Memory system using phonograph-type disc

Claim 2

A random access memory system comprising, a storage medium rotatable about a fixed axis, means for rotating said storage medium about said axis, a continuous generally spiral groove inscribed on a surface of said medium, the axis of said spiral being the axis of rotation of said medium, a series of digital signals associated with said groove in an ordered sequence such that a specific sequence of signals is indicative of the location of a specific portion of the groove, guide means for engaging said groove to move along said spiral upon rotation of said medium, means for positioning said guide means within said groove, sensing means associated with said guide means for sensing the digital signals associated with said groove and providing an output indication of the sequence of signals, address entry means for entering an address code indicative of the portion of said groove to be accessed, and decoder means responsive to the output signals from said sensing means and to the address code in said entry means to provide an output indication when said guide means is positioned in the addressed portion of said groove.

Claim 3

A memory system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said storage medium is in the form of a disk, said guide means is a phonograph stylus and said signals are stored within said groove in the form of mechanical undulations, said mechanical undulations interacting with said stylus to produce output signals from said stylus related to the sequence of signals stored within said groove.

Claim 4

A memory system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said storage medium is in the form of a disk.

Claim 5

A memory system in accordance with claim 3 wherein said guide means and said sensing means are carried on an arm, said positioning means including step translating means for traversing said arm in a series of predetermined steps along a path extending radially over said disk, said positioning means further including calibration means for initially positioning said guide means in a calibration position wherein said guide means is disengaged from the groove on said memory disk but located in fixed relation to a specific portion of said groove associated with specific identifying code, said data entry means acting upon the entry of a multiple digit decimal number, to actuate said positioning means to advance said arm from its calibration position to a position in fixed relation to that portion of said groove associated with the address code of said entered number by stepping said traversing mechanism a number of steps directly related to the difference between said calibration position address and the address of said entered number.

Claim 6

A memory system in accordance wiTh claim 4 and further including comparator means for comparing the total multiple digit decimal number entered into said data entry means with each of the multiple bit numbers stored at that portion of said groove designated by the same address code as said multiple digit number, said comparator means being actuated only when said sensing means produces an address signal from said groove identical to the address signal from said data entry means.

Claim 7

A random access memory system comprising, a memory disk rotatable about a fixed axis, means for rotating said memory disk about said axis, a first continuous generally spiral groove inscribed on a surface of said disk, concentric with said axis, said first spiral being inscribed with a first pitch, a series of identifying signals associated with said groove in an ordered sequence such that specific signals are indicative of the location of specific portions of said first spiral groove, a second spiral groove inscribed on the surface of said disk, said second spiral groove being concentric with said axis of rotation and lying radially outside of said first spiral groove, said second spiral groove having a higher pitch than said first spiral groove, said second spiral groove containing digital information in an ordered sequence, first guide means for engaging said first groove to move along said spiral upon rotation of said disk, first guide means carrying a first sensing means carried by said first guide means for sensing the identifying signals within said first spiral groove, a second guide means having fixed positional relationship to said first guide means in a plane parallel to the plane of rotation of said disk, said second guide means being adapted to engage said second spiral groove and to move along said second spiral upon rotation of said medium, and second sensing means associated with said second guide means for sensing the information stored within the said second spiral groove, address entry means for entering an address code indicative of a radial portion of said second spiral groove to be accessed, and decoder means responsive to the output signals from said first sensing means and to the address code in said entry means providing an output signal when said first sensing means has sensed an identical address to that entered into said address entry means, and means upon the generation of said output signal for disengaging said first guide means from said first spiral groove and for engaging said second guide means in said second spiral groove.

Claim 8

A random access memory system comprising, a memory disk rotatable about a fixed axis, means for rotating said memory disk about said axis, a first continuous generally spiral groove inscribed on a surface of said disk, concentric with said axis, said first spiral being inscribed with a first pitch, a series of identifying signals associated with said groove in an ordered sequence such that specific signals are indicative of the location of specific portions of said first spiral groove, a second spiral groove inscribed on the surface of said disk, said second spiral groove being concentric with said axis of rotation and lying radially outside of said first spiral groove, said second spiral groove having a higher pitch than said first spiral groove, said second spiral groove containing digital information in an ordered sequence, first guide means for engaging said first groove to move along said spiral upon rotation of said disk, first guide means carrying a first sensing means carried by said first guide means for sensing the identifying signals within said first spiral groove, a second guide means having fixed positional relationship to said first guide means in a plane parallel to the plane of rotation of said disk, said second guide means being adapted to engage said second spiral groove and to move along said second spiral upon rotation of said medium, and second sensing means associated with said second guide means for sensing the information stored within the said second spiral groove, address entry means for entering an address code indicative of a radial portion of said second spiral groove to be accessed, and decoder means responsive to the output signals from said first sensing means and to the address code in said entry means providing an output signal when said first sensing means has sensed an identical address to that entered into said address entry means, and means upon the generation of said output signal for disengaging said first guide means from said first spiral groove and for engaging said second guide means in said second spiral groove.

Claim 9

A memory system in accordance with claim 6 where said first groove is formed as a series of interconnected segments of concentric circles having a radial step at each interconnection, and wherein said steps forming the identifying signals of said groove and wherein said first sensing means senses the presence of each step and, for each engagement of said first guide means accumulates the number of steps said guide means passes to indicate the radial position of said first guide means.

Claim 10

A memory system in accordance with claim 6 wherein said identifying signals are carried in said first spiral groove in the form of mechanical undulations representing a digital code and wherein said first guide means includes a phonograph stylus.

Claim 11

A system in accordance with claim 8 wherein the information is stored in said second spiral groove in the form of mechanical undulations representing digitally coded information and wherein said second guide means includes a phonograph stylus.

Claim 12

A random access memory system comprising a memory disk rotatable about a fixed axis, means for rotating said memory disk about said axis, a continuous generally spiral groove inscribed on a surface of said disk about the axis of rotation of said disk and extending over only a radial portion thereof, a series of identifying signals associated with said groove indicative of the location of specific radial portions Of the groove, guide means for engaging said groove to move along said spiral upon rotation of said disk, said guide means including a sensing means for sensing the identifying signals associated with said groove, means for positioning said guide means within said spiral groove, a concentric band of magnetizable material carried on a surface of said disk radially outside of said first spiral groove, a series of digital signals being contained on said magnetizable surface in ordered sequence, means for sensing magnetic signals being mounted in association with said guide means such that it is in fixed spatial relationship to said guide means in a plane parallel to the plane of rotation of said disk; address entry means for entering an address code indicative of a specific portion of said spiral groove; decoder means responsive to the output signals from said first sensing means and to the address code entered into said entry means and providing an output signal when the output signals from said first sensing means and the address code in said entry means is identical, and means for disengaging said first guide means from said spiral groove when said output signal is produced, whereby said magnetic sensing means is moved to a specific radial position whenever a specific address code is entered into said entry means.

Claim 13

A random access memory system comprising a memory disk rotatable about a fixed axis, means for rotating said memory disk about said axis, a continuous generally spiral groove inscribed on a surface of said disk about the axis of rotation of said disk and extending over only a radial portion thereof, a series of identifying signals associated with said groove indicative of the location of specific radial portions Of the groove, guide means for engaging said groove to move along said spiral upon rotation of said disk, said guide means including a sensing means for sensing the identifying signals associated with said groove, means for positioning said guide means within said spiral groove, a concentric band of magnetizable material carried on a surface of said disk radially outside of said first spiral groove, a series of digital signals being contained on said magnetizable surface in ordered sequence, means for sensing magnetic signals being mounted in association with said guide means such that it is in fixed spatial relationship to said guide means in a plane parallel to the plane of rotation of said disk; address entry means for entering an address code indicative of a specific portion of said spiral groove; decoder means responsive to the output signals from said first sensing means and to the address code entered into said entry means and providing an output signal when the output signals from said first sensing means and the address code in said entry means is identical, and means for disengaging said first guide means from said spiral groove when said output signal is produced, whereby said magnetic sensing means is moved to a specific radial position whenever a specific address code is entered into said entry means.

Claim 14

A random access memory sensing means in accordance with claim 10 wherein said identifying signals are carried in said first spiral groove as a series of mechanical undulations representing a digital code and wherein said guide means includes a phonograph stylus.

Claim 15

A random access memory system comprising, a memory disk rotatable about a fixed axis, means for rotating said memory disk about said axis, a first continuous generally spiral groove characterized by a first pitch inscribed on a surface of said disk, the axis of said spiral being the axis of rotation of said disk, said groove extending over only a first radial portion of said disk, a series of identifying signals associated with said first spiral groove in an ordered sequence such that specific identifying signals are indicative of the location of specific portions of the first spiral groove, a first guide means for engaging said groove to move along said spiral upon rotation of said disk, said guide means including a sensing means for sensing the identifying signals associated with said first groove, means for positioning said guide means within said first spiral groove, a second spiral groove characterized by a higher pitch than said first spiral groove and inscribed concentric with said first spiral groove but radially outside of said first spiral groove, a concentric band of magnetizable material carried on the surface of said disk radially outside of said second spiral groove, a series of digital signals being contained on said magnetizable surface in ordered sequence, second guide means for engaging said second spiral groove to move along said second spiral groove upon rotation of said disk, magnetic sensing means carried by said second guide means in a position such that when said second guide means is engaged in said second spiral groove said magnetic sensing means is in juxtaposition to said band of magnetizable material, address entry means for entering an address code indicative of a specific portion of said first spiral groove, decoder means responsive to the output signals from said first sensing means and the address code entered into said entry means and providing an output signal when the output signals from said first sensing means and the address code in said entry means is identical, and means for disengaging said first guide means from said first spiral groove when said output signal is produced and for engaging said second guide means in said second spiral grooves after said first guide means has been disengaged.

Claim 16

A random access memory system comprising, a memory disk rotatable about a fixed axis, means for rotating said memory disk about said axis, a first continuous generally spiral groove characterized by a first pitch inscribed on a surface of said disk, the axis of said spiral being the axis of rotation of said disk, said groove extending over only a first radial portion of said disk, a series of identifying signals associated with said first spiral groove in an ordered sequence such that specific identifying signals are indicative of the location of specific portions of the first spiral groove, a first guide means for engaging said groove to move along said spiral upon rotation of said disk, said guide means including a sensing means for sensing the identifying signals associated with said first groove, means for positioning said guide means within said first spiral groove, a second spiral groove characterized by a higher pitch than said first spiral groove and inscribed concentric with said first spiral groove but radially outside of said first spiral groove, a concentric band of magnetizable material carried on the surface of said disk radially outside of said second spiral groove, a series of digital signals being contained on said magnetizable surface in ordered sequence, second guide means for engaging said second spiral groove to move along said second spiral groove upon rotation of said disk, magnetic sensing means carried by said second guide means in a position such that when said second guide means is engaged in said second spiral groove said magnetic sensing means is in juxtaposition to said band of magnetizable material, address entry means for entering an address code indicative of a specific portion of said first spiral groove, decoder means responsive to the output signals from said first sensing means and the address code entered into said entry means and providing an output signal when the output signals from said first sensing means and the address code in said entry means is identical, and means for disengaging said first guide means from said first spiral groove when said output signal is produced and for engaging said second guide means in said second spiral grooves after said first guide means has been disengaged.

Claim 17

A random access memory system comprising, a storage mediUm rotatable about a fixed axis, said storage medium carrying information at predetermined locations within it, means for rotating said storage medium about said axis, a continuous generally spiral groove inscribed on a surface of said medium, the axis of said spiral being the axis of rotation of said medium, a series of address signals associated with said groove in an ordered sequence such that a specific sequence of signals is indicative of the location of a specific portion of the groove, guide means for engaging said groove to move along said spiral upon rotation of said medium, means for positioning said guide means within said groove, sensing means associated with said guide means for sensing the address signals associated with said groove, address entry means for entering an address code indicative of the portion of said groove to be accessed, said positioning means being responsive to said entered address to position said guide means in a position on said storage medium related to said entered address code, and decoder means responsive to the output signals from said sensing means and to the address code in said entry means to provide an output indication when said guide means is positioned in the addressed portion of said groove whereby the information stored at said entered address may be ascertained.

Claim 18

A random access memory system comprising, a storage mediUm rotatable about a fixed axis, said storage medium carrying information at predetermined locations within it, means for rotating said storage medium about said axis, a continuous generally spiral groove inscribed on a surface of said medium, the axis of said spiral being the axis of rotation of said medium, a series of address signals associated with said groove in an ordered sequence such that a specific sequence of signals is indicative of the location of a specific portion of the groove, guide means for engaging said groove to move along said spiral upon rotation of said medium, means for positioning said guide means within said groove, sensing means associated with said guide means for sensing the address signals associated with said groove, address entry means for entering an address code indicative of the portion of said groove to be accessed, said positioning means being responsive to said entered address to position said guide means in a position on said storage medium related to said entered address code, and decoder means responsive to the output signals from said sensing means and to the address code in said entry means to provide an output indication when said guide means is positioned in the addressed portion of said groove whereby the information stored at said entered address may be ascertained.

Claim 19

A memory system in accordance with claim 13 wherein after said guide means is positioned in the addressed position of said groove, said sensing means provides output signals indicative of the information carried at that portion of the medium indicated by said address code.

Claim 20

A memory system in accordance with claim 13 wherein said address signals are carried within said groove in the form of mechanical undulations representing a sequence of digital signals and wherein said guide means and said sensing means comprise a phonograph stylus.

Claim 21

A memory system in accordance with claim 13 wherein said address signals associated with the groove represent incremental signals located at specific positions along said spiral groove and wherein said decoder means accumulates the sensed incremental address signals.

Claim 22

A random access memory system in accordance with claim 13 wherein said positioning means responds to the entered address such that it positions said guide means in said spiral groove at a position further out in the spiral than the specific portion of the groove identified by the entered address signals.

Claim 23

A memory system in accordance with claim 13 wherein the information carried within said storage medium is in the form of a series of digital signals within said spiral groove.

Claim 24

A memory system in accordance with claim 18 wherein the series of address signals within the groove are contained within the series of digital signals representing the information carried by said storage medium.

Claim 25

A memory system in accordance with claim 18 wherein the information stored at the entered address is sensed by the same sensing means which senses the address signals.

Claim 26

A memory disk having a first continuous generally spiral groove inscribed on a surface thereof, said first spiral groove being formed with a first pitch; a second spiral groove inscribed on the surface of said disk, said second spiral groove being disconnected from and concentric with said first spiral groove and lying radially outside said first spiral groove, said second spiral groove having a higher pitch than said first spiral groove, said second spiral groove being mechanically modulated as a function of digital signals arranged in an ordered sequence providing unique address identifications of successive portions of said first groove.

Claim 27

A memory disk having a first continuous generally spiral groove inscribed on a surface thereof, said first spiral groove being formed with a first pitch; a second spiral groove inscribed on the surface of said disk, said second spiral groove being disconnected from and concentric with said first spiral groove and lying radially outside said first spiral groove, said second spiral groove having a higher pitch than said first spiral groove, said second spiral groove being mechanically modulated as a function of digital signals arranged in an ordered sequence providing unique address identifications of successive portions of said first groove.

Claim 28

A memory disk having a first continuous generally spiral groove inscribed on a surface thereof, said first spiral groove being formed with a first pitch; a second spiral groove inscribed on the surface of said disk, said second spiral groove being concentric with and disconnected fRom said first spiral groove and lying radially outside said first spiral groove, said second spiral groove having a higher pitch than said first spiral groove, wherein said first groove is formed as a series of interconnected segments of concentric circles having a radial step at each interconnection.

Claim 29

A memory disk having a first continuous generally spiral groove inscribed on a surface thereof, said first spiral groove being formed with a first pitch; a second spiral groove inscribed on the surface of said disk, said second spiral groove being concentric with and disconnected fRom said first spiral groove and lying radially outside said first spiral groove, said second spiral groove having a higher pitch than said first spiral groove, wherein said first groove is formed as a series of interconnected segments of concentric circles having a radial step at each interconnection.

Claim 30

A memory disk having a first continuous generally spiral groove characterized by a first pitch inscribed on a surface thereof, said groove extending over only a first radial portion of said disk; a second spiral groove characterized by a higher pitch than said first spiral groove disconnected from and inscribed concentric with said first spiral groove but radially outside of said first spiral groove; a concentric band of magnetizable material carried on the surface of said disk radially outside of the outer periphery of said second spiral groove.

Claim 31

A memory disk having a first continuous generally spiral groove characterized by a first pitch inscribed on a surface thereof, said groove extending over only a first radial portion of said disk; a second spiral groove characterized by a higher pitch than said first spiral groove disconnected from and inscribed concentric with said first spiral groove but radially outside of said first spiral groove; a concentric band of magnetizable material carried on the surface of said disk radially outside of the outer periphery of said second spiral groove.

Claim 32

A digital storage medium for use with a random access memory means having a radially movable arm carrying a stylus wherein said arm is moved radially in response to a digital address code entered into said system, the amount of radial distance being computed as the difference between the entered digital address and the initial position of the arm, said storage medium comprising a continuous spiral groove, said groove being mechanically modulated as a function of high bit density digital signals, said groove having a plurality of successive grooved portions, each radial turn being designated by a unique address, the modulations in each portion including digital address signals signifying the radial position of that portion, and corresponding to the digital address entered into said system to position said arm at said radial position, and a plurality of groups of high bit density digital information signals recorded on said storage medium, each group having a unique address corresponding to the address of one of said groove portions, said digital information signals being stored in a radial position having a fixed relation to the radial position of the portion of said groove storing its address, said groove being formed to guide sensing means to reproduce said digital information signals, wherein said digital information signals are recorded as mechanical modulations in the same groove as the said digital address signals, and wherein said digital address and information signals are recorded as first and second sets of orthogonally related undulations.

Claim 33

A digital storage medium for use with a random access memory means having a radially movable arm carrying a stylus wherein said arm is moved radially in response to a digital address code entered into said system, the amount of radial distance being computed as the difference between the entered digital address and the initial position of the arm, said storage medium comprising a continuous spiral groove, said groove being mechanically modulated as a function of high bit density digital signals, said groove having a plurality of successive grooved portions, each radial turn being designated by a unique address, the modulations in each portion including digital address signals signifying the radial position of that portion, and corresponding to the digital address entered into said system to position said arm at said radial position, and a plurality of groups of high bit density digital information signals recorded on said storage medium, each group having a unique address corresponding to the address of one of said groove portions, said digital information signals being stored in a radial position having a fixed relation to the radial position of the portion of said groove storing its address, said groove being formed to guide sensing means to reproduce said digital information signals, wherein said digital information signals are recorded as mechanical modulations in the same groove as the said digital address signals, and wherein said digital address and information signals are recorded as first and second sets of orthogonally related undulations.

Claim 34

A digital storage medium for use with a random access memory means having a radially movable arm carrying a sensing means, comprising a continuous spiral groove, said groove being mechanically modulated as a function of high bit density digital signals, said groove having a plurality of successive grooved portions, each portion being designated by a unique address, the modulations in each portion including digital address signals signifying the address of that portion, and a plurality of groups of high bit density digital information signals recorded on said storage medium, each group having a unique address corresponding to the address of one of said groove portions, said digital information signals being stored in a radial position having a fixed relation to the radial position of the portion of said groove storing its address, said groove being formed to guide sensing means to reproduce said digital information signals, and wherein sais storage medium is a disk, said disk carrying a concentric band of magnetizable material on a surface thereof radially outside said spiral groove, said digital information signals being recorded on said magnetizable surface in a track having a fixed spatial relationship to said spiral groove.

Claim 35

A digital storage medium for use with a random access memory means having a radially movable arm carrying a sensing means, comprising a continuous spiral groove, said groove being mechanically modulated as a function of high bit density digital signals, said groove having a plurality of successive grooved portions, each portion being designated by a unique address, the modulations in each portion including digital address signals signifying the address of that portion, and a plurality of groups of high bit density digital information signals recorded on said storage medium, each group having a unique address corresponding to the address of one of said groove portions, said digital information signals being stored in a radial position having a fixed relation to the radial position of the portion of said groove storing its address, said groove being formed to guide sensing means to reproduce said digital information signals, and wherein sais storage medium is a disk, said disk carrying a concentric band of magnetizable material on a surface thereof radially outside said spiral groove, said digital information signals being recorded on said magnetizable surface in a track having a fixed spatial relationship to said spiral groove.

Claim 36

A digital storage medium for use with a random access memory means having a radially movable arm carrying a stylus wherein said arm is moved radially in response to a digital address code entered into said system, the amount of radial distance being computed as the difference between the entered digital address and the initial poSition of the arm, said storage medium comprising a continuous spiral groove, said groove being mechanically modulated as a function of high bit density digital signals, said groove having a plurality of successive grooved portions, each radial turn being designated by a unique address, the modulations in each portion including digital address signals signifying the radial position of that portion, and corresponding to the digital address entered into said system to position said arm at said radial position, and a plurality of groups of high bit density digital information signals recorded on said storage medium, each group having a unique address corresponding to the address of one of said groove portions, said digital information signals being stored in a radial position having a fixed relation to the radial position of the portion of said groove storing its address, said groove being formed to guide sensing means to reproduce said digital information signals.

Claim 37

A digital storage medium for use with a random access memory means having a radially movable arm carrying a stylus wherein said arm is moved radially in response to a digital address code entered into said system, the amount of radial distance being computed as the difference between the entered digital address and the initial poSition of the arm, said storage medium comprising a continuous spiral groove, said groove being mechanically modulated as a function of high bit density digital signals, said groove having a plurality of successive grooved portions, each radial turn being designated by a unique address, the modulations in each portion including digital address signals signifying the radial position of that portion, and corresponding to the digital address entered into said system to position said arm at said radial position, and a plurality of groups of high bit density digital information signals recorded on said storage medium, each group having a unique address corresponding to the address of one of said groove portions, said digital information signals being stored in a radial position having a fixed relation to the radial position of the portion of said groove storing its address, said groove being formed to guide sensing means to reproduce said digital information signals.

Claim 38

A digital storage medium as recited in claim 26, wherein said information signals in each group are recorded in an ordered sequence.

Claim 39

A digital storage medium as recited in claim 26, wherein said storage medium is a phonograph record disk.

Claim 40

A digital storage medium as recited in claim 26, wherein said digital information signals are recorded as mechanical modulations in the same groove as the said digital address signals.