How the ENIAC Computer Processes Data Using Electronic Pulses
A foundational 1964 patent describing how the ENIAC computer used sequences of electronic pulses to store, read, and process numerical and qualitative data.
Original patent title: “Electronic numerical integrator and computer”
A foundational 1964 patent describing how the ENIAC computer used sequences of electronic pulses to store, read, and process numerical and qualitative data. Granted to Sperry Rand Corp in 1964 with 2 claims and 16 forward citations, and it is now in the public domain.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent describes a system that uses electronic pulses to represent information. It generates sequences of pulses and divides them into groups. Some pulses are selected to represent quantitative values (the numbers being calculated), while others represent qualitative values (the instructions or commands for what to do with those numbers). The system reads this data, stores it, and then uses the qualitative pulses to trigger specific switching operations that act upon the quantitative values.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover modern binary computing architectures using transistors or silicon chips.
- Does not cover software-based programming methods stored on magnetic or solid-state memory.
- Does not cover general-purpose computers that do not rely on this specific pulse-sequencing hardware architecture.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
It treats information as a series of electronic pulses where the timing and selection of the pulse determines whether the computer is 'thinking' (qualitative) or 'calculating' (quantitative).
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer)
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent represents the core logic of the ENIAC, one of the world's first general-purpose electronic digital computers. It marked the transition from mechanical calculation to electronic processing, fundamentally changing how humanity approaches complex mathematics and logistics.
Filed
June 26, 1947
Granted
February 4, 1964
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
The technology described here is largely historical, but it laid the groundwork for all modern computer architecture companies like Intel, AMD, and ARM. These companies evolved the concept of electronic switching into the complex logic gates used in modern microprocessors.
Market impact
This patent helped define the early computing industry and established the intellectual property foundation for the Sperry Rand Corporation. It served as a landmark for the shift toward electronic computation, triggering significant interest in the potential of digital machines for government and scientific research.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent describes a system that uses electronic pulses to represent information. It generates sequences of pulses and divides them into groups. Some pulses are selected to represent quantitative values (the numbers being calculated), while others represent qualitative values (the instructions or commands for what to do with those numbers). The system reads this data, stores it, and then uses the qualitative pulses to trigger specific switching operations that act upon the quantitative values.
The clever bit
It treats information as a series of electronic pulses where the timing and selection of the pulse determines whether the computer is 'thinking' (qualitative) or 'calculating' (quantitative).
What it does not cover
- Does not cover modern binary computing architectures using transistors or silicon chips.
- Does not cover software-based programming methods stored on magnetic or solid-state memory.
- Does not cover general-purpose computers that do not rely on this specific pulse-sequencing hardware architecture.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
This patent is in the public domain
See the Freedom to Build guide — what is free to use, what is not, and how to cite this patent.
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
25/40
Moderately cited
Claim breadth
1/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$17K – $55K
Midpoint $35K · expired or expiring · industry ×1.6
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Patent Claims
1 independent claim · 0 dependent
Claims are the legal boundaries of the patent. An independent claim stands alone. A dependent claim adds limitations to its parent, narrowing — but not broadening — the scope.
The original legal language
Original claims
2 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Eckert, J. J. P., & Mauchly, J. W. (1964). How the ENIAC Computer Processes Data Using Electronic Pulses (U.S. Patent No. 3,120,606). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3120606/eniac-electronic-computer
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How the ENIAC Computer Processes Data Using Electronic Pulses cover?
A foundational 1964 patent describing how the ENIAC computer used sequences of electronic pulses to store, read, and process numerical and qualitative data.
Who owns patent US 3120606?
Sperry Rand Corp owns this patent, granted in 1964.
When does this patent expire?
This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely.
What is patent US 3120606 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 16 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent represents the core logic of the ENIAC, one of the world's first general-purpose electronic digital computers. It marked the transition from mechanical calculation to electronic processing, fundamentally changing how humanity approaches complex mathematics and logistics.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover modern binary computing architectures using transistors or silicon chips.
Patent monitoring