Department History (Armstrong)

⁵ Armstrong worked intensely at his profession throughout his life, starting with the invention of the regenerative detector while still an undergraduate student, continuing with the super-regenerative and super-heterodyne circuits and wideband FM radio, and ending with FM multiplexing a few months before his death in 1954. During his lifetime he won many awards and numerous honorary degrees. The importance of his work drew him into contact with the other giants of radio and electronics, and, as may be expected, many of these interactions developed into rivalries, which spurred the profession but ultimately hurt Armstrong personally. Armstrong was also a dedicated, civic-minded individual who aided the United States in both world wars. He was honored by both the American and French governments for these contributions.

The following table summarizes the major milestones in Armstrong's career. For additional information about Armstrong's life and technical contributions, see "Edwin Armstrong: Pioneer of the Airwaves," by Professor Yannis Tsividis (Columbia Magazine, Spring 2002).

Armstrong and Radio Communications

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