Milestones:Parametron, 1954 - Engineering and Technology History Wiki

Milestones:Parametron, 1954

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Date Dedicated<br>2025/11/27<br>Dedication #<br>291<br>Location<br>Tokyo, Japan<br>IEEE Regions<br>10<br>IEEE sections<br>Tokyo<br>Achievement date range<br>1954

Contents

1 Title

2 Citation

3 Street address(es) and GPS coordinates of the Milestone Plaque Sites

4 Details of the physical location of the plaque

5 How the plaque site is protected/secured

6 Historical significance of the work

7 Justification of name-in-citation

7.1 Eiichi Goto: Pioneer of Parametron Technology and Early Computers

7.2 Invention of the Parametron

7.3 Development of the PC-1 Parametron Computer

7.4 Influence of Parametron Technology and Goto's Achievements

7.5 Conclusion

8 Historical Significance

8.1 Background

8.1.1 Inexpensive ferrite core

8.2 Structure and Principle of Parametrons

8.3 Parametron circuit

8.3.1 Basic Structure and Operation of Parametrons

8.3.2 Counting Circuit Using Parametrons

8.4 The Birth of Parametron Computer: PC-1

8.4.1 Wide Usage for Scientific Research and Training

8.4.2 High-Speed Memory Device: AC magnetic core memory

8.4.3 Arithmetic Circuit

8.4.4 Interrupt

8.4.5 Plan for PC-2

8.5 Historical Impact of Parametron on Computers and others

8.5.1 Non-computer applications of parametron

8.5.2 Nurturing the new generation of computer engineers and users

8.5.3 Popular Culture

9 Obstacles that needed to be overcome

9.1 Technical Obstacles

9.1.1 Material Limitations

9.1.2 Design Complexity

9.1.3 Thermal Management

9.1.4 Integration with Existing Technology

9.1.5 Miniaturization

9.2 Political Obstacles

9.2.1 Funding and Resources

9.2.2 Intellectual Property and Collaboration

9.3 Geographic Obstacles

9.3.1 Research Infrastructure

9.3.2 Access to Global Knowledge

9.3.3 Market Acceptance

10 Features that set this work apart from similar achievements

11 Features that set this work apart from similar achievements

11.1 Comparison with Other Methods

11.1.1 Pros

11.1.2 Cons

11.2 Logic Elements Similar to Parametrons

11.2.1 Capacitance Variable Type Parametron

11.2.2 Thin-Film Magnetic Material Parametron

11.2.3 Magnetic Flux Quantum Parametron

12 Significant references

13 Bibliography

13.1 References

13.2 Patents

13.3 Awards

14 Appendix I: Detailed list of commercial Parametron computers

14.1 Japan Electronics Instruments

14.2 The University of Tokyo (Takahasi Laboratory)

14.3 Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (Telecommunications Research Institute)

14.4 Hitachi

14.5 NEC

14.6 Oki Electric

14.7 Fujitsu

14.8 Mitsubishi Electric

14.9 Koden Electronics Co., Ltd.

14.10 KDDI (formerly KDD)

15 Appendix II: subroutines and the type of calculations done on PC-1

16 Appendix III Parametrons in Disguise

16.1 Goto Pair

16.2 Quantum flux parametron

17 Appendix IV: Earlier research for building computer at Takahasi laboratory

18 Appendix V: Speed Comparison

19 Appendix VI: Power Consumption, Excitation Frequency, Parametron Operation Speed

20 Map

Title

Parametron, 1954

Citation

The Parametron, a logic element using ferrite cores and parametric oscillation, was invented in 1954 by Eiichi Goto at the University of Tokyo. 4,200 parametrons went into the PC-1, Japan’s first university-built stored-program computer which became the nation's then-fastest in 1958. The parametron’s low cost and electrical stability shaped Japan’s early computer development and scientific research, and nurtured the country's first generation of computer engineers.

Street address(es) and GPS coordinates of the Milestone Plaque Sites

Science Gallery,<br>1st floor (ground floor) of Building 1, Faculty of Science,<br>The University of Tokyo.<br>Address; 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033 Japan.

GPS coordinates; 35.7137465,139.7608399, Science Gallery, 1st floor (ground floor) of Building 1, Faculty of Science, The University of Tokyo.Address; 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033 Japan.GPS coordinates; 35.7137465,139.7608399

Details of the physical location of the plaque

It is placed on the wall of so-called "Science Gallery" where many displays related to science are placed.<br>See: https://www.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/gallery/

How the plaque site is protected/secured

Visitors can come to the Science Gallery without security check.

Historical significance of the work

Justification of name-in-citation

Eiichi Goto: Pioneer of Parametron Technology and Early Computers

Eiichi Goto (1931–2005), a Japanese scientist, invented the parametron in 1954 as a graduate student and spearheaded the development of the<br>PC-1, the first fully programmable stored-program computer at a Japanese university to utilize this technology, completed in 1958. His<br>innovations catalyzed advancements in Japan’s post-war computer industry, enhancing scientific research and industrial capabilities<br>during a critical period of technological recovery.

Invention of the Parametron

In 1954, Eiichi Goto...