floating-point arithmetic computer chip
Date1981-1985
Inventory Number1998-1-0880
ClassificationComputer chip
Subject
Maker
International Business Machines Corporation
1911-present
Maker
Intel Corporation
1968-present
User
Owen Gingerich
born 1930
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Place of Use
Dimensionscase: 1.6 × 7.7 × 2.3 cm (5/8 × 3 1/16 × 7/8 in.)
Material
Accessoriesclear plastic case; hand-written letter from Owen Gingerich to William Andrewes about donating chip to Collection, received May 21, 1998 (in instrument file); printed email from William Andrewes to Owen Gingerich, thanking him for the chip donation, dated June 1, 1998 (in instrument file)
DescriptionThe chip is stored in a rectangular, clear plastic case. There is an opaque, white plastic holder at each end of the case, holding the chip in suspension so that the brass connection pins do not make contact with the bottom panel of the case. The brass pins serve to connect the chip to a circuit board. They point vertically downward from the body of the chip. The body of the chip is mounted in a ceramic dual in-line package (DIP) made of dark grey ceramic with a brass square plate in the center of the top panel and a slim brass plate to the left.
Signedhand-written in white letters on the top panel of chip: IBM
in grey letters on top panel of chip: i / C8087-3 / I321003D / INTEL '80 '81
in grey letters on bottom panel of chip: MALAYSIA C / P3180093 IL.
FunctionThis Intel microchip is designed to enable floating-point arithmetic for an early model IBM personal computer, c. 1985 - 1990. For a similar chip, see 2001-1-0025.
A discussion of floating-point arithmetic and its relevance to computation, click here.
A discussion of floating-point arithmetic and its relevance to computation, click here.
ProvenanceDonated to CHSI by Professor Owen Gingerich.
Historical AttributesPurchased by Harvard University Astronomy and History of Science professor, Owen Gingerich, for his personal computer. Never used.
Panelvision Corporation
Date: 1984
Accessories: single-board display controller
cable for display (1997-1-0686c)
shipping ticket/ hand carry pass dated June 11, 1997 (in instrument file)
letter to Dr. Richard V. Kollarits from William Andrewes dated June 16, 1997 regarding donation of MiniGraphic display and letter to William Andrewes from Dr. Richard V. Kollarits that accompanied the object upon donation on June 11, 1997 (in instrument file)
four sample color prints made with this display on micro-encapsulated photographic paper. 1. man in business suit, 2. woman crouching next to lawn ornament, 3. two clowns painting a third's face, 4. woman in winter hat and scarf (in instrument file)
copies of two articles by AT&T Bell Laboratories staff (Richard V. Kollarits, William, H. Ninke, David C. Gibbon) on color imaging and printing (in instrument file)
Panelvision pamphlet introducing the MiniGraphic multipurpose flat panel display, including instrument specifications, consumer prices, functioning and features (in instrument file)
1984 article by Panelvision employees (Peter Brody Fang-Chen Luo, Paul Malmberg) on active matrix technology (in instrument file)
Panelvision Corporation Fact Sheet, including details of company history and recent developments (in instrument file)
article about commercial debut of active matrix technology from Design Engineering newspaper, June 18, 1984 (in instrument file)
full circuit diagram and schematic for MiniGraphic Display Controller (in instrument file)
instruction manual and description of MiniGraphic Display Controller (two copies, in instrument file)
circuit diagrams and instruction manuals for the MiniGraphic Display (two booklets, in instrument file)
Object number: 1997-1-0686a
Crosby Steam Gage & Valve Company
Date: circa 1910
Accessories: original and photocopy of letter from Dr. Joachim Fischer in Berlin requesting information and photographs of mechanical integrating devices from William J.H. Andrewes, dated 13 October 1993
photocopy of letter from William J.H. Andrewes to Dr. Joachim Fischer, providing information on the planimeter and requesting details for his desired photographs; original and photocopy of letter from William J.H. Andrewes to Dr. Joachim Fischer, responding to a request regarding mechanical integrators acquired from the Aiken computer laboratory, dated 11 April 1997; letter from William J. H. Andrewes to Dr. Joachim Fischer that accompanied the photographs, dated 26 April 1995; film and eleven color photographs of the instrument, probably copies of those sent to Dr. Joachim Fischer
Object number: 1995-1-0003
Panelvision Corporation
Date: 1984
Accessories: control for Panelvision MiniGraphic display (1997-1-0686a)
shipping ticket/ hand carry pass dated June 11, 1997 (in instrument 1997 - 0686a file)
letter to Dr. Richard V. Kollarits from William Andrewes dated June 16, 1997 regarding donation of MiniGraphic display and letter to William Andrewes from Dr. Richard V. Kollarits that accompanied the object upon donation on June 11, 1997 (in instrument 1997 - 0686a file)
four sample color prints made with this display on micro-encapsulated photographic paper. 1. man in business suit, 2. woman crouching next to lawn ornament, 3. two clowns painting a third's face, 4. woman in winter hat and scarf (in instrument 1997 - 0686a file)
copies of two articles by AT&T Bell Laboratories staff (Richard V. Kollarits, William, H. Ninke, David C. Gibbon) on color imaging and printing (in instrument 1997 - 0686a file)
Panelvision pamphlet introducing the MiniGraphic multipurpose flat panel display, including instrument specifications, consumer prices, functioning and features (in instrument 1997 - 0686a file)
1984 article by Panelvision employees (Peter Brody Fang-Chen Luo, Paul Malmberg) on active matrix technology (in instrument 1997 - 0686a file)
Panelvision Corporation Fact Sheet, including details of company history and recent developments (in instrument 1997 - 0686a file)
article about commercial debut of active matrix technology from Design Engineering newspaper, June 18, 1984 (in instrument 1997 - 0686a file)
full circuit diagram and schematic for MiniGraphic Display Controller (in instrument file)
instruction manual and description of MiniGraphic Display Controller (two copies, in instrument 1997 - 0686a file)
circuit diagrams and instruction manuals for the MiniGraphic Display (two booklets, in instrument 1997 - 0686a file)
Object number: 1997-1-0686b
Gebrüder Haff
Date: circa 1940
Accessories: card with instrument info and conversion table; photocopy of letter from Dr. Joachim Fischer to William J.H. Andrewes, dated 12 May 1997; photocopy of extract from Dr. Joachim Fischer's inventory of integrating instruments included with the letter
Object number: 1997-1-0444
International Business Machines Corporation
Date: 1982
Object number: 2001-1-0025
Intel Corporation
Date: circa 1985
Object number: 1998-1-0575
Digital Equipment Corporation
Date: 1960-1970
Accessories: circuit board, "flip chip" cards (10)
Object number: 1998-1-0230
Texas Instruments Incorporated
Date: circa 1985
Object number: 1998-1-0576
Apple Computer Inc.
Date: circa 1998
Accessories: performance review article (in instrument file)
Object number: 2000-1-0003
Richard L. Ketchen
Date: 1997
Accessories: grey plastic case; ten spare brass screws; spare log chip
Object number: 1997-1-0632
Department of Geology and Geography, Harvard University
Date: 1963
Accessories: sample chip in glass vial, missing part on side
Object number: 2011-1-0033