Multiple-Valued Logic Charge-Coupled Devices

A new method to implement multiple-valued logic in large scale integrated circuits is introduced. The data are represented by discrete amounts of charge in a charge-coupled device. In this paper the design principles and realizations in four-valued logic of a minimum and maximum circuit, a complement circuit, a literal a successor, and an adder are presented. Also, the designs of a binary-to-quaternary converter and vice versa are discussed. Charge-coupled devices offer low-power consumption, high-packing density, and the possibility to perform MOST-IC compatible multiple-valued logic in any arbitrary radix.