Project Whirlwind. Volume 16. Vacuum Tubes

Abstract

The two basic elements of the block diagrams of the Whirlwind computers, e.g., the block diagram of the accumulator are the flip-flop circuit and the gate circuit, symbol GT. These two elements need not necessarily employ vacuum tubes, since other non-linear components exist which might possibly be used. However, in Whirlwind I, two pentodes and a pentode trigger tube will be used for each flip-flop and a pentode gate tube will be employed in each gate circuit. Vacuum tubes are also used for certain special functions in the computer, such as the sine-wave oscillator or the pulse generator in the master clock. In addition, vacuum tubes must be used as power amplifiers in places where a pulse is to be generated across a low impedance.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 01, 1947
Accession Number
AD0896856

Entities

Organizations

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Amplifiers
  • Capacitance
  • Delay Lines
  • Electron Tubes
  • Flip Flop Circuits
  • Frequency
  • Generators
  • Impedance
  • Life Tests
  • Long Life
  • Measurement
  • Power Amplifiers
  • Production Engineering
  • Pulse Amplitude
  • Pulse Generators
  • Resistance
  • Sine Waves

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Computer Engineering
  • Electrical Engineering