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US 2020/0012478 A1Published application
Mechanical Computing Systems
AssigneeCBN Nano Technologies Inc.
InventorsRalph C. Merkle, Robert A. Freitas, JR., James Ryley, Matthew Moses, Tad Hogg
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Abstract
Systems and methods are disclosed for creating mechanical computing mechanisms and Turing-complete systems which include combinatorial logic and sequential logic, and which are energy-efficient.
Claims21
A computing mechanism comprising:
- an anchor block;
- and
- a plurality of logic structures mounted to said anchor block, each of said logic structures having an arrangement of primitives selected from the group consisting of rigid links, pulleys, cables, and knobs, and being movably connected to said anchor block by joints selected from the group consisting of rotary joints and flexures, each of said logic structures being configured to define a position of at least one output based on a logic operation performed on at least one input, where the logic operation includes at least one of a combinatorial logic function or a sequential logic function,
- wherein said logic structures are connected together such that outputs from one subset of logic structures serve to define the inputs of another subset of logic structures.
1 more element
A computing mechanism operated by a clock and comprising:
- an anchor block;
- and
- a plurality of logic structures mounted to said anchor block, each of said logic structures being configured to define a position of at least one output based on a logic operation performed on at least one input, where the logic operation includes at least one of a combinatorial logic function and a sequential logic function, and being configured such that the pattern of connection between primitives remains constant as said logic structure operates,
- wherein said logic structures are connected together such that outputs from one subset of logic structures serve to define the inputs of another subset of logic structures,
- further wherein at least a subset of said logic structures are configured such that non-trivial storage and release of potential energy resulting from operation only occurs at a speed imposed by the clock.
2 more elements
A computing mechanism comprising:
- an anchor block;
- and
- a plurality of logic structures mounted to said anchor block, each of said logic structures being configured to define a position of at least one output based on a logic operation performed on at least one input, where the logic operation includes at least one of a combinatorial logic function and a sequential logic function,
- wherein said logic structures are connected together such that outputs from one subset of logic structures serve to define the inputs of another subset of logic structures,
- further wherein at least a subset of said logic structures are configured such that they do not require storage or release of non-trivial amounts of potential energy as they operate.
2 more elements
A computing mechanism comprising:
- an anchor block;
- and
- a plurality of logic structures mounted to said anchor block, each of said logic structures being configured to define a position of at least one output based on a logic operation performed on at least one input, where the logic operation includes at least one of a combinatorial logic function and a sequential logic function,
- said logic structures each being constructed from a plurality of locks and balances connected so as to perform said operation,
- each balance having a movable balance actuating element and a plurality of movable balance driven elements which move when said balance actuating element moves, unless blocked from such movement, and
- said locks being connected to said balance driven elements and configured such that the positions of lock input elements determine which of said balance driven elements are blocked from moving when said balance actuating element moves,
- wherein said logic structures are connected together such that outputs from one subset of logic structures serve to define the inputs of another subset of logic structures.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.