Electronic storage apparatus

Claim 2

An electronic storage apparatus for storing large quantities of data in a small space, comprising: a storage member having a characteristic of losing a charge applied thereto over a period of time; first electron beam means for generating a first electron beam including means for controlling the x-y deflection of said first electron beam to strike said storage member and place a predetermined applied charge on said storage member; control means for effecting a periodic testing of said storage member to determine whether said predetermined charge has diminished in value, said testing producing a signal indicative of the magnitude of said charge; and detecting means for detecting said signal and for effecting a regenerating of the charge on said storage member to said predetermined charge.

Claim 3

An electronic storage apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said storage member comprises a metal plate coated with a layer of semi-conductor material, the conductivity of said thin layer of semi-conductor material being altered by said first electron beam means.

Claim 4

An electronic storage apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said deflecting means comprises address means for controlling the deflection of said first electron beam and the location at which said first electron beam strikes said storage member.

Claim 5

An electronic storage apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said control means comprises second electron beam means for generating a scanning electron beam and includes means for controlling the deflection of said scanning electron beam, said scanning electron beam being deflected onto said storage member to effect the production of said signal; and wherein said detecting means comprises threshold amplification means adapted to restore said charge on said storage member to said predetermined value in response to said signal below said predetermined value.

Claim 6

An electronic storage apparatus according to claim 4, including third electron beam means for generating a second electron beam, said deflecting means further controlling the x-y deflection of said second electron beam; further including a second storage member comprising a second metal plate coated with a layer of semi-conductor material located in the path of deflection of said second electron beam and adapted to produce a second signal when said second electron beam strikes said second storage member.

Claim 7

An electronic storage apparatus according to claim 5, including switching means for controlling which ones of the first and second electron beam means are to be activated by one of said addressing means and said control means.

Claim 8

An electronic storage apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said detecting means comprise threshold amplification means adapted to restore said charge on said storage member to said predetermined value in response to said signal below said predetermined value; and wherein said threshold amplification means have a plurality of discriminator threshold levels, each level being controlled by said control means.

Claim 9

An electronic storage apparatus for storing large quantities of data in a small space, comprising: first and second storage members each having a characteristic of losing a portion of a predetermined charge applied thereto over a period of time; first and second electron beam means for generating first and second electron beams; address means for controlling the x-y deflection of said electron beams to strike a respective one of said first and second storage members and place a predetermined applied charge on said storage member; control means for effecting a periodic testing of said first and second storage members to determine whether said predetermined charge has diminished in value, said testing producing a signal at an output of the respective one of said first and second storage members indicative of the magnitude of said charge; first and second detecting means for detecting the signal from the respective one of said first and second storage members and for effecting a regenerating of the charge on said respective one of said first and second storage members to said predetermined charge; and switching means for (1) connecting said control means to one of said first and second electron beam means at timed intervals and in alternate sequence to effect said periodic and separate testing of one of said first and second storage members and for (2) connecting said address means to the other of said first and second electron beam means during said timed intervals and in said alternate sequence to periodically apply said predetermined charge on said other of said first and second storage members.

Claim 10

An electronic storage apparatus for storing large quantities of data in a small space, comprising: first and second storage members each having a characteristic of losing a portion of a predetermined charge applied thereto over a period of time; first and second electron beam means for generating first and second electron beams; address means for controlling the x-y deflection of said electron beams to strike a respective one of said first and second storage members and place a predetermined applied charge on said storage member; control means for effecting a periodic testing of said first and second storage members to determine whether said predetermined charge has diminished in value, said testing producing a signal at an output of the respective one of said first and second storage members indicative of the magnitude of said charge; first and second detecting means for detecting the signal from the respective one of said first and second storage members and for effecting a regenerating of the charge on said respective one of said first and second storage members to said predetermined charge; and switching means for (1) connecting said control means to one of said first and second electron beam means at timed intervals and in alternate sequence to effect said periodic and separate testing of one of said first and second storage members and for (2) connecting said address means to the other of said first and second electron beam means during said timed intervals and in said alternate sequence to periodically apply said predetermined charge on said other of said first and second storage members.

Claim 11

An electronic storage apparatus according to claim 8, including external control aNd recording means for controlling the functioning of said address means and a corresponding control of said switching means to selectively apply predetermined charge values on selected ones of first and second storage members and, in the alternative, record predetermined charge values in response to said controlled functioning of said address means.

Claim 12

An electronic storage apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said first electron beam means includes a first and second electron guns, and wherein said second electron beam means includes third and fourth electron guns.

Claim 13

An electronic storage apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said output of one of said storage members is connected through a respective one of said detecting means to said third electron gun.

Claim 14

An electronic storage apparatus for storing large quantities of data in a small space, comprising: a plurality of storage assemblies each comprising a storage member having an output terminal and a characteristic of losing a portion of a predetermined charge applied thereto over a period of time, electron beam generating means for producing an electron beam adapted to strike said storage member and detecting means for detecting a signal from said output terminal in response to a striking by said electron beam and for effecting an amplification of said signal to a predetermined magnitude; address means for controlling the x-y deflection of said electron beam in each of said assemblies; switching means for (1) connecting the output of one storage member in one assembly to the electron beam generating means in another assembly to record a charge on the storage member in said other assembly generated at said output from said one assembly in response to said striking by said electron beam and for (2) connecting still another output from still another assembly to an external control and recording device, said external control and recording device including means for controlling the functioning of said address means to selectively cause an electron beam to strike the storage member in said still another assembly to apply a new predetermined charge to said storage member or read out the predetermined charge generated at the output by said striking of the storage member by said electron beam to said external control and recording device.

Claim 15

An electronic storage apparatus for storing large quantities of data in a small space, comprising: a plurality of storage assemblies each comprising a storage member having an output terminal and a characteristic of losing a portion of a predetermined charge applied thereto over a period of time, electron beam generating means for producing an electron beam adapted to strike said storage member and detecting means for detecting a signal from said output terminal in response to a striking by said electron beam and for effecting an amplification of said signal to a predetermined magnitude; address means for controlling the x-y deflection of said electron beam in each of said assemblies; switching means for (1) connecting the output of one storage member in one assembly to the electron beam generating means in another assembly to record a charge on the storage member in said other assembly generated at said output from said one assembly in response to said striking by said electron beam and for (2) connecting still another output from still another assembly to an external control and recording device, said external control and recording device including means for controlling the functioning of said address means to selectively cause an electron beam to strike the storage member in said still another assembly to apply a new predetermined charge to said storage member or read out the predetermined charge generated at the output by said striking of the storage member by said electron beam to said external control and recording device.