Trip To Bell Laboratories, Whippany

Abstract

The use of transistors in digital computers was discussed with Mr. Jean H. Felker who has designed and constructed a 16-digit serial multiplier using 44 transistors and no vacuum tubes. The basic prf is one megacycle. A regenerative pulse amplifier which takes advantage of the instability of the transistor is the basic active circuit. Good reliability has been obtained by providing adequate margins in the circuit design, and by selecting transistors by means of a dynamic test. The lower signal levels used are said to result in longer life for transistors and diodes.