25 Microchips That Shook the World

IEEE Spectrum ^ | May 2009 | Brian R. Santo

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

A list of some of the most innovative, intriguing, and inspiring integrated circuits

This is part of IEEE Spectrum's Special Report: 25 Microchips That Shook the World.

In microchip design, as in life, small things sometimes add up to big things. Dream up a clever microcircuit, get it sculpted in a sliver of silicon, and your little creation may unleash a technological revolution. It happened with the Intel 8088 microprocessor. And the Mostek MK4096 4-kilobit DRAM. And the Texas Instruments TMS32010 digital signal processor.

Among the many great chips that have emerged from fabs during the half-century reign of the integrated circuit, a small group stands out. Their designs proved so cutting-edge, so out of the box, so ahead of their time, that we are left groping for more technology clichés to describe them. Suffice it to say that they gave us the technology that made our brief, otherwise tedious existence in this universe worth living.

We’ve compiled here a list of 25 ICs that we think deserve the best spot on the mantelpiece of the house that Jack Kilby and Robert Noyce built. Some have become enduring objects of worship among the chiperati: the Signetics 555 timer, for example. Others, such as the Fairchild 741 operational amplifier, became textbook design examples. Some, like Microchip Technology’s PIC microcontrollers, have sold billions, and are still doing so. A precious few, like Toshiba’s flash memory, created whole new markets. And one, at least, became a geeky reference in popular culture. Question: What processor powers Bender, the alcoholic, chain-smoking, morally reprehensible robot in “Futurama”? Answer: MOS Technology’s 6502.

What these chips have in common is that they’re part of the reason why engineers don’t get out enough.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Thought this might be of interest....photos at the web site.

[null and void]

ping

[JoJo Gunn]

Some have become enduring objects of worship among the chiperati:

"chiperati"?

*snicker* 

[Mr_Moonlight]

~~~ Techie Geek Ping ~~~

[blam]

"We’ve compiled here a list of 25 ICs that we think deserve the best spot on the mantelpiece of the house that Jack Kilby and Robert Noyce built. "

I see the west coast boys are still trying to re-write history. There is a reason Jack Kilby (TI) and not Robert Noyce (Intel) received the Nobel Prize in physics for the invention of the intergrated circuit(IC)...Jack did it, not Robert!!

Jack, always the genteman:

"I would like to mention another right person at the right time, namely Robert Noyce, a contemporary of mine who worked at Fairchild Semiconductor. While Robert and I followed our own paths, we worked hard together to achieve commercial acceptance for integrated circuits. If he were still living, I have no doubt we would have shared this prize."

[raybbr]

Nice.

My introduction to programming and "laptops".

TI VPU - 200 for programming TI PLC's.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Ernest.

What processor powers Bender, the alcoholic, chain-smoking, morally reprehensible robot in "Futurama"? Answer: MOS Technology's 6502.

But of course!

[singing] through the door there came familiar laughter...

[SunkenCiv]

http://www.6502.org/

[bmwcyle]

The entire 68000 family.

[KarlInOhio]

An article referring to you.

And one, at least, became a geeky reference in popular culture. Question: What processor powers Bender, the alcoholic, chain-smoking, morally reprehensible robot in “Futurama”? Answer: MOS Technology’s 6502.

[KarlInOhio]

Signetics NE555 Timer (1971)
Texas Instruments TMC0281 Speech Synthesizer (1978)
MOS Technology 6502 Microprocessor (1975)
Texas Instruments TMS32010 Digital Signal Processor (1983)
Microchip Technology PIC 16C84 Microcontroller (1993)
Fairchild Semiconductor µA741 Op-Amp (1968)
Intersil ICL8038 Waveform Generator (circa 1983*)
Western Digital WD1402A UART (1971)
Acorn Computers ARM1 Processor (1985)
Kodak KAF-1300 Image Sensor (1986)
IBM Deep Blue 2 Chess Chip (1997)
Transmeta Corp. Crusoe Processor (2000)
Texas Instruments Digital Micromirror Device (1987)
Intel 8088 Microprocessor (1979)
Micronas Semiconductor MAS3507 MP3 Decoder (1997)
Mostek MK4096 4-Kilobit DRAM (1973)
Xilinx XC2064 FPGA (1985)
Zilog Z80 Microprocessor (1976)
Sun Microsystems SPARC Processor (1987)
Tripath Technology TA2020 AudioAmplifier (1998)
Amati Communications Overture ADSL Chip Set (1994)
Motorola MC68000 Microprocessor (1979)
Chips & Technologies AT Chip Set (1985)
Computer Cowboys Sh-Boom Processor (1988)
Toshiba NAND Flash Memory (1989)

Well, I hit 13 of them that I either used the chip or a follow on to it.

[clamper1797]

Lets not forget this one ...

[clamper1797]

Did MANY 555 designs in my time ... forgive the pun. Also designed to the 2900 (2904) 4 bit bit slice processor

[clamper1797]

That’s a Z80 btw

[Fresh Wind]

I realize power supplies aren’t as glamorous as microprocessors, but the monolithic voltage regulator, as exemplified by the 7805 family, should be on the list.

[Marine_Uncle]

Interesting list of IC’s from the good old days.

[AFreeBird]

Interesting that they chose the 8088 over the 8086. the 88 was basically a neutered version of the 86. An 8 bit external bus versus the full 16 bit bus for the 86.

[Kid Shelleen]

bump; thanks for post

[Kid Shelleen]

Intel 8051