Mass memory organization

Claim 2

A combination comprising a first plurality of sequential memories each for circulating information in closed loop fashion and normally being free of information, said memories being organized in rows and columns, first means responsive to a first signal for erasing information in said memories in selected ones of said rows, second means responsive to a second signal for selectively writing information in each of said memories in a selected one of said rows, third means for selectively reading information in each of said memories in said columns, a second memory associated with each of said first plurality of sequential memories, and means for transferring information from said second to associated ones of said first memories in a selected one of said rows and for returning information from said first to associated second memOries along said selected row in a timed sequence.

Claim 3

A combination comprising a first plurality of sequential memories each for circulating information in closed loop fashion and normally being free of information, said memories being organized in rows and columns, first means responsive to a first signal for erasing information in said memories in selected ones of said rows, second means responsive to a second signal for selectively writing information in each of said memories in a selected one of said rows, third means for selectively reading information in each of said memories in said columns, a second memory associated with each of said first plurality of sequential memories, and means for transferring information from said second to associated ones of said first memories in a selected one of said rows and for returning information from said first to associated second memOries along said selected row in a timed sequence.

Claim 4

A combination comprising a first plurality of sequential memories each for circulating information in closed loop fashion and normally being free of information, said memories being organized in rows and columns, first means responsive to a first signal for erasing information in said memories in selected ones of said rows, second means responsive to a second signal for selectively writing information in each of said memories in a selected one of said rows, third means for selectively reading information in each of said memories in said columns, a second memory associated with each of said first plurality of sequential memories, and means for transferring information from said second to associated ones of said first memories in a selected one of said rows and for returning information from said first to associated second memOries along said selected row in a timed sequence.

Claim 5

A combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of sequential memories comprises a layer of material in which single wall domains can be moved and is defined by a pattern of elements which provide changing pole patterns for moving single wall domains responsive to a reorienting in-plane field.

Claim 6

A combination in accordance with claim 2 wherein each of said second memories comprises a plurality of channels defined by said patterns of elements for circulating domains thereabout, each of said channels including a transfer position through which consecutive bits in said channel pass in response to said reorienting in-plane field.

Claim 7

A combination in accordance with claim 3 wherein said means for transferring comprises an electrical conductor encompassing the ones of said first sequential memories disposed in an associated row and coupling the transfer positions of the ones of said second memories associated with each first memory so encompassed for transferring bits of information therebetween when pulsed.

Claim 8

A combination in accordance with claim 4 wherein said first means comprises a first spur track defined by said magnetic pattern and including a domain annihilator for annihilating domains moved thereto in response to said reorienting in-plane field and an electrical conductor for transferring bits of information from said first memories to associated first spur tracks for annihilation when pulsed.

Claim 9

A combination in accordance with claim 5 wherein said second means comprises a second spur track associated with each of said first memories and includes a domain generator at its beginning and terminates in a domain annihilator for annihilating domains not transferred from said second spur track to the associated one of said first memories, and an electrical conductor for selectively transferring domains from said second spur track to said associated first memory in said columns.

Claim 10

A combination in accordance with claim 6 wherein alternate ones of said first memories along one of said rows is an upside down mirror image of the adjacent one of said first memories.

Claim 11

A combination in accordance with claim 7 wherein said third means comprises a detector at a first position in each of four neighboring ones of said first memories in pairs in adjacent ones of said rows and columns and includes an amplifier connected in a bridge organization for each group of four detectors in said neighboring ones of said first memories.

Claim 12

A combination in accordance with claim 8 wherein each of said detectors of said pair of neighboring first memories in a first row are connected between a current source and inputs to said amplifier and each of said detectors of said pairs in a second row are connected between said inputs and ground.

Claim 13

A combination in accordance with claim 3 wherein said elements comprise magnetically soft material and including means for providing said reorienting in-plane field.

Claim 14

A combination comprising, first, second, third and fourth slices of magnetic material in each of which single wall domains can be moved, a pattern of magnetic element juxtaposed with each of said slices for defining in each a major and a plurality of minor loops for circulating domain patterns thereabout, means for transferring information between minor loops and the associated major loops for movement of information to a detection position in said associated major loops, a detector at each of said first, second, third and fourth detectors coupled to said first, second, third and fourth slices respectively at said detection positions, an amplifier having first and second inputs and an output, said first and second detectors being connected between a signal source and said first and second inputs to said amplifier respectively, said third and fourth detectors being connected between said first and second inputs and ground.

Claim 15

A combination comprising, first, second, third and fourth slices of magnetic material in each of which single wall domains can be moved, a pattern of magnetic element juxtaposed with each of said slices for defining in each a major and a plurality of minor loops for circulating domain patterns thereabout, means for transferring information between minor loops and the associated major loops for movement of information to a detection position in said associated major loops, a detector at each of said first, second, third and fourth detectors coupled to said first, second, third and fourth slices respectively at said detection positions, an amplifier having first and second inputs and an output, said first and second detectors being connected between a signal source and said first and second inputs to said amplifier respectively, said third and fourth detectors being connected between said first and second inputs and ground.

Claim 16

A combination in accordance with claim 11 including mEans for providing a magnetic field reorienting in the plane of said slices for generating changing pole patterns in said elements for moving domains synchronously in said major and minor loops.

Claim 17

A combination in accordance with claim 12 wherein said elements are magnetically soft material in a repetitive pattern to respond to said field for moving domains as said field rotates in said plane.

Claim 18

A combination in accordance with claim 13 wherein each period of said repetitive pattern includes first and second positions for domains when said field has first and second orientation 180* apart and said detectors of said first and second slices occupy said first positions in their respective major loops and said detectors of said third and fourth slices occupy second positions.

Claim 19

A combination in accordance with claim 13 wherein said pattern of elements of said slices are alike having said detectors of all of said slices positioned in like positions with respect to said pattern, said third and fourth slices being rotated about an axis normal to the plane of the slice 180* with respect to the patterns of said first and second slices.

Claim 20

A combination in accordance with claim 14 also including transfer means comprising first and second conductors coupled to said major loops in said first and second and said third and fourth slices respectively for moving information from said minor loops into the associated one of said major loops and for returning said information to the originating minor loops in a timed sequence responsive to a first signal.