US3656121A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electrically and optically accessible memory
Assignee: RCA Corp
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Filing: 1969-10-15
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Granted: 1972-04-11
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Expires: 1989-10-15
Abstract
Abstract A computer memory system is disclosed which includes a randomly and electrically accessible semiconductor ''''page'''' memory. The semiconductor page memory is conventional to the extent that it includes a planar array of electrically-accessible flip-flops for storing a corresponding number of binary information bits. In addition, each flip-flop is provided with a photosensor by which the flip-flop can be set in response to received light, and is provided with a light valve controlled by the state of the flipflop. A laser light source, a light deflector and holographic optics are provided to create a hologram of the array of light valves at any one of many small areas on an erasable holographic storage medium. Subsequently, the hologram can be illuminated to recreate and project the image of the array of light valves onto the array of photosensors to return the information to the flipflops in the semiconductor page memory. In this way, the semiconductor page memory serves as a page-at-a-time electrical input-output unit for a great many pages of information stored optically on the erasable holographic storage medium.
Inventors
- 👤 Jan Aleksander Rajchman
- 👤 Walter Frank Kosonocky
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 10:16
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F12/00; G06F12/02; G06F12/08; G11; G11C; G11C11/00; G11C11/21; G11C11/34; G11C11/40; G11C11/41; G11C11/411; G11C13/00; G11C13/04; G11C13/042; G11C13/048
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
A holographic memory system, comprising a holographic storage medium for an array of page holograms, a page array of binary memory units, each memory unit including a semiconductor bistable circuit having a photosensor connected to the input thereof and having a light valve controlled by the output thereof, holographic optical means for creating a page hologram of an image of the light valves in said page array of memory units at any selected page location on said holographic storage medium, and holographic optical means for illuminating said selected page hologram on said holographic storage medium and recreating the holographically-recorded image on the photosensors in said page array of binary memory units.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
111 words
A holographic memory system, comprising a holographic storage medium for an array of page holograms, a page array of binary memory units, each memory unit including a semiconductor bistable circuit having a photosensor connected to the input thereof and having a light valve controlled by the output thereof, holographic optical means for creating a page hologram of an image of the light valves in said page array of memory units at any selected page location on said holographic storage medium, and holographic optical means for illuminating said selected page hologram on said holographic storage medium and recreating the holographically-recorded image on the photosensors in said page array of binary memory units.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A memory system as defined in claim 1 wherein the semiconductor bistable circuits in said page array of binary memory units are randomly electrically accessible for the storage and retrival of binary electrical information.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
199 words
The combination of an optical storage medium for holograms, an integrated array of electrically and optically accessible memory units, each memory unit including a bistable storage element, a photosensor responsive to light and having an output connectable to a set input of said bistable storage element, and a light valve responsive to the output of said bistable storage element and operative to control the passage therethrough of incident light, and means to electrically randomly access the bistable memory elements of said array for the writing of binary information, whereby each light valve is conditioned by the state of the corresponding bistable storage element, optical means to project light through the light valves in said array of memory units to said optical storage medium to transfer the information in said array of memory units to said optical storage medium as a hologram therein, optical means to read out a hologram in said storage medium to the photosensors in said array of memory units to thereby transfer the stored information to the bistable memory elements in the array of memory units, and means to electricAlly randomly access the bistable memory elements of said array for the reading of binary information therefrom.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
199 words
The combination of an optical storage medium for holograms, an integrated array of electrically and optically accessible memory units, each memory unit including a bistable storage element, a photosensor responsive to light and having an output connectable to a set input of said bistable storage element, and a light valve responsive to the output of said bistable storage element and operative to control the passage therethrough of incident light, and means to electrically randomly access the bistable memory elements of said array for the writing of binary information, whereby each light valve is conditioned by the state of the corresponding bistable storage element, optical means to project light through the light valves in said array of memory units to said optical storage medium to transfer the information in said array of memory units to said optical storage medium as a hologram therein, optical means to read out a hologram in said storage medium to the photosensors in said array of memory units to thereby transfer the stored information to the bistable memory elements in the array of memory units, and means to electricAlly randomly access the bistable memory elements of said array for the reading of binary information therefrom.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
97 words
An electronic-optical memory system comprising a page array of memory units, each memory unit including a semiconductor bistable circuit having a photosensor connected to the input thereof and having a light valve controlled by the output thereof, a light-sensitive recording medium, optical means to image a record on said light-sensitive recording medium onto the photosensors in said page array of memory units to cause storage of information in said bistable circuits, and a light source arranged to project light to said page array of memory units and through said light valves therein to said light-sensitive recording medium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
97 words
An electronic-optical memory system comprising a page array of memory units, each memory unit including a semiconductor bistable circuit having a photosensor connected to the input thereof and having a light valve controlled by the output thereof, a light-sensitive recording medium, optical means to image a record on said light-sensitive recording medium onto the photosensors in said page array of memory units to cause storage of information in said bistable circuits, and a light source arranged to project light to said page array of memory units and through said light valves therein to said light-sensitive recording medium.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A memory system as defined in claim 4, and in addition, means to electronically access said bistable circuits.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-04-11 | 1975-10-11 | 1976-04-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-04-11 | 1979-10-11 | 1980-04-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-04-11 | 1983-10-11 | 1984-04-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |