"UNIVER"—A fast, versatile multilogic digital amplifier for micrologic circuits

The nature of integrated circuit fabrication limits the number of circuit modules in a system due to the high developmental cost involved. This paper describes a unique approach to designing an ultra-high speed multiple-function logic amplifier in integrated circuit form. Using the scheme of a pair of tunnel-diode coupled emitter followers driven by an emitter-coupled amplifier, it is shown that the circuit, designated UNIVER, has a capability of both storage (flip-flop) and wave-shaping functions, and can drive low impedance (35 ohms) transmission lines with a high (8) logic gain under 1 nsec total stage delay, while suppressing the oscillatory ringing commonly occurring in an emitter follower. A large number of the UNIVER circuits were built in integrated circuit form and then evaluated as multiple functional modules in a 100-Mc digital system. The logical performance and switching characteristics of the circuits were ascertained. Test results collected over a twelve-month period are discussed as well as the extended applications of the UNIVER circuit scheme.