The IBM designed light gun has been installed and tested on Cape Cod. Evaluation of sources of prime power and the problem of power interruption is under way. Studies will be under taken concerning the use of transistors in various parts of Duplex Central

Gray, Philip J.

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I ' LIN. LAB Oil DOCUMENT ROC FrtOM THIS R00R^~&: COPY NO. 21) QF 85 COPIES Page 1 of 2 Division 6 - Lincoln Laboratory Ins t i tu te of Technology Cambridge 39, Massachusetts By: SUBJECT? Group 62 Section Leaders Meeting — May 3, 195U 1 Date: Toj Division 6 Group Leaders$ Group 62 Staff fembers CLASSIFICATION CHANGED TO: I Auth: JX2>^^^A <? -/J>—("° From* P. J . Gray Abstract: The IBM designed light gun has been installed and tested on Cape Cod. Evaluation of sources of prime power and the problem of power interruption is under way. Studies will be under taken concerning the use of transistors in various parts of Duplex Central. ls Display The experimental IBM designed l i g h t gun has been ins ta l led and tes ted on the Cape Cod System and after some adjustment was found to work sa t i s f ac to r i l y . The system for projecting a red spot on the face of the tube works quite well and appears helpful. Some d i f f icu l t ies ware en-countered due to an intermittent short in the phototube. Consideration is being given to provide for erasing of typotron tubes at each console. This would require two additional vacuum tubes per console but would greatly simplify cabling. This may be a simpler method i f as many as thir ty-two different erase times arr required. Work i s continuing on the f i r s t approximation of the frame lay-out for the cent ra l display frames. 2. Power A discussion of sources of prime power and the problem of power interruption indicate that there are several al ternat ives which should be carefully evaluated. Batteries are not sui table to back up the DC supplies due to- voltage var ia t ion of about 8^ depending on the s ta te of the bat tery charge. Tne pos s ib i l i t i e s which appear to be open are* a. Use of three part motor generator sets consisting of an AC motor, DC motor and an AC generator. Under normal operation the AC motor would drive the generator, receiving i t s power from the u t i l i t y transformers. In the e r n i of u t i l i t y f a i lu re the DC motor would drive the geafrJkpbr, receiving power from standby ba t t e r i e s . This wiriotoNfarry the central u n t i l diesel standbys could be put i»ta operation. r COMHDE-r f l lU / APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE. CASE 06-1104.h Memorandum M-2806 *H F 11 E iw$$ Page 2 of 2 b. Providing no special back up power other than diesel stand-by and relying on the ability to start the diesels and switch them on to the line rapidly enough to allow resumption of operation of the central without serious loss of data. c. Steam gener-tion of all power at the central location. Alternate b, is the method currently proposed and may be suf-ficient. However, it was the opinion of the group that further study should be made of the prime power problem by consultants if required, 3. Transistors Some preliminary studies of the use of transistors in the dis-play decoders indicate; that th^ir use is feasible. However, temperature variations might be a problem since both saturation current and current gain vary quite severely with temperature. Further evaluation will be started of the use of transistors in later duplex centrals. It was suggested that a study be made of the possibility of using transistors in the light gun since it appears there is a premium on the size of this unit. It, Meetings This Week and Next a. Tuesday, Kay h - meeting on display in Cambridge. b. Thursday and Friday, May 6 and 7 - Jacobs and Hopkins in meeting at Westinghouse concerning Bomarc and its operation with AN/FSQ-7. c. Tuesday, May 11 - review of miscellaneous radar input and radar mapper specifications at Poughkeepsie, £. MTC Every effort i s being made to implement the moving of MTC to Lexington in early June, Construction of a new accumulator for the com-puter i s under way. I t is hoped that th is wil l be completed pr ior to the moving. Signed: PJOsmo CC: J . W. Forrester , R, R. Everett GOMFfl HflffcTIAL Approved s APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE. CASE 06-1104.

Group 62 Section Leaders Meeting -- May 3, 1954

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Group 62 Section Leaders Meeting -- May 3, 1954

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