Evening star., 1951-12-10
Minute Speck of Metal
Acts as Vacuum Tube
Tronsistor Moy RevoIutionize
Our 'EIectronics Civilization
By Thomas R. Henry


Some of the most revolutionary de-
velopments in history are promised by
tiny speck of metal not more than a
thouSandth of an inch square which, it
now appears, can fulfill all the func-
tionS of a vacuum tube.
This is rapidly becoming an "electron-
les civilization" Radio, television, the
incredibly intricate "brass brains" Of
computing machines, direction and
depth finders atomic bombs and prox-
unity fuzes depend on electronic devices
which, in turn, depend on vacuum
tubes.
Even the tiniest possible vacuum tube
is super-giant compared with this new
device-the tranSiStor. A vacuum tube
always is liable to blow out, causing
failure of the apparatus which depends
on it as well as considerable expense to
radio and television owners. transiStor
never can blow. out or, for that matter,
have anything else happen to it.
Size is an extremely important factor.
When the proximity fuze, now almost a
fundamental of war; was first proposed
in the last war it was considered an i'm
possibility because of the difficulty of
into fuZe and at the same time rugged
enough to stand being shot from gun.
A great deal of the development work
consisted in producing such tube. Had
the transistor been in existence all this
would have been eliminated.
Developed in Bell Laboratories.
Developed originally in the laboratories
of the Bell Telephone Co, transistors
now are objects of intensive research in
laboratories throughout the country At
the United States Bureau of Standards
they are being incorporated into calcu-
lating machines of hitherto undreamed-
of intricacy.
The heart of the transistor is a speck
of the relatively rare metal, germanium.
This is usually found in combination
with silver and sulphur and had no COM
mercial value until its curious electrial
properties were discovered.
The speck of germanium. specially
treated. usually is inclosed in bit Of
some kind of plastic about the size of a
pea.
The newest type Of transistor, Bureau
Of Standards engineers say, occupies
about 1/400th Of a cubic foot. whereas
the smallest miniature vacuum tube fills
about an eighth Of cubic inch.
Power consumption. according to a
report from the Massachusetts, Institute
Of Technology, lis remarkably low. The
signal level often found in modern elec-
tronic equipment is about millionth
of a watt. But full watt of power is
ordinarily required by conventional vac
uum tubes to amplify this signal This
is about like sending 12-car freight
train, locomotive and all, to carry a
pound of butter. The new transistor un-
like any earlier amplifer, can be oper-
ated with a power Of about a millionth
of watt, which Is Just sufficient to
carry the signal.
Use In TelevisiOn Possible.
"Transistors can be operated as am
plifiers for telephone and televiSion cir
cults and to provide the functions OF
detection and amplification such as are
found in an ordinary radio set. One
type also serves as a photoelectric de-
vice. These devices are still undergoing
exploratory development.
The results to date are encouraging
The new devices have such desirable
properties and characteristics that they
may well cause revolution IN Wldt
variety Of electronic, communication
and measurement techniques
The transistors do not require powe
for heating and therefore can be oper'
ated without the delay required TO
warmup Their small size, ruggedness ant
expected long life make them eminentl!
suitable for many applications TO
which the usual vacuum tubes are no
suitable"
But. it is stressed by Bureau o
Standards electronicS engineers, tn
revolution cannot be expected to com
overnight. 1t would probably meal
scrapping Of much valuable present-da
equipment which operates perfectl
we'll with vacuum tubes. The tranSiSto
will really come into its own when thi
!, apparatus becomes antiquated an
+, ready to be scrapped.
: For one thing, they say. much ex
l. pensive redesigning of circuits would b
9 necessary to convert present apparatu