Random access magnetic storage system with movable transducer

Claim 2

A magnetic storage system comprising means defining a plurality of magnetic tracks operable to store recorded information, a magnetic transducer operable to perform transducing operations in each of said magnetic tracks, a plurality of pairs of electronic valves of the type which are rendered conductive by the application of an enabling signal to a gate electrode of the valve and which are rendered non-conductive by the application of a reverse voltage to the valve, control means corresponding to each pair of valves operable to be driven to a first condition in response to conduction of one electronic valve of the corresponding pair and to a second condition in response to the conduction of the other electronic valve of the corresponding pair, means selectively operable to apply a signal to the gate electrode of either electronic valve of each of said pairs, means responsive to both of said electronic valves being conductive to apply a reverse voltage to both the valves of such pair while the enabling signal is being applied to the gate electrode of one of the valves of such pair, said reverse voltage terminating before said enabling signal terminates, means to position said transducer in accordance with the combination of output conditions of said control means operating to position said transducer in transducing relationship with a different one of said magnetic tracks for each different combination of output conditions of said control means and means responsive to both the electronic valves of any one of said pairs being conductive to provide an output signal indicating that said transducer is going to be moved to a different track.

Claim 3

A magnetic storage system as recited in claim 1 wherein each of said control means is a solenoid having an actuator which is moved to a first position when such solenoid is in said first output condition and which is moved to a second position when such solenoid is in said second output condition.

Claim 4

A magnetic storage system as recited in claim 1 wherein each of said electronic valves is a silicon controlled rectifier.

Claim 5

A magnetic storage system as recited in claim 1 wherein there is provided means responsive to said motion anticipation signal to disable said transducer until said means to position said transducer has completed the operation of positioning said transducer in accordance with the output conditions of said control means.

Claim 6

A magnetic storage system comprising means defining at least two magnetic tracks for storing recorded information, a transducer operable to perform transducing operations in each of said magnetic tracks, first and second electronic valves of the type which are rendered conductive by the application of an enabling signal to a gate electrode and which are rendered non-conductive by the application of a reverse voltage to the valve, control means operable to be driven to a first condition in response to coNduction of said first electronic valve and to a second condition in response to conduction of said second electronic valve, means selectively operable to apply enabling signals to the gate electrode of either said first electronic valve or said second electronic valve, means responsive to conduction of both of said electronic valves to apply a reverse voltage to both of said electronic valves while said enabling signal is being applied to the gate electrode of one of said electronic valves, said reverse voltage terminating before said enabling signal terminates, means to position said transducer in transducing relationship with a first one of said tracks in response to said control means being in said first position and to position said magnetic transducer in transducing relationship with another of said magnetic tracks in response to said control means being in said second condition, and means responsive to both of said valves conducting to provide an output signal indicating that said transducer is going to be moved to a different track.

Claim 7

A magnetic storage system comprising means defining at least two magnetic tracks for storing recorded information, a transducer operable to perform transducing operations in each of said magnetic tracks, first and second electronic valves of the type which are rendered conductive by the application of an enabling signal to a gate electrode and which are rendered non-conductive by the application of a reverse voltage to the valve, control means operable to be driven to a first condition in response to coNduction of said first electronic valve and to a second condition in response to conduction of said second electronic valve, means selectively operable to apply enabling signals to the gate electrode of either said first electronic valve or said second electronic valve, means responsive to conduction of both of said electronic valves to apply a reverse voltage to both of said electronic valves while said enabling signal is being applied to the gate electrode of one of said electronic valves, said reverse voltage terminating before said enabling signal terminates, means to position said transducer in transducing relationship with a first one of said tracks in response to said control means being in said first position and to position said magnetic transducer in transducing relationship with another of said magnetic tracks in response to said control means being in said second condition, and means responsive to both of said valves conducting to provide an output signal indicating that said transducer is going to be moved to a different track.

Claim 8

A magnetic storage system as recited in claim 5 wherein each of said control means comprises a solenoid having an armature which is moved to a first position when such control means is in said first condition and is moved to a second position when such control means is in said second condition.

Claim 9

A magnetic storage system as recited in claim 5 wherein said electronic valves are silicon controlled rectifiers.

Claim 10

A magnetic storage system as recited in claim 5 wherein there is provided means responsive to said motion anticipation signal to disable said transducer until said means to position said transducer has moved said transducer to a new track.

Claim 11

A control circuit comprising first and second electronic valves of the type which are rendered conductive by the application of an enabling signal to a gate electrode and which are rendered non-conductive by the application of a reverse voltage to the valve, output device operable to be driven to a first condition in response to conduction of said first electronic valve and to a second condition in response to conduction of said second electronic valve, means selectively operable to apply an enabling signal to the gate electrode of either said first electronic valve or said second electronic valve, means responsive to both said electronic valves being conductive to apply a reverse voltage to both said electronic valves while said enabling signal is being applied to the gate electrode of one of said valves, said reverse voltage terminating before said enabling signal terminates, and means responsive to both of said valves conducting to provide an output signal indicating that said output device is going to change conditions.

Claim 12

A control circuit comprising first and second electronic valves of the type which are rendered conductive by the application of an enabling signal to a gate electrode and which are rendered non-conductive by the application of a reverse voltage to the valve, output device operable to be driven to a first condition in response to conduction of said first electronic valve and to a second condition in response to conduction of said second electronic valve, means selectively operable to apply an enabling signal to the gate electrode of either said first electronic valve or said second electronic valve, means responsive to both said electronic valves being conductive to apply a reverse voltage to both said electronic valves while said enabling signal is being applied to the gate electrode of one of said valves, said reverse voltage terminating before said enabling signal terminates, and means responsive to both of said valves conducting to provide an output signal indicating that said output device is going to change conditions.

Claim 13

A control circuit as recited in claim 9 wherein said output device comprises a positioner which moves to a first position when said output device is in a first condition and moves to a second position when said output device is in a second condition.

Claim 14

A control circuit as recited in claim 9 wherein said electronic valves comprise silicon controlled rectifiers.

Claim 15

A magnetic storage system comprising means defining a plurality of magnetic tracks operative to store recorded information, a plurality of magnetic transducers each movable to perform transducing operations in a plurality of said tracks, an address register for storing an address selecting one of said tracks, means responsive to the address stored in said register to select one of said transducers and move the selected transducer into transducing relationship with the selected track, means operative upon the registration of each new address in said address register to produce a motion anticipation signal only if such new address requires motion of the selected transducer, means to generate an in-position signal indication when the transducer selected by the new address arrives at the track selected by the new address, and means responsive to said motion anticipation signal to controL the transducing operations of said transducers in a manner to permit transducing operations by the transducer selected by such new address immediately following the registration of such new address in said address register if said motion anticipation signal is not produced and to prevent transducing operations by the transducer selected by such new address at least in some instances until an interval after said in-position signal is generated if said motion anticipation signal is produced.

Claim 16

A magnetic storage system comprising means defining a plurality of magnetic tracks operative to store recorded information, a plurality of magnetic transducers each movable to perform transducing operations in a plurality of said tracks, an address register for storing an address selecting one of said tracks, means responsive to the address stored in said register to select one of said transducers and move the selected transducer into transducing relationship with the selected track, means operative upon the registration of each new address in said address register to produce a motion anticipation signal only if such new address requires motion of the selected transducer, means to generate an in-position signal indication when the transducer selected by the new address arrives at the track selected by the new address, and means responsive to said motion anticipation signal to controL the transducing operations of said transducers in a manner to permit transducing operations by the transducer selected by such new address immediately following the registration of such new address in said address register if said motion anticipation signal is not produced and to prevent transducing operations by the transducer selected by such new address at least in some instances until an interval after said in-position signal is generated if said motion anticipation signal is produced.

Claim 17

A magnetic storage system as recited in claim 12 wherein said transducers are mounted in a common support so that all of the transducers are movable together as a unit and wherein said means responsive to said motion anticipation signal disables all of said transducers at least in some instances until an interval after said in-position signal is generated if said motion anticipation signal is produced.

Claim 18

A magnetic storage system comprising means defining a plurality of magnetic tracks operative to store recorded information, a plurality of magnetic transducers each movable to perform transducing operations in a plurality of said tracks, an address register for storing an address selecting one of said tracks, a plurality of control means each having an armature selectively movable between a first position and a second position, means to operate said control means to position the armatures thereof in a combination of positions corresponding to the address stored in said address register, a mechanical linkage connecting said armatures with said transducers adapted to position said transducers in transducing relationship with a different set of tracks for each different combination of output positions of said armatures and positioning a selected one of said transducers in transducing relationship with the track selected by the address in said address register, means operative upon the registration of each new address in said address register to produce a motion anticipation signal only if such new address requires motion of said transducers to position a selected one of said transducers in transducing relationship with the track selected by the address in said address register, and means responsive to said motion anticipation signal to control the transducing operation of said transducers in a manner to permit transducing operations by a selected one of said transducers immediately following registration of a new address in said address register if said motion anticipation signal is not produced and to prevent transducing operations by said transducers until a selected one of said transducers has been moved into transducing relationship with the track selected by the address in said address register if said motion anticipation signal is produced.

Claim 19

A magnetic storage system comprising means defining a plurality of magnetic tracks operative to store recorded information, a plurality of magnetic transducers each movable to perform transducing operations in a plurality of said tracks, an address register for storing an address selecting one of said tracks, a plurality of control means each having an armature selectively movable between a first position and a second position, means to operate said control means to position the armatures thereof in a combination of positions corresponding to the address stored in said address register, a mechanical linkage connecting said armatures with said transducers adapted to position said transducers in transducing relationship with a different set of tracks for each different combination of output positions of said armatures and positioning a selected one of said transducers in transducing relationship with the track selected by the address in said address register, means operative upon the registration of each new address in said address register to produce a motion anticipation signal only if such new address requires motion of said transducers to position a selected one of said transducers in transducing relationship with the track selected by the address in said address register, and means responsive to said motion anticipation signal to control the transducing operation of said transducers in a manner to permit transducing operations by a selected one of said transducers immediately following registration of a new address in said address register if said motion anticipation signal is not produced and to prevent transducing operations by said transducers until a selected one of said transducers has been moved into transducing relationship with the track selected by the address in said address register if said motion anticipation signal is produced.

Claim 20

A magnetic storage system comprising means defining a plurality of magnetic tracks operated to store recorded information, a magnetic transducer movable to perform transducing operations in a plurality of said tracks, means responsive to the address stored in said register to move said transducer into transducing relationship with the selected track, means operative upon the registration of each new address in said address register to produce a motion anticipation signal only if such new address required motion of said transducer, means to generate an in-position signal indication when said transducer arrives at the track selected by the new address in said address register, and means responsive to said motion anticipation signal to control the transducing operation of said transducer in a manner to permit transducing operations by said transducer immediately following the registration of a new address in said address register if said motion anticipation signal is not produced and to prevent transducing operations by said transducer at least in some instances until an interval after said in-position signal is generated if said motion anticipation signal is produced.

Claim 21

A magnetic storage system comprising means defining a plurality of magnetic tracks operated to store recorded information, a magnetic transducer movable to perform transducing operations in a plurality of said tracks, means responsive to the address stored in said register to move said transducer into transducing relationship with the selected track, means operative upon the registration of each new address in said address register to produce a motion anticipation signal only if such new address required motion of said transducer, means to generate an in-position signal indication when said transducer arrives at the track selected by the new address in said address register, and means responsive to said motion anticipation signal to control the transducing operation of said transducer in a manner to permit transducing operations by said transducer immediately following the registration of a new address in said address register if said motion anticipation signal is not produced and to prevent transducing operations by said transducer at least in some instances until an interval after said in-position signal is generated if said motion anticipation signal is produced.