The PDP-14 Programmable Controller

The document introduces the PDP-14 Programmable Controller, a solid-state device designed for repetitive manufacturing operations. It accepts inputs from two-state devices like limit switches and, following a predetermined control sequence stored in a braided-wire Read Only Memory (ROM), controls various outputs such as solenoids and motor starters.

Key features and benefits of the PDP-14 include its general-purpose applicability across machinery types, enabling control system standardization. It is specifically designed for industrial environments, housed in a NEMA-12 enclosure, immune to electrical noise due to electromechanical design and wired memory, and has no moving parts, enhancing reliability. The PDP-14 is presented as easy to install, operate, and maintain, requiring no specialized computer programming knowledge. It can also integrate with PDP-8 or PDP-11 computers for interactive control and monitoring.

Hardware components include a Control Unit, a 1K (expandable to 4K) 12-bit Read Only Memory, and interface boxes for up to 256 inputs and 255 outputs, all utilizing noise-immune K-Series modules. Memory development is facilitated by specialized software tools (CRT-14, SET-14, BOOL-14, SIM-14) that allow control engineers to program using English statements, Boolean equations, or ladder diagrams, and to debug sequences before deployment. Maintenance is supported by indicator lamps on I/O for quick fault isolation and computer-based diagnostics.

A smaller version, the PDP-14L, offers similar core features but with limited expandability (up to 64 inputs/outputs and 1K memory). The document concludes with detailed specifications for both PDP-14 and PDP-14L control units and interface boxes, including dimensions, ambient temperature, and electrical requirements.