Patent GB-713359-A (GB)
Title: Pulse circuits using transistors
IPC: H03K23/54
Filed: 1951-12-28
Abstract: 713,359. Semi-conductor circuits. WESTERN ELECTRIC CO., Inc. Dec. 28, 1951 [Dec. 29, 1950], No. 30304/51. Class 40 (6) An electrical trigger circuit comprises a transistor, the operating characteristic of the emitter circuit having a negative resistance portion, and a network including a non-linear resistor associated with the emitter circuit so that successive input pulses of like polarity switch the circuit between alternate stable positions. The current gain (a), of the transistor exceeds unity over the operating range. It is shown that a grounded base transistor circut having a resistance in series with the base may be arranged to have an emitter voltage-current characteristic of the form shown in Fig. 8. Load line b, d, f, corresponds to a resistance Re in series with the emitter electrode, and this line cuts the characteristic at three points. The points band f are stable operating points, while the point d on the negative resistance portion is unstable. As described in Specification 703,685, such a circuit may be switched from one stable state to the other by applying positive and negative pulses alternately to the emitter, or to the base electrode. Fig. 9 shows an arrangement in which switching from one stable state to the other is effected by applying pulses of the same polarity. A non-linear resistor such as a varistor is connected between the input point A and the base electrode. In the "off " condition corresponding to low emitter and collector currents, point A is slightly more negative than the base electrode and the varistor has low resistance. The application of a negative pulse to point A therefor has more effect on the base electrode than the emitter, which is connected to A through a resistor 2K, so that the emitter becomes positive relative to the base and the circuit switches to the " on " stable condition with high emitter and collector currents. In the " on " condition, point A is less negative than the base electrode, and the varistor has high resistance, so that the application of a second negative pulse to point A effectively drives the emitter negative relative to the base, and switches the circuit back to the " off " condition. A modification is described, Fig. 10 (not shown) in which point A is directly connected to the base electrode, and resistor 2K between A and the emitter is replaced by the varistor. This circuit reacts in a similar fashion to negative switching pulses, applied at A, although the operation from " on " to " off " is now explained by the effect of the pulse on the collector current. Two or more trigger circuits of the type described may be connected in tandem to provide binary counter circuits. To provide the necessary negative switching pulses, the coupling circuits each consist of a condenserresistor differentiating circuit followed by a series connected varistor and a parallel connected varistor which are arranged to allow the negative but not the positive differentiated impulses to pass. A condenser may be connected between the collector and emitter to assist the feedback action. Specifications 694,021 and 700,232 also are referred to.