US3735367A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic resistance memory
Assignee: Currier Smith Corp
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Filing: 1970-04-29
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Granted: 1973-05-22
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Expires: 1990-04-29
Abstract
Abstract A resistance value represents a digit. A voltage difference applied across each resistance in predetermined sequence produces a current inversely proportional to the resistance value. This current charges a capacitor until the voltage across the capacitor reaches a predetermined biasing potential that causes a following transistor to conduct at a time inversely proportional to current, and, hence, directly proportional to the resistance. The time interval thus defined may gate through a number of pulses from a pulse source that may function as telephone dialing pulses, the number being proportional to the selected resistor.
Inventors
- 👤 V Bennett
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 20:36
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/26; H04M1/27; H04M1/272; H04M1/2725; G; G11; G11C; G11C17/00; G11C17/14; G11C17/16; H03; H03M; H03M1/00; H03M1/12; H03M1/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
223 words
Apparatus for storing information comprising, a plurality of resistive means, means for selectively establishing a predetermined d-c potential difference of constant magnitude across any selected one of said resistive means to provide a current of magnitude that is the ratio of the magnitude of said predetermined potentiAl difference to the magnitude of the impedance of the selected resistive means, means for detecting the magnitude of said current comprising, capacitive means, means for delivering said current to said capacitive means to provide a potential across said capacitive means that is a linear function of time, a source of reference potential, means responsive to the potential on said capacitive means bearing a predetermined relationship to said reference potential for providing an output signal, sources of first and second d-c potentials, a first transistor having its emitter coupled to a common terminal, its collector coupled to said capacitive means and its base coupled to said second potential source, a plurality of selection terminals each coupled to respective ones of said resistive means, means for jointly coupling a plurality of said resistive means to said common terminal, and means for selectively coupling said first potential source to respective ones of said selection terminals to establish said predetermined potential difference across selected ones of said resistive means corresponding substantially to the difference between said first and second potentials.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
223 words
Apparatus for storing information comprising, a plurality of resistive means, means for selectively establishing a predetermined d-c potential difference of constant magnitude across any selected one of said resistive means to provide a current of magnitude that is the ratio of the magnitude of said predetermined potentiAl difference to the magnitude of the impedance of the selected resistive means, means for detecting the magnitude of said current comprising, capacitive means, means for delivering said current to said capacitive means to provide a potential across said capacitive means that is a linear function of time, a source of reference potential, means responsive to the potential on said capacitive means bearing a predetermined relationship to said reference potential for providing an output signal, sources of first and second d-c potentials, a first transistor having its emitter coupled to a common terminal, its collector coupled to said capacitive means and its base coupled to said second potential source, a plurality of selection terminals each coupled to respective ones of said resistive means, means for jointly coupling a plurality of said resistive means to said common terminal, and means for selectively coupling said first potential source to respective ones of said selection terminals to establish said predetermined potential difference across selected ones of said resistive means corresponding substantially to the difference between said first and second potentials.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
128 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising, switching control means for establishing said potential difference across a selected one of said impedance means, a source of clock pulses, an output terminal, means responsive to the commencement of establishment of said potential difference across a selected impedance means for initiating the transfer of clock pulses from said clock pulse source to said output terminal, and means responsive to the occurrence of said output signal for ending the transfer of said clock pulses to said output terminal, whereby the number of pulses during the time interval between said commencement and said ending transmitted to said output terminal is directly proportional to said current magnitude and representative of the magnitude of the impedance of the then selected impedance means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising, means responsive to said output signal for restoring the potential on said capacitive means to a predetermined initial value.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
149 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said resistive means are arranged in a multidimensional matrix and further comprising, means for connecting first ends of each of said resistive means to an associated one of a group of selectable terminals whereby respective first subgroups of said resistive means are associated with respective ones of said selectable terminals, and means for coupling second ends of each of said resistive means selectively to a common output whereby respective second subgroups different from said first subgroups of said resistive means are associated with respective one of the latter means for coupling, each of said first subgroups having only one of said resistive means that is also a member of a second subgroup, and means for selecting a first subgroup and a second subgroup to establish said predetermined potential difference across the resistive means common to the first and second subgroups then selected.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said capacitive means is connected to said common output, and the selected means for coupling the second ends comprises means for delivering said current to said capacitive means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
100 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein each of said means for coupling comprises, a transistor having its emitter coupled to a second group of said second ends, its base coupled to said source of a second potential and switching means for coupling the transistor collector to said common output, and means for selectively coupling said first potential source to respective ones of said selectable terminals and for selectively closing respective ones of said switching means to establish said predetermined potential dIfference across selected ones of said resistive means corresponding substantially to the difference between said first and second potentials.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
125 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 and further comprising, switching control means for establishing said potential difference across a selected one of said resistive means, a source of clock pulses, an output terminal, means responsive to the commencement of establishment of said potential difference across a selected resistive means for initiating the transfer of clock pulses from said clock pulse source to said output terminal, and means responsive to the occurrence of said output signal for ending the transfer of said clock pulses to said output terminal, whereby the number of pulses during the time interval between said commencement and said ending transmitted to said output terminal is directly proportional to said current magnitude and representative of the resistance of the then selected resistive means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 7 and further comprising, means responsive to said output signal for restoring the potential on said capacitive means to a predetermined initial value.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus for storing information in accordance with claim 1 wherein said plurality of resistive means are arranged in a multidimensional matrix with each resistive means identifiable by a uniquely identified matrix element, and said means for selectively establishing includes means for addressing a selected one of said resistive means identifiable by the associated matrix element.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus for storing information in accordance with claim 9 wherein said matrix element is identified by at least its row and column.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-05-21 | 1976-11-20 | 1977-05-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-21 | 1980-11-20 | 1981-05-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-21 | 1984-11-20 | 1985-05-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |