National Semiconductor Analog Computational 2

Analog computation refers to the use of electronic circuits to perform mathematical operations using continuous signals, such as voltage or current, rather than discrete digital signals. Analog computers were widely used before the advent of digital computers, and some specialized applications still use analog computation today.

Analog computers use circuits such as operational amplifiers, resistors, capacitors, and inductors to perform mathematical operations. They can perform complex functions such as integration, differentiation, and solving differential equations, which can be difficult or impossible to implement on a digital computer.

Analog computation has advantages in some applications, such as in control systems, where continuous signals are often used to control physical processes. Analog circuits can also be more efficient and less expensive than their digital counterparts in certain applications.

However, analog computation has limitations compared to digital computation, including limitations in accuracy, repeatability, and scalability. Additionally, analog circuits can be sensitive to environmental factors such as temperature and noise, which can affect their performance.