non-binary hardware

[Phil Gustafson]

In article <3473 at phri.UUCP>, roy at phri.UUCP (Roy Smith) writes:
> mouse at mcgill-vision.UUCP (der Mouse) writes:
> > By the way, does anyone know of a non-mechanical digital calculator or
> > computer that isn't essentially binary?
> 
> 	The bottom line is that digital and binary are essentially
> synonymous, although I suppose in theory you could define digital as
> discrete and have trinary, etc. logic.

Some old (real old, 50's and 60's) counters used 10-state ring
counters to hold digits.  These gadgets are binary as far as logic
levels go but decastable rather than bistable.  They're very much analogous
to wheeled mechanical calculaters.

A fast (for 1967) frequency counter I worked with once had a pentastable
prescalar ring.  Same thing.


-- 
				Phil Gustafson, Graphics/UN*X Consultant
				net address above
				1550 Martin Ave, San Jose, Ca 95126