Williams tube
E412992
The Williams tube was an early form of computer memory that used a cathode-ray tube to store binary data as electrostatic charges on a phosphor-coated screen.
All labels observed (3)
| Label | Occurrences |
|---|---|
| Williams tube canonical | 2 |
| Williams tube memory | 2 |
| Williams tube electrostatic memory | 1 |
Statements (45)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
cathode-ray tube memory
ⓘ
computer memory device ⓘ electrostatic memory ⓘ random-access memory ⓘ |
| accessType | random access ⓘ |
| alsoKnownAs | Williams–Kilburn tube ⓘ |
| basedOn | cathode-ray tube ⓘ |
| componentOf | CPU memory subsystem ⓘ |
| countryOfOrigin | United Kingdom ⓘ |
| dataRepresentation |
dots on screen
ⓘ
spots of charge ⓘ |
| developedAt | University of Manchester ⓘ |
| developedBy |
Frederic C. Williams
ⓘ
Tom Kilburn ⓘ |
| era | first-generation computers ⓘ |
| field |
computer engineering
ⓘ
computer memory technology ⓘ |
| firstOperationalUse | 1948 ⓘ |
| followedBy | magnetic core memory ⓘ |
| historicalSignificance | first practical random-access digital storage device ⓘ |
| influenced | design of later memory systems ⓘ |
| inventionPeriod | late 1940s ⓘ |
| limitation |
limited storage capacity
ⓘ
reliability issues ⓘ susceptible to electrical noise ⓘ |
| operatesOn | electrostatic charge distribution ⓘ |
| precededBy | mercury delay line memory ⓘ |
| preservedIn | computer history museums ⓘ |
| primaryFunction | main memory ⓘ |
| readoutMethod | sensing secondary emission current ⓘ |
| requires |
high-voltage power supply
ⓘ
precise beam deflection circuitry ⓘ refresh cycles ⓘ |
| status | obsolete ⓘ |
| storageMechanism | electrostatic charge patterns ⓘ |
| stores | binary data ⓘ |
| storesBitsAs | charged and uncharged spots ⓘ |
| technologyType | vacuum tube technology ⓘ |
| usedFor |
storing numerical data
ⓘ
storing program instructions ⓘ |
| usedIn |
Manchester Baby
ⓘ
Manchester Mark 1 ⓘ early stored-program computers ⓘ |
| uses | phosphor-coated screen ⓘ |
| writeMethod | electron beam positioning ⓘ |
Referenced by (5)
Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.
subject surface form:
Ferranti Mark I
this entity surface form:
Williams tube memory
this entity surface form:
Williams tube memory
this entity surface form:
Williams tube electrostatic memory