1991 Starting from the core

Because of its programmable characteristics, looking at the development of the entire programmable logic chip, whether it is PAL, GAL, or FPGA, from the beginning of its birth, it was naturally related to some professional products that cannot be mass-produced but have many application scenarios. Domain related. For example, aviation, aerospace, aircraft carriers...

As these fields move towards full digitization, if a dedicated chip is deliberately tape-outed for a small quantity requirement and may be modified at any time, the cost will be prohibitive.

Therefore, programmable devices based on fuse technology emerged as the times require.

Fuse technology can be simply understood as that in a designed logic gate array, it only needs to output a specific voltage to fuse certain lines in these logic gates, thereby making the logic gate array available and forming a usable of chips.

If you still don't understand it, think of it as a large block of blocks spread out on the floor. The fuse is to pull out certain blocks to change the blocks on the ground into usable shapes.

Antifuse technology is just the opposite.

Because of this, in the early days, programmable chips, like microcontrollers, were banned from domestic sales.

In history, several companies engaged in FPGA all started from procurement in the military and aviation fields, and finally gradually introduced them to the civilian market.

Now, even the two giants Xilinx and Altera in the FPGA industry in later generations are still in the status of "little brothers".

As of today, the most advanced FPGA only has 10,000 logic gates.

The reason is very simple. Those who engage in FPGA are fabless IC design companies. Everything depends on the face of the foundry, and the foundry is famous for being a money printing machine - the yield rate can be achieved at every turn. With more than 95% of the DRAM and ASIC businesses that require millions of calculations, who will take a serious look at FPGA?

Of course, FPGA also had overlapping functions with microcontrollers and other reasons, so it remained dormant for a long time, and it was not until the late 1990s that it suddenly exploded.

There are factors such as demand growth, such as base station equipment; there is also the semiconductor winter, which can free up production capacity; and FPGA can use new processes and new technologies faster - because it does not require application scenarios and high-end technologies like dedicated ICs. The research and development cycle-making it an ideal process-driven chip will not be described in detail.

Now, Zheng Baoyong can actually judge at present that the application scenarios of FPGA will greatly increase in the future...

I have to say that he is worthy of being Hua Wei’s “number two” figure.

And Su Yuanshan will naturally not let go of FPGA, an area that will be closely related to his own business in the future.

Compared with later generations, only the two giants Xilinx and Altera, as well as a supporting cast of "other" players including Lattice and Microsemi, are left in the market share. Today's FPGAs The field is still at the stage where a hundred flowers are blooming.

Su Yuanshan is targeting QuickLogic (Okens).

Xinghai has already begun contact with Oakens. Once the acquisition is completed, Oakens will transform from an inconspicuous junior to a pioneer in promoting the FPGA process, and will quickly complete the transformation with the support of Deyuan Foundry.

…

After the meal, the group drank tea for another two hours, during which everyone talked about the outlook and development of the industry, especially the outlook for the domestic market.

It can be seen that Mr. Ren is also full of confidence in the country.

Moreover, Su Yuanshan was also keenly aware that his old employer was eager to test his voice and see whether Yuanxin would get involved in the switch field in the future.

In this regard, Su Yuanshan only vaguely mentioned that Yuanxin will not be involved in the wired network business.

We should leave a mouthful of food for our domestic counterparts, so that the country can rest assured.

After staying in the special zone for another two days, Su Yuanshan flew to Shanghai again and inspected the business of the science and technology park before returning to the provincial capital.

He did not go back to the Provincial Science and Technology Park, but went directly back to his home in the Electrical Engineering Department.

After all, the National Day is here.

…

Electrical Engineering dormitory building.

Seeing Su Yuanshan shooing away mosquitoes and signaling Fu Zhenhua and others to go back while walking towards him, Zhang Xiuyun stood on tiptoe and looked around for a few times before becoming disappointed.

There was obvious complaint in his words: "Why didn't Xiaoye come back?"

"Mom, it's not our National Day in Lighthouse Country." Su Yuanshan chuckled and handed the specialties he brought back from Shanghai to his mother: "It's recommended by the leaders of Shanghai. You can try it."

"..." Zhang Xiuyun opened the bag and saw that it was just some pastries. She immediately couldn't laugh or cry: "Am I the one who lacks biscuits?"

"Yes, yes...then I won't buy any in the future - how about I give you some diamond rings? How many years have you and dad been married? Has it been thirty years?"

"What do you think?" As soon as he mentioned this, Zhang Xiuyun immediately glared at his son: "You are going to be 24 soon, and you still let your girlfriend run outside all day long?"

"...She is busy over there, what can I do? Didn't she stay here for a few months in the first half of the year? Don't worry, she will be back during the Chinese New Year."

Su Yuanshan managed to get rid of his mother's complaints after some hard talking - it seems that in his mother's heart, his son has indeed become so successful that he no longer needs to work hard for a career, he only needs to give her grandchildren.

When he got home, Su Yuanshan put on his slippers and lay down directly on the sofa, smelling the new smell of the sofa. He couldn't help but joked: "Oh, a new sofa? How much does it cost?"

"I don't know, your uncle gave it to me. It should be quite expensive - by the way, has your uncle made money recently?"

"He... made a lot of money." Su Yuanshan weighed the sofa and felt that the elasticity was good, but he still pursed his lips and said with a smile: "It's not as tight as the old sofa before. By the way, where's Dad?"

Zhang Xiuyun took the apron and walked to Su Yuanshan - she knew that her son didn't like having outsiders at home, so when she learned that her son was back, she gave the nanny a day off.

"Your dad...is very busy. He has so many endless meetings all day long. Fasten it for me."

While the mother and son were chattering, the door was opened with a key. A moment later, Academician Su Xinghe appeared at the door with a solemn look on his face.

…

ten minutes later.

"Dad, is this a good thing?" Su Yuanshan frowned and thought for a long time, and then said hesitantly.

Just now, his father told him that Principal Zhou was about to retire due to health and age. As for who will lead the electrical engineering department in the future... Lao Zhou is inclined to recommend Su Xinghe.

Of course, for the principal of a key school like Electronic Science and Technology, the power of appointment and removal must lie with the top, but as an old principal who has made great achievements in his tenure, Lao Zhou obviously still has the right to make suggestions for his successor.

"Hey?" Su Xinghe looked at his son, a little puzzled: "You said at the beginning that I would be enough as a dean, and the next step would be deep-rooting technology..."

Su Yuanshan nodded.

Indeed, he used to think that it would be enough for his father to become an academician and a dean. He was not so busy, not under so much pressure, and had good resources, so he could continue to move forward in the academic field.

Su Xinghe also considered this and did this - as the founder of Yuanxin, he had such a huge technology enterprise empire behind him to support him. It can be said that he did not need to consider any financial issues at all, so he could concentrate on scientific research.

The improvement of his political status can only give him more say in the academic circle.

But being a principal is different. It can be said that when you become a principal, you only consider the development of the school, so you basically give up your own academic progress.

Su Xinghe felt that he was only over fifty and could still strive academically.

"Dad..." Su Yuanshan pursed his lips and sipped his teeth a few times: "Then let's discuss first why Principal Zhou would consider you..."

"Why? Of course it's because of Yuanxin." Professor Su Xinghe said without hesitation: "I became the principal of the Department of Electrical Engineering and you are my son. Why don't Yuanxin support the Department of Electrical Engineering more? Whether it's employment or teaching and research. , or other cooperation and resources, the Electronic Science and Technology Department is equivalent to having resources that all domestic universities cannot have."

"This resource is something that both the Qingbei School and the Second School are very jealous of."

Su Yuanshan chuckled: "That's true. Our electrical engineering gang..."

"Lao Zhou has just laid the foundation for the branch campus and built new departments in a drastic way - well, if he does well, it is all because he has laid a solid foundation. If he does not do well, it is all the fault of his successor." Su Xinghe The professor shook his head as he spoke: "I usually see him as such an upright old man, but I didn't expect that he was so upset."

Su Yuanshan was amused by his father.

It seems that although my father is devoted to academics, his position as dean is not in vain. He has some political experience.

But from Su Yuanshan's point of view... Lao Zhou may not be just thinking about "making trouble."

After Yuan Xin's butterfly wings flapped like this, today's Dianke is no longer on the same track as it was in history. Principal Zhou also seized the opportunity and quickly revitalized the electronics department with the rise of Yuanxin.

Among other things, Electronic Engineering, Information Technology, Computer Software Engineering and other "future-oriented" majors are already among the best in the country.

Lao Zhou’s ambition is to build the Department of Electrical Engineering into a world-class school that can compete with Stanford.

And looking at the country and the school, the only one who can fulfill his long-cherished wish is Su Xinghe.

"Then what did you think about it?" Su Yuanshan knew that his father was not very happy.

"I'm also very confused. For me, it doesn't matter what official I am now, right?"

Su Yuanshan nodded with a smile - his father was one of the first academicians of the Academy of Engineering and the founder of Yuanxin. With these dual identities, who dares to look down on him?

"But Lao Zhou and Lao Tang are right. Electrical Engineering is indeed facing a huge opportunity now. If we seize it, we can fly - the country is going to evaluate key engineering schools again, you know? Electrical Engineering must be the first to bear the brunt. The first batch of electronics colleges. It can even be said that they placed the hope of the whole country..."

Professor Su Xinghe frowned as he spoke, and after a few seconds of silence he looked at Su Yuanshan: "How about we recommend you, Uncle Li? You should support him, right?"

Su Yuanshan was startled for a moment, then nodded with a smile: "Dad, Yuan Xin will support whoever becomes the principal, there is no doubt about it."

"But if you take it, it's not just a matter of Yuanxin's support...but Yuanxin must help Dianke become the Stanford of mainland China."

"It's a matter of mission."