A finite state description of the earliest logical computer : the Jevons'Machine

P. Amblard (1)

1 TIMA - Techniques de l'Informatique et de la Microélectronique pour l'Architecture des systèmes intégrés

In 1870 a British scholar, W.S. Jevons, built the first computer designed to solve logical problem. Inspired by Boole and Babbage, Jevons built a mechanical device implementing automated deduction. In this paper, we present in contemporary terms the basic features of Jevon's machine. These features are related to finite-state machines and evaluation of words of a regular language. Two investigations about this machine are presented : the first one is evaluation of Jevons' machine complexity with a real-time environment. The second one is a VLSI implementation.

Mots clés: Analog circuits design; Power devices and thermal aspects; Microsystems and neural networks; Design methodologies; Advanced trends in microelectronics education

Domaines: Micro et nanotechnologies/Microélectronique

P. Amblard. A finite state description of the earliest logical computer : the Jevons'Machine. A. Napieralski, Z. Ciota, A. Martinez, G. de Mey, J. Cabestany. Mixed design of integrated circuits and systems, Kluwer Academic Publishers, 256 p., 1998. ⟨hal-00164103⟩