Introduction

In the early 1980s, Commodore Business Machines was a pioneer in the personal computer industry. One of the key factors in Commodore’s success was its ability to design and manufacture its own chips. This allowed the company to create innovative, cost-effective computers like the Commodore 64, which became the best-selling personal computer of all time.

At the heart of Commodore’s chip design efforts was Bil Herd, a young engineer who joined the company in 1983. Herd played a crucial role in the development of several Commodore chips, including the VIC-II graphics chip used in the Commodore 64.

In this article, we’ll explore Herd’s experiences at Commodore, the inner workings of the company’s chip fabrication facility, and the legacy of Commodore’s custom chip designs.

Bil Herd’s Background

Bil Herd’s interest in electronics began at an early age. As a teenager, he built his own computer using a Intel 8008 microprocessor. After graduating from high school, Herd attended Purdue University, where he studied electrical engineering.

In 1983, at the age of 21, Herd was hired by Commodore as a chip designer. He quickly made a name for himself at the company, impressing his colleagues with his technical skills and creative problem-solving abilities.

The Commodore Chip Fab

MOS Technology Acquisition

Commodore’s ability to design and manufacture its own chips stemmed from its acquisition of MOS Technology in 1976. MOS Technology was a semiconductor company that had previously designed the 6502 microprocessor, which was used in several popular computers and video game consoles, including the Apple II and Atari 2600.

After the acquisition, MOS Technology became Commodore’s in-house chip design and fabrication division. This gave Commodore a significant advantage over its competitors, who had to rely on third-party chip manufacturers.

Chip Design Process

The chip design process at Commodore began with a concept or idea for a new chip. Engineers like Bil Herd would then create a detailed specification document outlining the chip’s features and functionality.

Next, the chip design would be implemented using computer-aided design (CAD) tools. This involved creating a schematic diagram of the chip’s circuitry and a layout of its physical structure.

Once the design was complete, it would be sent to the fabrication facility for manufacturing. The fab would create a set of photomasks based on the chip layout, which would be used to transfer the circuit patterns onto silicon wafers.

Chip Fabrication

The actual chip fabrication process involved a complex series of steps, including:

1. Wafer preparation: Silicon wafers were cleaned and polished to create a smooth surface for the chip circuits.

2. Photolithography: The photomasks were used to transfer the chip’s circuit patterns onto the wafers using UV light and photoresist.

3. Etching: Chemical or plasma etching was used to remove unwanted material from the wafers, leaving only the desired circuit patterns.

4. Doping: Impurities were introduced into the silicon to create the necessary electrical properties for the chip’s transistors.

5. Insulation and metallization: Insulating layers and metal interconnects were added to the chip to enable communication between its various components.

6. Testing and packaging: The completed chips were tested for functionality and packaged for use in Commodore’s computers.

Here’s a simplified overview of the chip fabrication process:

Step	Description
Wafer preparation	Clean and polish silicon wafers
Photolithography	Transfer circuit patterns onto wafers using photomasks
Etching	Remove unwanted material, leaving desired circuit patterns
Doping	Introduce impurities to create electrical properties
Insulation and metallization	Add insulating layers and metal interconnects
Testing and packaging	Test chips for functionality and package for use

Notable Commodore Chips

Bil Herd and his colleagues at Commodore designed several groundbreaking chips during the 1980s, including:

• VIC-II: The graphics chip used in the Commodore 64, capable of displaying 16 colors and creating smooth scrolling effects.
• SID: The sound chip used in the Commodore 64, featuring three voices and advanced synthesis capabilities.
• TED: An all-in-one chip that combined graphics, sound, and I/O functionality, used in the Commodore Plus/4 and 16 computers.

These custom chips gave Commodore’s computers unique capabilities and helped to differentiate them from competitors’ offerings.

Bil Herd’s Contributions

VIC-II Development

One of Bil Herd’s most significant contributions to Commodore was his work on the VIC-II graphics chip. Herd was tasked with improving upon the original VIC chip used in the VIC-20 computer, with the goal of creating a more powerful graphics processor for the upcoming Commodore 64.

Herd’s design for the VIC-II introduced several new features, including:

• 16-color graphics
• Hardware sprites
• Smooth scrolling
• Raster interrupts

These enhancements allowed the Commodore 64 to create more visually impressive games and applications, contributing to its success in the market.

Cost Reduction Efforts

In addition to his work on the VIC-II, Herd was also involved in efforts to reduce the cost of Commodore’s chips. One notable example was his redesign of the TED chip, which combined the functionality of several separate chips into a single package.

By reducing the number of chips required in Commodore’s computers, Herd helped to lower manufacturing costs and increase profitability. This cost-cutting mindset was a key aspect of Commodore’s business strategy, allowing them to offer powerful computers at competitive prices.

The Legacy of Commodore’s Custom Chips

Impact on the Industry

Commodore’s custom chip designs had a significant impact on the personal computer industry. The company’s ability to create powerful, cost-effective chips in-house allowed them to introduce innovative features and capabilities that set their computers apart from the competition.

The success of the Commodore 64, in particular, demonstrated the value of custom chip design and helped to establish Commodore as a major player in the industry. Other companies, such as Atari and Apple, also began to invest in custom chip development to stay competitive.

Influence on Modern Computing

Many of the concepts and technologies pioneered by Commodore’s custom chips can still be seen in modern computing devices. For example:

• The VIC-II’s hardware sprites and smooth scrolling capabilities laid the groundwork for the advanced graphics processing found in today’s GPUs.
• The SID chip’s advanced sound synthesis features influenced the development of modern digital audio technology.
• The idea of combining multiple functions into a single chip, as seen in the TED, is now commonplace in system-on-a-chip (SoC) designs used in smartphones and embedded devices.

While Commodore itself ultimately faced financial difficulties and went out of business in 1994, the legacy of its custom chip designs lives on in the technology we use every day.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What was Bil Herd’s role at Commodore?

2. Bil Herd was a chip designer at Commodore, responsible for creating custom chips for the company’s computers, including the VIC-II graphics chip used in the Commodore 64.

3. Why was Commodore’s acquisition of MOS Technology significant?

4. The acquisition of MOS Technology gave Commodore the ability to design and manufacture its own chips in-house, providing a significant advantage over competitors who relied on third-party chip suppliers.

5. What were some of the notable chips designed by Commodore?

6. Some of the notable chips designed by Commodore include the VIC-II graphics chip, the SID sound chip, and the TED all-in-one chip.

7. How did Bil Herd’s work on the VIC-II contribute to the success of the Commodore 64?

8. Herd’s design for the VIC-II introduced advanced graphics features like 16-color graphics, hardware sprites, and smooth scrolling, which allowed the Commodore 64 to create more visually impressive games and applications, contributing to its market success.

9. What is the legacy of Commodore’s custom chip designs in modern computing?

10. Commodore’s custom chip designs pioneered concepts and technologies that are still used in modern computing devices, such as advanced graphics processing, digital audio synthesis, and system-on-a-chip (SoC) designs.

Conclusion

Bil Herd’s experiences at Commodore provide a fascinating glimpse into the world of early personal computer development and the critical role that custom chip design played in the company’s success. Through his work on chips like the VIC-II and TED, Herd helped to create the innovative, cost-effective computers that made Commodore a household name in the 1980s.

While Commodore itself is no longer in business, the legacy of its custom chip designs can still be seen in the technology we use today. As we continue to push the boundaries of computing performance and capabilities, it’s worth remembering the pioneers like Bil Herd who laid the foundation for the modern digital landscape.