Atalla passò alla [[Hewlett Packard]], dove creò i Laboratori di Ricerca HP (HP Labs), e continuò le sue ricerche sui [[diodi Schottky]]<ref name="Bassett">{{cite bookCita libro|last1cognome1=Bassett |first1nome1=Ross Knox |titletitolo=To the Digital Age: Research Labs, Start-up Companies, and the Rise of MOS Technology |datedata=2007 |publishereditore=[[Johns Hopkins University Press]] |isbn=9780801886393978-0-8018-8639-3 |pagep=328 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UUbB3d2UnaAC&pg=PA328}}</ref>, che portò in produzione.
Nel 1968 sviluppò il primo display a [[LED]] mai commercializzato .
==Fairchild Semiconductor (1969-1972)==
Nel 1969, lasciò HP per andare in [[Fairchild Semiconductor]]<ref name="Bassett"></ref>, dove ricoprì il ruolo di Vice President e General Manager della divisione Microwave & Optoelectronics,<ref>{{cite bookCita libro|titletitolo=Annual Report |datedata=1969 |publishereditore=[[Fairchild Camera and Instrument Corporation]] |pagep=6 |url=http://corphist.computerhistory.org/corphist/documents/doc-45621ba5d2e49.pdf}}</ref> dalla sua costituzione nel maggio 1969 fino a novembre 1971.<ref>{{cite journalCita pubblicazione|titletitolo=Solid State Technology |journalrivista=Solid State Technology |volume=15 |pagep=79 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mCxKAQAAIAAJ |publishereditore=Cowan Publishing Corporation |quotecitazione=Dr. Atalla was general manager of the Microwave & Optoelectronics division from its inception in May 1969 until November 1971 when it was incorporated into the Semiconductor Components Group.}}</ref> Continuò a lavorare sui [[LED]], proponendo l'idea di utilizzarli come indicatori luminosi e lettori ottici nel 1971.<ref>{{cite journalCita pubblicazione|titletitolo=Laser Focus with Fiberoptic Communications |journalrivista=Laser Focus with Fiberoptic Communications |datedata=1971 |volume=7 |pagep=28 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e8QpAQAAMAAJ |publishereditore=Advanced Technology Publication |quotecitazione=Its chief, John Atalla — Greene's predecessor at Hewlett-Packard — sees early applications for LEDs in small displays, principally for indicator lights. Because of their compatibility with integrated circuits, these light emitters can be valuable in fault detection. “Reliability has already been demonstrated beyond any doubt,” Atalla continues. “No special power supplies are required. Design takes no time, you just put the diode in. So introduction becomes strictly an economic question." '''Bright Outlook for Optical Readers''' Atalla is particularly sanguine about applications of diodes in high-volume optical readers.}}</ref> Lasciò Fairchild nel 1972.<ref name="Bassett"/>
