Fischer Technik and similar logic-enhanced toys (was Re: OT:

[Tony Duell]

> 
> On 10/19/05, Tony Duell <ard at p850ug1.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> > > Real nerds use Fischer-Technik.
> 
> I saw that stuff in the early 80s and couldn't come close to affording it.

Alas I know the feeling all too well... Particularly the elecrtronics 
modules, which _then_ were around \pounds 20.00 each in the UK. Far too 
expensive to get a good collection of them,

> 
> > Fischer Technik has gone down spectacularly since I was a kid. In the old
> > days there were fairly simple elecrronic modules (alas so expensive that
> > I couldn't afford enough of them) -- things like a double pole changeover
> > relay, analogue voltage comparator, AND gate, OR gate, flip-flop,
> > monotstable, etc.
> 
> I remember that stuff - in particular, I remember enough logic for an
> elevator controller and a traffic light.

I can't rememebr what all the electronic modules were, but there were at 
least : 

Rectifier (used as a PSU for everything else)

Plain relay (this started off in a different type of case, then later on 
came in the same case as the other modules)

Relay + transistor amplifier to drive it

Analogue voltage compaartor (and other useful components brought out to 
sockets

Piezo microphone/beeper

AND/NAND gate (IIRC, 4 inputs, you got both normal and inverted outputs)

OR/NOT gates (ditto)

Pulse-coupled AND gate (2 in a module?)

Flip-flop (I think a JK with set/reset inputs too)

Monostable

Patch panel (a number of sockets interconnected inside, you could plug 
any compoentns into that for your own circuits

I suppose the TTL-input relay and the 14 pin DIL module count too, but 
they were not electriclaly compatible with the rest of the system.

Given all those functions, it would be _possible_ to make just about 
anything (we all know you can, in principle, make any logic circuit from 
just 2 input NAND gates...). On the other hand, trying to make a 
processor would be large and expensive.

The traffic light controller, I think, was electromechanical. That set 
included some slip-rings and brush contacts. By fitting insulating covers 
onto the slip-rings (also in the kit), you could make an 
electromechanical 'programmer'. Certainly traffic lights was one of the 
example models for this.

-tony