Ted Hoff

Personalprofile

TedHoff,bornonOctober28,1937inRochester,NewYork,USA(Rochester),thefatherofthemicroprocessor(CPU).

OnNovember15,1971,IntelCorporationreleasedtheworld’sfirstmicroprocessorchipIntel4004,whichintegratestwothousandtransistorsandhasaprocessingpowerequivalenttotheworld’sfirstcomputer.ThechiefdesignerofthismicroprocessorisTedHoff.Becauseofhisinventionofthemicroprocessor,hewascalled"oneofthemostinfluentialscientistssincetheSecondWorldWar"bytheBritish"Economist"magazine.

HeusedthePDP-8asthebasistooutlinetheprototypeofthegeneralchipinhismind:increasingtheintegrationofthechip,sothatthefunctionwillalsobeenhanced;theinputsignalofthechipconstitutesanintegralpartoftheintegratedcircuit.Aseriesofcommands,theoutputsignalsendsoutdataorisusedtocontrolotherchips.Inthedesign,HofffullyimplementedTuringandvonNeumann’sideaof​​storingprograms.Ifthechipisequippedwithinputandoutputdevicesandmemory,itcancontrolthereadinstructionsfromthememoryandexecutethem,thatistosayIthasprogrammability,andprogrammabilitydeterminesitsversatility.Iftheprogramthatcompletesasinglefunction(suchasacalculator)ispermanentlystoredinthememory,andthemicroprocessoronlyrunstheprogram,themicroprocessorbecomesthesingle-functionmachinedesiredbytheuser.

In1971,Hoffandhiscolleaguescompletedthefirstusablemicroprocessor,thenumberis4004,thefirst"4"meansthatthischipistheproductnumberorderedbythecustomer.A"4"meansthatthischipisthefourthcustomizedchipmadebyIntel.Thiskindofdigitalcodehasbeenusedallthetime.Hofffinallygothiswish.Heintegratedmorethan2,000transistorsontheworld'sfirstmicroprocessor,andinventedtheworld'sfirstlarge-scaleintegratedcircuit4004.Hewroteagloriouspageinthehistoryofelectroniccomputers.The4004chipbasicallyhasthecharacteristicsofamicroprocessor.Usingitasacalculatorhaschangedtheimageofatraditionalcalculator.Afterthe4004chipisused,aprogrammemory,datamemory,shiftregister,keyboardanddigitaltubeareaddedtoformacompletemicrocomputer.

Afterlaunchingthe4004,IntelCorporation,throughapplicationpractice,constantlyinnovated,andofficiallylaunchedthe8-bitmicroprocessor8008anditsimprovedmodel8080in1973.Thischipintegratesapproximately4,800transistors,andthecalculationspeedis20timesfasterthanthatofthe4004.Itwasthechipthatwaslaterusedontheworld'sfirstmicrocomputer,theAltair.TheemergenceofIntel4004heraldedaneweraofintegratedelectronicproducts.Afterwards,therapiddevelopmentofmicroprocessorswasunexpectedbyHoff.ThepioneeringworkofHoff,thefatherofthemicroprocessor,shouldneverbeforgotten.

Socialbackground

Thecomputerindustrytookoffwiththehelpofthreemostimportantinventions.OnewasthetransistorinventedbyBellLabsShockleyandothers,andtheotherwasNoyce(RobertNoyce)andCalby(JackKilby)inventedintegratedcircuits,andonewasthemicroprocessorinventedbyTedHoffin1971.UnlikeNeussandKelby,Hoffneitherenjoyedgreatwealthnorgainedanyspecialgloryforit.Sofarthisinventorhasnotbeenfullyrecognizedbythepublic.ButHoff’sinventionissoimportantthathecandeservetobeamongthegreatestscientistsofthe20thcentury.

Regardinghisachievements,Hoffhasalwaysmaintainedalowprofile.Becauseanimagethatisnotintheeyesofthepublicismorehelpfulforhimtocontinuetoengageinthedevelopmentofnewproducts.Whenhenarratedthedetailsoftheprocessofinventingthemicroprocessor,itwaslikeastudentreportingtotheteacherhissummervacationactivities.Butthishumbleattitudedoesnotchangethesignificanceofthisinvention.

CharacterEvaluation

Thefamous"Economist"magazinecalledHoff"oneofthe7mostinfluentialscientistssincetheSecondWorldWar"(OneOfTheSevenMostInfluentialScientistsSinceWWII.).In1978,hewaspromotedtoIntelresearcher(sofaronlytwopeoplehavereceivedsimilartitles).Thismeansthathehasalotofautonomyinresearch.Hemainlystudiesavarietyofgroundbreakingtechnicalissues,andhelikesthiskindofchallengingwork.Aftercompletingthemicroprocessor,hesetouttodevelopalanguagerecognitiondevicethatcanreplicatehumanlanguage,whichisbasedonIntel’s"Model2920".Hoffandhistwocolleaguesobtainedthe"2920"patent,whichisHoff's14thpatent.Hoffthinkshehastherighttimeandplace:"Ifwehadn'tinventedthe4004microprocessorin1971,thensomeoneelsewouldhaveinventeditinayearortwo."

Career

OnOctober28,1937,HoffwasborninRochester,NewYork.HegrewupnearthevillageofNorthQiliontheoutskirtsofthecity.Hisenlightenmenteducationstartedinaruralschoolwithonlyoneclassroom,andateacherhadtoteach13studentsin7grades.HisfatherworkedfortheGeneralRailwaySignalCompanyasanelectricalengineerandtheenlightenmentwhomadehiminterestedinelectricitysincechildhood.Hoff’sunclewasachemicalengineer.HegavetheyoungHoffasetofchemicalexperimentequipmentandsubscribedtohimthemagazine"PopularScience",whichmadeHoffinterestedinsciencewhenhewasachild.Heoncehada"UnitedRadioCatalog",andhelovedit,andsincethenbegantolearnelectronics.WhenIwasinmiddleschool,Ihadasoftspotforthissubject.

In1954,HoughenteredtheRensselaerPolytechnicInstituteinTroy,NewYorktostudyelectricalengineering.Duringtheuniversity,IworkedasatechnicianintheelectroniclaboratoryofGeneralRailwaySignalCompanyeverysummervacation.Severalimprovementshavebeenmadetothedesignoftheelectronictrackcircuit,sohisnamehasalsobeenlistedontwopatentcertificates.In1958,hereceivedhisbachelor'sdegreewiththeaward-winningthesis"TheMethodofCurrentConversioninTransistors".HeheardaboutthenameofProfessorFrederickEmmonsTermanforalongtime,soheappliedforStanfordUniversity,whereheobtainedamaster'sdegreeandadoctoratedegreeinelectronicengineering,andatthesametimeobtainedtwopatents.

Attheendof1982,HoughannouncedthathewouldleaveIntelwherehehadworkedfor14years,whichshockedtheentireITindustry.Hesaidheneedstochangehisworkingenvironment.HewashiredbyAtari,anotherSiliconValleycompany,asthecompany'svicepresident,responsibleforresearchanddevelopment.BecauseAtarihastheambitiontointroducecomputerstothefamily,andtheconsumermarketiswhatHoffismostinterestedin.Butthismovedidnotgowell-inJuly1984,thatis,18monthsafterhejoined,thecompanywassold.Hoffbegantoengageinsomeindependentconsultingandresearchwork.HeconvertedthegarageofhisSunnyvalehomeinCaliforniaintoalaboratory.Hesaidthatalmostanythingyouwantcanbebuiltinthegarage.

PersonalInterests

Whenhewasundergraduate,Houghrarelytouchedcomputersandonlytookonecomputercourse.WhileatStanfordUniversity,hewasmostinterestedinpatternrecognitionandimageprocessing.Soaftergraduation,hestayedatStanfordUniversityasanassociateresearcher,andobtainedsomepatentstogetherwithhisthesissupervisor.

Aftertenyearsofacademicresearch,Hough'sentrepreneurialdesirebegantomovearound."Ineedtodevelopsomeideaswithpotentialeconomicvalue.Atthistime,thebiggestcheeristhatotherswillpayforyourplan."Intelwasjustestablishedin1968andisrecruitingR&Dpersonnel.ThepeopleatStanfordUniversitytriedtheirbesttorecommendHough,butIntelfirstfellinlovewithanIBMengineer.ThismanisnostalgicforNewYorkStateanddoesnotwanttogowest.LatertheywantedtohireanengineerfromFairchild,buttheyalsodeclined.Noisipickedupthephoneandinvitedthecompany'sfutureluckystarintothedoor.

HoffisresponsibleforIntel'sR&Dwork,workinginasmalllaboratoryandsharingitwithanothercolleague.TheroomisstackedwithaboxofcomponentsfromUnionCarbide,whichtakesuphalfofthespace.Atthattime,thecompany'sresearchfocuswasonsemiconductormemorychips.OnJune20,1969,agroupofengineersfromJapan'sShojiCorporationtraveledfromTokyotoSiliconValleytomeetHoff.TheywantInteltodesignsomespecialchipsforuseintheplannedsynthesiscalculator.Unfortunately,HofwentonvacationtoTabtiIslandinthePacificOcean.

Returningfromvacation,Japaneseengineersarestillwaitingforhim.TheJapaneseproposedasetofsixextremelycomplexchipdesigns.ThisdesignwastoocomplicatedforIntelatthetime.

NexttoHoff’sdeskisaPDP-8minicomputerfromDEC.Inthepast,heenvisionedputtingacomputeronachip,andnowthisideahasemerged:"IstaredatthePDP-8computer,staredatthecommercialdesignplan.Iwonderwhytheyhavesuchacalculator.Socomplicated?"Hough’sinspirationcame.Hedesignedtheworld’sfirstmicroprocessor,integratingallthefunctionsoftheCPUononechip,andattachingtwomemorychips,oneforstoringdataandtheotherwithTheprogramthatdrivestheCPU.Thisnotonlymakesthecalculatorsimple,butalsogreatlyreducesthecost,butthecommercialcompanyisnotsatisfiedwiththisidea:"Stayawayanddon'tdisturbus.Weknowwhatwearedoing."

Inthismatter,NoycefirmlysupportedHoff.Afewyearsago,Noycehadforeseenthepossibilityofmicroprocessors.Ataconferenceinthelate1960s,hepredictedthatacomputeronachipwouldbeborn.Atthattime,apersonwithadifferentpointofviewsaid:"Idefinitelydon'twantmycomputertobelostinasmallholeinthefloor."Noycelaughedandsaid,"Youarecompletelymistaken.Becausethereissomethingonyourdesk.Therearemorethanahundredcomputers.Whatisittoloseone."

Atthattime,theindustrygenerallybelievedthatdesigningmainframeswasapromisingarea.However,Hofftookadifferentapproach.HepersuadedStanleyMazor,whohadjustleftFairchild,tocooperatewithhimandjointlydevelopit."Therealkeyisnotnecessarilythenumberofcomponents,buttheconceptoforganizationandstructure.Youtakeageneral-purposecomputerandbuilditonachipsystem."Hough'sbreakthroughisthedesignofthechipsetstructure,thechipItismadebyFedericoFaggin,anotherengineerofthecompany.InOctober1969,Hof’smicroprocessorsweredeliveredtothecompany’sheadquarterstogetherwithcommercialsolutions.Hofftriedhisbesttodefendhiswork.Themanagerofthebusinesswaspersuaded,andthetwopartiessignedacontractstipulatingthatthebusinessshouldexclusivelyenjoythemicroprocessordesignedbyHoff.ThestructuredesignedbyHoffwasimplementedonsiliconbyFeijin.Inthespringof1970,hedeterminedthesizeofthechipandthenumberoftransistors.InJanuary1971,thefirsttrulyfunctionalmicroprocessorwasborn.Named"Model4004".Thefirst"4"referstothedesignconceptinunitsof4bits,andthelatter"4"referstothefourthspecialchipmanufacturedbyIntel.

Atthistime,theComputerTerminalCorporation(ComputerTerminalCorporation)alsocametothedoortoproduceaspecialchipforthem.SoHoffandMaiZhuodesignedamorepowerfulmicroprocessorthanthe4004,calledthe"8008".Thisisthefirstrealmicroprocessor.

Atthebeginningof1971,the4004chipwassenttoacommercialcompanyandwasimmediatelyrejected.Atthattime,thecalculatormarketcutpricesonalargescale.Thiscontract,signedayearago,seemstobetoocostly,andthebusinessrequiresarenegotiatedprice.Hearingthisnews,Hoffsaidtothecompany’ssalesdepartment:“Youwanttogetbacktherighttosellthe'4004model'toothercustomersfromCommercial."Inordertolowertheprice,thecompanyagreedtogiveupits4004chipExclusiverights.

ButtheIntelsalesdepartmentdoesnotthinkthatmicroprocessorsareamarketableproduct.Theythinkitisnotworththecosttoproduceandsell.Because4004hasnotbeenannouncedtothepublicbefore,thereisnomarketdemand,Hoffandotherscontinuetourge."Wemakethisrequesttothemeverymonth,buteverytimetheynegotiatetheresults-itwillnotbeannounced."Finally,GeerBaker,whoworkedatTexasInstruments,becamethedirectorofthesalesdepartment,andhisattitudebecamepositive.

Thepinnacleofdevelopment

OnNovember15,1971,Intelfinallypublishedanadvertisementforthe4004chipinthe"ElectronicNews":"Aneweraofintegratedelectronicsiscoming——Amicro-programmedcontrolcomputercanbeputintoasemiconductorchip.”(Announcinganeweraofintegratedelectionics-Amicro-programmablecomputeronachip!)Buttheelectronicsindustryreactedcautiouslytothe4004model.AtComdexinthefall,acustomersaidthatIntelwasboldenoughtoclaimtoputacomputeronachip.WhenMaiZhuoshowedhimthechip,hereluctantlyagreedthatthethingcouldbecalledacomputer.

Inthemiddleof1972,HoughandMaizhuotraveledforthreeweeksandtouredsomecompaniestoholdseminars.Themostcommonquestionpeopleaskthemis:"Ifitbreaks,howdoyoufixit."Peoplecan'timaginethatacomputercanactlikeanelectriclightbulb,andthrowitawayafteritbreaks.Somecustomerssneered:"Howdoyoumakesureitisworking?"

Indeed,itisnoteasytogetpeopletoacceptthemicroprocessorconcept.In1972,technicalnewspapersfirstnoticedit.Atthebeginningof1978,electronicmagazinesbegantobefullofarticlesintroducingthismiracle.MoreandmorecompaniesfollowInteltolaunch"papertiger"products,andthemarketisverychaotic."Peopleareusedtothinkingthatacomputerisahugeandexpensivedevice,sowemustprotectit,guardit,treatitcarefully,anduseitefficiently.Itiscost-effectiveandworthwhile."

March,1972InDecember,4monthsafterIntelannouncedthe4004model,TexasInstrumentsalsolaunchedan8-bitmicroprocessor,andthetwocompanieshadadispute.Intheend,Intelobtainedthepatent.ButHoffsaid:"Idon'tthinkthatonceyouapplyforapatentforthemicroprocessor,youcanclaimtohaveeverythingaboutthemicroprocessor."

Hoffandotherscontinuetoimprove.InAugust1973,the"8080"cameout.TheMOS(MetalOxideSemiconductor)processwasusedforthefirsttime,andthe8080becameoneofthemostsuccessfulmicroprocessorsinhistory.Itwasalsothefirsttruegeneral-purposemicroprocessorandwasanepoch-makingsignificanceinthelast25yearsofthe20thcentury.invention.Thecompany'ssaleshaveskyrocketed,initiallypricedat$360.Butthewholesalepriceisonlyabout275USdollars,whichisalsoaproductthatreallypromotesthemicrocomputermarket.ThiscrazefirstcamefromAltair,andlatertheprotagonistwasApple.Hoffsaid:"Iamalsoverysurprisedbytheapplicationofmicroprocessorsinpersonalcomputers.Ididn'texpectpeopletobuymicrocomputersjustfortheirhobbies.Withthedevelopmentofvideoamusementmachines,personalcomputershavebecomeanotherkindofpeople.Entertainmenttools.Anyinventorcansucceedifhecancreatesomethingtoprovideentertainmenttopeople.”WhenHoffdevelopedthefirstmicroprocessorin1969,itwasdifficulttoattractprogrammerstohisresearch.Thegroupcomes.Becauseeveryoneisfocusingonthemainframe.Butnowadays,programmersstepintoHoff’sroomeverydaytoprogramthemicroprocessor.

Hoffalsoseestheimpactofthisrevolution:"Wewillbeinarevolution,whichwilllastfor50to100years.Today’syoungpeoplearegrowingup,andtheyarenolongerFeelingscared,theywillfurtherexpandtheuseofcomputers."