Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2007 13:15:02 -0500> From: ray at arachelian.com> To:> Subject: Re: *updating* 8088's>> Roy J. Tellason wrote:>> On Friday 23 November 2007 19:05, dwight elvey wrote:>>>>>> From: rtellason at verizon.net>>>>>>>> I notice that even those guys that are building relay computers "cheat">>>> and use a single small solid-state chip for RAM. :-)>>>>>>> Hi>>> I've been thinking about how one could make a reasonable>>> memory, using small reed relays. If one puts a magnet close>>> to one end, it will cause the reed to close. Move it back>>> some and it will hold until the field is too weak.>>>> ..>>>> Dunno if they still sell them or not, but Radio Shack used to sell a pack of>> 20 reed switches for only a couple of bucks...>>>>>> Hmm... Wonder if it's possible to build a relay without a spring on the> switch. That is, you have to send current with one polarity to set the> switch to a 1 and reverse polarity to set a zero - sort of what core> memory does with rings... I suppose this could instead be done by> attaching a magnet to the switch, or using magnet as the thing inside> the switch body, or better yet maybe a relay with a ball with a set of> contacts as the switch and two magnets, one on each opposite side...> you'd energize one coil for a "1" and the other for a "0">> Hmm, could even be done with a solenoid and use the mechanical part of> it to touch a wire for output. :-) Wouldn't really be a relay, but> pretty close.>>