Data storage addressing system

Claim 2

Data storage apparatus including, in combination, a memory surface movable along a prescribed path, an information track on said memory surface extending in the direction of movement thereof and having storage locations linearly spaced therealong for receiving and storing groups of binary digits each constituting a record of information, an address track on said memory surface extending in the direction of movement thereof and being divided linearly into prerecorded code groups each composed of binary digits, said code groups each individually identifying in binary notation the address of an individual one of said storage locations on the information track, an address register for storing in binary notation the digits of an address of a wanted storage location in said information track, first means operable as the memory surface moves for successively directly comparing the digits of each code group address on the address track with a part only of the address stored in the register, and second means operable in conjunction with said first means for performing a binary count of the digits in the remaining part of the address stored in the register.

Claim 3

The invention defined in claim 1 characterized in that the first means includes means for serially comparing each digit of each code group with each digit of the address stored in the register in the direction of the increasing significance of the digits.

Claim 4

The invention defined in claim 1 characterized in that the first mentioned part of the address stored in the register consists of its most significant digits, and that the said remaining part of the address stored in the register consists of its least significant digits.

Claim 7

The invention defined in claim 3 characterized in that the code groups of the address track contain an equal number of binary digits and progressively differ from one another by unity increments for substantially the full length of the track.

Claim 8

The invention defined in claim 4 characterized in that means is provided for successively sensing the presence of a common property of each code group as the memory surface moves along its prescribed path and for utilizing such sensed property for synchronizing the operation of the apparatus.

Claim 9

Data storage apparatus comprising, in combination, an information track having information storage locations linearly spaced therealong for storing and retrieving information in the form of groups of binary digits, an address track having prerecorded code groups linearly spaced therealong and each composed of an equal number of binary digits arranged in the order of increasing significance thereof an each code group identifying in binary notation the address of an individual one of said storage locations on the information track, means for presenting in binary notation the address of a wanted storage location on said information track, transducing means individually operatively associated with said tracks and operable upon relative movement of one with respect to the other in the direction of the tracks to read the address track and to effect transfer of information either into or from the information track, means operatively connected to the transducing means associated with the address track and operable as relative movement occurs therebetween for successively comparing each code group on the address track with the presented address, said last means including means for sequentially comparing each digit of each code group with each digit of the presented address in the order of the increasing significance of the digits, and means for producing a signal at the conclusion of such a sequential comparison signifying a complete match between all of the digits of one of the code groups and the digits of the presented address and rendering available the wanted storage location on the information track for information transfer.

Claim 10

Data storage apparatus comprising, in combination, an information track having information storage locations linearly spaced therealong for storing and retrieving information in the form of groups of binary digits, an address track having prerecorded code groups linearly spaced therealong and each composed of an equal number of binary digits arranged in the order of increasing significance thereof an each code group identifying in binary notation the address of an individual one of said storage locations on the information track, means for presenting in binary notation the address of a wanted storage location on said information track, transducing means individually operatively associated with said tracks and operable upon relative movement of one with respect to the other in the direction of the tracks to read the address track and to effect transfer of information either into or from the information track, means operatively connected to the transducing means associated with the address track and operable as relative movement occurs therebetween for successively comparing each code group on the address track with the presented address, said last means including means for sequentially comparing each digit of each code group with each digit of the presented address in the order of the increasing significance of the digits, and means for producing a signal at the conclusion of such a sequential comparison signifying a complete match between all of the digits of one of the code groups and the digits of the presented address and rendering available the wanted storage location on the information track for information transfer.

Claim 11

The invention defined in claim 6 characterized in that information and address tracks are carried on a common cyclically movable member.

Claim 12

Data storage addressing apparatus comprising, in combination, a memory surface movable along a prescribed path and having storage locations linearly spaced therealong in the direction of movement thereof for receiving and storing information in the form of groups of binary digits, an address track extending in the direction of said prescribed path of movement of the memory surface and jointly movable therewith and being linearly divided into prerecorded code groups each composed of an equal number of binary digits, said code groups each signifying in binary notation the location of an individual one of said storage locations on the memory surface and progressively differing from one another by unity increments, means for presenting in binary notation the address of a wanted storage location on the memory surface, said presented address containing a greater number of digits than those of which the code groups are composed, means operable as the address track moves with the memory surface for serially sensing the digits of each code group on the address track and sequentially comparing the digits thereof with an equal number of digits of the presented address, and means operable in conjunction with said first means for performing a binary count of the remaining digits of the presented address in timed relation to the sensing of the digits of the code groups.

Claim 13

Data storage addressing apparatus comprising, in combination, a memory surface movable along a prescribed path and having storage locations linearly spaced therealong in the direction of movement thereof for receiving and storing information in the form of groups of binary digits, an address track extending in the direction of said prescribed path of movement of the memory surface and jointly movable therewith and being linearly divided into prerecorded code groups each composed of an equal number of binary digits, said code groups each signifying in binary notation the location of an individual one of said storage locations on the memory surface and progressively differing from one another by unity increments, means for presenting in binary notation the address of a wanted storage location on the memory surface, said presented address containing a greater number of digits than those of which the code groups are composed, means operable as the address track moves with the memory surface for serially sensing the digits of each code group on the address track and sequentially comparing the digits thereof with an equal number of digits of the presented address, and means operable in conjunction with said first means for performing a binary count of the remaining digits of the presented address in timed relation to the sensing of the digits of the code groups.

Claim 14

The invention defined in claim 8 characterized in that the digits of the code groups of the address track are sequentially compared against the more significant digits of the presented address and in that the binary count is made of the lesser significant digits of the presented address.

Claim 15

The invention defined in claim 8 characterized in that the code groups of the address track have a common digit position therein in which the binary value alternative in successive groups, and in that means is provided for sensing such alternation for determining if the binary counting means is properly synchronized with the operation of the apparatus.

Claim 16

Data storage addressing system comprising: memory disk means rotatable about an axis, a plurality of information tracks on said disk means concentric with said axis and having storage locations linearly spaced therealong for receiving and storing groups of binary digits each constituting a record of information, an address track forming part of said disk means and concentric with said axis, said address track being divided into prerecorded code groups each composed of binary digits and each individually numerically identifying in binary notation the address of an individual one of said storage locations oN the information tracks, a register for presenting in binary notation the address of a wanted storage location in one of said information tracks and containing a greater number of digits than those of which the code groups are composed, means operable as the disk means rotates for sensing the digits of each code group address on the address track and sequentially comparing the same with the more significant digits of the address presented by the register, means operable in conjunction with said first means for determining the numerical value of the lesser significant digits of the address presented by the register, said means including a binary counter having as many stages as the number of the remaining lesser significant digits of the presented address and counting the same in timed relation to the sensing of the digits in the address track, and means operatively associated with said comparing means for providing a signal making available the wanted storage location when a complete match occurs between one of said code groups and the more significant digits of the presented address and when the binary count of the lesser significant digits of the presented address has been concluded.

Claim 17

Data storage addressing system comprising: memory disk means rotatable about an axis, a plurality of information tracks on said disk means concentric with said axis and having storage locations linearly spaced therealong for receiving and storing groups of binary digits each constituting a record of information, an address track forming part of said disk means and concentric with said axis, said address track being divided into prerecorded code groups each composed of binary digits and each individually numerically identifying in binary notation the address of an individual one of said storage locations oN the information tracks, a register for presenting in binary notation the address of a wanted storage location in one of said information tracks and containing a greater number of digits than those of which the code groups are composed, means operable as the disk means rotates for sensing the digits of each code group address on the address track and sequentially comparing the same with the more significant digits of the address presented by the register, means operable in conjunction with said first means for determining the numerical value of the lesser significant digits of the address presented by the register, said means including a binary counter having as many stages as the number of the remaining lesser significant digits of the presented address and counting the same in timed relation to the sensing of the digits in the address track, and means operatively associated with said comparing means for providing a signal making available the wanted storage location when a complete match occurs between one of said code groups and the more significant digits of the presented address and when the binary count of the lesser significant digits of the presented address has been concluded.

Claim 18

In a data storage addressing system: a formatted memory disk rotatable about its axis, one or more information tracks carried by said disk concentric with its axis and each having data storage regions linearly spaced therealong for receiving and storing groups of binary digits constituting records of information, a circular prerecorded address track carried by said disk concentric with its axis and constituted by a single row of binary digits equally spaced apart from one another, said row of binary digits being divided into code groups each composed of an equal number of binary digits and each representing in binary notation the location of individual storage region in the information tracks, said code groups progressively differing from one another by unity increments throughout the extent of the address track and having their respective digits similarly arranged in a given direction of greater significance, an address register for presenting in binary notation the address of a particular digit position within a wanted storage region in the information tracks and containing a greater number of digits than those of which the code groups are composed, means operable as the disk rotates for sensing the digits of each code group on the address track and sequentially comparing the digits of the code groups against the more significant digits of the address presented by the register, means operable as the disk rotates for determining the numerical value of the remaining lesser significant digits of the address presented by the register, and means for combining the determined value of the lesser significant digits of the presented address with the address represented by the code group exactly matching the more significant digits of the presented address for locating the particular digit position within the wanted storage region of the information tracks.

Claim 19

In a data storage addressing system: a formatted memory disk rotatable about its axis, one or more information tracks carried by said disk concentric with its axis and each having data storage regions linearly spaced therealong for receiving and storing groups of binary digits constituting records of information, a circular prerecorded address track carried by said disk concentric with its axis and constituted by a single row of binary digits equally spaced apart from one another, said row of binary digits being divided into code groups each composed of an equal number of binary digits and each representing in binary notation the location of individual storage region in the information tracks, said code groups progressively differing from one another by unity increments throughout the extent of the address track and having their respective digits similarly arranged in a given direction of greater significance, an address register for presenting in binary notation the address of a particular digit position within a wanted storage region in the information tracks and containing a greater number of digits than those of which the code groups are composed, means operable as the disk rotates for sensing the digits of each code group on the address track and sequentially comparing the digits of the code groups against the more significant digits of the address presented by the register, means operable as the disk rotates for determining the numerical value of the remaining lesser significant digits of the address presented by the register, and means for combining the determined value of the lesser significant digits of the presented address with the address represented by the code group exactly matching the more significant digits of the presented address for locating the particular digit position within the wanted storage region of the information tracks.

Claim 20

A data storage disk rotatable about its axis, one or more circular information tracks carried on at least one of the opposite sides of said disk concentric with its axis and each having data storage regions circularly spaced therearound for receiving and storing groups of binary digits constituting records of information, a circular prerecorded address track carried on one side of said disk concentric with its axis and constituted by a single circular row of binary digits equally spaced apart from one another, said row of binary digits being divided into sectors each having a code pattern therein composed of an equal number of binary digits and each representing in binary notation the location of an individual storage region in the information tracks, and said code patterns differing from one another throughout the extent of the address track but having their respectIve binary digits similarly arranged in a given direction of greater significance.

Claim 21

A data storage disk rotatable about its axis, one or more circular information tracks carried on at least one of the opposite sides of said disk concentric with its axis and each having data storage regions circularly spaced therearound for receiving and storing groups of binary digits constituting records of information, a circular prerecorded address track carried on one side of said disk concentric with its axis and constituted by a single circular row of binary digits equally spaced apart from one another, said row of binary digits being divided into sectors each having a code pattern therein composed of an equal number of binary digits and each representing in binary notation the location of an individual storage region in the information tracks, and said code patterns differing from one another throughout the extent of the address track but having their respectIve binary digits similarly arranged in a given direction of greater significance.

Claim 22

The invention described in claim 13 characterized in that in a digit position common to all of the code patterns the binary value of the digit therein alternates in binary value throughout the succession of the code patterns around the address track.

Claim 23

A data storage addressing apparatus: a disk rotatable about its axis carrying a concentric circular track of equally spaced apart binary digits and divided into sectors each containing a pattern of a like number of binary digits, said digit patterns numerically differing from one another and having their respective digits similarly arranged in a given direction of greater significance, means for presenting in binary notation a group of binary digits representing a numerical value and composed of a greater number of digits than those contained by said digit patterns, means operable as the disk rotates for sensing the digits of said track and sequentially comparing the digits of each pattern against the more significant digits of the presented group of digits and in the direction of their greater significance, means also operable as the disk rotates for determining the numerical value of the remaining lesser significant digits of the presented group of digits, and means for arithmetically combining the determined value of the lesser significant digits of the presented group of digits with the numerical value of the pattern of digits on the track exactly matching the more significant digits of the presented group of digits.

Claim 24

A data storage addressing apparatus: a disk rotatable about its axis carrying a concentric circular track of equally spaced apart binary digits and divided into sectors each containing a pattern of a like number of binary digits, said digit patterns numerically differing from one another and having their respective digits similarly arranged in a given direction of greater significance, means for presenting in binary notation a group of binary digits representing a numerical value and composed of a greater number of digits than those contained by said digit patterns, means operable as the disk rotates for sensing the digits of said track and sequentially comparing the digits of each pattern against the more significant digits of the presented group of digits and in the direction of their greater significance, means also operable as the disk rotates for determining the numerical value of the remaining lesser significant digits of the presented group of digits, and means for arithmetically combining the determined value of the lesser significant digits of the presented group of digits with the numerical value of the pattern of digits on the track exactly matching the more significant digits of the presented group of digits.

Claim 25

Data storage apparatus including: a disk rotatable about its axis carrying a concentric circular track of equally spaced-apart binary digits and divided into sectors each containing a like number of binary digits but each presenting a pattern differing from all others, said track characterized in that in a digit position common to all of the code patterns the digit therein alternates in binary value throughout the succession of the patterns around the track, means operable as the disk rotates for sequentially sensing the digits of said track and providing a readout of each pattern, and means also operable as the disk rotates for timing the operation of the apparatus on the occurrence of the alternation of the binary value of the digits in said common digit position as successive patterns of the track are read out.

Claim 26

Data storage apparatus including: a disk rotatable about its axis carrying a concentric circular track of equally spaced-apart binary digits and divided into sectors each containing a like number of binary digits but each presenting a pattern differing from all others, said track characterized in that in a digit position common to all of the code patterns the digit therein alternates in binary value throughout the succession of the patterns around the track, means operable as the disk rotates for sequentially sensing the digits of said track and providing a readout of each pattern, and means also operable as the disk rotates for timing the operation of the apparatus on the occurrence of the alternation of the binary value of the digits in said common digit position as successive patterns of the track are read out.

Claim 27

The invention defined in claim 16 characterized in that a counter is employed for counting the digits of each pattern as they are read out, and that means is provided which cooperates with said timing means for synchronizing the operation of the counter with the readout of each pattern.

Claim 28

The invention defined in claim 17 characterized in that means is provided for inhibiting the counting operation of the counter for a time sufficient to bring it into synchronization with the pattern readout in the event the counter is found to be out of synchronization therewith.

Claim 29

A data storage addressing system comprising: a plurality of sets of disks each having their respective disks jointly rotatable about a common axis, means for driving the sets of disks at rotative speeds which may differ from one another, at least one disk in each set of disks containing concentric data storage tracks in which, with the aid of transducing means, information may be transferred either into or therefrom, at least one disk in each set of disks having a concentric address track for locating storage areas in the information tracks of its respective set, each said address track being formed of binary digits and divided into sectors each containing a code pattern of digits differing from the other code patterns in the track, each said address track being further characterized in that in a digit position common to all of the code patterns of the track the digit therein alternates in binary value throughout the succession of the code patterns aroUnd the track, means associated with each data storage track of each set of disks and operable as its respective set of disks rotates for transferring information either into or from its associated data storage track, means operatively associated with said last means for selecting a particular one of said sets of disks for transferring information either into or from the data storage tracks thereof, and means associated with each address track of each set of disks and operable when its associated set of disks is selected for information transfer to sequentially sense the digit in said common digit positions of its address track and to time the operation of any such information transfer with the alternation of the binary value thereof.

Claim 30

A data storage addressing system comprising: a plurality of sets of disks each having their respective disks jointly rotatable about a common axis, means for driving the sets of disks at rotative speeds which may differ from one another, at least one disk in each set of disks containing concentric data storage tracks in which, with the aid of transducing means, information may be transferred either into or therefrom, at least one disk in each set of disks having a concentric address track for locating storage areas in the information tracks of its respective set, each said address track being formed of binary digits and divided into sectors each containing a code pattern of digits differing from the other code patterns in the track, each said address track being further characterized in that in a digit position common to all of the code patterns of the track the digit therein alternates in binary value throughout the succession of the code patterns aroUnd the track, means associated with each data storage track of each set of disks and operable as its respective set of disks rotates for transferring information either into or from its associated data storage track, means operatively associated with said last means for selecting a particular one of said sets of disks for transferring information either into or from the data storage tracks thereof, and means associated with each address track of each set of disks and operable when its associated set of disks is selected for information transfer to sequentially sense the digit in said common digit positions of its address track and to time the operation of any such information transfer with the alternation of the binary value thereof.