2;636,672
SELECTIVE; SEQUENCE .. ELEC.TRONIC CALCULATOR ..
Francis .. E; Hamilt'on,.Endicott~ Robert R. Seeber, .Jr., S,carsdale, Russell A. Rowley, Binghamton,.
and Ernest S. Hughes, Jr;, Vestal, N. Y;, as-signors to' InternllitionaI Business Machines Corporation, New:: York, N. YA," iii· corporation of-New,York
Application January 19, 1949; SerialNo. 71,642 110: Claims; (CI •. 235-6.1) .
.. This invention relates to a computing appa-ratuS', particularly one of tbe sutJer.calculator dass, and. more particularly one which is directed
byprogram.means. .
A programmed super-calculator has been. dis"; li:
closed in application Serllli No. 5'76,892 of C; D: Lakeet aI., filed: February 8, 1945" now Pat-ent No. 2,616,626.
The generAl objective of the invention is the provision of a calculator which is. superior to the 10:
calculator disclosed in the above identified appli-cation as well as to other' calculators in many respectS', including speed, flexibilitY,memory and productive capacity, and programming ability;
An outstanding object of the inv.ention is to 15 provide a calCulator including units which. per-form their internal operations independently but are. tied together externally by interchange of electric Signals. According to the invention cal-culator elements, are broUght into operation cpn- 20 c)lrrently or successively and by. signal cross~ talk among the elements arrived without collisions at desired' calculation destinations.
The invention provides for interchange of sig-nals among memory units, sequence means, and 25 calculation units to control the transfer of data from memory to calculator units, performance of' calculations and transmission of calculated results to memory in a directed interlocked man-ner. Accor:ding to the invention, operations of calculator: units may overlap and yet be directed 30 to desired intersecting ends by signal cross-talk among the units.,
According to, the invention, cycles of operations involving transfer. of data from memory to cal"
cnlatfon_ units., perform.ance of c.alcula.tfons on 3Ir received data and transmission of results to.
memory are· not carried. out in. fixed cycIfc times but. a.re e1fe.cted· in sequence runs of variable durations, determined by signal cr:oss~talk among
such transmission is: taking place. 'With respect to any memory unit selected to send data to the, ca.lculator section and to receive the result· of the calculation, the invention provides fora sig'"
nal interlock to indicate when the unit has com-pleted reading out its data and to then allow the unit
to
be conditioned'to receive data.According to the invention, data may be en~
tered into a calculator section and a calcula-tion performed thereon while the result of a previous calculation is still in the calculator sec-tion or before or during th'e transmission to a re-ceiving unit of the result of the previous calcu-lation.
The invention provides for automatic signal' control of single~timed' electrical transfer of data between calculator units.
The invention also provides. for an autcmatic resetting of a data receiving unit as an accom-paniment to application of new data to said unit.
Stated' otherwise, each time en~ry' into a unit is called for, the unit will be cleared for reception of the new data as a result of Teceiving a resE't signal either simultaneously or just beforeLhe entry signal is applied to the unit, and automatic sequencing of the reset and entry signals w~li
occur.
Another outstanding object of the invention Is the provi'sion of a program means for a calcu-lator apparatus which is more fiexible and se-lective and of greater capaCity than previous program means.
The invention provides for the programming of the program mefllns, itself. More' specifically, the derivation of program data from a source may be. programmed by means controlled by other program data. According to the
inven-the calcwator units.,
The invention provides machine sequencing means. having sllccessi ve .runs,. producing in each run signals to initiate macbine operations and which. may begin a new run. before all the op-era.tions, initiated. in. tbe previous run are com- 45 pleted. In particular, the invention,provides for selection of memory units to read out data be-for,e calculations. on data. previously received framrnemory have been completed or before the results of these calculations have been transmit- 50 ted, to memory. The .invention also provides for e'ntries' at dai;afIom, selected memOl:y units, into
tion, the program data. may be obtained from difierent sources and the application of program data from one source ~o a progra~ing device 40' may be programmed by and according to
pro-gram data in a;nother source. Further, the in-vention provides for program means to receive program data and to control according to an:.
a calcuLator section to. be. manIa, before. thecalC.u-Ill-tel: ttansmits, the,. results, Qf calculations OU previously entered data
to
memory unitsor
while 55item or items of the program data the selection of. future program data from the same or an-other source. Stated differently, certain program devices have program data applied thereto to de-termine calculation programs and other program devices have program dat'a applied thereto to se-lect subsequent program data to be applied to the, program devices.
Still another outstandiI;lK feature of. the in-vention is. the computation of sequence data. Ac-cording to the invention, the progtam data are numbers whi'ch can be modified, enter into
cal-r,ll'ation<; ann. bl" (leri"ed from I"alcnJatlng means. lator unit or the MD unit. All results obtained T11e nrop-ram (lflta are arranp-ed in sets of in- by the MD unit and the accumulator unit are str1Jctions for se1er.tinn of l""'emor'r pnits to send sent to the denominational shift unit and after o"t nata, to rpcehTe data. of calculator units to being shifted a desired number of places to the perform calcuJatlon<;. selection of channels of 5 right or to the left are sent to selected electronic commnnicatil"n betwpen meJ1"lorv units anti the storage units. The results may then be trans-calculator ser.tion. selpction of operatinnal signs mitted from the electronic storage units to se-for nnmerical nat<'!, to he m~M. in calculj\tions. se- lected memory units by way of eight selective le"t1on of amounts and direl"tfons of coJumn_channels called In bus-sets. The electronic stor-shH'f:imo: of results t.o be effected bv a coll1mn- 10 age units may be called rapid transit data mem-shifting unit. and of t.he source for the next set ory units since numbers may be entered therein of program data. The invention nrovMes for at the speed of operation of electronic elements
com1'\utRtion~ of any one or more of these pro- and read out therefrom in a similar way.
Sig-gram Instructions. nals for controlling entries and transmissions
An obied of t.he invention is the,..rovislon of 15 from the eight electronic storage units are produc-to the right or produc-to the left as directed by program ing delayed control signals and performing other
instructions. operations in a sequence determined by signals
Among manv other obiects of the invention from the main commutator. Also associated are: the provision of means to dire~t entries of with the main commutator are calculation
con-data from memory units to a calculator sec- 25 trol commutators. These are the ACC.C 'com-tionand to produce an entry comnletion signal mutator controlling the accumUlator, the MYC which notifies seqUencing means that it may pro- commutator controlling the MD unit to carry ceed tiD initiate subsenuent entries; the provi- out a multiplication, the DVC 'commutator con-sian of means for directing transmission of data trolling the MD unit to perform a dividing oper-to memory units and prortuction ofa signal noti- 30 ation, and the NO commutaoper-tor which is used in fYing the seauencing means that transmissions skipping operations when no calculation is have beencomnleted and that it may proceed to called for in a sequence run.
initiate subseauent transmissions; the provision Each number entering into a calculation is of multiple program units for alternately re- accompanied bya sign and when the number is ceiving program data and alternately coacting 35 applied to a calculator unit an operational sign with the sequencing means in operating the cal- is also applied to the unit. The operational culator apparatus through the programs defined sign determines whether the number sign is to by the program data; the prOvision of means remain the same for the calculation or is to be vision of signals from memory units notifying main commutator.
the sequencing means that they are ready to Memory units include 150 relay storage units send forth or to receive data; and the provision 45 which have relay input and output gates through of recording means controlled by program data which data may be sent into or out of the 1. A brief autline of the machine having ten stations which may individually carry Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of most of the 55 record tapes on which data are represented to units of the machine and of their relationship. be read out through selected relay gates. The A calculator section 'composed entirely of elec- record or tape storage banks also may receive' troniccircuits and devoid of moving parts has punched tapes from punch units which will not' lations are transferred from selected memory which are to be printed are first sent to assigned units through eight selective channels called relay storage units from which they arp. applied Out bus-sets to the ei~ht electronic storage units, to the printing unit during a print cycle.
respectively and then called out one at a time The interplay of the various units of the ma-from the latter units to the selected accumu- 7.5. chine is controlled by program means. The pro-'
S 8
~ DmaIls' iJrcIUdElS t;w.o: ideni:1Cl11 units;. cldled
n;ooo'.
gccumullU.lons;, 90.00> multiplications •.. aud the A and B sides, of sectUEmce'storage: Program: 2000 references to the tab1e,s:in;; the table look-up:~. are' atter-nately' entered into: the' Pi' and" B means; wer.e done. in: about '(. minutes;:
sides of sequence storage and these sides alter:.. Memor.y units;.excep.t:.pluggable storage;. buUn'-'
~':'coa:ctr ~th: the; sequencing.: networK, which 5' cluding electronic storage.' units; have"a; capaeity,·
includes the main commutator; control: frame';. af; 19: digits, and: ru.. sign: in each unik. The:
ac-calculation COlltroli commutators NO;. ACC:C, cumulating unit may'; and or,' subtract l'9,.digtt', U'i"'C, and:nv:c;
the" ptlotr .. unltsl andl1ll1e:.opera- numbers: and prodUa.e:· a. 28-digit resultand.its
tional sign commutator. The sides of sequence:' sign in less than lAooo of a second. The.'ME) unit.sborlige: alSo' control'tbe operation.oiT tlte:: desired 10: may multiply' two. 14 .. digIt· numbers and produce
ga~ betlweet1" memory· uniur an'd; the: aut bus- a 2S-digit product and sigJl:inabout ..
~}ofa:,sec-setg' and. In' bus'"sets' according: to' prognamr data: ond;. Division' of. one'1:4-digit: numbe1"byanother applied to the sequence) srorage sides: Pro'gmm may prOduce a I4-digit quotientin·about·lko:of a' d8t9..
mar
be; derived: from' any' of, the: memory secOnd:. Division: may: be carried. out to. as. many:units at! selected by' program; instructibns :md~, Ii) as 28 quotient digits;. Results
to
28. digltsmay may also be calculated. All program.: d:retSiex..
be: read: ftom. the accumulating. unit. or the. MD cel't 11he First artificiaL line are· routed: through unit into the column. shift unit and: a maximum selectetl electronlcstorage units· to sequence: star.. of 19 digits may be readout of th.e'shift unit. into.age. electronic storage.
When, a' memory, unit. is ready to send· forth 20 The multiplYing: and dividing: unit is the sub-data.: it applies It Forward. signal to ae pilot unit ject of application Serial No. 71,641 oiRE. Phelps·
selected by a program instruction. When- a: and G. E. Mitchell, flIed January 19, 1949,. now memory unit or the printing unit· is read.y to re- Patent No. 2,604,262,.
ceil\le" data it: sends a Back sif.mal to. B;) selected Certain: elements of: the: print unit areJciaimed pilot unit; The blank code pilot unit comes into' 2." in application Serial No; 70;575:of F.E. Hamilton;
play wben the program data: does not select a flIed January 12, 1949,
pilot. unit which. is· aSSOCiated. with: an electroniC' Other objects of the invention will be: pointed,
storage unit. out in the following description and claims· and
The. s.equencing. network perfor-ms successive illustrated in the accompanying. drawings •. which.:
runs. ot coaction with the sequence' storage' sides; ;;c disclose, by way of example, the· prinCiple of the·
Iil each tun it sends signals to the pilot units 00' invention and the best mode, which has. been con-control its application of signals to the electronic templated, of applying that principle.
storage. units;, Whenever the pilot, unit enters In the drawings:
data into an electronic storage' unit it sends out Pig. 1 is a diagrammatic' chart of the parts of a Move signal which may act on a selected tape ~" the maehinetlisclosedherein.and.shows.in a gen,-·
storage station if the station· is. selected: by the eral way the associations among these; parts~
program to r.espond. The responsive station is Fig. 2. is a fragment, of a. value tape used in one which has acted to read out, data and it is, tape storage and in the table look-up unit.
conditioned to advance or not advance the record Fig. 3 is. a, fragment of a program tape- bear-tape at the station upon receiving tne Move· sig.- '"C' ing successive left-half lines of sequence. data.
nal Whenever a. memory unit is selected to re- Fig~ 4 is a fragment of a,program tape. bearing. terchange, of' signals among the calculater units station.
antI' the calCUlation control commutators, and Fi'g'~ 7 is a section on liile T~l of Fig. 5.
the main C'ommutator~ Fig. S. shows the upper portion of Fig. 7 with By sequencing the. multiplying and. dividing 50 part,; in a difi'erent position.
unit MD and the accumulator through the four Fi,g. 9 ~s a semi-diagrammatic chart, of tape bitst~' calcuHltitms of' addition,. subtraction,. mul- st~.tlOns In a tape storage banK" snowing, the.
tiplication and diViden, the most complicated of dnve for these stations.
mathem-atical problems may be solved .. A. se... Fig. 10 shows a tYpical trigger circuit used quence of the machine through one or more of' 55 herein:
these' calculat;ons' performed in any oraer may, F~g, 10a'is a blocIrsymbO'I of" the trl.gger. ctrcuit.
be caned a calculation path. Flg. II shows' a' typical tri'ode circuit switch.
A main pulse generator is provided for apply- used herein,
ing pulses to tne ttlaincommutator, the pilot units I0g: 11-12 is R block symbol of the triode errcmt and other electronic circuits, This main pulse 60 sWltcn [I;cd also of the tetrode circuit switch.
automatic controls' of the machine~ Beforestart- Fig. 14 Sl10WS a typical circuit of the I>o~caned ing operations, cancer circuits for de-sired units lock couple, constituting anether form of elec-of the machine, inCluding the main commutator 70 tranic switch.
pilot Units and other units, may be established F~g. It,!:(( is a block symbol' of the lOCK couple.
under control of SWitches at the control desk. FIg. 15 is a partially dIagrammatic view of a The speed of the machine may be gauged from register order;
th~· fact that in the moon problem to compute' . Pig'. 15ais a; block diagram usedhereiil fu r.ep.-tfle<. l'Osition of the moon at· any given time-- 75 resent the register order. . .
Fig. 16 shows'a typical cancel circuit used for Fig. 43 Is a similar view relating to the'right
pulse generator. tree.
Fig. 20 is a diagrammatic showing of the elec- 10 Fig. 46a is a block diagram of the OP2 tree.
tronic calculating section. Fig. 47a is a diagrammatic representation of a Fig. 21 shows in block circuit form a column pyramid of trees in sequence storage for picking of electronic storage the two sets of entry and up relay storage Group Outs.
exit means associated therewith and also the pilot Fig. 47b shows sequence storage pyramids for signals for controlling a column. 15 table look-up Group Outs and for tape storage'
Fig. 22 'shows several of the electronic storage' Group Outs.
units and their associations with the In and Outs Fig. 47c shows sequence storage pyramids for bus-sets with the Internal bus-sets and also the station move relays and for dial storage Group cerned with a denominational shift. Group Out pyramids relating to the five
pos-Figs. 27a, 27b, and 27c represent the circuit of sible Out fields of a line of sequence.
the internal commutator or sub-sequencing Fig. 49b shows the pyramids for controlling means of the denominational shift unit. :)0 tape storage Group Outs from all possible out
Fig. 34 represents the plugboard associated with a tape storage bank.
Fig. 35 is a, diagrammatic circuit showing of elements of the table look-up unit.
;].) quence.
Fig. 51 represents sequence storage pyramids for operating relay storage Group Ins and table look-up Group Ins.
Fig. 52a represents sequence storage pyramids
i ') for operating relay storage unit Ins 0 I 0 to 099, and also for operating table look-up relays TL(
to 6.
Fig. 52b shows sequence storage pyramids for operating relay storage unit Ins (DO to (59, and
"13 also shows a circuit controlled by sequence stor-age and pilot units for applYing a start signal to the printer unit (Sections 22 and 22a) .
Figs. 53a, 53b, and 53e represent the plug-boards associated with sequence storage.
Fig. 35a is a flow chart of the table look-up GO
unit. , Figs. 54 to 58 show the sequence storage
pyra-mids for the pilot units selection.
Fig. 35b shows the circuits far controlling the production of Forward and Back signals of the table look-up unit.
Fig. 36 is a circuit showing of elements of sequence storage and their heating relays.
Fig. 37 shows the circuits of intermediate relays controlled by the sensing of instructions given in the right half of a line of sequence.
Fig. 40 diagrammatically shows dial switches for setting up an artificial line of sequence (see Section 16b).
Fig. 40a shows the circuit control relays for bringing the circuit of Fig. 40 into operation.
Fig. 41 shows the circuit of a few of the opera-tional relays in sequence storage.
Fig. 42 is a block diagram of the operational relays for storing the left half of a line of se-quence.
'Fig. 59 shows the sequence storage pyramids relating to the OP ( and OP2 fields.
Fig. 60 ,shows the sequence storage circuit for v;) the operational sign.
Fig. 61 shows the sequence storage circuit for the In Code control.
Fig. 62 shows the sequence storage circuits for the SH ( and SH2 denominational shift selection.
60 Fig. 63 shows the sequence storage circuits for the Q, R, U, and V shift selection.
Figs. 64a to 64j represent the circuits of the multiplying and dividing unit MD.
Figs. 65a to 65k represent control cirCUits of 65 the multiplying and dividing unit.
Fig. 66 is a timing chart, showing the primarY cycle of the multiplying and dividing unit.
Fig. 66A is a chart of the relationship of the 70 Internal buses to the multiplicand and divisor register orders and to the dividend receiving orders of the result register orders; the chart also indicates the relationship, in different col':' umn shift positions, between the two registers.
Fig. 66A is a chart of the relationship of the 70 Internal buses to the multiplicand and divisor register orders and to the dividend receiving orders of the result register orders; the chart also indicates the relationship, in different col':' umn shift positions, between the two registers.