User:COES 9082/sandbox/Direct-coupled transistor logic Information

Direct-coupled transistor logic (DCTL) is a digital circuit that is mainly used for making audio devices in electronics. The transistor is in many known American-made devices such as instrument amplifiers, computers, and synthesizers. What these transistors are best known for is their simple circuitry and being an auxiliary component (a device that is not optional and is needed).[1] The circuit is also known for limiting the voltage output that other circuits may create, at the same time being very compact. DCTL was invented in March of 1955 by Wallmark and Sanford M. Marcus and has been modified and improved throughout time.

Due to DCTL gates being a very simple circuit they therefore grouped and combined with other circuits to limit the voltage output. DCTL stabilizes the voltage output of a machine therefore the device doesn’t break or doesn’t have damage due to overheating. DCTL contains logical functions which are gates that allow power to go through the device and keep the output voltage at a proper level at the same time. Just like any other device, there are disadvantages and advantages to using DCTLs.

DCTL in today's life

DCTL is a catalyst for other transistors which are very convenient to use. They were made 65 years ago and have many updated and different variations of them today. One of the more recent and used today is called Transistor-transistor logic (TTL) and resistor-transistor logic (RTL). TTL functions similarly to DCTL except DCTL has lower signal levels and is sensitive to ground noise while TTL depends more on polarity. DCTLs aren’t used as much as they were in the past. RTL also focuses heavily on polarity, specifically being a bipolar transistor switch. They are still very important and changed the history of audio and are the fundamental stepping stones to creating higher-quality inventions. 

Logical Functions

A DCTL circuit has three logical functions AND gating, OR gating, and signal inversion (NOT gating). Each of these functions is the building block of what creates the circuit board. An AND gate requires two or more inputs that are true for there to be an outcome. As an example let's say that 1 and 2 are true and 0 is false the only way for there to be an output is for the input to contain either 1,2, or both. If any of the inputs are 0 there will be no output. All inputs must be true for there to be an output. OR gating also requires two or more inputs but unlike AND gating only one of the inputs is required to be true. The NOT gate only needs a single input so there could be an output. Therefore if the single input is not true there will be no output. With these three gates, many other logical functions can be made with them making the possibilities endless.

Three Other Functions

A DCLT is known for doing three functions:

• Inverters
• Series Gating
• Parallels gating

Each of these functions makes the output voltage supply low so it doesn’t have a negative impact on the other circuits in the machine.

Inverters are also known as NOT gates which can be connected by collector resistors. For the next DCTL to turn on there must be enough V_CE(SAT)  (saturation voltage) going through the previous circuit. If the  V_{CE(SAT )}is too low the next gate will not open up. If you want only a certain amount of circuits open then the V_CE(SAT) needs to be smaller than the next transistor V_BE(ON)  (voltage input) between the base and emitter. It depends on your desired function.

Series gating is a little different. If even one of the transistors is off then the output voltage would end up being the supply voltage  (V_CC) at D. For the next stage to determine the voltage of D, that would entirely depend on the V_BE(ON)  (input voltage) of the next transistor. If all the transistors are on then D would be closer to the ground which can cause some complications. The next transistor has to be completely off for there to be no complication with the device.

Parallel gating is three transistors with individual inputs rather than a single input compared to the other functions. If the  V_BE(ON)  is high the voltage will go through a load resistor causing the voltage output to be low.

Disadvantages of using DCTL

• Current Hogging
• Noise problem

One of the main disadvantages of using a DCTL is called current hogging. Current hogging is when two or more circuits are operating in parallel from each other. The downside of this is that one of the circuits tends to do all the work and take up all the voltage (V_BE) resulting in it overheating and then possibly breaking down. Since no two transmitters will have the same voltage this tends to happen. Due to this happening inventors and engineers look for transistors with a small voltage output which is something that a DCTL is known for but the phenomenon can still happen.

The noise problem is related to the voltage noise. The reason that the phenomenon is such a great problem is due to circuits being incredibly sensitive to noise since they operate at a fast speed and low voltage. Also with several transistors, the polarities pulse can cause unwanted transistors to turn on. Picked-up noises by connecting leads can also lead to more problems leading the device to not work.

Advantages of using DCTL

• Simple circuit
• Doesn’t require much power to work
• Doesn’t take up too much space
• Help limit voltage output

With these advantages, many incredible inventions have been created. Since it doesn’t take up too much space and doesn’t use too much power this makes them very convenient to use. They can also limit the voltage output that other transistors may create and therefore lead to there being less issues with machines.

External links

• www.example.com