Guillermo González Camarena was a pioneering Mexican engineer who invented one of the earliest color television systems in 1940.
Born on February 17, 1917, in Guadalajara, Jalisco, González Camarena showed an early passion for electronics, building his own radio transmitter by age 12 and a television camera by 17. He studied at the Instituto Politécnico Nacional in Mexico City, where he developed the “Sistema Tricromático Secuencial de Campos” (Sequential Trichromatic Field System), a revolutionary method for transmitting color images using red, green, and blue filters.
In 1940, he patented this system in Mexico, making him one of the first inventors globally to create a functional color TV transmission method. His invention was notable for its simplicity and affordability, which made it more accessible than other competing technologies of the time. It was later adapted for use in NASA space missions, showcasing its versatility and global impact.
González Camarena’s work laid the foundation for modern color broadcasting in Mexico and beyond. He also founded Laboratorios Gon-Cam, where he continued to innovate in television technology. His contributions earned him recognition as a national icon in science and engineering.
Tragically, he died in a car accident on April 18, 1965, at the age of 48. Despite his early death, his legacy endures. In Mexico, February 17 is celebrated as the Day of the Inventor in his honor, and his name is associated with creativity, innovation, and national pride.
Guillermo González Camarena’s invention not only transformed how people experienced television but also demonstrated Mexico’s capacity for technological leadership on the world stage.
With information from GBM / Wikipedia
