The train driver in the courtyard

Magnetic core memory is an ancient computer data storage device, its inventor is the famous Wang An.

Wang An was from Kunshan and graduated from National Chiao Tung University (the predecessor of Xi'an Jiaotong University and Shanghai Jiaotong University). In 1945, he went to the United States and obtained a doctorate degree.

In 1949, Wang An invented the magnetic core memory.

In 1955, IBM saw the future of memory and decided to buy Wang An's magnetic core memory patent.

When Wang An saw that IBM offered a high price of $250 million, he finally decided to sell the patent.

However, IBM went back on its word and denied the previous verbal agreement with Wang An, claiming that "even half of the $250 million is too high."

In the end, Wang An had no choice but to sell the patent to IBM for $50.

Later, Wang An founded Wang Computer Company, launched an electronic word processor, and gradually became the largest computer company in the United States.

In 1986, Wang Laboratories' market value reached $56 billion, with annual revenue of $30 billion during the same period.

During the heyday of Wang An Computer, a computer service department was established in Zhongguancun, and Lao Liu repaired computers for Wang An at that time.

Then Lianxiang acquired IBM's personal business computer ThinkPad and X86 service series successively, which was regarded as revenge for the loss of IBM in the past.

Wang An is a legend in computer history, but in the 1980s, he did not realize that the PC era was about to arrive.

In addition, his origin had always been unwelcome in the United States, and he had once come to the mainland to invest in a factory under pressure. Wang Laboratories collapsed due to lack of external funds.

This led to the rise of technology companies such as Microsoft and Apple in later generations.

Later, Bill Gege commented on him, "If he had persisted, there might not be Microsoft in the world."

Two years ago, there was a big dispute in the United States between Wang An and IBM over patent transfer.

Many Chinese scientific and technological workers expressed their support for Wang An because of the unfair treatment he received. Professor Xia Zhongsu also saw related reports in foreign journals.

"You want to imitate Dr. Wang An's magnetic core memory and make a magnetic core memory device? Isn't this a bit difficult?"

Professor Xia Zhongsu felt that the train driver in front of him was just an amateur.

The principle of magnetic core memory is simple and its implementation is also simple, but it is not easy to manufacture a magnetic core memory that can store up to 200 bytes.

Otherwise IBM wouldn't have spent $500,000.

"No, no, no. It's different from Dr. Wang An's magnetic core memory. Dr. Wang An has already applied for a patent. If we follow his path, wouldn't that be a copycat?" Li Aiguo waved his hand.

"Copycat? You mean if we steal other people's technology, we are bandits, right?"

Is there such a meaning of copycat? But it makes sense, after all, plagiarism is also a kind of robbery.

Li Aiguo continued, "Yes, yes, we are civilized people. We cannot steal other people's technology, so we have to develop our own magnetic core storage technology."

Professor Xia Zhongsu originally thought that Li Aiguo was following suit and making memory in the laboratory.

After all, no matter how powerful the Americans’ patent rights are, they can’t control this side.

Now after hearing Li Aiguo's grand plan, his expression suddenly changed.

"Patriotic comrade, are our goals a little too big?"

"As productive as the people are, so productive is the land!"

Li Aiguo lit a cigarette, took a puff and said, "Professor Xia, as long as you give me a few researchers and a laboratory, I promise to develop a magnetic core memory within a month."

Professor Xia Zhongsu now understood that the train driver really treated the development of computers as driving a train and making carriages.

Professor Xia Zhongsu is also an old comrade with principles, and he must fight against such wishful thinking.

"Comrade Patriot, your approach is very unscientific. When it comes to computers, you can't rely on numbers to make it big. You're just wasting research funds, so I hope you'll reconsider."

Li Aiguo leaned back in his chair, looking arrogant and glancing at Professor Xia Zhongsu.

"Our Railway Research Institute will pay for it."

Professor Xia Zhongsu swallowed his saliva: ".You are wasting money."

Li Aiguo said: "We are from the railway department."

Professor Xia Zhongsu "."

For the first time, the honest Professor Xia Zhongsu learned what a "financial sponsor" meant.

No matter what era it is, people are soft-hearted when they eat other people’s food and soft-handed when they take other people’s things.

Scientists have integrity, but they also need to eat.

Professor Xia Zhongsu decided to adopt the method of repairing the plank road in the open while marching through Chencang in secret.

Since the "financial sponsor" wanted to make trouble, he would just pretend to be perfunctory and assign some people to the "financial sponsor".

Magnetic drum production continued privately.

In this way, we can get the "subsidy" without delaying the development of the vacuum tube computer.

If Li Aiguo knew what Professor Xia Zhongsu was thinking, he would definitely curse him, saying that this old comrade was really cunning.

After Professor Xia Zhongsu returned to the Institute of Computing Technology, he reported Li Aiguo's magnetic core memory development plan to his leadership.

"The train driver wants to develop a magnetic core memory? Old Xia, he's just a worker making trouble, why didn't you, an old professor, stop him?!" The leader's face suddenly turned pale.

Professor Xia Zhongsu said: "The Ministry of Railways will pay the full research and development costs and will also provide a large number of materials."

The leader was stunned for a moment, the anger on his face suddenly disappeared without a trace, and he held Professor Xia Zhongsu's hand tightly.

"Old Xia, you should have said so earlier. You did a great job on this matter, much better than those nerds."

Another leader also nodded in agreement: "Since the train driver is willing to make such a fuss, let him do it. The Ministry of Railways has money, and the equipment they donated to us will definitely not be taken back. We can also have a bite of the big fat meat."

The deputy director in charge of personnel raised his hand and said, "It just so happens that we have a few new college graduates coming into our institute. Let them go and play with the train driver."

Professor Xia Zhongsu felt that these people were going a bit too far.

However, he did not have much hope for Li Aiguo's research and development, so he agreed.

Perhaps because he felt that the leaders of the institute were going too far, Professor Xia Zhongsu added two more people to the original quota, making a total of seven.

"Zhang Qingshan, graduated from the computer class of Jingcheng University."

"Chen Dongsheng, graduated from Beijing University of Technology with a degree in electrical engineering."

"****, *****"

“************”

He looked at them and said seriously, "We have an important task for you. If the project goes well, you may change the history of computers."

Several college students suddenly became excited.

In the past, their fellow students told them that once they entered the research institute, they would have to work for several years before they could start research projects.

This is not a lie.

You see, we have now received a major project that could change the history of computers!

The blood is boiling!
The fighting spirit is high!
Vitality is being released!
Dreams are in struggle!
Zhang Qingshan raised his hand and said loudly: "Professor, don't worry, we will do our best to complete the task."

Chen Dongsheng nodded heavily: "I am willing to stay awake and stay home for two weeks."

**: "I will not leave the front line even if I am only slightly injured. Even if I have appendicitis, I will continue to work."

**: "When my wife gave birth, I didn't go to the hospital to visit her."

**Just as he was about to speak, he was stopped by Professor Xia Zhongsu: "Don't speak, the old men will scold the author for his poor writing later."

**:╰（｀□′）╯

**:╯－＿－）╯

**: (╯｀□′)╯

Professor Xia Zhongsu looked at the excited young people and for some reason, he felt a sense of guilt.

He coughed twice and said:
"The project must be completed, but it cannot affect your normal life. Go to bed when you need to, and don't delay having your appendectomy removed. Go to accompany your wife to give birth as soon as possible. Remember, life comes first, work comes second, and you must take good care of your body."

Zhang Qingshan: “.”

Chen Dongsheng: “.”

**: “.”

**: “.”

**: “.”

These researchers always felt that the research project that Professor Xia Zhongsu had assigned to them was a little unusual. The next morning.

Li Aiguo came to Factory 738 in high spirits, ready to organize his own magnetic core development project.

"Comrade Aiguo, this is a laboratory specially prepared for the project. Take a look, isn't it huge?"

Professor Xia Zhongsu led him to a laboratory with a smile on his face.

Li Aiguo looked up and nodded. The laboratory was about the size of seven or eight houses.

"Old Xia, you are quite capable. Hiccup!"

Li Aiguo pushed open the door and turned on the light bulb. He was stunned and his voice choked in his throat.

The walls have long lost their original color, and the mottled surface tells of the vicissitudes of time. The tiles on the roof are incomplete, and there are bright spots of varying light and dark on the ground.

The furnishings in the room were extremely simple, with a few worn wooden lab tables filled with scratches and stains.

There are some wooden boxes piled up in the corner, filled with scattered experimental materials, most of which are old and yellowed.

The lights were dim, with a few old-fashioned light bulbs emitting weak light, barely illuminating this large laboratory. Or it would be more appropriate to call it a warehouse.

Professor Xia Zhongsu explained awkwardly: "Patriotic comrade, you also know that the conditions here at Factory 738 are simple, so let's just make do with it."

Yes, the simpler the conditions, the more they can stimulate the enthusiasm of scientific researchers.

Besides, the magnetic core memory that Li Aiguo wanted to develop had nothing to do with the laboratory.

"Where are the researchers?" Li Aiguo asked Professor Xia Zhongsu.

Professor Xia Zhongsu adjusted the frame of his glasses and said, "Comrade Aiguo, these seven researchers are the future main force of our institute and have great potential for advancement."

After hearing Professor Xia Zhongsu's introduction, Li Aiguo felt something was wrong.

When he saw the seven young researchers, Li Aiguo couldn't help but slap his forehead and shouted in his heart: "Intellectuals are ruthless when it comes to deceiving people."

On those young faces, those passionate yet somewhat empty eyes stared at Li Aiguo.

My goodness, do you think I'm a teacher training researchers? !

But the strong will never be trapped by the environment.

After seeing off Professor Xia Zhongsu, Li Aiguo turned on the system.

biu~A light blue control panel appears on the eyelids.

Sure enough, when it comes to the critical moment, you still have to rely on your own strength.

add a bit!

Li Aiguo spent one hundred points to purchase improved magnetic core memory technology.

Almost instantly, countless unfamiliar and obscure knowledge flooded into my mind.

With the help of the system, the structure, production process, technical standards and other knowledge of magnetic core memory become simple and easy to understand.

He opened his eyes again, looked at Zhang Qingshan calmly and said, "Researcher Zhang."

"I'm an intern." Zhang Qingshan felt a little guilty.

"It's okay. Once this project is finished, you can become a formal researcher."

Li Aiguo patted his shoulder and said, "According to the records, you are related to Dr. Fu Bosheng of the 11th Institute of the Second Ministry of Machine Building?"

"He is my uncle."

"I'll give you some funding. Go find your uncle right away and ask him to come up with a plan for a small experiment for us. The purpose of the experiment is to verify the permanent magnetism of nickel-zinc soft magnetic materials."

"Yes!" Zhang Qingshan took the order and left.

Li Aiguo looked at Chen Dongsheng and asked, "Do you live in the compound of the Electric Power Research Institute?"

"Report to the team leader, my father is the director of the Electricity Bureau." Chen Dongsheng said loudly.

"Don't be so loud. It's not an honor for your father to be the director." Li Aiguo waved at him and said, "Go find your father now and ask him to ask his technicians to help verify the effect of current overlap on the magnetic field. Remember, you must use the rectangular hysteresis loop method."

"Report to the team leader, I will definitely complete the task."

After Chen Dongsheng left, ** and **, ** raised his hands and said, "Team leader, our family members are all workers."

"Oh, everyone is like that. Come on, both of you, come and draw with me."

** and **, ** were very happy, thinking that he would definitely learn a lot of knowledge by following the team leader to draw.

This is just like what they say: fish have their own paths, shrimps have their own paths, and snails have no paths and just keep spinning on their wheels.

If the wilderness is full of thorns, we will make a path through it.

A makeshift team whose goal was to develop magnetic core memory set sail in this unsteady manner.

Professor Xia Zhongsu felt a little guilty and had been secretly paying attention to the situation in the laboratory.

Seeing that Li Aiguo did not go back to the Ministry of Railways to complain, but instead took the group of researchers to get busy, he felt relieved.

The days passed by.

Three days later, Zhang Qingshan verified the permanent magnetism of nickel-zinc soft magnetic material through Dr. Fu Bosheng.

"Team leader, the hysteresis loop of nickel-zinc soft magnetic materials is thin and narrow, with a small area and small hysteresis loss, making them suitable for working in alternating magnetic fields."

After Zhang Qingshan finished speaking, he looked at Li Aiguo in confusion and asked, "Why do we verify these materials?"

These days, the researchers have been working silently, just like parts in a machine. They only know what they are responsible for, but don't know why.

Li Aiguo happened to have some free time, so he waved at them and called them over.

"You all know the principle of magnetic core memory, right?"

Zhang Qingshan raised his hand and said, “A wire passes through the middle of a ferrite core. When the current in the wire flows downward, a clockwise magnetic field is generated according to the right-hand spiral rule.

Conversely, when the current is directed upward, a counterclockwise magnetic field is generated.”

Another researcher continued: "We can record the clockwise magnetic field as 0. If 0 is already recorded in the magnetic core, as long as the reverse current is large enough, we can erase the 0 and rewrite 1."

Li Aiguo nodded: "Dr. Wang An used this principle to create a magnetic core memory, but the memory is limited by the magnetism of ferrite, which makes it impossible to expand the area of ​​the memory, so the maximum storage capacity is only 200K.

If we use nickel-zinc soft magnetic materials, we can make the core memory larger because of the smaller hysteresis loss, thereby increasing the storage capacity."

Li Aiguo's method has a bit of a miracle-making effect.

It sounds uncool to say that great strength can make miracles happen. After all, technology is about using little force to achieve great results.

However, this method is a very common way to solve problems in engineering, technology, and especially in the computer field.

The later GPT is in the software field, so we will not mention it for now.

Take the leather swordsman for example, he combined hundreds of graphics card cores together to get a graphics card with explosive performance, which is a typical example of great efforts making miracles happen.

Dr. Wang An was not unaware of this, nor had he not thought about using nickel-zinc soft magnetic materials to replace ferrite cores.

However, he lacked a technology that could magnetize the soft magnetic material nickel-zinc.

That is. Polarity frequency pulse!
Li Aiguo never expected that the polarity frequency pulse technology he had worked so hard to develop would be related to computers.

But I don’t find it strange, as many cutting-edge technologies require the support of basic technologies.

The slow development of China in cutting-edge fields in later generations is inseparable from the backwardness of basic technology.

After listening to Li Aiguo's explanation, the researchers' eyes widened with excitement.

If the improved magnetic core memory chip can be successfully developed, they will really change the history of computers.

"Team Leader Li, what do you need us to do now?"

"Should we try to make a magnetic core?"

Li Aiguo was just about to pick up the blueprint to arrange the next task.

At this time, there was a tinkling sound coming from outside.

The sound is very loud and noisy.

Good guy.

Can’t even the working environment be guaranteed?

(End of this chapter)