PURPOSE: To obtain an n-ary counter circuit for different numbers (n) by using the same circuit and only changing circuit constant.

CONSTITUTION: This device is provided with a sample-and-hold circuit 12, a delay element 13, an input terminal 2, an output terminal 9 and a ground terminal and a 3-terminal element 11 having a negative mutual conductance characteristic. Then the output of the sample-and-hold circuit 12 is given to the delay element 13 and the output of the delay element 13 is given to the input terminal of the three-terminal element 11. A loop giving the output of the 3-terminal element given to the sample-and-hold circuit 12 is formed and a load resistor 15 is connected to the input terminal of the 3-terminal element 11. Moreover, an output terminal 18 of the device is formed to the output terminal of the 3-terminal element 11 via a threshold level circuit 14. Thus, the n-ary counter circuit is obtained by varying power supply voltage and load resistance.