Born in 1941 in Vicenza, italy, Federico Faggin was the physicist and electrical engineer who invented the microprocessor.  After receiving a doctorate in physics from the University of Padua, Faggin moved to Palo Alto, California, in 1968.  In 1970, working with other computer engineers at Intel, Faggin created the Intel 4004, the world’s first microprocessor.  He also co-developed the Intel 8008, the world’s first 8-bit chip.  Currently, Faggin is the CEO of Foveon, a Santa Clara, California company who produced an image sensor used in digital photography.

*posted October 24 - October 28, 2005