Bob Dobkin: Creativity is the key to design. (The Profession Featured Inductee: Hall Of Fame).(Linear Technology co-founder)

Electronic Design, October, 2002

Bob Dobkin is probably best known in the industry for two things--co-founding Linear Technology Corp. in 1981 with Robert Swanson, and his analog design prowess. His main contributions to analog design are his development of the first three-terminal adjustable voltage regulator and the first bipolar low-dropout regulator, as well as his boosting of early op-amp speed. Dobkin believes that starting LTC is his biggest accomplishment. "When we started, the combination of the business end with Bob and the technology end with myself is what made the company a success," he says. Today, he is the firm's vice president and chief technology officer.

Before Linear Technology came along, Dobkin was director of advanced circuit development at National Semiconductor...