Patent GB-700007-A (GB)
Title: Digital computing engines
Inventor: NEWMAN EDWARD ARTHUR
IPC: G06F7/50
Filed: 1949-12-22
Abstract: 700,007. Digital electric calculating-apparatus. NATIONAL RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. Dec. 11, 1950 [Dec. 22, 1949], No. 32876/49. Class 106 (1) [Also in Group XL(c)] A half adder comprises first, second and third changeover gates, the third gate being controlled by one input and being connected to render either the first or the second gate operative, the latter gates both being controlled by the other input, the "not equivalent " output being taken from two interconnected outputs of the first and second gates and the " and output being taken from one output of the first or second gate. The A digit pulses (negative) are applied to the left-hand grids of double triodes V1, V2, Fig. 4, which are also connected over a resistance to earth, and the B digit pulses are applied to the left-hand grid of a double triode V3 which is also connected to a negative bias potential. The right-hand grids of the three double triodes are connected to constant potentials. The anodes V3a, V3b of the valve V3 are respectively connected to the common cathodes of the valves V1, V2. With the potentials shown, the arrangement is such that in the absence of a B digit pulse (i.e. B=O), the valve V3 conducts to the anode V3a and one section of the valve V1 conducts, whereas if a B digit pulse is applied (B=1) conduction is transferred to the anode V3b and one section of the valve V2 conducts. If an A digit pulse is present, conduction occurs in the right-hand section V1b or V2b of the conducting valve V1 or V2 but in the absence of an A pulse, the left-hand section V1a or V2a conducts. Thus, if A=0 and B=1 or vice versa, a negative pulse appears at the connected anodes V1b, V2a (the "not equivalent" output) and if A=B=I, a negative pulse appears at the anode V2b (the "and" output). These two outputs respectively represent the sum digit and the carry digit. Addition. Two half adders V1, V2, V3 and V4, V5, V6, Fig. 5, may be combined with a unit delay device D to form a series-mode adder. The " not equivalent " output of the first half adder forms one input to the second and the " and " output of the first is passed through the delay device, Fig. 5a (not shown), to form the second input of the second half adder. The " and " output of the latter is also passed through the delay device to form the second input. The " not equivalent" output of the second half adder then represents the sum digits allowing for carries. To perform addition, a positive bias D17 is applied to the grid of a pentode V12 forming with the double triodes V10, V14, a gating circuit (see Group XL (c)). Positive B digit pulses applied to one grid of the valve V10 then produce positive pulses at the right-hand grid of the valve V3 which have the same effect as the negative pulses applied to the left-hand grid in Fig. 4. Negative A pulses are applied as in Fig. 4 to the left-hand grids of the valves V1, V2. The round carry digit which may occur in the first digit period is suppressed by a gating circuit (see Group XL (c)) comprising a pentode V16 to which a positive bias Q1 is applied during the first digit period and a double triode V15 through which the " and output of the first half adder is normally passed, via the delay D, to the lefthand grid of the valve V6 of the second half adder. Subtraction is performed by complementary addition.-In order to determine A-B, B is " negated" (pulses are replaced by spaces and vice versa) by a circuit comprising the pentode V11, to which a positive bias D18 is applied when subtraction is to be performed, and double triodes V9, V13. The presence of a positive B pulse produces a normal negative bias at the left-hand grid of the valve V3 but if no pulse is present, the bias of this grid is made more negative to produce the same effect as a negative B pulse in Fig. 4. In order to produce the true complement, one must be added into the lowest order. For this purpose, the bias D18 is also applied to a pentode V19 forming with the double triodes V17, V18 a gate circuit for the positive pulse Q1 applied during the first digit period. When the gate is open, a corresponding positive pulse is applied to the right-hand grid of the valve V6 to add one in the second half adder in the place of a carry digit. Correcting pulse delays and distortions. The double triodes V3, V6 are rendered operative only during the clock pulse period. The clock pulses are applied, as described in Specification 698,950, [Group XL (c)], through an adjustable filter and phase-shifting circuit R1, L1, Cl to the grid of a pentode V7 associated with a diode D1 and cause the pentode and diode to conduct alternately. The negative pulses at the anode of the pentode are applied over a condenser C2 to the cathode of the valve V3 to render it operative. Between pulses, current from the cathode resistor R2 of the valve V3 charges the condenser C2 instead of passing to the valve V3. An integrating circuit including a condenser C3 which adjusts the bias on the pentode V7 maintains the pulses at a constant width. Several half adders may be combined without delays in known manner to form a parallel adder with simultaneous carry.