Digital Computers : Present and Future Trends

I. L. Auerb~ch (Burroughs Adding Machine Company): Could you tell us the temperature at which you are encapsulating the transistors and crystals and the effect it has on their life? J. Felker: I do not know what that temperature is. I know it is possible to put 'i these in the capsule and still have a satis::'factory yield. In other words, we have .• working units that have been put in plastic. . J. C. McPherson (IBM): On the circuits you have already built, what is roughly the ratio of diodes to transistors? J. Felker: The basic amplifier requires three diodes to help the transistor operate as an amplifier. Then if you put the logic functions on also, you can get by with as few as three additional diodes per transistor. If you want to use more logic circuits, the number of diodes will go up. But I would estimate something like eight to ten diodes per transistor in a balanced machine design. F. C. Mullaney (ERA): Your diagram showed certain values on the components. Must these values be changed as different transistors ar~ inserted in the circuit? J. Felker: No. In our multiplier, for example, which had 43 or 44 transistors in it,