Company History Timeline — 1970s
The company continues its tradition of innovation.As this decade—marked by significant growth in earnings and employment—draws to a close, Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard delegate day-to-day operating management of the company to John Young.
1970
- Automatic microwave network analyzer is introducedan indispensable tool for the design and manufacture of microwave systems.
- Net Revenue: $365 million!Employees: 16,000.
1971
- Work with lasers produces a laser interferometer capable of measuring to millionths of an inch.必威体育登录手机The laser interferometer, known as the jewel in Agilents crown, is still the tool of choice in microchip manufacturing.Similar technology produces a laser instrument that becomes the first electronic surveying tool.
1973
- First chemical analysis system controlled by a microprocessor provides simplified operation and improved results.
- Logic analyzer becomes the tool of choice for engineers in the fast-growing field of digital electronics.
1975
- The introduction of a standard digital interface system simplifies instrument systems.The electronics industry adopts the HP IB (Interface Bus) as an international standard. This allows up to14 instruments per bus to connect easily to a computer.HP-IB and HP programming language make off-the-shelf test systems possible.
1977
- John Young is named president (appointed CEO in 1978).
1979
- First integrated microprocessor development system combines all the tools needed by hardware and software engineers.
- Development of fused-silica capillary columns simplifies chemical analysis and allows more compounds to be analyzed.
- New diode-array detector for chemical analysis provides rapid results by measuring multiple wavelengths of light simultaneously.