Vladimir Zworykin
Russian-American engineer who developed electronic television at RCA
- Lived
- 94 yrs
- 1888 – 1982
- Works listed
- 1
- Camera tube
- Honours
- 2
- Most recent 1966
- Profile views
- 0
- 0 followers
Vladimir Zworykin was a Russian-American engineer who developed the iconoscope camera tube and the kinescope picture tube at RCA, key parts of electronic television. He also led RCA’s work on the electron microscope. He died in 1982.
Biography
Background
Zworykin studied at the St Petersburg Institute of Technology under Boris Rosing, an early TV experimenter. He served as a radio officer in the First World War and emigrated to the US in 1918.
Westinghouse
At Westinghouse he filed a 1923 patent for an electronic television system and earned a PhD at the University of Pittsburgh.
RCA
David Sarnoff hired him to RCA in 1929. He developed the iconoscope and kinescope, and RCA showed electronic TV at the 1939 World’s Fair, though Philo Farnsworth won a key patent case.
Electron microscope
He also led RCA’s development of the electron microscope and later worked on medical electronics. He received the National Medal of Science in 1966.
Timeline
-
1888
Born in Murom, Russian Empire
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1918
Emigrates to the US
-
1923
Television patent application
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1929
Joins RCA
-
1933
Iconoscope unveiled
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1939
RCA television at the World’s Fair
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1966
National Medal of Science
-
1982
Dies
-
1982
Died, aged 94
Notable works
-
1933
Iconoscope Camera tube
Awards and honours
-
IEEE Medal of Honor
1951
-
National Medal of Science
1966
Did you know?
-
1
He said the best part of TV was the off switch.
-
2
He studied under Boris Rosing in Russia.
-
3
He worked on early night-vision devices.
Connections
Frequently asked
Who is Vladimir Zworykin?
Vladimir Zworykin was a Russian-American engineer who developed the iconoscope camera tube and the kinescope picture tube at RCA, key parts of electronic television. He also led RCA’s work on the electron microscope. He died in 1982.
When did Vladimir Zworykin die?
Vladimir Zworykin died on 29 July 1982 at the age of 94.
Where is Vladimir Zworykin from?
Vladimir Zworykin was born in Murom, Russian Empire.
What is Vladimir Zworykin known for?
Vladimir Zworykin is best known for Iconoscope camera tube; kinescope picture tube; electron microscope work at RCA.
What awards has Vladimir Zworykin received?
Notable honours include IEEE Medal of Honor (1951), National Medal of Science (1966).
References
- Vladimir K. Zworykin — Wikipedia. Wikipedia. Retrieved 4 November 2026.
- Vladimir K. Zworykin — Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved 4 November 2026.
- Vladimir K. Zworykin (Q296545) — structured data. Wikidata. Retrieved 4 November 2026.
Includes material from the Wikipedia article “Vladimir K. Zworykin”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. That text is available under the same licence. Learn more
External links
About this profile
- Researched by the TrackFame editorial team; reviewed by Sanjay Sokal under our editorial policy
- First published 4 November 2026
- Last updated
Cite this page
“Vladimir Zworykin.” TrackFame, last updated 4 November 2026. https://trackfame.com/person/vladimir-zworykin
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