The F-14A “Tom Cat” Microprocessor
The first microprocessor was designed and developed from 1968-1970.
This site describes the design work for a MOS-LSI, highly integrated, microprocessor chip set
designed starting June 1968 and completed by June 1970. This highly
integrated computer chip set was designed for the US Navy F14A “TomCat”
fighter jet by Mr. Steve Geller and Mr. Ray Holt
while working for Garrett AiResearch Corp under contract from Grumman
Aircraft, the prime contractor for the US Navy. The MOS-LSI chips were
manufactured by American Microsystems, Inc of Santa Clara, California.
The MOS-LSI chip set was part of the Central Air Data Computer (CADC)
which had the function of controlling the moving surfaces of the
aircraft and the displaying of pilot information. The CADC received
input from five sources, 1) static pressure sensor, dynamic pressure
sensor, analog pilot information, temperature probe, and digital switch
pilot input. The output of the CADC controlled the moving surfaces of
the aircraft. These were the wings, maneuver flaps, and the glove vane
controls. The CADC also controlled four cockpit displays for Mach Speed,
Altitude, Air Speed, and Vertical Speed. The CADC was a redundant
system with real-time self-testing built-in. Any single failure from one
system would switch over to the other.
Two state-of-the-art quartz sensors, a 20-bit high precision
analog-to-digital converter, a 20-bit high precision digital-to-analog
converter, the MOS-LSI chip set, and a very efficient power unit made up the complete CADC. A team of over 25
managers, engineers, programmers, and technicians from AiResearch and
American Microsystems labored for three years to accomplish a design
feat never before attempted, a complete state-of-the-art, highly
integrated, digital air data computer. Previous designs were based
around mechanical technology, consisting of precision gears and cams.
In 1971, Mr. Ray Holt wrote a design paper on the MOS-LSI chip set
design which was approved for publication by Computer Design magazine.
However, because of national security reasons the U.S. Navy would not
approve this paper for publication. Mr. Holt attempted again in 1985 to
have the paper cleared and the answer again was no. Finally, in April
1997, he started the process again and this time was able to receive
clearance for publication as of April 21, 1998.
The entire contents of this original 1971 paper, “Architecture Of A Microprocessor“,
is made available here. The first public announcement of the F14A
MOS-LSI microprocessor chip set was a published article by the Wall
Street Journal on September 22, 1998. This paper and the details of the
design were first presented publicly by Mr. Ray Holt at the Vintage
Computer Festival held at the Santa Clara Convention Center on September
26-27, 1998.
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