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Driving Semiconductor Innovation: Moore’s Law at Fairchild and Intel

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 September 2020

Abstract

Gordon Moore designed Moore’s Law as a multifunctional tool to drive process and product innovation, sell Fairchild’s and Intel’s microchips, and outcompete other semiconductor firms. Because Intel’s ability to stay on Moore’s Law depended upon other corporations developing materials and manufacturing equipment for exponential scaling, Moore and his closest associates heavily promoted Moore’s Law in the microelectronics community. They also established the national and international technology roadmaps for semiconductors in order to set the direction and cadence of innovation in microelectronics at the national and, later, global scales. Moore’s and his successors’ relentless pursuit of Moore’s Law and their deft management of the roadmaps significantly reinforced Intel’s competitiveness and helped it to dominate semiconductor technology and industry until the mid-2010s.

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Article
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the Business History Conference. All rights reserved

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Footnotes

The author would like to thank anonymous referees for their sharp comments on a previous version of this article. His thanks also go to the Collegium de Lyon and the Institute for Advanced Study at Central European University for their support for this project.

References

Bibliography of Works Cited

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Robertson, Jack. “Moore: Unify Tech Strategy.” Electronic News, 27 July 1991.Google Scholar
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Donald Liddie Papers, X4609. 2008, Computer History Museum, Mountain View, CA.Google Scholar
Gordon Moore Papers, M1965, Stanford University Archives and Special Collections, Palo Alto, CA.Google Scholar
Bassett, Ross. To the Digital Age: Research Labs, Start-Up Companies and the Rise of MOS Technology. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2002.Google Scholar
Berlin, Leslie. The Man behind the Microchip: Robert Noyce and the Making of Silicon Valley. New York: Oxford University Press, 2005.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brock, David, ed. Understanding Moore’s Law: Four Decades of Innovation. Philadelphia: Chemical Heritage Press, 2006.Google Scholar
Brown, Clair, and Linden, Greg. Chips and Change: How Crisis Reshapes the Semiconductor Industry. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2009.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Flamm, Kenneth. Mismanaged Trade? Strategic Policy and the Semiconductor Industry. Washington: Brookings Institution Press, 1996.Google Scholar
Fransman, Martin. The Market and Beyond: Cooperation and Competition in Information Technology in the Japanese System. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1993.Google Scholar
Lécuyer, Christophe. Making Silicon Valley: Innovation and the Growth of High Tech, 1930–1970. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2006.Google Scholar
Lécuyer, Christophe, and Brock, David C.. Makers of the Microchip: A Documentary History of Fairchild Semiconductor. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2010.Google Scholar
Mody, Cyrus. The Long Arm of Moore’s Law: Microelectronics and American Science. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2016.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Morton, Jack. Organizing for Innovation: A Systems Approach to Technical Management. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1971.Google Scholar
Thackray, Arnold, Brock, David C., and Jones, Rachel. Moore’s Law: The Life of Gordon Moore, Silicon Valley’s Quiet Revolutionary. New York: Basic Books, 2015.Google Scholar
Yu, Albert. Creating the Digital Future: The Secrets of Consistent Innovation at Intel. New York: The Free Press, 1998.Google Scholar
Aspray, William. “The Intel 4004 Microprocessor: What Constituted Invention?Annals of the History of Computing 19, no. 3 (1997): 415.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brock, David C., and Lécuyer, Christophe. “Digital Foundations: The Making of Silicon-Gate Manufacturing Technology.” Technology and Culture 53, no. 3 (2012): 561597.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ceruzzi, Paul. “Moore’s Law and Technological Determinism: Reflections on the History of Technology.” Technology & Culture 46, no. 3 (2005): 584593.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Flamm, Kenneth. “Moore’s Law and the Economics of Semiconductor Price Trends.” International Journal of Technology, Policy and Management 3, no. 2 (2003): 127141.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Friedrich, Hans, Kosanocky, Walter, and Sugano, Takuo. “Foreword.” IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices ED-26 (April 1979): 257.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hoeinesen, Bruce, and Mead, Carver. “Fundamental Limitations in Microelectronics–I. MOS Technology.” Solid-State Electronics 15, no. 7 (1972): 819829.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hoeinesen, Bruce, and Carver, Mead.Fundamental Limitations in Microelectronics–II. Bipolar Technology.” Solid-State Electronics 15, no. 8 (1972): 891897.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hogan, Lester. “Reflections on the Past and Thoughts about the Future of Semiconductor Technology.” Interface Age 2, no. 4 (1977), 2436.Google Scholar
Keyes, Robert. “Physical Problems and Limits in Computer Logic.” IEEE Spectrum 6, no. 5 (1969): 3645.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Keyes, Robert. “Physical Problems of Small Structures in Electronics.” Proceedings of the IEEE 60, no. 9 (1972): 10551062.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Keyes, Robert. “Physical Limits in Digital Electronics.” Proceedings of the IEEE 63, no. 5 (1975): 740767.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Langlois, Richard, and Steinmueller, Edward. “The Evolution of Competitive Advantage in the Worldwide Semiconductor Industry, 1947–1996.” In The Sources of Industrial Leadership: Studies of Seven Industries, edited by Mowery, David and Nelson, Richard, 1978. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1999.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lécuyer, Christophe. “Confronting the Japanese Challenge: The Revival of Manufacturing at Intel.” Business History Review 93, no. 2 (2019): 349373.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Marshall, Nathan. “Robert Keyes, 1921–2010.” National Academy of Engineering Memorial Tributes 16 (2012): 132136.Google Scholar
Moore, Gordon. “Progress in Digital Electronics.” Technical Digest, IEEE International Electron Devices Meeting 21 (1975): 1113.Google Scholar
Moore, Gordon. “Semiconductor Integrated Circuits.” In Microelectronics: Theory, Design, and Fabrication, edited by Keonjian, Edward, 262359. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1963.Google Scholar
Nishi, Yoshio. “The Japanese Semiconductor Industry.” In Developing the Electronics Industry, edited by Wellenius, Björn, Miller, Arnold, and Dahlman, Carl, 123130. Washington: The World Bank, 1993.Google Scholar
Petritz, Richard. “Technical Foundations and Future Directions of Large Scale Integrated Electronics.” In Proceedings of the November 7–10, 1966, Fall Joint Computer Conference, 6587. New York: Association for Computing Machinery, 1966.Google Scholar
Ross, Ian, and Reed, Eugene. “Functional Devices.” In Microelectronics: Theory, Design, and Fabrication, edited by Keonjian, Edward, 360375. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1963.Google Scholar
Schaller, Robert R.Moore’s Law: Past, Present, and Future.” IEEE Spectrum, June 1997, 5359.Google Scholar
Spencer, William, and Seidel, Thomas. “International Technology Roadmaps: The US Semiconductor Experience.” In Productivity and Cyclicality in Semiconductors: Trends, Implications, and Questions, edited by Jorgenson, Dale W. and Wessner, Charles W., 135150. Washington: National Academies Press, 2004.Google Scholar
Willyard, Charles, and McClees, Cheryl. “Motorola’s Technology Roadmap Process.” Research Management 30, no. 5 (1987): 1319.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Anonymous, “Turning Science into Industry.” IEEE Spectrum, January 1966.Google Scholar
Anonymous, “Repealing Moore’s Law.” OEM Magazine, 1 December 1996.Google Scholar
Agres, Ted. “IC density growth rate is key issue for industry.” R&D, 1 June 1996.Google Scholar
Bartelink, Dirk. “The Roadmap Can Help Collaborations, but Should not Stamp out Competition.” Solid State Technology, 1 February 1995.Google Scholar
Buurma, Jack. “Heartfelt Words for a Troubled IC Industry.” Electronics Engineering Times, 20 January 1997.Google Scholar
Clark, Don. “Intel’s Culture Needed Fixing. Its CEO is Shaking Things up.” New York Times, 1 March 2020.Google Scholar
Gibbs, W. Wayt. “Gordon E. Moore, Part 1.” Scientific American, 22 September 1997.Google Scholar
Keyes, Robert. “Physical Problems and Limits in Computer Logic.” IEEE Spectrum, May 1969, 3645.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Grayson, Ian. “Chips and a Lifelong Passion.” The Independent, 8 April 1997.Google Scholar
Hasell, Nick. “The Intelligence of Intel.” Management Today, 12 November 1992.Google Scholar
Lee, Sang-Yun. “Intel Needs New Strategy, ASAP.” Electronic Engineering Times, 7 March 2018.Google Scholar
McGrath, Dylan. “Intel Claims Progress at 10nm Yields.” Electronic Engineering Times, 27 July 2018.Google Scholar
Merritt, Rick. “Chip Roadmap Reboots.” Electronic Engineering Times, 4 May 2016.Google Scholar
Merritt, Rick. “Intel May Sit Out Race to EUV.” Electronic Engineering Times, 10 October 2017.Google Scholar
Monticelli, Dennis. “The Wild, Wild West.” Electronic Business, 1 November 2005.Google Scholar
Moore, Gordon. “Cramming more Components onto Integrated Circuits.” Electronics, 19 April 1965.Google Scholar
Peercy, Paul. “The Drive to Miniaturization.” Nature, 406, 31 August 2000, 10231026.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pollack, Andrew. “Japan’s Big Lead in Memory Chips.” New York Times, 28 February 1982.Google Scholar
Noyce, Robert. “Microelectronics.” Scientific American, 237, No. 3, September 1977, 6269.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Robertson, Jack. “Moore: Unify Tech Strategy.” Electronic News, 27 July 1991.Google Scholar
Robertson, Jack. “Speeding in Fast Lane.” Electronic Buyers’ News, 29 July 1996.Google Scholar
Wilson, John. “Intel Wakes up to a Whole New Market Place in Chips.” Business Week, 2 September 1985.Google Scholar
Wollesen, Dan. “Roadmap Implementation.” Solid State Technology, 1 February 1995.Google Scholar
Schaller, Robert. “Technological Innovation in the Semiconductor Industry: A Case Study of the International Roadmap for Semiconductors (ITRS).” PhD diss., George Mason University, 2004.Google Scholar
Semiconductor Industry Association. National Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors. Santa Clara, CA: 1994.Google Scholar
Semiconductor Industry Association. National Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors. Santa Clara, CA: 1997.Google Scholar
Everhart, Thomas. Oral history interview conducted by David C. Brock. March 28, 2007. Science History Institute, Philadelphia, PA.Google Scholar
Fukuma, Masao. Interview with author. June 14, 2016, and September 11, 2016.Google Scholar
Gargini, Paolo. Oral history interview conducted by Harry Sello and Daryl Hatano. July 27, 2011. Computer History Museum, Mountain View, CA.Google Scholar
Hiramoto, Toshiro. Interview with author. June 29, 2018.Google Scholar
House, David. Interview with author. August 15, 2014.Google Scholar
Mead, Carver. Oral history interview conducted by Shirley Cohen. July 17, 1996. Archives, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA.Google Scholar
Mead, Carver. Oral history interview conducted by Doug Fairbairn . May 27, 2009. Computer History Museum, Mountain View, CA.Google Scholar
Meieran, Eugene. Interview with author. June 23, 2010.Google Scholar
Niwa, Masaaki. Interview with author. June 7, 2016.Google Scholar
Oya, Yuichiro. Interview with author and Yashushi Sato. June 4, 2016.Google Scholar
Ross, Ian. Oral history interview conducted by Lewis Terman. August 19, 2009. Computer History Museum, Mountain View, CA.Google Scholar
Sello, Harry. Interview with author. June 6, 2012, and May 30, 2013.Google Scholar
Tarui, Yasuo. Interview with author and Yashushi Sato. May 31, 2016.Google Scholar
Toriumi, Akira. Interview with author. June 14, 2018.Google Scholar
Vadasz, Leslie. Interview with author. August 13, 2013.Google Scholar
Speeches, Andrew Grove, M1630, Stanford University Archives and Special Collections, Palo Alto, CA.Google Scholar
Donald Liddie Papers, X4609. 2008, Computer History Museum, Mountain View, CA.Google Scholar
Gordon Moore Papers, M1965, Stanford University Archives and Special Collections, Palo Alto, CA.Google Scholar