Bashir Rameyev
Encyclopedia
Bashir Iskandarovich Rameyev was a Soviet
inventor and scientist, one of the founders of Soviet computing, author of 23 patent
s, including the first officially registered in the USSR patent in the field of electronic computers—a patent for the Automatic Electronic Digital Machine (1948). Rameyev's inventions paved the way for the development of a new field in Soviet science—electronic computing—and for the formation of a new branch of industry that supported it.
The central ideas incorporated in Rameyev's invention of the electronic computer included: storing programs in computer memory
, using binary code
, utilizing external devices, and deploying electronic circuits and semiconductor
diode
s. The first publication about similar technology outside of the USSR appeared in 1949-1950. Rameyev also suggested that intermediate computation data be automatically printed on punched tape
and sent into the computer's arithmetic device for subsequent processing, meaning that the processing of commands would be performed in the computer’s arithmetic device; this is usually referred to as the Von Neumann architecture
.
Of particular note is Rameyev's invention of diode-matrix
control circuits, which were used to build his first brainchild, the first serially manufactured Soviet mainframe "Strela
" (1954). In the 1950s, the diode-matrix control circuits were not widespread due to their significant dimensions and high power consumption. However, with subsequent development of microelectronics
and the emergence of large-scale integrated circuit
s, which made possible to deploy tens or hundreds of thousands of diodes and transistors in a single piece of silicon
, the concept of control circuits became viable and commonly used.
"Strela
" computers carried out calculations in nuclear physics
, rocketry and space research. Notably, one of “Strelas" was used to calculate “Sputnik” orbit trajectory. For the development of "Strela" Rameyev and his team were awarded the Stalin Prize of 1st degree, which was the highest Soviet award at that time.
Between 1956 and 1969, Rameyev designed and oversaw the manufacturing of 14 different computers including: the multi-purpose "Ural
" computer series and the specialized machines “Weather” (“Погода”), "Crystal" (“Кристалл”), "Granite" (“Гранит”), and “Coordinate” (“Координата”). Rameyev's "famous computer family 'Ural
' existed more than 15 years and had good chances to be one of the corner stones of future Russian computer engineering".
s during Stalinist purges. This branded Rameyev, who was by then a sophomore at the Moscow Power Engineering Institute
, as a son of “the enemy of the people
”. As a result, he faced coarse, overt and systematic discrimination, which began with university expulsion and job rejections and lasted until the breakout of World War II
. Despite his impeccable record of service in the Soviet Army
during World War II, Rameyev encountered the same unfounded discrimination when he returned from the front. As the last resort, he wrote a letter to Joseph Stalin
asking for help. Instead of helpful intervention, he was summoned to a phone call with a bureaucrat who told him “to live quietly and to not write again”. It is then, at the age of 29, that Rameyev realized that he had to do something extraordinary good for his country to prove that he and his family were not “the enemies of the people”.
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
inventor and scientist, one of the founders of Soviet computing, author of 23 patent
Patent
A patent is a form of intellectual property. It consists of a set of exclusive rights granted by a sovereign state to an inventor or their assignee for a limited period of time in exchange for the public disclosure of an invention....
s, including the first officially registered in the USSR patent in the field of electronic computers—a patent for the Automatic Electronic Digital Machine (1948). Rameyev's inventions paved the way for the development of a new field in Soviet science—electronic computing—and for the formation of a new branch of industry that supported it.
The central ideas incorporated in Rameyev's invention of the electronic computer included: storing programs in computer memory
Computer memory
In computing, memory refers to the physical devices used to store programs or data on a temporary or permanent basis for use in a computer or other digital electronic device. The term primary memory is used for the information in physical systems which are fast In computing, memory refers to the...
, using binary code
Binary code
A binary code is a way of representing text or computer processor instructions by the use of the binary number system's two-binary digits 0 and 1. This is accomplished by assigning a bit string to each particular symbol or instruction...
, utilizing external devices, and deploying electronic circuits and semiconductor
Semiconductor
A semiconductor is a material with electrical conductivity due to electron flow intermediate in magnitude between that of a conductor and an insulator. This means a conductivity roughly in the range of 103 to 10−8 siemens per centimeter...
diode
Diode
In electronics, a diode is a type of two-terminal electronic component with a nonlinear current–voltage characteristic. A semiconductor diode, the most common type today, is a crystalline piece of semiconductor material connected to two electrical terminals...
s. The first publication about similar technology outside of the USSR appeared in 1949-1950. Rameyev also suggested that intermediate computation data be automatically printed on punched tape
Punched tape
Punched tape or paper tape is an obsolete form of data storage, consisting of a long strip of paper in which holes are punched to store data...
and sent into the computer's arithmetic device for subsequent processing, meaning that the processing of commands would be performed in the computer’s arithmetic device; this is usually referred to as the Von Neumann architecture
Von Neumann architecture
The term Von Neumann architecture, aka the Von Neumann model, derives from a computer architecture proposal by the mathematician and early computer scientist John von Neumann and others, dated June 30, 1945, entitled First Draft of a Report on the EDVAC...
.
Of particular note is Rameyev's invention of diode-matrix
Diode matrix
A diode matrix is a two-dimensional grid of wires, where each "intersection" where one row crosses over another either has a diode connecting them, or the wires are isolated from each other....
control circuits, which were used to build his first brainchild, the first serially manufactured Soviet mainframe "Strela
Strela computer
Strela computer was the first mainframe computer manufactured serially in the Soviet Union, beginning in 1953.This first-generation computer had 6200 vacuum tubes and 60,000 semiconductor diodes....
" (1954). In the 1950s, the diode-matrix control circuits were not widespread due to their significant dimensions and high power consumption. However, with subsequent development of microelectronics
Microelectronics
Microelectronics is a subfield of electronics. As the name suggests, microelectronics relates to the study and manufacture of very small electronic components. Usually, but not always, this means micrometre-scale or smaller,. These devices are made from semiconductors...
and the emergence of large-scale integrated circuit
Integrated circuit
An integrated circuit or monolithic integrated circuit is an electronic circuit manufactured by the patterned diffusion of trace elements into the surface of a thin substrate of semiconductor material...
s, which made possible to deploy tens or hundreds of thousands of diodes and transistors in a single piece of silicon
Silicon
Silicon is a chemical element with the symbol Si and atomic number 14. A tetravalent metalloid, it is less reactive than its chemical analog carbon, the nonmetal directly above it in the periodic table, but more reactive than germanium, the metalloid directly below it in the table...
, the concept of control circuits became viable and commonly used.
"Strela
Strela
Strela may refer to:A series of Russian-manufactured anti-aircraft missiles* The 9K31 Strela-1, aka SA-9 Gaskin* The 9K32 Strela-2, aka SA-7 Grail* The 9K34 Strela-3, aka SA-14 Gremlin* The 9K35 Strela-10, aka SA-13 GopherOther...
" computers carried out calculations in nuclear physics
Nuclear physics
Nuclear physics is the field of physics that studies the building blocks and interactions of atomic nuclei. The most commonly known applications of nuclear physics are nuclear power generation and nuclear weapons technology, but the research has provided application in many fields, including those...
, rocketry and space research. Notably, one of “Strelas" was used to calculate “Sputnik” orbit trajectory. For the development of "Strela" Rameyev and his team were awarded the Stalin Prize of 1st degree, which was the highest Soviet award at that time.
Between 1956 and 1969, Rameyev designed and oversaw the manufacturing of 14 different computers including: the multi-purpose "Ural
Ural (computer)
Ural is a computer series built in Soviet Union.- History :The Ural was developed at the Electronic Computer Producing Manufacturer of Penza in the Soviet Union and was produced between 1959 and 1964. In total 139 were made...
" computer series and the specialized machines “Weather” (“Погода”), "Crystal" (“Кристалл”), "Granite" (“Гранит”), and “Coordinate” (“Координата”). Rameyev's "famous computer family 'Ural
Ural (computer)
Ural is a computer series built in Soviet Union.- History :The Ural was developed at the Electronic Computer Producing Manufacturer of Penza in the Soviet Union and was produced between 1959 and 1964. In total 139 were made...
' existed more than 15 years and had good chances to be one of the corner stones of future Russian computer engineering".
Childhood and youth
Rameyev's mother died when he was two. His father was targeted by the Soviets and perished in labor campLabor camp
A labor camp is a simplified detention facility where inmates are forced to engage in penal labor. Labor camps have many common aspects with slavery and with prisons...
s during Stalinist purges. This branded Rameyev, who was by then a sophomore at the Moscow Power Engineering Institute
Moscow Power Engineering Institute
Moscow Power Engineering Institute is one of the largest and leading technical universities in the world in the area of power engineering, electronics and IT...
, as a son of “the enemy of the people
Enemy of the people
The term enemy of the people is a fluid designation of political or class opponents of the group using the term. The term implies that the "enemies" in question are acting against society as a whole. It is similar to the notion of "enemy of the state". The term originated in Roman times as ,...
”. As a result, he faced coarse, overt and systematic discrimination, which began with university expulsion and job rejections and lasted until the breakout of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Despite his impeccable record of service in the Soviet Army
Soviet Army
The Soviet Army is the name given to the main part of the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union between 1946 and 1992. Previously, it had been known as the Red Army. Informally, Армия referred to all the MOD armed forces, except, in some cases, the Soviet Navy.This article covers the Soviet Ground...
during World War II, Rameyev encountered the same unfounded discrimination when he returned from the front. As the last resort, he wrote a letter to Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953. He was among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who brought about the October Revolution and had held the position of first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee...
asking for help. Instead of helpful intervention, he was summoned to a phone call with a bureaucrat who told him “to live quietly and to not write again”. It is then, at the age of 29, that Rameyev realized that he had to do something extraordinary good for his country to prove that he and his family were not “the enemies of the people”.
External links
- Russian Virtual Computer Museum http://www.computer-museum.ru/english/galglory_en/rameev.htm