The author presents a profile of Marcian E.(Ted) Hoff, the architect of the first commercial microprocessor and the single chip coder/decoder (codec). Hoff has turned a lifelong interest in collecting electronic components into a career as high-tech detective, helping patent attorneys defend their cases. In his crowded home workshop, Hoff has over 15,000 ICs inventoried and filed, along with various PCs, oscilloscopes and other instruments.<>