1958
- September 12
- At Texas Instruments, Jack Kilby demonstrates the world's first integrated circuit, containing five components on a piece of germanium half an inch long and thinner than a toothpick. [110] [556.9] [732.23] [766.151] [1298.154] [1697.3] (October [1064.237]) (1959 [9] [606.5])
1959
-
- At Fairchild Semiconductor, Robert Noyce constructs an integrated circuit with components connected by aluminum lines on a silicon-oxide surface layer on a plane of silicon. [606.5] [732.25] [766.151] [1298.186] (1958 [1064.237])
1965
- April 19
- Electronics magazine publishes an article by Gordon Moore, head of research and development for Fairchild Semiconductor, on the future of semiconductor components. Moore predicts that transistor density on integrated circuits would double every 12 months for the next ten years. (This prediction is revised in 1975 to doubling every 18 months, and becomes known as Moore's Law.) [876.17] [941.58] [947.102] [1000.20] [1298.186] (1964 [29.91] [732.18]) (every 18 months [876.17] [947.102]) (every 18-24 months [941.58])
1968
-
- Robert Noyce and Gordon Moore found Intel Corporation. (Intel begins as a memory chip producer, but will soon switch to the new field of microprocessors.) [346.58] [1280.40]
1969
-
- Busicom, a Japanese calculator manufacturer, asks Intel to build a custom-chip set for a new calculator. Ted Hoff suggests that instead of set of chips, they create a general-purpose programmable chip. (Intel is initially not anxious to produce processor chips to compete with their customers for memory chips, but eventually decides to take a chance in this new field.) [106.103] [900] [1038.145] [1064.240] (ETI company [266.11])
- May
- Advanced Micro Devices is founded by Jerry Sanders and seven others from Fairchild Semiconductor. [141] [732.54] [1280.40]
- (month unknown)
- Computer Terminal Corporation visits Intel, asking them to integrate about 100 TTL components of their Datapoint 2200 terminal's 8-bit CPU into a few chips. Ted Hoff says they could put it all on one chip, so Intel and CTC sign a contract for it. (The resulting chip becomes Intel's 8008 processor.) [1038.148]
- For the Busicom project, Intel's Marcian (Ted) Hoff and Stan Mazor design a 4-bit CPU chip set architecture that could receive instructions and perform simple functions on data. The CPU becomes the 4004 microprocessor. [266.12] [556.9] [1038.146]
- October
- Engineers from Japan's Busicom company meet with Intel to inspect work on their calculator IC project. They accept the Intel design for a chip set, and sign an exclusive contract for the chips. [208.67] [556.9] [606.17] (ETI company [266.13])
1970
-
- Intel begins work on the layout of the circuit for what would be the 4004 microprocessor. Federico Faggin directs the work. [266.13]
- December
- Gilbert Hyatt files a patent application entitled "Single Chip Integrated Circuit Computer Architecture", the first basic patent on the microprocessor. (Twenty years later, the US Patent Office will grant his patent, but five years after that will overturn the award.) [162] [185.193] [590.5]
- At Intel, the first run of 4004 microprocessors is fabricated. However, due to a missing masking layer, the entire run is unusable. At the time the chip is called a "mini-programmer". [106.104] [900] [1038.146]
1971
- January
- At Intel, a second fabrication run of 4004 processors is made. This time, the processors work with only minor errors. [1038.146]
- February
- At Intel, a third fabrication run of 4004 processors is made, with corrected masks. [1038.146]
- (month unknown)
- Intel renegotiates its contract with Busicom, gaining Intel the right to market the 4004 microprocessor openly in non-calculator applications. Intel returns US$60,000 to Busicom in exchange for product rights to the 4004 processor. [266.14] [606.18] [900] [1038.148]
- Texas Instruments develops the first microcomputer-on-a-chip, containing over 15,000 transistors. [714] [1280.41]
vvv advertisement vvv
^^^ advertisement ^^^
- June
- Texas Instruments runs an advertisement in Electronics magazine, showing a "CPU on a Chip" that it developed for Computer Terminal's Datapoint 2200 terminal. (However, the chip is never marketed due to unresolved problems in operation.) [1038.148]
- Gary Boone, of Texas Instruments, files a patent application relating to a single-chip computer. [590.5]
- (month unknown)
- Datapoint (formerly Computer Terminal) decides it no longer needs the 1201 microprocessor that Intel is working on for them. Datapoint agrees to let Intel use its architecture in exchange for canceling the development charges. (This chip becomes the Intel 8008 processor.) [1038.148]
- November
- In major trade publications including Electronic News, Intel officially introduces the MCS-4 (Microcomputer System 4-bit) microcomputer system. It is comprised of the 4001 ROM chip, 4002 RAM chip, 4003 shift register chip, and the 4004 microprocessor. Clock speed of the CPU is 108 kHz. Performance is 60,000 operations per second. It uses 2300 transistors, based on 10-micron technology. It can address 4 kB memory via a 4-bit bus. Initial price is US$200. Documentation manuals were written by Adam Osborne. The die for the chip measures 3x4 mm. [9] [62] [176.74] [202.165] [266.14] [296] [393.6] [556.11] [900] [953.28] [1254.78] [1280.41] (108 kHz [1233.135]) (1972 [339.86])
1972
-
- Federico Faggin urges Intel management to allow him to begin development of a successor to the 8008 processor. Management decides to wait to see how reception of the 8008 goes first. [1038.150]
- April
- Intel introduces its 200 kHz 8008 chip, the first commercial 8-bit microprocessor, part of the MCS-8 product family of chips. It accesses 16 kB of memory. It uses 3500 transistors, based on 10-micron technology. Speed is 60,000 instructions per second. The processor was originally developed for Computer Terminal Corporation (later called Datapoint). [9] [62] [106.104] [208.66] [266.13] [296] [556.10] [900] [953.28] [1038.150] [1064.246] [1280.41] (1971 [208.70] [266.xiv]) (1973 [1146.50])
- (month unknown)
- Intel management allows Federico Faggin to begin work on an improved 8008 processor. [1038.150]
- Rockwell announces the PPS-4 microprocessor family, similar to Intel's MCS-4 (with 4004 processor). [1038.150]
- At Texas Instruments, Gary Boone and Michael Cochran create the TMS1000 one-chip microcomputer. It integrates 1 kB ROM and 32 bytes of RAM with a simple 4-bit processor. [556.11] [1064.246] (1974 [110])
1973
- December
- At Intel, the first fabrication run of the 8080 processor is made. [1038.150]
1974
- April
- Intel releases its 2 MHz 8080 chip, an 8-bit microprocessor. It can directly access 64 kB of memory via 2-byte memory addressing. It incorporates 6000 transistors, based on 6-micron technology. Speed is 0.64 MIPS. [9] [41] [108] [176.74] [266.30] [296] [346.19] [879.116] [953.28] [1298.187] (1973 [208.70]) (March [1038.150])
- (month unknown)
- Rockwell introduces the PPS-8 microprocessor family, similar to but slower than Intel's 8080 processor. [1038.150]
- National Semiconductor introduces the 16-bit IMP-16 microprocessor. [1064.246] (1972 [208.70])
- RCA releases the 1802 processor, running at 6.4 MHz. (It is considered one of the first RISC chips.) [32] [556.12]
- Federico Faggin and Ralph Ungermann leave Intel to form a competing microprocessor company. [1038.150]
- August
- Bill Mensch, Chuck Peddle, and others leave Motorola to work for MOS Technology. [824]
- (month unknown)
- Motorola introduces its 6800 chip, an early 8-bit microprocessor used in microcomputers and industrial and automotive control devices. The 6800 was designed by Chuck Peddle and Charlie Melear. [556.11] [1038.150] [1146.50]
- November
- Zilog is founded. [1038.150] (1975 [233.194])
- (month unknown)
- Intel introduces the 3000 series of microprocessor chips. [949.361]
1975
- June
- MOS Technology announces the MC6501 processor for US$20 and the MC6502 for US$25. [9] [261.304] (Fall [824])
- (month unknown)
- Motorola sues MOS Technology over the similarity of the 6501 and 6502 processors to the 6800. (In an out-of-court settlement, MOS Technology withdraws the 6501 from the market.) [824]
- Gordon Moore revises his 1965 prediction about transistor density, from doubling every 12 months to doubling every 18 months. This is known as Moore's Law. [1000.20] (every 24 months [1559])
1976
-
- MOS Technology ships the 6502 microprocessor. The 6502 was developed by Chuck Peddle. [556.11]
- March
- Intel introduces the 5 MHz 8085 microprocessor. Speed is 0.37 MIPS. It uses 6500 transistors, based on 3-micron technology. It supports an 8-bit bus, and operates on a single 5-volt power supply. [62] (1978 [120])
- April
- National Semiconductor releases the SC/MP 8-bit microprocessor, providing early advanced multiprocessing. [32] [556.11]
- June
- Western Digital introduces the MCP-1600 3-chip CPU. [32]
- Texas Instruments introduces the TMS9900, the first 16-bit microprocessor. The microprocessor implements the 16-bit architecture used on the TI 990 minicomputer. [32] [556.11]
- July
- Zilog releases the 2.5 MHz Z80, an 8-bit microprocessor whose instruction set is a superset of the Intel 8080. [32] [202.168] (early 1975 [9]) (1975 [556.11]) (1975 December [346.257] [1038.150])
1977
-
- Gilbert Hyatt adds a claim to a single-chip computer to his 1970 patent application. [590.5]
1978
- May
- Intel begins production of the 8086 microprocessor. It is created by two engineers in just three weeks. Work on the processor began when it was realized that the iAPX432 project was in trouble. [231.8] [556.12]
- June 9
- Intel introduces the 4.77 MHz 8086 microprocessor. It uses 16-bit registers, a 16-bit data bus, and 29,000 transistors, using 3-micron technology. Price is US$360. It can access 1 MB of memory. Speed is 0.33 MIPS. Later speeds included 8 MHz (0.66 MIPS) and 10 MHz (0.75 MIPS). [108] [176.74] [177.102] [216.22] [296] [447.144] [465.25] [477.124] [540.64] [62] [690.94] [879.116] [1559] (April [346.61]) (1979 [120])
1979
- March
- Zilog ships samples of the 16-bit Z8000 processor. [234.118]
- June 1
- Intel introduces the 4.77 MHz 8088 microprocessor. It was created as a stepping stone to the 8086, as it operates on 16 bits internally, but supports an 8-bit data bus, to use existing 8-bit device-controlling chips. It contains 29,000 transistors, using 3-micron technology, and can directly address 1 MB of memory. Speed is 0.33 MIPS. (A later version operates at 8 MHz, for a speed of 0.75 MIPS.) [296] [477.124] [536.502] [540.64] [203.12] [62] [879.116] [900] [947.102] [1279.39] [1635.52] [2252.75] (February [177.102]) (1981 [120])
- September
- Motorola introduces the 68000 16-bit microprocessor. It incorporates 68,000 transistors, giving it its name. [176.75] [423.136] (1980 [120])
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