Logic Gates

Requirements

1. Logic gates that could be integrated into a small area

2. Easy manufacturing - Should not include extremely complicated steps and super exotic materials

3. Easy availability of raw materials in India

4. Small lead time to go from design to production

Objective

1. Decide what parameter would be used as to denote a logical 1 and logical 0. It could be voltage, current, frequency, phase etc.

2. The device should keep usage of commonly available semiconducting devices to a minimum. Preferably zero.

Mix Bags information

• Logic gates are primarily implemented using diodes or transistors acting as electronics switches, but cam also be constructed using vacuum tubes, electromagnetic relays (relay logic), fluidic logic, pneumatic logic, optics, molecules or even mechanical elements.

• Having different mental models using which can be potentially used as a logic gate would be a good thing to have. Some of them are:
• Neuroristors - Devices that behave like biological neurons
• Relay Logic
• Diode Logic
• Vacuum Tubes
• Fluidic Logic
• Optics
• Mechanical logic gates
• Molecules

• Electronics switches are non linear devices

• Capacitors, resistors and inductors are all linear components

• You cannot create non linear output using linear components

My thoughts

• I need to create a device which accepts signals in one domain and generates the output in the same domain (This ability will allow them to be linked together to form more complicated circuits)

• The application of an input signal of a particular domain should cause a measurable change in the output signal lying in the same domain.
• In simpler terms, If I apply a signal it should cause the materials/devices behaviour to change in the same domain compared to when I don’t apply the signal.

• How many domains can we play around with?
• Voltage
• Current
• Frequency (Voltage & Time)
• Phase
• Temperature
• Light/EM Waves
• Mechanical
• Fluids (same as mechanical??)
• Molecular
• Time?

• (Unformed thought) In combinational logic circuit. The current has multiple paths through which it could flow. But as and when it flows through the circuit, the next path becomes available/clear. So essentially, the signal takes a different path depending on the which of the two states the signal exists in. So the path changes automatically in response to the state of applied signal.

• (Unformed thought) Is there a possibility of having fixed paths for signal of specific magnitude in any domain and then change paths as and when the magnitude changes?
• Maybe it’s the same thing as the previous point? Need to think about it.

• The reason why mechanical switches cannot be used to create a digital computer is because the input signal and output signal lie in different domains. We apply mechanical energy that creates an electrical path and lets electrical energy flow. The input signal is in mechanical domain and output signal is in voltage/current domain (or electrical domain in general).