The invention of the backplane connectors is credited to the late Dr. Robert Metcalfe, an American computer scientist and entrepreneur. He is best known for his invention of the Ethernet, a local area network (LAN) technology that is still widely used today.

Metcalfe was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1946. He attended Harvard University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in 1969. He then went on to earn a master’s degree in computer science from MIT in 1972.

Metcalfe’s career began at the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) in 1973. While there, he worked on the development of the Ethernet, a local area network (LAN) technology that allowed computers to communicate with each other. He also developed the first version of the backplane connectors, which are used to connect multiple circuit boards together.

The backplane connectors were designed to provide a reliable and efficient way to connect multiple circuit boards together. The connectors are typically made of metal and are designed to fit into a backplane, which is a printed circuit board that contains the electrical connections between the various components of a computer system.

The backplane connectors are used in a variety of applications, including computer systems, telecommunications, and industrial automation. They are also used in the automotive industry, where they are used to connect the various components of a car’s electrical system.

Metcalfe’s invention of the backplane connectors revolutionized the way computers and other electronic devices are connected. The connectors are now used in a variety of applications, from consumer electronics to industrial automation.

Metcalfe’s invention of the backplane connectors earned him numerous awards and accolades. In 1995, he was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. He was also awarded the National Medal of Technology and Innovation in 1997.

Metcalfe passed away in 2020 at the age of 74. He left behind a legacy of innovation and invention that has had a lasting impact on the world of technology. His invention of the backplane connectors revolutionized the way computers and other electronic devices are connected, and his work continues to be used in a variety of applications today.