Parametron: The 50s Japanese Computer That Ran on Ferrite Cores, Not Tubes or Transistors
Parametron: 50s Japanese computer that uses neither transistors nor vacuum tubes
In 1954, Eiichi Goto invented the parametron, a logic element using ferrite cores and parametric oscillation, at the University of Tokyo. Costing just 5 yen per core versus 1,000 yen for a vacuum tube, it powered the PC-1, Japan's first university-built stored-program computer, completed in 1958. The parametron's low cost and stability shaped Japan's early computing and nurtured its first generation of computer engineers.
At the time, vacuum tubes cost 1,000 yen each, and transistors cost 8,000 yen each. In comparison, ferrite cores cost just 5 yen each. So I thought, why not use ferrite cores as the material?
- oldnetguy
EAC-1101 In March 1958, NEC finished its first digital computer, the NEAC-1101. This machine used parametrons, invented by Eiichi Goto in 1954, and was perfected by using a single-turn transformer coupling system independently devised by NEC. This computer was designed for scientific and engineering calculations, and was Japan's first computer to use floating point operations. It was capable of decimal 7-digit floating point operations. It used 3,600 parametrons, 29 types of instructions, and had average performance of 3.5ms for addition/subtraction and 8.0ms for multiplication/division. The memory employed ferrite cores (magnetic core matrix system using the 2 ACs with different frequency), and memory capacity was 256 words (32-digit configuration). The NEAC-1101 was enhanced via improvements like expanding the memory capacity to 512 words, and was used for about 8 years for scientific and engineering calculations at NEC's research laboratory. The results from developing this computer contributed greatly to the development of subsequent parametron computers at NEC.
- kens
The history of computing is usually described as a nice progression from vacuum tubes to transistors and then ICs. But parametrons are only one of the many forgotten technologies that popped up along the way. Magnetic core logic such as transfluxors was used in several computers. Superconducting cryotrons were going to revolutionize computers. Tunnel-diode logic was also briefly the wave of the future. Other significant technologies were microwave logic circuits and electroluminescent logic circuits. I have to say that the 1950s came up with the best names; modern technologies just don't measure up to transfluxors, parametrons, and cryotrons.
See Digital Computer Design Fundamentals, 1962, chapter 6.
- tiazumdove
The quantum flux parametron is a really fascinating design and I always wondered why no one talks about it. You can get to GHz range easily and computing will be adiabatic. Its based on Josephson-junctions so you need to provide very low temperatures. I always thought it was a more promising next gen compute technology than the current quantum computers. Especially when you get to write your own SQUIDs in a SEM. Its like two long rectangles with pads at the end+thin insulator on top+two wires for the contacts for a SQUID sandwich and suddenly you can do complex quantum circuits.
- sixtyj
> In 1954, Eiichi Goto invented the parametron, a logic device leveraging nonlinear parametric oscillation with two ferrite cores. Unlike the vacuum tube and early transistor circuits prevalent at the time, the parametron offered remarkable stability, requiring minimal maintenance compared to vacuum tubes with short lifetime and costing significantly less than both vacuum tubes and nascent transistors. Its simplicity and reliability made it an ideal foundation for computer design. Early applications showcased its superior fault tolerance over competing technologies, such as vacuum tubes with relatively short-lifetime, slow electromechanical relays, and unstable point-contact transistors.
- mikewarot
Meanwhile, in the US, the Univac Solid State computer[1] used similar principles in its patented[3] "Solid State Logic"[2], and was also released in 1958.
My understanding is that the magnetic amplifiers used in the V2 rocket kicked off a lot of interesting uses of magnetic cores.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UNIVAC_Solid_State