Intel 4004 facts for kids
White ceramic Intel C4004 microprocessor with grey traces
|
|
| Produced | From late 1971 to 1981 |
|---|---|
| Common manufacturer(s) |
|
| Max. CPU clock rate | 740 kHz |
| Min. feature size | 10 µm |
| Instruction set | 4-bit BCD oriented |
| Application | Busicom calculator, arithmetic manipulation |
| Successor | Intel 4040 |
| Socket(s) | |
| Package(s) |
|
The Intel 4004 was a very important computer chip. It was the first central processing unit (CPU) made by Intel. This tiny chip came out in 1971. It helped start the age of modern computers.
Contents
What is the Intel 4004 Microprocessor?
The Intel 4004 is a type of microprocessor. A microprocessor is like the "brain" of a computer. It does all the calculations and controls everything. Before the 4004, computers were much bigger. They used many separate chips to do what one microprocessor could.
This chip was very small for its time. It had 2,300 tiny electronic switches called transistors. These transistors were packed onto a single piece of silicon. The 4004 could handle data in 4-bit chunks. This means it processed information in small groups of four binary digits.
How the Intel 4004 Was Created
The Intel 4004 was designed by a team at Intel. This team included Federico Faggin, Marcian Hoff, and Stanley Mazor. They worked with a Japanese company called Busicom. Busicom needed a special chip for their new electronic calculators.
Instead of making many different chips for each calculator, Intel suggested one powerful chip. This single chip could be programmed to do different tasks. This idea was new and very smart. It made calculators smaller and cheaper to build.
Powering Early Calculators
The first main use for the Intel 4004 was in the Busicom 141-PF calculator. This calculator was one of the first electronic calculators. The 4004 chip allowed it to perform calculations quickly. It also made the calculator smaller than older models.
The 4004 was also used in other early electronic devices. It showed that a single chip could do many complex jobs. This opened the door for many new inventions.
The Big Impact of the Intel 4004
The Intel 4004 was a huge step forward in technology. It proved that a complex computer processor could fit on one small chip. This idea led to the creation of personal computers. It also led to the powerful smartphones and devices we use today.
The 4004 helped Intel become a leading company in computer chips. It set the stage for all future microprocessors. Every computer, tablet, and phone you use has a processor. The 4004 was the very first one from Intel. It truly changed the world of electronics.
Images for kids
-
The Unicom 141P is an OEM version of the Busicom 141-PF.
-
National Semiconductor was a second-source manufacturer of the 4004, under their part number INS4004.
-
Two C4004 DIPs, with one opened to show the die
-
Intel 4004 DIP chip pinout
-
In the lower-right corner of the CPU are the initials "F.F."
-
The ceramic C4004 variant without grey traces
-
The ceramic D4004 variant
-
The plastic P4004 variant
.jpg){kind=small}
See also
In Spanish: Intel 4004 para niños
