Guillermo Gonzalez Camarena, a Mexican engineer, is known as the inventor of color television.
Early Years
Guillermo González Camarena was born in Guadalajara, Mexico in 1917. His parents moved to Mexico City when he was 3 years old.
Early on, González Camarena was interested in electrical toys and had a laboratory in his parents’ basement where he built them. At the age of 12, he built a radio transmitter.
In 1930, at the age of 13, he enrolled in the School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineers (ESIME).
Technological Talent
Accordingly, González Camarena had a natural talent for handling technology and began working with television systems.
In 1932, at the age of 15, he obtained a radio operator’s license. That year, González Camarena built his first television system. He spent the next few years working on his trichromatic system, using parts from decomposed television sets. While experimenting, he also worked at a radio station. At the age of 17, González Camarena built a television camera.
Later, he studied at the School of Engineers of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).
In 1940, González Camarena invented the first Trichromatic Field Sequential System. The technology of his system allowed moving images to be transmitted in variations of red, green and blue to achieve a spectrum of color.
In 1942, he acquired a patent for a chromoscopic adapter for television, by which cameras could capture in color. He patented both in Mexico and in the United States. This was the first patent in the world for color television.
The title of the patent was Registro de un adaptador cromoscópico para aparatos de television (Color Television System Number 1). The patent contains a detailed description of the model and is accompanied by three plates with seven drawings. The sequential trichromatic field television system of fields used three color lenses to separate the television signal into red, green, and blue, allowing the transmission of color images.
Prior to González Camarena’s invention, televisions only broadcast images in black and white.
Career
In 1946, González Camarena obtained permission to open an experimental television station. Programs were transmitted with receivers in different areas of Mexico City.
During his career, González Camarena worked for several telecommunications companies. Later, he established his own company.
In 1947, he was granted authorization to conduct experimental transmissions on the air. González Camarena designed and built the equipment.
Legacy
Guillermo González Camarena is considered one of the pioneers in the history of television. His contributions left a legacy that continues.
The contributions of Guillermo González Camarena helped modernize how the world is now seen.
On January 21, 1963, the first color transmission in television took place.
As a means of communication, television was an important change for Mexico.
The 18th of April is considered the Day of the Television Technician in memory of González Camarena.
Lastly, the Guillermo González Camarena Foundation was founded in Mexico in 1995.
Canal 5
Canal 5 (Channel 5) is a Mexican free-to-air television network. It was founded as XHGC-TDT Channel 5 in Mexico City in 1952 by Guillermo González Camarena.
In 1963, XHGC became the first station in Mexico to broadcast in color.
Photo credit: Guillermo González Camarena y la televisión a color – Nueva Escuela Mexicana Digital (sep.gob.mx)
Read more about technology in Mexico: Technology – All México (allmexico.store)
Author: AllMexico.store
References
Milenio https://www.milenio.com/cultura/gonzalez-camarena-mexicano-invento-tv-color
Did you know?
González Camarena was multifaceted. He enjoyed music and folklore and was a composer. His most famous song is called “Río colorado”. He also enjoyed astronomy and Mexican history. González Camarena built his own telescope, resulting in head of the Astronomical Association of Mexico.
Columbia College of Chicago asked him to design a television system. Later, the college awarded him an honorary degree of Professor Honoris Causa. In September 1954, he was awarded the title of Doctor Honoris Causa.
He advocated for tele-education for medical schools and remote locations in Mexico.
