A New Class of Switching Devices and Logic Elements

With a new class of switching devices employing microwave tube elements, appropriate combinations of particular components can create a variety of devices that are capable of performing switching and logic at extremely high speeds (one operation per m¿sec or less). Such speeds represent a large step forward in the computer art. A preliminary device described herein demonstrated the ability of a microwave signal to control a dc current. The goal of operating a computer with pulse trains dictated a choice of components that would provide large bandwidth with gain; therefore, an experimental traveling-wave interaction type tube was built which demonstrated the ability of one microwave signal to control another.