Patent GB-884488-A (GB)
Title: Arithmetic circuits
IPC: G06F7/50
Filed: 1958-10-13
Abstract: 884,488. Digital electric adders. INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION. Oct. 13, 1958 [Oct. 15, 1957], No. 32578/58. Class 106 (1).  Addition is performed by summation of delays representative of the digits of the augend and addend. Fig. 1a to 1c shows a three order adder for decimal numbers. Fig. 3 (not shown) illustrates the application to binary numbers. Referring to Fig. 1a to 1c operation requires two input pulses on line 40 separated by a time cycle (CD) of thirty units. A delay line 21 has nineteen taps 22-0 to 22-9; 22-10 to 22-18 defining eighteen unit delays. The taps 22-0 to 22-9 are respectively connected to one input of AND circuits 48-0 to 48-9, 71-00 to 71-90 and 93-000 to 93-900, and to switches 23-0 to 23-9, 23-00 to 23-90, and 23-000 to 23-900. Three delay lines 28, 31, 32 have similar taps 27-0 to 27-9, 33-00 to 33-90, defining unit delays, which are associated with switches 29-0 to 29-9, 35-00 to 35-90 and 36-000 to 36-900. The augend is set on switches 23, the unit digit on the bank 23-0, the tens digit on bank 23-00 and the hundreds digit on bank 23-000. Thus the number 683 is set by closing switches 23-600, 23-80 and 23-3. The addend is similarly set on switches 29, 35 and 36, the number 179 being set by closing switches 36-100, 35-70 and 29-3. The sum 862 appears at the outputs of the appropriate order AND circuits 48 (units), 71 (tens) and 93 (hundreds); these are in the example quoted AND circuits 93-800, 71-60 and 48-2. Considering the units of the augend and addend, on application of the first pulse to line 40, the taps 22-0 to 22-18 are energized in turn and a pulse is sent through the closed switch 23-3 (say) after a delay of three units, then to delay line 28 by conductor 24, appearing on conductor 30 after a further delay corresponding to the size of the addend unit digit. In the example given switch 29-9 is closed and a pulse appears on conductor 30 after a total delay of 3 + 9 = 12 time units. Conductor 30 is connected to the input of two AND circuits 41, 42 of which the other input to circuit 41 is connected by conductor 50 to the taps 22-0 to 22-9 of delay line 21 and the other input to circuit 42 is connected by line 51 to the taps 22-10 to 22-18. Thus the input on line 50 to circuit 41 is energized at unit intervals during a time elapsed zero to nine units on the first cycle CD, the input of circuit 42 on line 51 during a time elapsed ten to eighteen units. Accordingly the pulse on line 30 activates the output of circuit 41 if there is no carry to the tens, and circuit 42 if a carry is necessary. The resultant pulse is sent on conductors 44 or 45 to delay 43 which imposes on it a delay of CD if there is no carry and CD-10 if carry is necessary, conductor 45 entering the delay by a tap 46. The output of delay 43 is led to the other inputs of AND circuits 48 of which the inputs connected to taps 22-0 to 22-9 are energized by the second pulse through line 40 at time elapsed from the first pulse CD, CD + 1 . . . CD + 9. In the example taken the pulse through delay 43 has been delayed a total time of 3 + 9 + CD - 10 = CD + 2 and the output of AND circuit 48-2 is energized. For the tens digits after passing through the relevant switch 35 a pulse tapped from the first pulse on line 40 appears on conductor 37 appropriately delayed, in the example used 8 + 7 = 15 time units. Conductor 37 is connected to a delay 57 tapped to provide delays of CD + 1, CD, CD - 9 and CD - 10, and to one input of each of four AND circuits 53 to 56. The other input of circuit 53 is connected by line 72 to tappings 22-0 to 22-8 of delay line 21; that of circuit 54 by line 50 to tappings 22-0 to 22-9; that of circuit 55 to tappings 22-9 to 22-18; and that of circuit 56 to tappings 22-10 to 22-18. Two of the circuits are thus energized by the combination of the pulse on line 37 and the first pulse on delay line 21. Associated with the circuits 53 to 56 are single shot multivibrators 73 to 76 which act on one input of AND units 77, 81, 85, 86. AND circuit 41 which is operated when there is no carry from the units sum actuates a single shot multivibrator 83, the output of which feeds one input of AND circuits 85 and 86. Similarly single shot multivibrator 79 associated with the circuit 42 energized when there is a carry from the digits sum feeds one input of circuits 77 and 81. The outputs of units 77, 85, 81, 86 actuate single shot multivibrators 80, 87, 82 and 88 respectively. Thus 80 is operated when the tens total is 0 to 8 and there is a carry from the units 87 when the total is 0 to 9 with no carry, 82, when the total is 9 to 18 with a carry, and 88, when the total is 10 to 18 with no carry. Each multivibrator of this bank feeds one input of an AND unit 65 to 68, the other inputs of which are led to taps on delay 57 corresponding to the delay intervals listed above. For example corresponding to vibrator 80 is tap 58 giving a delay of CD + 1 which is appropriate to a tens sum 0 to 8 with a carry from the units. With the example used there is a carry from the units thus vibrator 79 is actuated and feeds AND circuits 77 and 81. The pulse in conductor 37 is delayed 15 time units and actuates AND circuits 55 and 56. It follows there is output from AND circuit 81 actuating vibrator 82 and circuit 67 is actuated after a delay of CD - 9, i.e. CD - 10 + 1, allowing for the carry. An OR circuit 69 connects the circuits 65 to 68 to AND circuits 71 by conductor 70. Conjunction of the sum pulse and the second pulse along delay line 21 occurs after a time 7 + 8 + CD - 9 = CD + 6 units and the output of circuit 71-60 is energized. The circuit is repeated for operation on the hundreds digits carry or no carry from the tens being signalled by the multishot vibrators 80, 87, 82, 88 to OR units 93, 95 which are equivalent in function to the vibrators 79, 83.