Analysis and synthesis of digital circuits for a computer of specific purposes

The circuits described in this paper are part of a computer system designed for the automation of plasma diagnostics using electrostatic probes. The automated system is designed to give: (a) The density of the plasma (state variable) every ten microseconds in binary digits; (b) Probe data, stored for subsequent diagnostics; (c) A graphic and digital display of results; (d) Presentation of numerical diagnostics results in floating point format and in the decimal system for convenience of interpretation. The project is aimed, furthermore, at the development of techniques for the design, construction and adjustment of digital circuits, and at the training of personnel who will apply these techniques in digital instrumentation. A block diagram of the system is discussed in general terms. Methods for analysis and synthesis of the sequential circuits applied to the circuit for aligning and normalizing the floating point format, the format circuit and the operational sequence circuit are also described. Recommendations are made and precautions suggested which it is thought advisable to follow at the stages of design, construction and adjustment of the digital circuits, and these apply also to the equipment and techniques (wire wrapping) used for building the circuits. The adjustment of the digital circuits proved to be satisfactory and a definition panel was thus obtained for the decimal point alignment circuit. It is concluded that the method of synthesis need not always be applied; the cases in which the method is recommended are mentioned, as are those in which the non-formal method of synthesis can be used. (author)