Oct 1, 2013 IEEE CNSV meeting: Intel's Transition to Success: From Memory to the Microprocessor
Panelists: Ted Hoff, Intel (1968-1983)
Dave House, Honeywell (Intel customer) and Intel (1974-1996)
Moderator: Alan J Weissberger, IEEE ComSoc
Abstract:
This panel discussion, featuring semiconductor industry luminaries Ted Hoff and Dave House, will examine how Intel was able to succeed and dominate the semiconductor memory and (later) the microprocessor markets. The panelists will cover Intel's history from 1968 to the mid 1980s (the Jan 2013 IEEE Life Member panel on Microprocessors covered the late 1980s). Obstacles faced along the way will be described; competitive challenges and Intel's responses will be discussed along with many interesting inside stories (several of which have never been publically told).
Background:
Almost everyone in Silicon Valley recognizes Intel as the world's leading semiconductor company. That's based on their multi-decade dominance of the microprocessor market and "Intel Inside" the PC. But few know the history of Intel's early years as a semiconductor memory company (using both MOS and bipolar LSI processes). And that development of the first commercially available microprocessors (Intel 4004 and 8008) was a huge departure from the company's roadmap/ business plan. In fact, many Intel managers believed that microprocessors should ONLY be used as a tool to sell semiconductor memories and NOT be a separate business, as that might cause Intel to lose focus on IC memories for computers and register file applications.
By 1976, Intel had become a microprocessor company, competing with Motorola, Zilog, National Semiconductor (and others). No one at that time envisioned the MOS semiconductor process could advance to compete with bipolar. As a result, microprocessors were targeted at embedded controller applications. Several years later, an Intel team convinced IBM to include its microprocessors in their first PCs. That was a game changer as it opened up a whole new market previously thought impossible.
A story almost hidden from history will be told during this meeting: the invention of the first combo Codec-Filter LSI chip, which facilitated time slot interchange within a T1 carrier (DS1). That created the market for digital switching (of 64k b/sec -DS0s) in PBXs, central office switches, and (later) T1 Multiplexers.
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Here are a few proposed questions panelists may disccuss:
1. Why Intel's 1102 DRAM did not work; how Dave (at Honeywell) & Ted (at Intel) identified the problem, what was done to fix it and create the hugely successful 1103 1K DRAM which also had problems when first shipped. The 1103 was Intel's first commercially successful semiconductor memory product. And our two panelists played a huge role in that success!
2. How the Intel 4004 and 8008 microprocessors influenced the design of the 8080, i.e. backward compatibility of the instruction set, chip architecture, etc. Why the success of the 8080 changed Intel from a semiconductor memory company to a microprocessor company. Dave to lead; Ted to comment.
3. How Dave transformed himself from "an engineer's engineer" (that loved to design, develop & test/debug hardware) to a marketing genius, manager/department head and GM. How he convinced Andy Grove that marketing was important. [Up till now, Dave has been very modest about that contribution, but I will attempt to draw him out of his shell during this panel (Dave & I took 5 or 6 grad EE classes together at NEU Burlington, MA campus from 1968-69. Dave received the MSEE in June 1969)]
4. Importance of Ted's unrecognized design of Intel's MOS CODEC-Filter combo chip and how it became an enabler for digital switching- in PBXs, Class 5 Telco switches and (later) T1 multiplexers. Dave to comment on the this topic from network equipment perspective (Dave was briefly CEO of Nortel Networks).
5. Thoughts from Ted and Dave about the positives and negatives SV electronics technology (courtesy of Moore's law) has brought about. In particular, what's missing in each of their opinions.
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Panelist Bio's (related to Intel):
Ted Hoff, PhD EE Stanford University
Ted was employee #12 at Intel and worked there from 1968-1983 on semiconductor memories, the 4004 and 8008 microprocessors, and telecom LSIs. Now officially retired. Ted is still working on electronics projects in his lab at home. He received the National Medal of Technology and Innovation from President Obama in November of 2010, was awarded the Stuart Ballantine Medal in 1979 and The Franklin Institute’s Certificate of Merit in 1996. Dr. Hoff was inducted into the Inventors Hall of Fame in 1996. and goes there each year for a reunion with fellow inventors. He was a recipient of the Kyoto Prize in 1997, and the James Clerk Maxwell Award of the IEEE in 2011. He was made an Eminent Member of the IEEE’s Eta Kappa Nu in 2013, and is an IEEE Life Fellow.
Dave House, MSEE Northeastern University
In 1968 Dave joined Honeywell Computer Control Division, where he was a computer designer using Intel's semiconductor memories. In 1974, Mr. House joined Intel Corp as Semiconductor Memory Applications Manager. In 1978 Dave became general manager of the company's Microcomputer Components Division. Over the next 13 years he lead the organization that developed Intel's leading microprocessor product line, including the 386, 486, Pentium and Pentium II Processors. He helped grow that business from $40M to $4B per year. He also managed the team that developed the highly successful "Intel Inside" marketing program; the words “Intel Inside” were his. In 1996 Dave launched Intel's Server Products Division leading Intel's entry into the server business where it now has over 85% market share. Mr. House is currently Executive Chairman of Brocade and proprietor of the House Family Winery. Dave has many hobbies and private business interests.
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Moderator:
Alan J Weissberger, Content Manager for IEEE Community ComSoc website
Alan is an IEEE Senior Life Member who has organized IEEE conferences, seminars, technical meetings and workshops for 40 years. He is the content manager for the global IEEE ComSoc Community website, manager and moderator of the IEEE Member Discussion list, N.A. Correspondent for the IEEE Global Communications Newsletter, and Chairman Emeritus & Advisor to the IEEE ComSocSCV chapter. Alan also volunteers at the CHM and ITHistory.org where he writes summaries of lectures, exhibits and other events.
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Addendum:
A new IEEE Silicon Valley Technology History group is being set up as a separate entity reporting to IEEE Santa Clara Valley Executive Committee. We will organize panel sessions on all areas of technology conceived, developed and progressed in the greater Silicon Valley/Santa Clara County. If you are an IEEE member interested in volunteering for this new group, please email: [email protected] and indicate the subject matter you are interested in.