What is analog digital hybrid?

Combination of analog and digital computer

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This article is about analog-digital hybrid computers. For laptop-tablet computers, see 2-in-1 PC

Hybrid computers are computers that exhibit features of analog computers and digital computers. The digital component normally serves as the controller and provides logical and numerical operations, while the analog component often serves as a solver of differential equations and other mathematically complex problems.

History

The first desktop hybrid computing system was the Hycomp 250, released by Packard Bell in .[1] Another early example was the HYDAC , an integrated hybrid computer released by EAI in .[2] In the s, Marconi Space and Defense Systems Limited (under Peggy Hodges) developed their "Starglow Hybrid Computer", which consisted of three EAI analog computers linked to an EAI digital computer, the latter also being linked to an SEL digital computer.[3] Late in the 20th century, hybrids dwindled with the increasing capabilities of digital computers including digital signal processors.[4]

In general, analog computers are extraordinarily fast, since they are able to solve most mathematically complex equations at the rate at which a signal traverses the circuit, which is generally an appreciable fraction of the speed of light. On the other hand, the precision of analog computers is not good; they are limited to three, or at most, four digits of precision.

Digital computers can be built to take the solution of equations to almost unlimited precision, but quite slowly compared to analog computers. Generally, complex mathematical equations are approximated using iterative methods which take huge numbers of iterations, depending on how good the initial "guess" at the final value is and how much precision is desired. (This initial guess is known as the numerical "seed".) For many real-time operations in the 20th century, such digital calculations were too slow to be of much use (e.g., for very high frequency phased array radars or for weather calculations), but the precision of an analog computer is insufficient.

Hybrid computers can be used to obtain a very good but relatively imprecise 'seed' value, using an analog computer front-end, which is then fed into a digital computer iterative process to achieve the final desired degree of precision. With a three or four digit, highly accurate numerical seed, the total digital computation time to reach the desired precision is dramatically reduced, since many fewer iterations are required. One of the main technical problems to be overcome in hybrid computers is minimizing digital-computer noise in analog computing elements and grounding systems.

Consider that the nervous system in animals is a form of hybrid computer. Signals pass across the synapses from one nerve cell to the next as discrete (digital) packets of chemicals, which are then summed within the nerve cell in an analog fashion by building an electro-chemical potential until its threshold is reached, whereupon it discharges and sends out a series of digital packets to the next nerve cell. The advantages are at least threefold: noise within the system is minimized (and tends not to be additive), no common grounding system is required, and there is minimal degradation of the signal even if there are substantial differences in activity of the cells along a path (only the signal delays tend to vary). The individual nerve cells are analogous to analog computers; the synapses are analogous to digital computers.

Hybrid computers are distinct from hybrid systems. The latter may be no more than a digital computer equipped with an analog-to-digital converter at the input and/or a digital-to-analog converter at the output, to convert analog signals for ordinary digital signal processing, and conversely, e.g., for driving physical control systems, such as servomechanisms.

VLSI hybrid computer chip

In , researchers at Columbia University published a paper[5] on a small scale hybrid computer in 65 nm CMOS technology. This 4th-order VLSI hybrid computer contains 4 integrator blocks, 8 multiplier/gain-setting blocks, 8 fanout blocks for distributing current-mode signals, 2 ADCs, 2 DACs and 2 SRAMs blocks. Digital controllers are also implemented on the chip for executing the external instructions. A robot experiment in the paper demonstrates the use of the hybrid computing chip in today's emerging low-power embedded applications.

References

There are three types of computers, and each is capable of doing unique things. They are separated by hardware and the manner data is processed. The three types of computers in question are Analog, Digital, and Hybrid. Each can be found in various industries around the world, your home, and even in your car. But hey, let&#;s go on ahead and focus on what these computers are all about.

Types of computers

These three types of computers are based on work, applications, and functions:

1. Analog Computer
2. Digital Computer
3. Hybrid Computer

Difference between Analog, Digital & Hybrid computers

1] Analog Computer

An analog computer is a type of system that provides information in continuous form. These types of computers can only represent physical quantities such as pressure, weight, voltage pressure, speed, and more. Whatever information the analog computer outputs are usually shown on a graph.

These computer systems are useful in situations where data is accepted via measuring instruments, which means, there is no need to convert into numbers or any form of digital attributes. A speedometer is a great example of an analog computer, and the same can be said for the traditional thermometer.

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Note that analog computer systems do not require any storage capabilities because they associate and measure quantities in a single process. In short, they are nowhere smart when compared to what we use today, but they do have their industries.

In the past, an analog computer was primarily used in scientific and industrial applications, and even after the rise of digital computers. This is because, in the early days of digital computers, analog systems were still much faster to operate. However, between the s and s, the analog computer system became obsolete as they could no longer keep up with the digital wave.

Electronic Analog Computers

For the most part, these computers are indeed, based on the specifics of analog. However, their components consist of capacitors, inductors, and resistors. Folks can model them by using equations of similar form. Furthermore, they are more useful than regular analog devices because they have an electric circuit.

The use of an electric circuit allows for simulation to move faster than ever before, which at the time was a huge benefit to the scientific community.

Now, if you are wondering what these computers look like, well, they have a lot of amplifiers and jacks. The switchboard of old was a great analog computer, but it lacked reliability when compared to what we have today. And that should not come as a surprise at all.

For example, we can find analog computers in oil refineries and the papermaking industries, just to name a few.

Some characteristics of Analog Computers

• Continuous values
• Small memory
• Slow speed
• Not as reliable
• Results are not accurate
• Difficult to use

Now you know what an analog computer is, let&#;s talk about Digital.

2] Digital Computer

When it comes down to representing numerals, letters, and other symbols a digital computer relies on digits to get the job done. The inputs here are ON and OFF, and the same goes for outputs.

In a typical case, ON is represented by 1, while off is represented by 0. As it stands, then, we can conclude that digital computers process data that is based on the existence or the absence of an electrical charge. In short, this is called binary 1 or binary 0.

For those who might want to process numerical or non-numerical data, a digital computer is more than capable of performing such tasks. Furthermore, such systems can perform arithmetic operations with ease, and in most instances, much faster than the human brain.

The man behind the first electronic digital computer is a man known as John V. Atanasoff. The device was built between and , and his assistance was a German engineer who goes by the name, Clifford E. Berry. Konrad Zuse.

Right now, the most common digital computers are that of calculators and accounting machines.

Some characteristics of Digital Computers

• Discrete values
• Large memory
• Faster speed
• Very reliable
• Results are 100 percent accurate

Time to talk about Hybrid Computers, which are the most known around the world due to being widely used by consumers and businesses alike.

3] Hybrid Computer

When you think of a hybrid computer, what comes to mind? It should be a blend of analog and digital computers. Devices such as these have managed to combine the best features of analog and digital, making them super important in a number of areas.

In terms of where hybrid computers are used, well, they are mainly found in specialized applications that need to process analog and digital information. As you might guess, then, hybrid computers can process discrete and continuous data.

The entire world today relies heavily on hybrid computers, and this has a lot to do with their flexibility. A single hybrid computer can be used for various things. The same cannot be said for analog, but we should not forget of its contribution.

An example of a hybrid computer is the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) found in hospitals around the world. These devices use analog technology to measure temperature and blood pressure, and the data is then converted and shown in digital form on a small screen.

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