The parametron is a logic circuit element invented by Eiichi Goto in 1954.Information Processing Society of Japan - Parametron The parametron is essentially a resonant circuit with a nonlinear reactive element which oscillates at half the driving frequency. The oscillation can be made to represent a binary digit by the choice between two stationary phases π radians (180 degrees) apart.U.S. Patent and Trademark Office - Class 307, Electrical Transmission or Interconnection Systems - Subclass 402, Parametrons
Parametrons were used in early Japanese computers from 1954 through the early 1960s. A prototype parametron-based computer, the PC-1, was built at the University of Tokyo in 1958 and later recognized as part of the IEEE Milestone for the parametron. Parametrons were used in early Japanese computers due to being reliable and inexpensive but were ultimately surpassed by transistors due to differences in speed.
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