The father of the LED complained that he was forgotten

The first discoverer of light-emitting diodes said his research was the foundation of the new invention that received the Nobel Prize in 2014, but it was not recognized.

In 1962, Nick Holonyak Jr. is the person who detects the red light emitting diodes, or the red LED (Light Emitting Diode) . For years, Nick Holonyak Jr. and his colleagues all thought that he deserved a Nobel Prize for this research.

The 2014 Nobel Prize for Physics was announced on 8 October to honor the discovery of blue light-emitting diodes that create a more energy-efficient and brighter source of white light. Blue LEDs can be combined with red and green to produce white light. This is considered a solution to replace traditional incandescent bulbs with more efficient features.

Nick Holonyak Jr, who discovered the red LED in 1962. Photo taken in 2010. (Photo: news.illinois.edu)

According to Holonyak, he and his invention in 1962 were ignored. The question he posed is, why blue LEDs are recognized, while the first light-emitting diodes are not.

In an interview with the Associated Press, the 85-year-old professor said that blue LED could never appear without the research of him and his colleagues in the early years of the 60s. Blue LED is done on the basis of continuing the evolution process starting from red LED, paving the way for the introduction of television screens, computers or smartphones later on.

For years, he thought he would never receive a Nobel Prize and accept it."I'm old now. But I still find this shameful , " said retired researcher at the University of Illinois.

Holonyak's comments are not synonymous with underestimating the work of three Nobel Prize winners this year. But he believes that the invention of blue LED cannot separate the original LED."I think it's not fair to them," Holonyak said of those who studied the red LED from the first day.

According to Delaina Amos, a professor at the University of Louisville (USA), the blue LED deserves the honor and invention of Holonyak."I think his research (Holonyak) is fundamental and very worthy , " she said.

The 2014 Nobel Prize for Physics is for three scientists, Isamu Akasaki, Hiroshi Amano and Shuji Nakamura. While published, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences briefly mentioned the study of Holonyak.