Robert Bartolini was not directly involved with VideoDisc, but he was on the SelectaVision Holotape team, which used holography to store video on reels of plastic film. A chapter about this project appears in the book RCA and the VideoDisc. In the above photo he is shown with the apparatus used to record Holotape interference patterns. The darkened glasses provided protection against an errant laser beam. After the Holotape project was discontinued, Robert Bartolini and Alan Bell engaged in optical data storage research which in 1982 resulted in a recordable disc with a 100-billion-bit storage capacity. Some of the patents issued for this optical technology may at first glance appear to be CED-related. These are not listed in the CED Patents Table but can be viewed from Dr. Bartolini's patent link further down this page.

Robert A. Bartolini received a BSEE (1964) from Villanova University, an MSEE (1966) from Case Institute of Technology, and a PhD (1972) from the University of Pennsylvania. In 1966 Dr. Bartolini joined the technical staff of RCA Laboratories, where he has been involved in optical systems developments for a number of years. His work has included the development of optical recording materials for relief-phase and volume-phase holography, integrated optic devices, and optical data storage applications. He currently is responsible for the research and development of materials for optical data storage applications, such as optical discs, and is also Project Scientist under a Government contract for studies of optical recording materials. He holds twelve U.S. patents, and has received two RCA Laboratories Achievement Awards.

Prior to joining the staff at RCA Laboratories, he was a teaching assistant on the faculty of Case Institute of Technology and he is presently a lecturer in the Electronic Physics Department of the Evening Division at LaSalle College in Philadelphia. Dr. Bartolini is a senior member of IEEE and a member of Eta Kappa Nu, Tau Beta Pi, Sigma Xi, American Institute of Physics, and Optical Society of America. He is listed in American Men and Women of Science.
- RCA 1979 Company Biography

Princeton, NJ (June 20, 2002) - Dr. Robert A. Bartolini, Corporate Vice President at Princeton-based technology development firm Sarnoff Corporation, is the recipient of the 2002 J. Stanley Morehouse Memorial Award for leadership in the engineering profession from the Villanova Engineering Alumni Society of Villanova University, Villanova, PA.

The award, the highest honor that the Villanova College of Engineering can bestow on one of its alumni, was given to Dr. Bartolini "in recognition of his many significant professional achievements in the field of optoelectronics, his outstanding business and organizational leadership at the Sarnoff Corporation, and his contributions to engineering education and continued interest in and support of Villanova."

Dr. Bartolini, a native of Waterbury, CT is a resident of West Windsor, NJ. He holds a BSEE from Villanova University. At Sarnoff Corporation he is responsible for the Semiconductor & Electronics Unit and for International Operations. His work in recordable optical disks and related fields in optoelectronics and semiconductors have earned him 22 U.S. patents. He has published or presented over 100 technical papers.

"This is a tremendous and unexpected honor," said Dr. Bartolini. "My education at Villanova played a vital role in preparing me for my career. I am doubly grateful that the College of Engineering has seen fit to recognize my achievements with this award."

Dr. Bartolini joined RCA's David Sarnoff Research Center, now Sarnoff Corporation, in 1966 and has advanced through a series of research and management positions.

He is a Fellow of both the Lasers and Electro Optic Society (LEOS) of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) and the Optical Society of America, and a member of the Eta Kappa Nu, Tau Beta Pi, and Sigma Xi national honorary societies. He has chaired many international technical conferences, and has served as chairman of professional boards and committees, a member of several association boards of directors, a national lecturer, and an editor of technical journals. He was President of LEOS in 1982.

In addition to his degree from Villanova, Dr. Bartolini holds an MSEE from Case Western Reserve University and a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania.
- 2002 Sarnoff Corporation Press Release

Robert Bartolini appeared in some publicity photos for the RCA SelectaVision Holotape system. One picture appears at the top of this page. Other RCA employees who appeared in Holotape publicity photos include Robert Bitting, Charles Carroll, William Hannan, Thomas McDermott, and Ashley Rhodes.

Search for patents issued to Robert Alfred Bartolini.

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