The Intel 4004 microprocessor: What constituted invention?

IEEE Annals of the History of Computing

Volumn 19, Issue 3, 1997, Pages 4-15

  Aspray, William ^a  

^a Center for Evaluating the Research Pipeline   (United States)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

HISTORY; INDUSTRIAL ECONOMICS; MARKETING; PATENTS AND INVENTIONS; FABRICATION; LOGIC DESIGN; LOGIC GATES; MICROCOMPUTERS; SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES;

CONCEPTUALIZATION; CAPITALIZATION; MEDIUM SCALE INTEGRATION; SEMICONDUCTOR INDUSTRY;

MICROPROCESSOR CHIPS;

EID: 0031173078     PISSN: 10586180     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1109/85.601727     Document Type: Article

References (75)

1. See, for example, D. Clark, "High-Stakes War Over Chip Patents," San Francisco Chronicle, 8 Sept. 1990, pp. b1-b3; M. Antonof, "Gilbert Who?" Popular Science, Feb. 1991, pp. 70-73; and J. Gemperlein and P. Carey, "If Hyatt Didn't Invent the Microprocessor, Who Did?" San Jose Mercury News, 2 Dec. 1990, p. 27.
2. See, for example, D. Clark, "High-Stakes War Over Chip Patents," San Francisco Chronicle, 8 Sept. 1990, pp. b1-b3; M. Antonof, "Gilbert Who?" Popular Science, Feb. 1991, pp. 70-73; and J. Gemperlein and P. Carey, "If Hyatt Didn't Invent the Microprocessor, Who Did?" San Jose Mercury News, 2 Dec. 1990, p. 27.
3. See, for example, D. Clark, "High-Stakes War Over Chip Patents," San Francisco Chronicle, 8 Sept. 1990, pp. b1-b3; M. Antonof, "Gilbert Who?" Popular Science, Feb. 1991, pp. 70-73; and J. Gemperlein and P. Carey, "If Hyatt Didn't Invent the Microprocessor, Who Did?" San Jose Mercury News, 2 Dec. 1990, p. 27.
4. The standard historical works on the history of semiconductors provided limited information about the history of the semiconductor: E. Braun and S. MacDonald, Revolution in Miniature, 2nd ed. New York: Cambridge Univ. Press, 1982; P.R. Morris, A History of the World Semiconductor Industry. London: Peter Peregrinus, 1990; H. Quiesser, The Conquest of the Microchip. Cambridge, Mass., and London: Harvard Univ. Press, 1990. Also see Intel's official history, A Revolution in Progress: A History of Intel to Date (Intel, 1984), written by M. Real, Oral History Associates. Useful biographical sketches are given in "The 30th Anniversary of the Integrated Circuit: Thirty Who Made a Difference," Electronic Eng. Times, Sept. 1988, pp. 14-24.
5. The standard historical works on the history of semiconductors provided limited information about the history of the semiconductor: E. Braun and S. MacDonald, Revolution in Miniature, 2nd ed. New York: Cambridge Univ. Press, 1982; P.R. Morris, A History of the World Semiconductor Industry. London: Peter Peregrinus, 1990; H. Quiesser, The Conquest of the Microchip. Cambridge, Mass., and London: Harvard Univ. Press, 1990. Also see Intel's official history, A Revolution in Progress: A History of Intel to Date (Intel, 1984), written by M. Real, Oral History Associates. Useful biographical sketches are given in "The 30th Anniversary of the Integrated Circuit: Thirty Who Made a Difference," Electronic Eng. Times, Sept. 1988, pp. 14-24.
6. The standard historical works on the history of semiconductors provided limited information about the history of the semiconductor: E. Braun and S. MacDonald, Revolution in Miniature, 2nd ed. New York: Cambridge Univ. Press, 1982; P.R. Morris, A History of the World Semiconductor Industry. London: Peter Peregrinus, 1990; H. Quiesser, The Conquest of the Microchip. Cambridge, Mass., and London: Harvard Univ. Press, 1990. Also see Intel's official history, A Revolution in Progress: A History of Intel to Date (Intel, 1984), written by M. Real, Oral History Associates. Useful biographical sketches are given in "The 30th Anniversary of the Integrated Circuit: Thirty Who Made a Difference," Electronic Eng. Times, Sept. 1988, pp. 14-24.
7. The standard historical works on the history of semiconductors provided limited information about the history of the semiconductor: E. Braun and S. MacDonald, Revolution in Miniature, 2nd ed. New York: Cambridge Univ. Press, 1982; P.R. Morris, A History of the World Semiconductor Industry. London: Peter Peregrinus, 1990; H. Quiesser, The Conquest of the Microchip. Cambridge, Mass., and London: Harvard Univ. Press, 1990. Also see Intel's official history, A Revolution in Progress: A History of Intel to Date (Intel, 1984), written by M. Real, Oral History Associates. Useful biographical sketches are given in "The 30th Anniversary of the Integrated Circuit: Thirty Who Made a Difference," Electronic Eng. Times, Sept. 1988, pp. 14-24.
8. The standard historical works on the history of semiconductors provided limited information about the history of the semiconductor: E. Braun and S. MacDonald, Revolution in Miniature, 2nd ed. New York: Cambridge Univ. Press, 1982; P.R. Morris, A History of the World Semiconductor Industry. London: Peter Peregrinus, 1990; H. Quiesser, The Conquest of the Microchip. Cambridge, Mass., and London: Harvard Univ. Press, 1990. Also see Intel's official history, A Revolution in Progress: A History of Intel to Date (Intel, 1984), written by M. Real, Oral History Associates. Useful biographical sketches are given in "The 30th Anniversary of the Integrated Circuit: Thirty Who Made a Difference," Electronic Eng. Times, Sept. 1988, pp. 14-24.
9. See the differing perspectives given by the principal participants: Noyce and Hoff, 1981; F. Faggin, "The Birth of the Microprocessor," Byte, Mar. 1992, pp. 145-150, especially p. 146; M. Shima, The Birth of the Microcomputer: My Recollections. Tokyo: Iwanami Shoten, 1987 (in Japanese); Shima, "The Birth and Growth of the Microcomputer," Nikkei Electronics Book, Electronics Innovation, pp. 159-185 (in Japanese); and Shima, "History and Future of the Microprocessor," Johoshori, vol. 34, no. 2, pp. 135-141, Feb. 1993. Also see T.S. Perry, "Careers/Profile: Marcian E. Hoff," IEEE Spectrum, pp. 46-49, Feb. 1994.
10. See the differing perspectives given by the principal participants: Noyce and Hoff, 1981; F. Faggin, "The Birth of the Microprocessor," Byte, Mar. 1992, pp. 145-150, especially p. 146; M. Shima, The Birth of the Microcomputer: My Recollections. Tokyo: Iwanami Shoten, 1987 (in Japanese); Shima, "The Birth and Growth of the Microcomputer," Nikkei Electronics Book, Electronics Innovation, pp. 159-185 (in Japanese); and Shima, "History and Future of the Microprocessor," Johoshori, vol. 34, no. 2, pp. 135-141, Feb. 1993. Also see T.S. Perry, "Careers/Profile: Marcian E. Hoff," IEEE Spectrum, pp. 46-49, Feb. 1994.
11. See the differing perspectives given by the principal participants: Noyce and Hoff, 1981; F. Faggin, "The Birth of the Microprocessor," Byte, Mar. 1992, pp. 145-150, especially p. 146; M. Shima, The Birth of the Microcomputer: My Recollections. Tokyo: Iwanami Shoten, 1987 (in Japanese); Shima, "The Birth and Growth of the Microcomputer," Nikkei Electronics Book, Electronics Innovation, pp. 159-185 (in Japanese); and Shima, "History and Future of the Microprocessor," Johoshori, vol. 34, no. 2, pp. 135-141, Feb. 1993. Also see T.S. Perry, "Careers/Profile: Marcian E. Hoff," IEEE Spectrum, pp. 46-49, Feb. 1994.
12. See the differing perspectives given by the principal participants: Noyce and Hoff, 1981; F. Faggin, "The Birth of the Microprocessor," Byte, Mar. 1992, pp. 145-150, especially p. 146; M. Shima, The Birth of the Microcomputer: My Recollections. Tokyo: Iwanami Shoten, 1987 (in Japanese); Shima, "The Birth and Growth of the Microcomputer," Nikkei Electronics Book, Electronics Innovation, pp. 159-185 (in Japanese); and Shima, "History and Future of the Microprocessor," Johoshori, vol. 34, no. 2, pp. 135-141, Feb. 1993. Also see T.S. Perry, "Careers/Profile: Marcian E. Hoff," IEEE Spectrum, pp. 46-49, Feb. 1994.
13. See the differing perspectives given by the principal participants: Noyce and Hoff, 1981; F. Faggin, "The Birth of the Microprocessor," Byte, Mar. 1992, pp. 145-150, especially p. 146; M. Shima, The Birth of the Microcomputer: My Recollections. Tokyo: Iwanami Shoten, 1987 (in Japanese); Shima, "The Birth and Growth of the Microcomputer," Nikkei Electronics Book, Electronics Innovation, pp. 159-185 (in Japanese); and Shima, "History and Future of the Microprocessor," Johoshori, vol. 34, no. 2, pp. 135-141, Feb. 1993. Also see T.S. Perry, "Careers/Profile: Marcian E. Hoff," IEEE Spectrum, pp. 46-49, Feb. 1994.
14. Faggin oral history interview conducted by the author, 1 Sept. 1994, IEEE archives.
15. M. Hoff oral history interview conducted by the author, 1 Sept. 1994, IEEE archives.
16. Faggin, 1992, p. 146. Some of the references in the published literature to similar ideas include E.A. Sack, R.C. Lyman, and G.Y. Chang, "Evolution of the Concept of a Computer on a Slice," Proc. IEEE, Dec. 1964, pp. 1,713-1,720; E. Fubini and M. Smith, "Limitations in Solid State Technology," IEEE Spectrum, May 1967, pp. 55-59; Editors, "Integrator on a Chip," Electronics, 22 Aug. 1967, pp. 38, 40.
17. Faggin, 1992, p. 146. Some of the references in the published literature to similar ideas include E.A. Sack, R.C. Lyman, and G.Y. Chang, "Evolution of the Concept of a Computer on a Slice," Proc. IEEE, Dec. 1964, pp. 1,713-1,720; E. Fubini and M. Smith, "Limitations in Solid State Technology," IEEE Spectrum, May 1967, pp. 55-59; Editors, "Integrator on a Chip," Electronics, 22 Aug. 1967, pp. 38, 40.
18. Faggin, 1992, p. 146. Some of the references in the published literature to similar ideas include E.A. Sack, R.C. Lyman, and G.Y. Chang, "Evolution of the Concept of a Computer on a Slice," Proc. IEEE, Dec. 1964, pp. 1,713-1,720; E. Fubini and M. Smith, "Limitations in Solid State Technology," IEEE Spectrum, May 1967, pp. 55-59; Editors, "Integrator on a Chip," Electronics, 22 Aug. 1967, pp. 38, 40.
19. Faggin, 1992, p. 146. Some of the references in the published literature to similar ideas include E.A. Sack, R.C. Lyman, and G.Y. Chang, "Evolution of the Concept of a Computer on a Slice," Proc. IEEE, Dec. 1964, pp. 1,713-1,720; E. Fubini and M. Smith, "Limitations in Solid State Technology," IEEE Spectrum, May 1967, pp. 55-59; Editors, "Integrator on a Chip," Electronics, 22 Aug. 1967, pp. 38, 40.
20. R.N. Noyce and M.E. Hoff, "A History of Microprocessor Development at Intel," IEEE Micro, vol. 1, pp. 8-21, especially p. 8, Feb. 1981.
21. Noyce and Hoff, 1981, p. 8.
22. The information in this section is taken from a resume provided by Sasaki and from an oral history interview conducted by the author in Tokyo on 24 May 1994 (IEEE archives).
23. Sasaki interview.
24. For background on the Japanese industry, see T. Sasaki, "The Role of Government in the Formative Stage of the Japanese Electronics Industry," lecture given in May 1986 at the Electronics Show in Tokyo, printed in Summary of Speech[es] in 1986/1987, Sharp Corporation, especially p. 104; Y. Takahashi, "Progress in the Electronic Components Industry in Japan After World War II," pp. 37-53, W. Aspray, ed., Technological Competitiveness, New York: IEEE Press, 1993.
25. For background on the Japanese industry, see T. Sasaki, "The Role of Government in the Formative Stage of the Japanese Electronics Industry," lecture given in May 1986 at the Electronics Show in Tokyo, printed in Summary of Speech[es] in 1986/1987, Sharp Corporation, especially p. 104; Y. Takahashi, "Progress in the Electronic Components Industry in Japan After World War II," pp. 37-53, W. Aspray, ed., Technological Competitiveness, New York: IEEE Press, 1993.
26. For background on the Japanese industry, see T. Sasaki, "The Role of Government in the Formative Stage of the Japanese Electronics Industry," lecture given in May 1986 at the Electronics Show in Tokyo, printed in Summary of Speech[es] in 1986/1987, Sharp Corporation, especially p. 104; Y. Takahashi, "Progress in the Electronic Components Industry in Japan After World War II," pp. 37-53, W. Aspray, ed., Technological Competitiveness, New York: IEEE Press, 1993.
27. For a history of Intel, see Real, 1984; G. Bylinsky, "How Intel Won Its Bet on Memory Chips," Fortune, pp. 142-147, 184, Nov. 1973.
28. For a history of Intel, see Real, 1984; G. Bylinsky, "How Intel Won Its Bet on Memory Chips," Fortune, pp. 142-147, 184, Nov. 1973.
29. Hoff interview.
30. Noyce and Hoff, 1981, p. 9; Hoff interview.
31. Shima interview.
32. Shima interview.
33. Hoff interview.
34. Noyce and Hoff, 1981, pp. 9-10.
35. Noyce and Hoff, 1981, p. 10.
36. Noyce and Hoff, 1981, p. 10.
37. G. Bylinsky, "Here Comes the Second Computer Revolution," Fortune, vol. 92, no. 5, pp. 134-138, 182, Nov. 1975.
38. Noyce interview, pp. 38-39.
39. Shima interview.
40. Hoff interview.
41. The best technical review of this microprocessor is given in F. Faggin, M. Shima, M.E. Hoff, Jr., H. Feeney, and S. Mazor, "The MCS-4 - an LSI Micro Computer System," IEEE '72 Region Six Conf. Proc., pp. 1-6. The bibliography in their paper lists the major technical presentations.
42. Hoff interview.
43. Shima interview.
44. Shima interview. Faggin, 1992, p. 146, corroborates this story.
45. Hoff interview.
46. Most of this biographical information is taken from Faggin, 1992, and the Faggin interview.
47. Faggin interview.
48. Shima, personal communication, 10 Dec. 1994.
49. Shima, personal communication, 10 Dec. 1994.
50. Real, 1984, p. 12.
51. Shima interview.
52. Hoff interview.
53. Faggin interview.
54. Hoff interview.
55. Private discussion with Hoff.
56. Faggin interview. The author has no way of reconciling these two conflicting accounts.
57. Hoff interview.
58. Hoff interview.
59. Noyce and Hoff, 1981, p. 13.
60. Hoff interview.
61. Bylinsky, 1975.
62. Faggin, 1992, p. 148.
63. Real, 1984, p. 13.
64. Intel, The MCS-4 Story, film, circa 1974 (Intel archives).
65. Hoff interview. The product literature in the Intel archives gives some indication of the wide applications of the 4004, including fanciful uses such as described in "Microprocessor Computes and Checks Life Cycle Tendencies in Coin-Operated 'Biorhythm' Machine," 20 Oct. 1975, p. 5. Technical publications regularly described how to use the 4004, e.g., R.H. Cushman, "What Can You Do With a Microprocessor?" EDN, pp. 42-47, 20 Mar. 1974; Cushman, "How to Get Acquainted With a μP", EDN, pp. 46-51, 20 Sept. 1974; B. Cole, "4-Bit Controller System Upgraded," Electronics, pp. 167-168, 14 Nov. 1974; L.J. Mandell, "Pitfalls to Avoid in Applying μP's," EDN, pp. 22-26, 20 Jan. 1975.
66. Hoff interview. The product literature in the Intel archives gives some indication of the wide applications of the 4004, including fanciful uses such as described in "Microprocessor Computes and Checks Life Cycle Tendencies in Coin-Operated 'Biorhythm' Machine," 20 Oct. 1975, p. 5. Technical publications regularly described how to use the 4004, e.g., R.H. Cushman, "What Can You Do With a Microprocessor?" EDN, pp. 42-47, 20 Mar. 1974; Cushman, "How to Get Acquainted With a μP", EDN, pp. 46-51, 20 Sept. 1974; B. Cole, "4-Bit Controller System Upgraded," Electronics, pp. 167-168, 14 Nov. 1974; L.J. Mandell, "Pitfalls to Avoid in Applying μP's," EDN, pp. 22-26, 20 Jan. 1975.
67. Hoff interview. The product literature in the Intel archives gives some indication of the wide applications of the 4004, including fanciful uses such as described in "Microprocessor Computes and Checks Life Cycle Tendencies in Coin-Operated 'Biorhythm' Machine," 20 Oct. 1975, p. 5. Technical publications regularly described how to use the 4004, e.g., R.H. Cushman, "What Can You Do With a Microprocessor?" EDN, pp. 42-47, 20 Mar. 1974; Cushman, "How to Get Acquainted With a μP", EDN, pp. 46-51, 20 Sept. 1974; B. Cole, "4-Bit Controller System Upgraded," Electronics, pp. 167-168, 14 Nov. 1974; L.J. Mandell, "Pitfalls to Avoid in Applying μP's," EDN, pp. 22-26, 20 Jan. 1975.
68. Hoff interview. The product literature in the Intel archives gives some indication of the wide applications of the 4004, including fanciful uses such as described in "Microprocessor Computes and Checks Life Cycle Tendencies in Coin-Operated 'Biorhythm' Machine," 20 Oct. 1975, p. 5. Technical publications regularly described how to use the 4004, e.g., R.H. Cushman, "What Can You Do With a Microprocessor?" EDN, pp. 42-47, 20 Mar. 1974; Cushman, "How to Get Acquainted With a μP", EDN, pp. 46-51, 20 Sept. 1974; B. Cole, "4-Bit Controller System Upgraded," Electronics, pp. 167-168, 14 Nov. 1974; L.J. Mandell, "Pitfalls to Avoid in Applying μP's," EDN, pp. 22-26, 20 Jan. 1975.
69. Hoff interview. The product literature in the Intel archives gives some indication of the wide applications of the 4004, including fanciful uses such as described in "Microprocessor Computes and Checks Life Cycle Tendencies in Coin-Operated 'Biorhythm' Machine," 20 Oct. 1975, p. 5. Technical publications regularly described how to use the 4004, e.g., R.H. Cushman, "What Can You Do With a Microprocessor?" EDN, pp. 42-47, 20 Mar. 1974; Cushman, "How to Get Acquainted With a μP", EDN, pp. 46-51, 20 Sept. 1974; B. Cole, "4-Bit Controller System Upgraded," Electronics, pp. 167-168, 14 Nov. 1974; L.J. Mandell, "Pitfalls to Avoid in Applying μP's," EDN, pp. 22-26, 20 Jan. 1975.
70. Faggin interview; Sasaki interview.
71. Faggin interview.
72. See the letter to the editor by Faggin's wife, Elvia, in the 3 Oct. 1986 edition of the San Jose Mercury News and Hoff's reply printed in the newspaper nine days later.
73. On the design process for the Z8000, see M. Shima, "Demystifying Microprocessor Design," IEEE Spectrum, July 1979, pp. 22-30. Reprinted as "Design Case History: Z8000 Microprocessor," Design Studies, vol. 2, pp. 97-106, Apr. 1981,.
74. On the design process for the Z8000, see M. Shima, "Demystifying Microprocessor Design," IEEE Spectrum, July 1979, pp. 22-30. Reprinted as "Design Case History: Z8000 Microprocessor," Design Studies, vol. 2, pp. 97-106, Apr. 1981,.
75. Faggin interview.