Poll: Should the term "dependent reflector" be made to include reflectors that accept a range of timings?

[confocaloid]

[...] (If I go a bit further the stream ending by an eater (no stabilisation function) and the gun creating the stream of the same frequency ... is too far from the circuit I would call a * reflector). [...]

There is an idea that was mentioned by others in earlier discussion. The idea is that components / devices can be viewed as "black boxes", like this:

Code: Select all

x = 243, y = 405, rule = LifeHistory
157.51D$157.D49.D$157.D49.D$157.D49.D$157.D49.D$157.D49.D$157.D49.D$
157.D49.D$157.D49.D$157.D15.5D3.5D21.D$157.D15.D7.D3.D21.D$157.D15.D
7.D3.D21.D$157.D15.D7.D3.D21.D$157.D9.3D3.5D3.5D21.D$157.D9.D.D7.D7.D
21.D$157.D9.3D7.D7.D21.D$157.D9.D9.D7.D21.D$157.D9.D5.5D3.5D21.D$157.
D49.D$157.D49.DB$157.D49.D2B$157.D49.D3B$157.D11.D37.D4B$157.D11.D5.
3D29.D.3BD$157.D11.D5.D31.D2.DBDB$157.D9.3D5.D31.D3.2D2B$157.D9.D.D5.
D31.D4.4B$157.D9.3D2.D2.D3.D7.5D15.D5.4B$157.D28.7D14.D6.4B$157.D27.
3D3.3D13.D7.4B$157.D27.2D5.2D13.D8.4B$157.D27.2D5.2D13.D9.4B$157.D33.
3D13.D10.4B$157.D32.3D14.D11.4B$157.D31.3D15.D12.4B$157.D31.2D16.D13.
4B$157.D31.2D16.D14.4B$157.D31.2D16.D15.4B$157.D49.D16.BDBD$157.D49.D
17.B2DB$157.D31.2D16.D18.D3B$157.D31.2D16.D19.4B$157.D49.D20.4B$157.D
49.D21.4B$157.D49.D22.4B$156.BD49.D23.4B$155.2B51D24.4B$154.4B75.4B$
153.4B77.4B$152.4B79.4B$151.4B81.4B$150.3DB83.4B$149.3BD85.3BD$148.3B
D87.3BD$147.4B89.3D$146.4B$145.4B$144.4B$143.4B$142.4B$141.4B$140.4B$
139.4B$138.4B$137.4B$136.D3B$135.B2DB$134.BDBD$133.4B$132.4B$131.4B$
130.4B$129.4B$128.4B$127.4B$126.4B$125.4B$124.4B$123.4B$122.4B$121.2D
2B$120.DBDB$119.3BD$118.4B$117.4B$116.4B$115.4B$114.4B13$157.51D$157.
D49.D$157.D36.2A.A9.D$157.D30.A.2A.A.A.3A7.D$157.D30.2A.A.A.A4.A6.D$
157.D34.A.A.ABABA6.D$157.D36.A.A.2A4.2A.D$157.D24.2A9.ABA4B4.A2.D$
157.D22.2B2AB6.3BA2B4.BA.A2.D$157.D22.4B6.5B4.B.B2A3.D$157.D22.9B.6B
2.4B5.D$157.D23.12B2A7B5.D$157.D18.2A3.6BA5B3AB2A3B5.D$157.D19.A3.5BA
BA9B2A3B4.D$157.D19.A.A6BA2BA7BAB.4B3.D$157.D15.A4.2A2.5BABA8B3.4B2.D
$157.D15.3A7.4B3A6B6.4B.D$157.D18.A6.10BA4B5.4BD$157.D17.2A6.8BA2B2A
3B5.3BD$157.D23.2A9B3A5B5.2BDB$157.D22.A2BA2.3B.3BA7B5.BD2B$157.D22.B
ABA6.10B7.D3B$157.D20.4BA7.7B10.D4B$157.D20.3B10.4B12.D.3BA$157.D19.
4B10.6B10.D2.ABAB$157.D18.4B15.2A10.D3.2A2B$157.D17.4B16.A11.D4.4B$
157.D16.4B18.3A8.D5.4B$157.D15.4B21.A8.D6.4B$157.D14.4B31.D7.4B$157.D
13.4B32.D8.4B$157.D12.4B33.D9.4B$157.D11.4B34.D10.4B$157.D10.4B35.D
11.4B$157.D9.4B36.D12.4B$157.D8.4B37.D13.4B$157.D7.2A2B38.D14.4B$157.
D6.2B2A39.D15.4B$157.D5.2BAB40.D16.BABA$157.D4.4B41.D17.B2AB$157.D3.
4B42.D18.A3B$157.D2.4B43.D19.4B$157.D.4B44.D20.4B$157.D4B45.D21.4B$
157.D3B46.D22.4B$156.BD2B47.D23.4B$155.2B51D24.4B$154.4B75.4B$153.4B
77.4B$152.4B79.4B$151.4B81.4B$150.3AB83.4B$149.3BA85.3BA$148.3BA87.3B
A$147.4B89.3A$146.4B$145.4B$144.4B$143.4B$142.4B$141.4B$140.4B$139.4B
$138.4B$137.4B$136.A3B$135.B2AB$134.BABA$133.4B$132.4B$131.4B$130.4B$
129.4B$128.4B$127.4B$126.4B$125.4B$124.4B$123.4B$122.4B$121.2A2B$120.
ABAB$119.3BA$118.4B$117.4B$116.4B$115.4B$114.4B$113.4B$112.4B$111.4B$
110.4B$109.4B$108.4B$107.4B$106.2A2B$105.2B2A$104.2BAB$103.4B$102.4B$
101.4B52.51D$100.4B53.D49.D$99.4B54.D36.2A.A9.D$98.4B55.D30.A.2A.A.A.
3A7.D$97.4B56.D30.2A.A.A.A4.A6.D$96.4B57.D34.A.A.ABABA6.D$95.4B58.D
36.A.A.2A4.2A.D$94.4B59.D24.2A9.ABA4B4.A2.D$93.4B60.D22.2B2AB6.3BA2B
4.BA.A2.D$92.4B61.D22.4B6.5B4.B.B2A3.D$91.3AB62.D22.9B.6B2.4B5.D$90.
3BA63.D23.12B2A7B5.D$89.3BA64.D18.2A3.6BA5B3AB2A3B5.D$88.4B65.D19.A3.
5BABA9B2A3B4.D$87.4B66.D19.A.A6BA2BA7BAB.4B3.D$86.4B67.D15.A4.2A2.5BA
BA8B3.4B2.D$85.4B68.D15.3A7.4B3A6B6.4B.D$84.4B69.D18.A6.10BA4B5.4BD$
83.4B70.D17.2A6.8BA2B2A3B5.3BD$82.4B71.D11.3B3.B5.2A9B3A5B5.2BDB$81.
4B72.D11.7B4.A2BA2.3B.3BA7B5.BD2B$80.4B73.D10.2A7B3.BABA6.10B7.D3B$
79.4B74.D10.2A12BA7.7B10.D4B$78.4B75.D11.B.10B10.4B12.D.3BA$77.A3B76.
D13.10B10.6B10.D2.ABAB$76.B2AB77.D13.11B13.2A10.D3.2A2B$75.BABA78.D
13.11B13.A11.D4.4B$74.4B79.D6.2A5.11B14.3A8.D5.4B$73.4B80.D7.A6.B3A5B
17.A8.D6.4B$72.4B81.D6.A5.2BA3BA7B23.D7.4B$71.4B82.D6.2A3.2BA5BA8B21.
D8.4B$70.4B83.D8.A2.2BA5BA8B21.D9.4B$69.4B84.D6.2A2.A2BA5BA8B21.D10.
4B$68.4B85.D5.A2.2ABA2BA3BA9B21.D11.4B$67.4B86.D5.3A2.AB.2B3A8B.B2A
19.D12.4B$66.4B87.D8.2A2B2.5B.6B.BA.A18.D13.4B$65.4B88.D5.2A.B.B3.5B.
5B5.A18.D14.4B$64.4B89.D6.A.2AB2.5B3.4B5.2A17.D15.4B$63.4B90.D6.A.BAB
.5B5.3B24.D16.BABA$62.2A2B91.D7.2A4.4B6.B25.D17.B2AB$61.ABAB92.D4.A6.
8B30.D18.A3B$60.3BA93.D2.3A6.2A4.2A30.D19.4B$59.4B94.D.A10.A4.A31.D
20.4B$58.4B95.D.2A6.3A6.3A28.D21.4B$57.4B96.D3B6.A10.A28.D22.4B$56.4B
96.BDB48.D23.4B$55.4B96.2B51D24.4B$54.4B96.4B75.4B$53.4B96.4B77.4B$
52.4B96.4B79.4B$51.4B96.4B81.4B$50.4B96.3AB83.4B$49.4B96.3BA85.3BA$
48.4B96.3BA87.3BA$47.2A2B96.4B89.3A$46.2B2A96.4B$45.2BAB96.4B$44.4B
96.4B$43.4B96.4B$42.4B96.4B$41.4B96.4B$40.4B96.4B$39.4B96.4B$38.4B96.
4B$37.4B96.4B$36.4B96.A3B$35.4B96.B2AB$34.4B96.BABA$33.4B96.4B$32.3AB
96.4B$31.3BA96.4B$30.3BA96.4B$29.4B96.4B$28.4B96.4B$27.4B96.4B$26.4B
96.4B$25.4B96.4B$24.4B96.4B$23.4B96.4B$22.4B96.4B$21.4B96.2A2B$20.4B
96.ABAB$19.4B96.3BA$18.A3B96.4B$17.B2AB96.4B$16.BABA96.4B$15.4B96.4B$
14.4B96.4B$13.4B96.4B$12.4B96.4B$11.4B96.4B$10.4B96.4B$9.4B96.4B$8.4B
96.4B$7.4B96.4B$6.4B96.2A2B$5.4B96.2B2A$4.4B96.2BAB$3.2A2B96.4B$2.ABA
B96.4B$.3BA96.4B$4B96.4B$3B96.4B$2B96.4B$B96.4B$96.4B$95.4B$94.4B$93.
4B$92.4B$91.3AB$90.3BA$89.3BA$88.4B$87.4B$86.4B$85.4B$84.4B$83.4B$82.
4B$81.4B$80.4B$79.4B$78.4B$77.A3B$76.B2AB$75.BABA$74.4B$73.4B$72.4B$
71.4B$70.4B$69.4B$68.4B$67.4B$66.4B$65.4B$64.4B$63.4B$62.2A2B$61.ABAB
$60.3BA$59.4B$58.4B$57.4B$56.4B$55.4B$54.4B$53.4B$52.4B$51.4B$50.4B$
49.4B$48.4B$47.2A2B$46.2B2A$45.2BAB$44.4B$43.4B$42.4B$41.4B$40.4B$39.
4B$38.4B$37.4B$36.4B$35.4B$34.4B$33.4B$32.3AB$31.3BA$30.3BA$29.4B$28.
4B$27.4B$26.4B$25.4B$24.4B$23.4B$22.4B$21.4B$20.4B$19.4B$18.A3B$17.B
2AB$16.BABA$15.4B$14.4B$13.4B$12.4B$11.4B$10.4B$9.4B$8.4B$7.4B$6.4B$
5.4B$4.4B$3.2A2B$2.ABAB$.3BA$4B$3B$2B$B!

It may be initially unknown what will be "inside the box". Or there may be an initial "prototype component", that will be replaced later, so one is not allowed to rely on implementation details. A design would only specify that the component is guaranteed to produce the output p59 glider stream on a specific lane with a specific schedule, as long as an uninterrupted input p59 glider stream is fed into it on another specific lane with a specific schedule. (What happens if the input does not satisfy these requirements is left unspecified; it is an implementation detail. The thing might explode, or it might continue emitting gliders, or it might cleanly self-destruct, or it might do something else.)

As long as one does not rely on "internal implementation details" while using a component like this, there is no functional difference between a glider gun engine supported by a periodic glider stream, and a trivial combination of an eater and a gun. In a finished working pattern, one implementation can be freely replaced with another implementation (whenever such a replacement makes sense and is possible geometrically), without breaking anything.

[...] But I am not too much fixed on terminology, "the patterns speak for themselves".

But yes, I think about patterns in physical meaning ... about glider reflectors rather the signal reflectors.
I can imagine only "create an oscialtor task", where I could end up with a periodic stream of gliders, wanting the stream in another phase/position/direction. [...]

In a nontrivial construction, there can be several periodic streams following different tracks. A construction may become nontrivial, and still remain entirely within the "physical level of understanding", without having any logic or choices. For example, the following engineered glider gun uses a dependent reflector (as well as other components):

Code: Select all

#C Source: https://conwaylife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=153800#p153800
x = 137, y = 86, rule = B3/S23
42b2o$42bobo$44bo4b2o$40b4ob2o2bo2bo$40bo2bobobobob2o23b2o$43bobobobo
25bobo33bo$44b2obobo19b2o4bo34bobo$48bo18bo2bo2b2ob4o28b3obo$67b2obob
obobo2bo27bo4bob2o$34b2o34bobobobo30bobobobobo$35bo7b2o25bobob2o26b2o
4b2obobo$35bobo5b2o26bo31bo8bobo11b2o$36b2o65bobo7bo12bo$84b2o18b2o18b
obo$43b3o38bo39b2o$45bo28b3o5bobo$44bo28bo3bo4b2o37b2o$72bo5bo39b2obo
$72bo5bo25bobo13bobobo$46b2o24bo5bo10bo6b2o6b2o$46bo26bo3bo11b3o3bo2b
o6bo8b2o12bo$47b3o7bo16b3o15bo3bo2bo14b2o11b2o$49b3o6b2o31b2o39bo$52b
o4b2o13b2o26bo19b2o8b3o$47b4obo20bo20b2o2bo2bo10b2o15bo$47bo2bob2o16b
3o21b5ob2o4b2o5bo10bo4b2o$70bo22bo2bobo3bo3b2o2b3o4b2o$51b3o39bobo2bo
b2o8bo6b2o14b2o$29bo20bo2bo41b2o3b2o30bo2bo$29b2o19b2o5bobo6b2obo16b2o
7b5o32b2obo$28bobo26b2o7b2ob3o13b2o9bo18b2o18b2o$58bo13bo14bo28bo15b2o
2bo$66b2ob3o31b2o11bobo12bo2b2o$67bobo13b2o18bobo11b2o11bob2o$57b2o8b
obo12bobo7bo12bo15b2o8bo2b2o$57b2o9bo13bo8bobo11b2o14b2o10bo2bo$81b2o
4b2obobo41b2o$86bobobobobo20b2o$86bo4bob2o14b2o4b2o8bo$87b3obo18bo14b
o$66bo22bobo18bob2o4bobo3bo$64b3o23bo20bo3bo4bo4b2o$3b2o58bo56bo3bobo
$4bo9b2o46bobo48b2o$2bo10bobo29b2o9b2o5bo51b2obo5bo3b2o$2b5o8bo5b2o23b
o8b3o57b3o10bo$7bo13bo24bobo6bo2bo6bo47bo2bo12b3o$4b3o12bobo25b2o7b3o
3bobobo49bo4bo9bo$3bo15b2o35b3o3b2o2bo46bo7b2o$3bob2o59b2o$b2o3bo3b2o
$o2b3o5bo$2obo$3bo40b2o71b2o$3b2o40bo$45bobo16bo$46b2o14b3o$11b2o9b2o
37bo53bobo$12bo8b2o29b2o7b2o53bo$9b3o11bo27b3o63bo$9bo40b2o7bo53bo9bo
b2o$49b2o7b3o52bo9b2obo$50b2o8bo31bo$36bo22b3o21b2o5b3o$36b3o17b2o2b2o
22bo4bo24b3o$39bo17bo3bo22bobo3bo7b2o14bo2bo$38b2o17bo27bobo3bo7bo12b
o3b2o$57bo2bo25bo3b2o7bobo10b3o$44b2o9bo2b2o40b2o11bo7bo$40b3o11bo3bo
61bobo$36bob2o2bo4bo7bobo13b4o28b2o6bo9b2o$35b5o4bo11bo14b2ob2o11b2o13b
o2bo4b6o$35b2ob4o2bo24bo2bo2b2o10bobo13bobo3bo7bo$37b2o5b2o3bo19b3o3b
o11bo5bo10bo5bo6bo$39b2ob2o3b2obo17bo2bo2bo17bo2b2o13bo$39bobobo6bo17b
obo20bo5bo13bobo$50b2o17b2o23b2ob2o$40b3o17bo29bo3b4o$37bo2b2o17bobo29b
o4bo$36bobob2o17b2o31b3o$36bobobobo25b2o24bo$33b2obobobobo2bo22bo20b2o
$33bo2bo2b2ob4o23bo20bo7b2o$35b2o4bo26b2o17b3o9bo10bo$41bobo43bo8b3o12b
o$42b2o52bo12b3o!
#C [[ MAXGRIDSIZE 9 KILLGLIDERS THEME Catagolue ]]

[Hippo.69]

There is an idea that was mentioned by others in earlier discussion. The idea is that components / devices can be viewed as "black boxes", like this:

Code: Select all

x = 243, y = 405, rule = LifeHistory
157.51D$157.D49.D$157.D49.D$157.D49.D$157.D49.D$157.D49.D$157.D49.D$
157.D49.D$157.D49.D$157.D15.5D3.5D21.D$157.D15.D7.D3.D21.D$157.D15.D
7.D3.D21.D$157.D15.D7.D3.D21.D$157.D9.3D3.5D3.5D21.D$157.D9.D.D7.D7.D
21.D$157.D9.3D7.D7.D21.D$157.D9.D9.D7.D21.D$157.D9.D5.5D3.5D21.D$157.
D49.D$157.D49.DB$157.D49.D2B$157.D49.D3B$157.D11.D37.D4B$157.D11.D5.
3D29.D.3BD$157.D11.D5.D31.D2.DBDB$157.D9.3D5.D31.D3.2D2B$157.D9.D.D5.
D31.D4.4B$157.D9.3D2.D2.D3.D7.5D15.D5.4B$157.D28.7D14.D6.4B$157.D27.
3D3.3D13.D7.4B$157.D27.2D5.2D13.D8.4B$157.D27.2D5.2D13.D9.4B$157.D33.
3D13.D10.4B$157.D32.3D14.D11.4B$157.D31.3D15.D12.4B$157.D31.2D16.D13.
4B$157.D31.2D16.D14.4B$157.D31.2D16.D15.4B$157.D49.D16.BDBD$157.D49.D
17.B2DB$157.D31.2D16.D18.D3B$157.D31.2D16.D19.4B$157.D49.D20.4B$157.D
49.D21.4B$157.D49.D22.4B$156.BD49.D23.4B$155.2B51D24.4B$154.4B75.4B$
153.4B77.4B$152.4B79.4B$151.4B81.4B$150.3DB83.4B$149.3BD85.3BD$148.3B
D87.3BD$147.4B89.3D$146.4B$145.4B$144.4B$143.4B$142.4B$141.4B$140.4B$
139.4B$138.4B$137.4B$136.D3B$135.B2DB$134.BDBD$133.4B$132.4B$131.4B$
130.4B$129.4B$128.4B$127.4B$126.4B$125.4B$124.4B$123.4B$122.4B$121.2D
2B$120.DBDB$119.3BD$118.4B$117.4B$116.4B$115.4B$114.4B13$157.51D$157.
D49.D$157.D36.2A.A9.D$157.D30.A.2A.A.A.3A7.D$157.D30.2A.A.A.A4.A6.D$
157.D34.A.A.ABABA6.D$157.D36.A.A.2A4.2A.D$157.D24.2A9.ABA4B4.A2.D$
157.D22.2B2AB6.3BA2B4.BA.A2.D$157.D22.4B6.5B4.B.B2A3.D$157.D22.9B.6B
2.4B5.D$157.D23.12B2A7B5.D$157.D18.2A3.6BA5B3AB2A3B5.D$157.D19.A3.5BA
BA9B2A3B4.D$157.D19.A.A6BA2BA7BAB.4B3.D$157.D15.A4.2A2.5BABA8B3.4B2.D
$157.D15.3A7.4B3A6B6.4B.D$157.D18.A6.10BA4B5.4BD$157.D17.2A6.8BA2B2A
3B5.3BD$157.D23.2A9B3A5B5.2BDB$157.D22.A2BA2.3B.3BA7B5.BD2B$157.D22.B
ABA6.10B7.D3B$157.D20.4BA7.7B10.D4B$157.D20.3B10.4B12.D.3BA$157.D19.
4B10.6B10.D2.ABAB$157.D18.4B15.2A10.D3.2A2B$157.D17.4B16.A11.D4.4B$
157.D16.4B18.3A8.D5.4B$157.D15.4B21.A8.D6.4B$157.D14.4B31.D7.4B$157.D
13.4B32.D8.4B$157.D12.4B33.D9.4B$157.D11.4B34.D10.4B$157.D10.4B35.D
11.4B$157.D9.4B36.D12.4B$157.D8.4B37.D13.4B$157.D7.2A2B38.D14.4B$157.
D6.2B2A39.D15.4B$157.D5.2BAB40.D16.BABA$157.D4.4B41.D17.B2AB$157.D3.
4B42.D18.A3B$157.D2.4B43.D19.4B$157.D.4B44.D20.4B$157.D4B45.D21.4B$
157.D3B46.D22.4B$156.BD2B47.D23.4B$155.2B51D24.4B$154.4B75.4B$153.4B
77.4B$152.4B79.4B$151.4B81.4B$150.3AB83.4B$149.3BA85.3BA$148.3BA87.3B
A$147.4B89.3A$146.4B$145.4B$144.4B$143.4B$142.4B$141.4B$140.4B$139.4B
$138.4B$137.4B$136.A3B$135.B2AB$134.BABA$133.4B$132.4B$131.4B$130.4B$
129.4B$128.4B$127.4B$126.4B$125.4B$124.4B$123.4B$122.4B$121.2A2B$120.
ABAB$119.3BA$118.4B$117.4B$116.4B$115.4B$114.4B$113.4B$112.4B$111.4B$
110.4B$109.4B$108.4B$107.4B$106.2A2B$105.2B2A$104.2BAB$103.4B$102.4B$
101.4B52.51D$100.4B53.D49.D$99.4B54.D36.2A.A9.D$98.4B55.D30.A.2A.A.A.
3A7.D$97.4B56.D30.2A.A.A.A4.A6.D$96.4B57.D34.A.A.ABABA6.D$95.4B58.D
36.A.A.2A4.2A.D$94.4B59.D24.2A9.ABA4B4.A2.D$93.4B60.D22.2B2AB6.3BA2B
4.BA.A2.D$92.4B61.D22.4B6.5B4.B.B2A3.D$91.3AB62.D22.9B.6B2.4B5.D$90.
3BA63.D23.12B2A7B5.D$89.3BA64.D18.2A3.6BA5B3AB2A3B5.D$88.4B65.D19.A3.
5BABA9B2A3B4.D$87.4B66.D19.A.A6BA2BA7BAB.4B3.D$86.4B67.D15.A4.2A2.5BA
BA8B3.4B2.D$85.4B68.D15.3A7.4B3A6B6.4B.D$84.4B69.D18.A6.10BA4B5.4BD$
83.4B70.D17.2A6.8BA2B2A3B5.3BD$82.4B71.D11.3B3.B5.2A9B3A5B5.2BDB$81.
4B72.D11.7B4.A2BA2.3B.3BA7B5.BD2B$80.4B73.D10.2A7B3.BABA6.10B7.D3B$
79.4B74.D10.2A12BA7.7B10.D4B$78.4B75.D11.B.10B10.4B12.D.3BA$77.A3B76.
D13.10B10.6B10.D2.ABAB$76.B2AB77.D13.11B13.2A10.D3.2A2B$75.BABA78.D
13.11B13.A11.D4.4B$74.4B79.D6.2A5.11B14.3A8.D5.4B$73.4B80.D7.A6.B3A5B
17.A8.D6.4B$72.4B81.D6.A5.2BA3BA7B23.D7.4B$71.4B82.D6.2A3.2BA5BA8B21.
D8.4B$70.4B83.D8.A2.2BA5BA8B21.D9.4B$69.4B84.D6.2A2.A2BA5BA8B21.D10.
4B$68.4B85.D5.A2.2ABA2BA3BA9B21.D11.4B$67.4B86.D5.3A2.AB.2B3A8B.B2A
19.D12.4B$66.4B87.D8.2A2B2.5B.6B.BA.A18.D13.4B$65.4B88.D5.2A.B.B3.5B.
5B5.A18.D14.4B$64.4B89.D6.A.2AB2.5B3.4B5.2A17.D15.4B$63.4B90.D6.A.BAB
.5B5.3B24.D16.BABA$62.2A2B91.D7.2A4.4B6.B25.D17.B2AB$61.ABAB92.D4.A6.
8B30.D18.A3B$60.3BA93.D2.3A6.2A4.2A30.D19.4B$59.4B94.D.A10.A4.A31.D
20.4B$58.4B95.D.2A6.3A6.3A28.D21.4B$57.4B96.D3B6.A10.A28.D22.4B$56.4B
96.BDB48.D23.4B$55.4B96.2B51D24.4B$54.4B96.4B75.4B$53.4B96.4B77.4B$
52.4B96.4B79.4B$51.4B96.4B81.4B$50.4B96.3AB83.4B$49.4B96.3BA85.3BA$
48.4B96.3BA87.3BA$47.2A2B96.4B89.3A$46.2B2A96.4B$45.2BAB96.4B$44.4B
96.4B$43.4B96.4B$42.4B96.4B$41.4B96.4B$40.4B96.4B$39.4B96.4B$38.4B96.
4B$37.4B96.4B$36.4B96.A3B$35.4B96.B2AB$34.4B96.BABA$33.4B96.4B$32.3AB
96.4B$31.3BA96.4B$30.3BA96.4B$29.4B96.4B$28.4B96.4B$27.4B96.4B$26.4B
96.4B$25.4B96.4B$24.4B96.4B$23.4B96.4B$22.4B96.4B$21.4B96.2A2B$20.4B
96.ABAB$19.4B96.3BA$18.A3B96.4B$17.B2AB96.4B$16.BABA96.4B$15.4B96.4B$
14.4B96.4B$13.4B96.4B$12.4B96.4B$11.4B96.4B$10.4B96.4B$9.4B96.4B$8.4B
96.4B$7.4B96.4B$6.4B96.2A2B$5.4B96.2B2A$4.4B96.2BAB$3.2A2B96.4B$2.ABA
B96.4B$.3BA96.4B$4B96.4B$3B96.4B$2B96.4B$B96.4B$96.4B$95.4B$94.4B$93.
4B$92.4B$91.3AB$90.3BA$89.3BA$88.4B$87.4B$86.4B$85.4B$84.4B$83.4B$82.
4B$81.4B$80.4B$79.4B$78.4B$77.A3B$76.B2AB$75.BABA$74.4B$73.4B$72.4B$
71.4B$70.4B$69.4B$68.4B$67.4B$66.4B$65.4B$64.4B$63.4B$62.2A2B$61.ABAB
$60.3BA$59.4B$58.4B$57.4B$56.4B$55.4B$54.4B$53.4B$52.4B$51.4B$50.4B$
49.4B$48.4B$47.2A2B$46.2B2A$45.2BAB$44.4B$43.4B$42.4B$41.4B$40.4B$39.
4B$38.4B$37.4B$36.4B$35.4B$34.4B$33.4B$32.3AB$31.3BA$30.3BA$29.4B$28.
4B$27.4B$26.4B$25.4B$24.4B$23.4B$22.4B$21.4B$20.4B$19.4B$18.A3B$17.B
2AB$16.BABA$15.4B$14.4B$13.4B$12.4B$11.4B$10.4B$9.4B$8.4B$7.4B$6.4B$
5.4B$4.4B$3.2A2B$2.ABAB$.3BA$4B$3B$2B$B!

It may be initially unknown what will be "inside the box". Or there may be an initial "prototype component", that will be replaced later, so one is not allowed to rely on implementation details. A design would only specify that the component is guaranteed to produce the output p59 glider stream on a specific lane with a specific schedule, as long as an uninterrupted input p59 glider stream is fed into it on another specific lane with a specific schedule. (What happens if the input does not satisfy these requirements is left unspecified; it is an implementation detail. The thing might explode, or it might continue emitting gliders, or it might cleanly self-destruct, or it might do something else.)

As long as one does not rely on "internal implementation details" while using a component like this, there is no functional difference between a glider gun engine supported by a periodic glider stream, and a trivial combination of an eater and a gun. In a finished working pattern, one implementation can be freely replaced with another implementation (whenever such a replacement makes sense and is possible geometrically), without breaking anything.

[...] But I am not too much fixed on terminology, "the patterns speak for themselves".

But yes, I think about patterns in physical meaning ... about glider reflectors rather the signal reflectors.
I can imagine only "create an oscialtor task", where I could end up with a periodic stream of gliders, wanting the stream in another phase/position/direction. [...]

In a nontrivial construction, there can be several periodic streams following different tracks. A construction may become nontrivial, and still remain entirely within the "physical level of understanding", without having any logic or choices. For example, the following engineered glider gun uses a dependent reflector (as well as other components):

Code: Select all

#C Source: https://conwaylife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=153800#p153800
x = 137, y = 86, rule = B3/S23
42b2o$42bobo$44bo4b2o$40b4ob2o2bo2bo$40bo2bobobobob2o23b2o$43bobobobo
25bobo33bo$44b2obobo19b2o4bo34bobo$48bo18bo2bo2b2ob4o28b3obo$67b2obob
obobo2bo27bo4bob2o$34b2o34bobobobo30bobobobobo$35bo7b2o25bobob2o26b2o
4b2obobo$35bobo5b2o26bo31bo8bobo11b2o$36b2o65bobo7bo12bo$84b2o18b2o18b
obo$43b3o38bo39b2o$45bo28b3o5bobo$44bo28bo3bo4b2o37b2o$72bo5bo39b2obo
$72bo5bo25bobo13bobobo$46b2o24bo5bo10bo6b2o6b2o$46bo26bo3bo11b3o3bo2b
o6bo8b2o12bo$47b3o7bo16b3o15bo3bo2bo14b2o11b2o$49b3o6b2o31b2o39bo$52b
o4b2o13b2o26bo19b2o8b3o$47b4obo20bo20b2o2bo2bo10b2o15bo$47bo2bob2o16b
3o21b5ob2o4b2o5bo10bo4b2o$70bo22bo2bobo3bo3b2o2b3o4b2o$51b3o39bobo2bo
b2o8bo6b2o14b2o$29bo20bo2bo41b2o3b2o30bo2bo$29b2o19b2o5bobo6b2obo16b2o
7b5o32b2obo$28bobo26b2o7b2ob3o13b2o9bo18b2o18b2o$58bo13bo14bo28bo15b2o
2bo$66b2ob3o31b2o11bobo12bo2b2o$67bobo13b2o18bobo11b2o11bob2o$57b2o8b
obo12bobo7bo12bo15b2o8bo2b2o$57b2o9bo13bo8bobo11b2o14b2o10bo2bo$81b2o
4b2obobo41b2o$86bobobobobo20b2o$86bo4bob2o14b2o4b2o8bo$87b3obo18bo14b
o$66bo22bobo18bob2o4bobo3bo$64b3o23bo20bo3bo4bo4b2o$3b2o58bo56bo3bobo
$4bo9b2o46bobo48b2o$2bo10bobo29b2o9b2o5bo51b2obo5bo3b2o$2b5o8bo5b2o23b
o8b3o57b3o10bo$7bo13bo24bobo6bo2bo6bo47bo2bo12b3o$4b3o12bobo25b2o7b3o
3bobobo49bo4bo9bo$3bo15b2o35b3o3b2o2bo46bo7b2o$3bob2o59b2o$b2o3bo3b2o
$o2b3o5bo$2obo$3bo40b2o71b2o$3b2o40bo$45bobo16bo$46b2o14b3o$11b2o9b2o
37bo53bobo$12bo8b2o29b2o7b2o53bo$9b3o11bo27b3o63bo$9bo40b2o7bo53bo9bo
b2o$49b2o7b3o52bo9b2obo$50b2o8bo31bo$36bo22b3o21b2o5b3o$36b3o17b2o2b2o
22bo4bo24b3o$39bo17bo3bo22bobo3bo7b2o14bo2bo$38b2o17bo27bobo3bo7bo12b
o3b2o$57bo2bo25bo3b2o7bobo10b3o$44b2o9bo2b2o40b2o11bo7bo$40b3o11bo3bo
61bobo$36bob2o2bo4bo7bobo13b4o28b2o6bo9b2o$35b5o4bo11bo14b2ob2o11b2o13b
o2bo4b6o$35b2ob4o2bo24bo2bo2b2o10bobo13bobo3bo7bo$37b2o5b2o3bo19b3o3b
o11bo5bo10bo5bo6bo$39b2ob2o3b2obo17bo2bo2bo17bo2b2o13bo$39bobobo6bo17b
obo20bo5bo13bobo$50b2o17b2o23b2ob2o$40b3o17bo29bo3b4o$37bo2b2o17bobo29b
o4bo$36bobob2o17b2o31b3o$36bobobobo25b2o24bo$33b2obobobobo2bo22bo20b2o
$33bo2bo2b2ob4o23bo20bo7b2o$35b2o4bo26b2o17b3o9bo10bo$41bobo43bo8b3o12b
o$42b2o52bo12b3o!
#C [[ MAXGRIDSIZE 9 KILLGLIDERS THEME Catagolue ]]

I understand that eater-gun black box specification could be missinterpreted as a reflector specification.

Yes, there could be space restrictions where eater-gun is better solution than a reflector what could be usefull in creating oscilators (with possible periodic output(s)). So pattern speaks for itself and it is not important if the author thinks about *reflector or an eater-gun when optimizing it.

... just the no-reflector eater-gun would be difficult to use when logical signal reflection is needed.

[g0t0]

I think dependent reflector is not a good name and want to rename it dependent gun unless a reflector's output is based on its input.

[ThePlayzr]

I think dependent reflector is not a good name and want to rename it dependent gun unless a reflector's output is based on its input.

That would be a dependent converter. Most of the time the output is the same as the input though. (A glider)