The KT-Pilot Computer

This paper deals with the outline, design features and performance of the KT-Pilot, which is a binary, parallel, high-speed digital computer developed for research into the technical problems encountered in high-speed computers. This machine, although a small-sized experimental one, has many unique features : a microprogram control system utilizing a newly developed phototransistor fixed or read-only memory, asynchronous operations adopted to speed up the machine, a continuous-sheet Supermalloy thin film memory first put into practical use as the computer memory in this country, high-speed logic circuits employing fast mesa transistors and both mesa and gold-bonded diodes as circuit components, and so on. Two types of core memories, i.e. current-coincident type and word-organized type, constitute the main memory together with the above-mentioned thin film memory. A photo-tape reader and a Flexowriter are used respectively as the input and output devices. This machine has been operating stably at our laboratory, and its performance is very satisfactory