in semiconductor innovation and contributions to circuit design," especially for his work on high-current and high-voltage effects in submicron CMOS technologies which led to the first predictive models in practical device and circuit simulators.

Amerasekera's research helped foster an improved understanding of semiconductor device robustness, including electrostatic discharge (ESD), latchup physics and circuit-level gate oxide integrity.

Amerasekera holds 30 patents, has published over 100 papers in technical journals and written four books on semiconductor electronics. He currently leads TI's Kilby Labs, which the firm describes as its "high-risk innovation centers focused entirely on delivering breakthrough technology."

Dr. Ahmad Bahai received his honor for work on multi-carrier wireless and wire-line communication systems, and is recognized for being the co-inventor of the multi-carrier spread spectrum theory used in 4G and power line communication.

Previously CTO and director of research labs at National Semiconductor, Bahai now serves as CTO of TI's Analog business and director of TI's analog and mixed-signal labs. He has over 120 IEEE/IEE publications, 26 issued and two pending patents on systems and circuits, and has written a textbook on orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing.

Dr. Luigi Colombo was honored for contributions to infrared (IR) detectors and high-k gate dielectrics. His research on the development of the HgCdTe growth process which helped TI become important in the defense space, was of particular note, especially as it helped TI become a provider of IR detectors for military imaging applications, such as night vision and heat-seeking missiles.

Dr. Colombo also helped to establish high-k materials technology as important in the semiconductor industry. He has authored more than 130 articles in journals and proceedings, written three book chapters and holds 73 U.S. and 18 international patents, with an additional 20 patents pending in the areas of IR materials, ferroelectric memories, high-k, metal gates, device integration and graphene.

Rich Templeton, TI's president and CEO said innovation was the foundation of TI's 80-plus year history, adding, "We're fortunate to have some of the brightest minds working at TI."

As a company, TI takes research and development very seriously, having already invested $5 billion in R&D over the last three years. The company also works closely with universities and industry consortia, offering both funding and expertise.


TI engineers elected as IEEE Fellows