BINARY COUNTER

^ 'Carry' unit linked to drum sequencer

In order to 'carry' a digit from one sequential counter to another, I needed to create a circuit that would convert a single pulsed input into a steady bistable output.

However, I found that because it is bistable, this unit can be linked to other identical ones, the input of one being attached to P1 on the last, creating a binary counter. The advantage of a binary counter over a sequential one as used in my drum sequencer is that it can store numbers in a smaller number of relays, and that mathematical operations become easily possible. There is a certain sort of latching relay which is in itself bistable. However it is rare and expensive making it more efficient to use several normal latches.

This video shows three bistable units in a chain. When the LED on each unit is in the lowest position, this signifies binary 0, and when it is highest, this is binary 1. The circuit is counting manually inputted pulses. As there are 3 binary digits, it can count 8 pulses.