Conway's Game of Life

Pattern Files for Chapter 7: Stable Circuitry

RLE, Macrocell, or LifeHistory code for all patterns that are displayed as figures in Chapter 7: Stable Circuitry are provided here. These patterns can be viewed in-browser by clicking on the "Show in Viewer" link near the code, or the patterns can be viewed and manipulated by copying and pasting the RLE code into Game of Life software like Golly.

Figure 7.1(a): l112

The L112 Herschel conduit.

Figure 7.1(b): l156

The L156 Herschel conduit.

Figure 7.1(c): p67 gun

A period 67 glider gun that makes use of L112 and L156 conduits.

Figure 7.2: herschel orientations

The 8 possible orientations of Herschels. From left to right, these are called F, Fx, R, Rx, B, Bx, L, and Lx.

Table 7.1(F,1): f116

The F116 Herschel conduit.

Table 7.1(F,2): f117

The F117 Herschel conduit.

Table 7.1(Fx,1): fx77

The Fx77 Herschel conduit.

Table 7.1(Fx,2): fx119

The Fx119 Herschel conduit.

Table 7.1(R,1): r64

The R64 Herschel conduit.

Table 7.1(R,2): r126

The R126 Herschel conduit.

Table 7.1(Rx,1): rx140

The Rx140 Herschel conduit.

Table 7.1(Rx,2): rx164

The Rx164 Herschel conduit.

Table 7.1(B,1): b60

The B60 Herschel conduit.

Table 7.1(B,2): b245

The B245 Herschel conduit.

Table 7.1(Bx,1): bx106

The Bx106 Herschel conduit.

Table 7.1(Bx,2): bx202

The Bx202 Herschel conduit.

Table 7.1(L,1): l112 table

The L112 Herschel conduit.

Table 7.1(L,2): l156 table

The L156 Herschel conduit.

Table 7.1(Lx,1): lx86

The Lx86 Herschel conduit.

Table 7.1(Lx,2): lx163

The Lx163 Herschel conduit.

Figure 7.3(a): fx77a

The "a" variant of the Fx77 Herschel conduit.

Figure 7.3(b): fx77b

The "b" variant of the Fx77 Herschel conduit.

Figure 7.3(c): fx77c

The "c" variant of the Fx77 Herschel conduit.

Figure 7.3(d): fx77d

The "d" variant of the Fx77 Herschel conduit.

Figure 7.3(e): fx77e

The "e" variant of the Fx77 Herschel conduit.

Figure 7.4(a): fx77c l112

The Fx77c circuit followed by L112.

Figure 7.4(b): fx77d l156

The Fx77d circuit followed by L156.

Figure 7.5(a): H to G

A small Herschel-to-glider converter.

Figure 7.5(b): H to 2G

A small Herschel-to-2-gliders converter.

Figure 7.5(c): H to 3G

A small Herschel-to-multiple-gliders converter.

Figure 7.6: transparent lane

A Herschel conduit with a transparent lane that can be used to insert a glider into a stream.

Figure 7.7(a): herschel to glider edge 3

An edge-shooting Herschel-to-glider converter.

Figure 7.7(b): herschel to glider edge 4

An edge-shooting Herschel-to-glider converter.

Figure 7.7(c): herschel to glider edge 1

An edge-shooting Herschel-to-glider converter.

Figure 7.7(d): herschel to glider edge 2

An edge-shooting Herschel-to-glider converter.

Figure 7.8(a): Syringe

A glider-to-Herschel converter that was found by Tanner Jacobi in 2015.
More info: https://www.conwaylife.com/wiki/Syringe

Figure 7.8(b): syringe modified

A modification of the syringe glider-to-Herschel converter that replaces the welded eater with an eater 2 and an eater 1.

Figure 7.9: color change stable

A small, stable color-changing reflector.

Figure 7.10: Bandersnatch

A small, stable color-changing reflector that uses a "Bandersnatch" and a Snark. The Bandersnatch was found by Martin Grant and Entity Valkyrie in June 2020.
More info: https://www.conwaylife.com/wiki/Bandersnatch

Figure 7.11(a): glider duplicator

A small glider duplicator that works by using a syringe to convert a glider into a Herschel, and then a Herschel conduit to convert that Herschel into two gliders.

Figure 7.11(b): glider tripler

A small stable pattern that converts one glider into three.

Table 7.2(CP 1): phase changer 1 0

A color-preserving delay-1 glider phase changer.

Table 7.2(CP 2): phase changer 2 0

A color-preserving delay-2 glider phase changer.

Table 7.2(CP 3): phase changer 3 0

A color-preserving delay-3 glider phase changer.

Table 7.2(CP 4): phase changer 4 0

A color-preserving delay-4 glider phase changer.

Table 7.2(CP 5): phase changer 5 0

A color-preserving delay-5 glider phase changer.

Table 7.2(CP 6): phase changer 6 0

A color-preserving delay-6 glider phase changer.

Table 7.2(CP 7): phase changer 7 0

A color-preserving delay-7 glider phase changer.

Table 7.2(CC 0): phase changer 0 1

A color-changing delay-0 glider phase changer.

Table 7.2(CC 1): phase changer 1 1

A color-changing delay-1 glider phase changer.

Table 7.2(CC 2): phase changer 2 1

A color-changing delay-2 glider phase changer.

Table 7.2(CC 3): phase changer 3 1

A color-changing delay-3 glider phase changer.

Table 7.2(CC 4): phase changer 4 1

A color-changing delay-4 glider phase changer.

Table 7.2(CC 5): phase changer 5 1

A color-changing delay-5 glider phase changer.

Table 7.2(CC 6): phase changer 6 1

A color-changing delay-6 glider phase changer.

Table 7.2(CC 7): phase changer 7 1

A color-changing delay-7 glider phase changer.

Figure 7.12(a): glider to lwss incomplete

An incomplete glider-to-LWSS circuit. It produces three gliders that go to the right positions to synthesize a LWSS, but they have incorrect timing.

Figure 7.12(b): glider to lwss big

A large stable circuit that converts a glider into an LWSS.

Figure 7.13(a): trombone slide 276

A trombone slide in the way of a glider.

Figure 7.13(b): trombone slide 284

A trombone slide in the way of a glider.

Figure 7.14: g to 2engine V

A bottom section of a stable glider-to-(2-engine Cordership) circuit.

Figure 7.15(1): 2engine synchronize 1

A component that synchronizes 3 of the gliders in the glider-to- 2-engine-Cordership circuit.

Figure 7.15(2): 2engine synchronize 2

A component that synchronizes 3 of the gliders in the glider-to- 2-engine-Cordership circuit.

Figure 7.15(3): 2engine synchronize 3

A component that synchronizes 2 of the gliders in the glider-to- 2-engine-Cordership circuit.

Figure 7.15(4): 2engine synchronize 4

A component that synchronizes 2 of the gliders in the glider-to- 2-engine-Cordership circuit.

Figure 7.16: glider to 2engine cordership

A stable circuit that converts a glider into a 2-engine Cordership.

Figure 7.17: p80 adjustable gun

A adjustable true-period period 80 glider gun that can be turned into a period 80+n gun by (a) moving the top 33 rows northeast by n cells and (b) adjusting the spacing of the 8 input gliders so that they are separated by 80+n generations.

Figure 7.18(a): CP semi-Snark

A color-preserving, doubling signal conduit with a repeat time of 48, found by Tanner Jacobi in 2017.
More info: https://www.conwaylife.com/wiki/CP_semi-Snark

Figure 7.18(b): Semi-snark

A Spartan conduit, reflecting every other glider, found in July 2013.

Figure 7.19(a): p2144 gun

A period 2144 gun that uses two semi-Snarks to double the period of a p536 gun twice.

Figure 7.19(b): p 2 100 gun

A period 2^100 = 1,267,650,600,228,229,401,496,703,205,376 glider gun.

Figure 7.20: block 18 gliders

A stable circuit that destroys the first 18 gliders fed into it, but lets the 19th glider pass.

Figure 7.21: block 18 gliders repeatable

A stable circuit that destroys 18 out of every 19 gliders fed into it.

Figure 7.22: p1703 gun

A period 1703 adjustable glider gun.

Figure 7.23: p3413277319 gun

A gun with large prime period 3413277319 in a small bounding box.

Figure 7.25(a): BLx19R

A conduit named BLx19R that converts a B-heptomino into an R-pentomino.
More info: https://www.conwaylife.com/wiki/BLx19R

Figure 7.25(b): RF28B

A conduit named RF28B that converts an R-pentomino into a B-heptomino.
More info: https://www.conwaylife.com/wiki/RF28B

Figure 7.26: P to P

A pi-heptomino reflector.

Figure 7.27(a): L to G

An LWSS-to-glider converter found by Ivan Fomichev in October 2015. Can also accept an MWSS as an input.

Figure 7.27(b): M to G

An MWSS-to-glider converter found by Matthias Merzenich in July 2013.

Table 7.3(H-B): HFx58B

A conduit named HFx58B that converts a Herschel into a B-heptomino.

Table 7.3(H-R): HLx69R

A Herschel-to-R-pentomino converter named HLx69R.

Table 7.3(H-P): HF95P

A conduit named HF95P that converts a Herschel into a pi-heptomino.

Table 7.3(B-G): BSE22T31

A B-to-G converter named BSE22T31.

Table 7.3(B-H): BFx59H

A B-to-H conduit named BFx59H.

Table 7.3(B-B): BRx46B

A conduit named BRx46B that rotates a B-heptomino.

Table 7.3(B-R): BLx19R

A conduit named BLx19R that converts a B-heptomino into an R-pentomino.
More info: https://www.conwaylife.com/wiki/BLx19R

Table 7.3(B-P): BF22P

A conduit named BF22P that converts a B-heptomino into a pi-heptomino.

Table 7.3(R-G): RNW3T46

An R-to-G converter named RNW3T46.

Table 7.3(R-H): RR56H

An R-to-H converter named RR56H.

Table 7.3(R-B): RF28B

A conduit named RF28B that converts an R-pentomino into a B-heptomino.
More info: https://www.conwaylife.com/wiki/RF28B

Table 7.3(R-R): RFx36R

An R-to-R conduit named RFx36R.

Table 7.3(R-P): RF29P

An R-to-P converter named RF29P.

Table 7.3(P-G): P to G

A pi-to-glider converter.

Table 7.3(P-H): P to H

A pi-to-Herschel converter.

Table 7.3(P-B): PT9B

A conduit named PR9B that converts a pi-heptomino into a B-heptomino.

Table 7.3(P-R): P to R

A pi-to-R converter named PR127R.

Table 7.3(P-P): P to P

A pi-heptomino reflector.

Figure 7.28(a): Glider stopper

A beehive factory that acts as a memory cell and logic circuit.
More info: https://www.conwaylife.com/wiki/Glider_stopper

Figure 7.28(b): Beehive stopper

A beehive factory that acts as a memory cell and logic circuit.
More info: https://www.conwaylife.com/wiki/Beehive_stopper

Figure 7.29(a): H to beehive

A Herschel-to-beehive factory. The pattern on the left edge is generation -3 of a Herschel.

Figure 7.29(b): H to loaf

A Herschel-to-loaf factory.

Figure 7.30(a,1): H to boat 2

A Herschel-to-boat factory.

Figure 7.30(a,2): H to boat 3

A Herschel-to-boat factory.

Figure 7.30(b): Demultiplexer

More info: https://www.conwaylife.com/wiki/Demultiplexer

Figure 7.31(1): H to block 3

A conduit that converts a Herschel into a block.

Figure 7.31(2): H to block 2

A conduit that converts a Herschel into a block.

Figure 7.31(3): H to block

A conduit that converts a Herschel into a block.

Figure 7.31(4): Block keeper

A Herschel-to-block factory that works even if the block that it produces is already present.

Figure 7.32: glider loaf collision

An edgy way of colliding a glider with a loaf so that the glider is reflected by 90 degrees.

Figure 7.33: highway robber

A highway robber capable of "stealing" a glider from a particular lane without affecting gliders on adjacent lanes. Constructed by Chris Cain in March 2015.

Figure 7.34: mwss ship to glider

The spark from an MWSS can convert a ship into a glider as it passes by.

Figure 7.35: herschel evolution

A Herschel evolves into two blocks, two gliders, and a ship.

Figure 7.36: stable heisenburp

A stable MWSS-detecting Heisenburp that was constructed by Entity Valkyrie in June 2020.

Figure 7.37: 2G-to-H

A stable conduit that converts a glider into a Herschel and a junk beehive. That beehive can be cleaned up by a second glider.
More info: https://www.conwaylife.com/wiki/Callahan_G-to-H

Figure 7.38: Callahan G-to-H

A stable glider-to-Herschel converter that was found by Paul Callahan in November 1998.
More info: https://www.conwaylife.com/wiki/Callahan_G-to-H

Figure 7.39: herschel transceiver

A stable conduit that converts a Herschel into a pair of tandem gliders, which are then converted back into a Herschel. Found by Paul Callahan---the receiver in October 1996 and the transmitter in May 1997.

Figure 7.40: block pusher

A reaction that uses 3 gliders to push a block diagonally by 10 cells and send 2 gliders back.

Figure 7.41: herschel transceiver 4

A stable conduit that converts a Herschel into a pair of tandem gliders, which are then converted back into a Herschel. Found by Sergei Petrov in December 2011.

Figure 7.42: coe to herschel

A stable conduit that converts a Coe ship into a Herschel. Found by Stephen Silver in September 1997.

Exercise 7.1(a): name conduit 1

A Herschel conduit.

Exercise 7.1(b): name conduit 2

A Herschel conduit.

Exercise 7.1(c): name conduit 3

A Herschel conduit.

Exercise 7.1(d): name conduit 4

A Herschel conduit.

Exercise 7.4: H to G transparent better

A Herschel conduit.

Exercise 7.8(1): syringe compact

Part of a slightly more compact version of the syringe.

Exercise 7.8(2): eater 5 modification

A slight modification of eater 5.

Exercise 7.10(1): F166

A Herschel conduit with repeat time 115 ticks. Found by Paul Callahan in May 1997.
More info: https://www.conwaylife.com/wiki/F166

Exercise 7.10(2): Lx200

A Herschel conduit, found by Paul Callahan in June 1997.
More info: https://www.conwaylife.com/wiki/Lx200

Exercise 7.20: other toolkit from semi snarks

A stable conduit that converts two input gliders into a single output glider 800 generations later.

Exercise 7.20(c): Color-preserving semi-cenark

A color-preserving stable period-doubling conduit. Found by Tanner Jacobi in 2017.
More info: https://www.conwaylife.com/wiki/CP_semi-cenark

Exercise 7.21(b): Color-changing semi-cenark

A color-changing stable period-doubling conduit. Found by Tanner Jacobi in 2017.
More info: https://www.conwaylife.com/wiki/CC_semi-cenark

Exercise 7.22: tremi snark

A tremi-Snark, which reflects one out of every three gliders that it receives (and erases the other two).
More info: https://www.conwaylife.com/wiki/Tremi-Snark

Exercise 7.23: quadri snark

A quadri-Snark, which reflects one out of every four gliders that it receives (and erases the other three).
More info: https://www.conwaylife.com/wiki/Quadri-Snark

Exercise 7.24: quinti snark

A quinti-Snark, which reflects one out of every five gliders that it receives (and erases the other four).
More info: https://www.conwaylife.com/wiki/P5_quinti-Snark

Exercise 7.29: H to 4G

A conduit that converts a Herschel into 4 gliders, all travelling in different directions.

Exercise 7.30(1): BR146H

The BR146H B-to-H conduit.

Exercise 7.30(2): HFx58Bb

A modification of the HFx58B conduit.

Exercise 7.32(1): BFx59H variants

Some variants of the BFx59H conduit.

Exercise 7.32(2): herschel variants

The starting point of an exercise.

Exercise 7.34: h to G6

An H-to-G6 converter found by Matthias Merzenich in December 2011.

Exercise 7.36: SW1T43

An H-to-G3 conduit found by Simon Ekstrom in October 2015.
More info: https://www.conwaylife.com/wiki/SW1T43

Exercise 7.39: toggle better demultiplexer

A Herschel-to-boat factory that has the remarkable property that a second input Herschel simply toggles the boat back off.

Exercise 7.41(1): wainwright p72

Two blockers hassling R-pentomino, or Wainwright's p72, is a p72 oscillator that was found by Robert Wainwright in 1990.
More info: https://www.conwaylife.com/wiki/Two_blockers_hassling_R-pentomino

Exercise 7.41(2): achims p144

A period 144 oscillator called Achim's p144.
More info: https://www.conwaylife.com/wiki/Achim%27s_p144

Exercise 7.44: hwss heisenburp reaction

A reaction that can be used to build a stable HWSS Heisenburp.

Solution 7.3: two transparent lanes

A Herschel conduit with two transparent lanes.

Solution 7.8: syringe compact

A slightly more compact version of the syringe.

Solution 7.10: syringe Lx200

A modification of the syringe glider-to-Herschel converter that replaces the welded eater with an eater 2 and an eater 1. Has a repeat time of 90 generations.

Solution 7.13(a): glider to 4

A small stable pattern that converts one glider into four.

Solution 7.13(b): glider to 5

A small stable pattern that converts one glider into five.

Solution 7.13(c): glider to 10

A small stable pattern that converts one glider into ten.

Solution 7.17(c): faster trombone slide

A way of squeezing a trombone slide close together.

Solution 7.20(a): other toolkit from semi snarks a

A stable conduit that uses semi-Snarks to rephase a single glider.

Solution 7.27: Simkin glider gun

A true period 120 glider gun that was found by Michael Simkin on April 28, 2015.
More info: https://www.conwaylife.com/wiki/Simkin_glider_gun

Solution 7.30(b): HL262B

The HL262B composite H-to-B conduit.

Solution 7.32: herschel variants

A conduit that fits tightly around some blocks.

Solution 7.38(a): p97 gun

A p97 version of the p(80+n) adjustable gun.

Solution 7.38(b): p78 gun

A p78 version of the p(80+n) adjustable gun.

Solution 7.38(d): p74 gun

A p74 version of the p(80+n) adjustable gun.