18) The First Japanese Microprocessor was Toshiba’s 12 bit MPU

  
[TLCS-12], 12 bit microprocessor developed by Toshiba

The first Japanese microprocessor was developed by Toshiba. Intel’s microprocessor announcement was in November 1971, while Toshiba’s announcement was May 1973. Even though Toshiba was a follower, the delay was only one and half years.

The unusual point of this MPU was, as the product name of TLCS-12 (Picture) shows, it adopted 12 bit word length. At that time, Intel had already started sales of an 8 bit product [8008], and was expected to announce a 16 bit product next. The industry wondered, “Why 12 bit?”

There was actually an intention of Ford Motor Company in the background of this development. Toshiba and Ford had business relationships since early 60’s through the technology development of semiconductor components for automotive use. Probably based on the satisfactory results of the activities, Ford offered Toshiba to develop electronic engine control system. The timing was when Muskie Act to regulate air pollution control came into effect in 1970 in US, and all the automobile manufacturers were working to take measures on this Act.

Toshiba’s answer to Ford was a computerized engine control system. Ford reacted to this idea quickly and a project team of about 10 members was organized. At first, Ford considered using minicomputers, but the size would be too big and the cost as high as 1 million Yen. They finally reached the conclusion that microcomputers could solve these problems. In order to control mechanical systems like engine, 10 times more functions than 4 bit were required, and 12 bit architecture was adopted.

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