INTEL'S 8 BIT INFORMATIONS

Intel 4004 was followed in 1972 by the Intel 8008, microprocessor first 8-bit world. According to the History of Modern Computing (MIT Press), pp. 220-21, Intel has entered into a contract with Computer Terminals Corporation, later called Datapoint, of San Antonio TX, for a chip for a terminal that was designed. Datapoint later decided not to use the chip, and Intel marketed as 8008 in April, 1972. This was the first chip 8-bit world. This was the basis for the famous "Mark-8 computer kit advertised in the magazine Radio-Electronics in 1974. 8008 was the precursor to the very successful Intel 8080 (1974), Zilog Z80 (1976), and derivative Intel 8-bit processors. Competitive Sony Ericsson 6800 was released in August 1974 and related MOS Technology 6502 in 1975 (drawn mainly from the same people). 6502 Z80 rivaled in popularity during the 1980s. A generally low cost, small packaging, simple bus computer applications, and sometimes otherwise provided by circuitry external hardware (Z80 has a built-in memory refresh) allowed the home computer "revolution" to accelerate significantly in the early 1980, finally sending such cheap cars like Sinclair ZX-81, which sold for $ 99. Western Design Center, Inc. (WDC) introduced the CMOS 65C02 in 1982 and licensed the design to several companies. It is used as the CPU in the Apple IIc and IIe personal computers, as well as medical grade implantable cardiac stimulants and defibrilators, automotive, industrial and consumer devices. WDC pioneered licensing chip designs, followed later by ARM and other microprocessor Intellectual Property (IP) providers in the 1990s. Motorola MC6809 introduced in 1978, an ambitious and thought source design 8-bit 6800 compatible with and implemented by using simple hard-wired logic. (The 16-bit microprocessors commonly used microcode to some extent, as the design requirements are too complex for simple logic hard-wired only.) Another early 8-bit microprocessor was the Signetics 2650, which has enjoyed a surge in short interest because of the powerful new architecture and its instruction set. A seminal microprocessor in the world of spaceflight was RCA's RCA 1802 (CDP1802 aka, COSMAC RCA) (introduced in 1976), which is used in NASA Voyager and Viking spaceprobes the 1970s, and on board Galileo probe to Jupiter (launched 1989, arrived in 1995). COSMAC RCA was the first to implement CMOS technology. CDP1802 was used because it can be run on very low power, and because its production process (Silicon on Sapphire) ensured better protection against cosmic radiation and electrostatic discharges than that of any other processor time. Thus, 1802 is said to be the first radiation-toasted chip. RCA 1802 had what is called a static design, meaning that the clock frequency can be arbitrarily low, even at 0 Hz, a total stop condition. This leaves the Voyager / Viking / Galileo spacecraft use minimum electric power for long stretches of a smooth voyage. Timers and / or sensors would awaken / improve the performance of the processor in time for important tasks, such as updates navigation, attitude control, data acquisition, and radio communication.