Patent US3774168A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3774168A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Memory with self-clocking beam access
Assignee: NCR Voyix Corp
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Filing: 1970-08-03
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Granted: 1973-11-20
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Expires: 1990-08-03
Abstract
Abstract There is described a beam accessed metal-oxide semiconductor memory into which binary information can be written and stored and from which that information can be read or erased. The writing, reading, or erasing is accomplished by causing an electron beam of either a high or a low intensity to scan across the gate or drain electrodes of the memory elements while simultaneously applying either a read, a write, or an erase voltage to the gate electrode thereof. There is also described means for controlling the beam position in a self-clocking manner. This is accomplished by providing metal indexing strips along the path which the beam travels and then counting the pulses created in the strips as the beam scans thereacross.
Inventors
- 👤 T Koo
- 👤 K Mccune
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 11:13
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11C; G11C13/00; G11C13/04; G11C13/048; H; H01; H01J; H01J29/00; H01J29/02; H01J29/10; H01J29/36; H01J29/39; H01J29/44; H01J31/00; H01J31/08; H01J31/58; H01J31/60; H10; H10B; H10B99/00; H10B99/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
237 words
A method for directing an energy beam to a specific given point on a target which has thereon a plurality of addressable blocks each including a plurality of memory elements, said given point being in a given block which has at least one coordinate address, said method comprising the steps of: providing at least one block-determining conductor connected to a common point for each predetermined number of blocks; scanning said energy beam across a first path which intersects said block-determining conductors, there being a signal created in each of said block-determining conductors when said energy beam is scanned thereacross; counting the signals applied to said common point from said block-determining conductors; halting said scanning after a certain number of said signals are counted, said certain number being related to said one address of said block; providing a plurality of individual conductors each of which is coupled to said common point, each of said individual conductors being in the proximity of and associated with one of said elements in said given block; scanning said energy beam across a second path in said block which intersects each element and each associated individual conductor in each block, there being a signal created in each of said individual conductors when said energy beam is scanned thereacross, said second path being a continuation of said first path; and counting the signals applied from each of said individual conductors to said common point.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
237 words
A method for directing an energy beam to a specific given point on a target which has thereon a plurality of addressable blocks each including a plurality of memory elements, said given point being in a given block which has at least one coordinate address, said method comprising the steps of: providing at least one block-determining conductor connected to a common point for each predetermined number of blocks; scanning said energy beam across a first path which intersects said block-determining conductors, there being a signal created in each of said block-determining conductors when said energy beam is scanned thereacross; counting the signals applied to said common point from said block-determining conductors; halting said scanning after a certain number of said signals are counted, said certain number being related to said one address of said block; providing a plurality of individual conductors each of which is coupled to said common point, each of said individual conductors being in the proximity of and associated with one of said elements in said given block; scanning said energy beam across a second path in said block which intersects each element and each associated individual conductor in each block, there being a signal created in each of said individual conductors when said energy beam is scanned thereacross, said second path being a continuation of said first path; and counting the signals applied from each of said individual conductors to said common point.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method according to claim 1 further including the step of adjusting the position of said energy beam after said energy beam has been halted to position said energy beam adjacent to said given block.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 2 further including the steps of: determining which of said elements is inoperative; and disconnecting the individual conductor associated with each inoperative element from said comon point.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
532 words
A method for directing an energy beam to a given point on a target which has thereon a plurality of elements arranged in a plurality of block configurations, each block being in a unique area of said target, said given point being in a given block which is in a given area, said given area having a first and a second coordinate address, said given block having a third coordinate address, said method comprising the steps of: providing a first main conductor along a first portion of said target, said first main conductor having a plurality of first finger conductors extending therefrom, each of said first finger conductors representing a different first coordinate address; providing a second main conductor along a second portion of said target, said second main conductor having a plurality of second finger conductors extending therefrom, each of said second finger conductors representing a different second coordinate address; scanning saId energy beam across said first finger conductors, there being a signal created in each first finger conductor as said energy beam is scanned thereacross, each of said signals being applied to said first main conductor; counting said signals applied to said first main conductor; noting the position of said energy beam after counting a first certain number of said first main conductor signals, said first certain number being related to said first coordinate address; scanning said energy beam across said second finger conductors, there being a signal created in each second finger conductor as said energy beam is scanned thereacross, each of said signals in said second finger conductors being applied to said second main conductor; counting said signals applied to said second main conductor; noting the position of said energy beam after counting a second certain number of said second main conductor signals, said second certain number being related to said second coordinate address; causing said energy beam to go to a point on said target which has the coordinates of said two noted positions of said energy beam; providing at least one third main conductor for a selected number of blocks, each of said third main condcutors being related to said third coordinate address; scanning said energy beam from the point having said two noted positions across said third main conductors, there being a signal created in each of said third main conductors as said energy beam is scanned thereacross; counting the signals created in each of said third main conductors; halting said scanning after a third ceratin number of said third main conductor signals have been counted as a result of said energy beam scanning across a given thrid main conductor, said third certain number being related to said third coordinate address; providing a plurality of third finger conductors each connected to one of said third main conductors, each of said third finger conductors being in the proximity of and associated with one of said elements; scanning said energy beam along a path which intersects the third finger conductors associated with the elements in said given block, there being a third finger conductor signal created in each of said third finger conductors which are scanned by said energy beam; and counting said third finger conductor signals.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
532 words
A method for directing an energy beam to a given point on a target which has thereon a plurality of elements arranged in a plurality of block configurations, each block being in a unique area of said target, said given point being in a given block which is in a given area, said given area having a first and a second coordinate address, said given block having a third coordinate address, said method comprising the steps of: providing a first main conductor along a first portion of said target, said first main conductor having a plurality of first finger conductors extending therefrom, each of said first finger conductors representing a different first coordinate address; providing a second main conductor along a second portion of said target, said second main conductor having a plurality of second finger conductors extending therefrom, each of said second finger conductors representing a different second coordinate address; scanning saId energy beam across said first finger conductors, there being a signal created in each first finger conductor as said energy beam is scanned thereacross, each of said signals being applied to said first main conductor; counting said signals applied to said first main conductor; noting the position of said energy beam after counting a first certain number of said first main conductor signals, said first certain number being related to said first coordinate address; scanning said energy beam across said second finger conductors, there being a signal created in each second finger conductor as said energy beam is scanned thereacross, each of said signals in said second finger conductors being applied to said second main conductor; counting said signals applied to said second main conductor; noting the position of said energy beam after counting a second certain number of said second main conductor signals, said second certain number being related to said second coordinate address; causing said energy beam to go to a point on said target which has the coordinates of said two noted positions of said energy beam; providing at least one third main conductor for a selected number of blocks, each of said third main condcutors being related to said third coordinate address; scanning said energy beam from the point having said two noted positions across said third main conductors, there being a signal created in each of said third main conductors as said energy beam is scanned thereacross; counting the signals created in each of said third main conductors; halting said scanning after a third ceratin number of said third main conductor signals have been counted as a result of said energy beam scanning across a given thrid main conductor, said third certain number being related to said third coordinate address; providing a plurality of third finger conductors each connected to one of said third main conductors, each of said third finger conductors being in the proximity of and associated with one of said elements; scanning said energy beam along a path which intersects the third finger conductors associated with the elements in said given block, there being a third finger conductor signal created in each of said third finger conductors which are scanned by said energy beam; and counting said third finger conductor signals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method according to claim 4 further including the step of adjusting the position of said energy beam after said scanning has been halted as a result of said energy beam scanning across said given third main conductor to position said energy beam adjacent to said given block.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim 5 wherein said energy beam is an electron beam.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
242 words
A self-clock beam accessed memory which has a plurality of memory elements arranged in blocks of elements, said memory being accessed by causing an energy beam to be affected along a given path, said given path intersecting each element in a given block, said memory comprising: a plurality of conductors each of which intersects said given path, each one of a first portion of said conductors being positioned in proximity with and being connected with each individual memory element in said given block and each one of a second portion of said conductors being in proximity with and being associated with at least one block of memory elements, there being a self-clocking signal created in a conductor whenever said energy beam crosses that conductor and wherein digital information may be read from said memory by causing said given path to intersect a certain portion of each element to cause a read signal representative of the information stored in that element to be applied to the individual conductor associated with that element; and logic means responsive to the application thereto of said self-clocking signals for causing said energy beam to be affected in a predetermined manner, said predetermined manner being determined at least in paRt by the then existing number of self-clocking signals which have been applied to said logic means, said read signals being detected by said logic means after certain ones of said self-clocking signals are applied to said logic means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
242 words
A self-clock beam accessed memory which has a plurality of memory elements arranged in blocks of elements, said memory being accessed by causing an energy beam to be affected along a given path, said given path intersecting each element in a given block, said memory comprising: a plurality of conductors each of which intersects said given path, each one of a first portion of said conductors being positioned in proximity with and being connected with each individual memory element in said given block and each one of a second portion of said conductors being in proximity with and being associated with at least one block of memory elements, there being a self-clocking signal created in a conductor whenever said energy beam crosses that conductor and wherein digital information may be read from said memory by causing said given path to intersect a certain portion of each element to cause a read signal representative of the information stored in that element to be applied to the individual conductor associated with that element; and logic means responsive to the application thereto of said self-clocking signals for causing said energy beam to be affected in a predetermined manner, said predetermined manner being determined at least in paRt by the then existing number of self-clocking signals which have been applied to said logic means, said read signals being detected by said logic means after certain ones of said self-clocking signals are applied to said logic means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
91 words
The invention according to claim 7: wherein each of said elements is an insulated-gate field-effect semiconductor device having two main electrodes and a control electrode, said individual conductors of said first portion being connected to one of said main electrodes and said path intersecting the other one of said main electrodes in the event information is to be read from said memory; and wherein a read voltage is applied to the control electrode of each device at the time said energy beam is being directed towards the other main electrode thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
132 words
The invention according to claim 7: wherein each of said elements is an insulated-gate field-effect semiconductor device having two main electrodes and a control electrode, said path intersecting said control electrodes in the event information is to be written into said memory; wherein said digital information includes bits having first and second values; wherein said energy beam has a first intensity when a bit of said first value is to be written and has a second intensity when a bit of said second value is to be written, said beam intensity changing at a time determined by the application to said logic means of a self-clocking signal; and wherein a write voltage is applied to the control electrode of each device at the time said beam is being directed towards that device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
389 words
In a system which includes means for providing an electron beam, at least one integrated circuit target having at least one page, each page having a plurality of insulated-gate field-effect transistor memory elements which are arranged in a configuration which includes a plurality of addressable blocks over a portion of said integrated circuit, and electron beam direction determining and scanning means for scanning said electron beam along a given path, apparatus for controlling the position of said electron beam comprising: a main electrical conductor for each of said blocks, said main conductors extending beyond the portion of said page that includes said elements so that at least some of said main electrical conductors intersect one portion of said given path; a plurality of individual electrical conductors associated with and connected to each main electrical conductor, each of said individual electrical conductors being positioned in proximity with and connected to an associated element, at least some of said individual electrical conductors which are associated with elements that are in a given block intersecting another portion of said path; there being an indexing signal resulting each time said electron beam crosses a main electrical conductor or an individual electrical conductor; and logic means, electrically coupled to said main electrical conductors, for counting said indexing signals which result whenever said beam is directed across a main electrical conductor or an individual electrical conductor while being scanned along said given path, and for controlling said beam direction determining and scanning means in response to the number of indexing signals counted, such that said electron beam direction determining and scanning means causes said electron beam to be scanned over said one portion of the page until said logic means counts sufficient indexing signals to indicate that said beam has reached the main electrical conductor associated with the block having said given element therein; wherein said electron beam direction determining and scanning means includes means for adjusting the position of said electron beam so that said electron beam can be scanned along another portion of said given path; and wherein said electron beam direction determining and scanning means causes said electron beam to be scanned along said another portion of said given path until said logic means counts sufficient indexing signals to indicate that said electron beam has reached a certain element in said block.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
389 words
In a system which includes means for providing an electron beam, at least one integrated circuit target having at least one page, each page having a plurality of insulated-gate field-effect transistor memory elements which are arranged in a configuration which includes a plurality of addressable blocks over a portion of said integrated circuit, and electron beam direction determining and scanning means for scanning said electron beam along a given path, apparatus for controlling the position of said electron beam comprising: a main electrical conductor for each of said blocks, said main conductors extending beyond the portion of said page that includes said elements so that at least some of said main electrical conductors intersect one portion of said given path; a plurality of individual electrical conductors associated with and connected to each main electrical conductor, each of said individual electrical conductors being positioned in proximity with and connected to an associated element, at least some of said individual electrical conductors which are associated with elements that are in a given block intersecting another portion of said path; there being an indexing signal resulting each time said electron beam crosses a main electrical conductor or an individual electrical conductor; and logic means, electrically coupled to said main electrical conductors, for counting said indexing signals which result whenever said beam is directed across a main electrical conductor or an individual electrical conductor while being scanned along said given path, and for controlling said beam direction determining and scanning means in response to the number of indexing signals counted, such that said electron beam direction determining and scanning means causes said electron beam to be scanned over said one portion of the page until said logic means counts sufficient indexing signals to indicate that said beam has reached the main electrical conductor associated with the block having said given element therein; wherein said electron beam direction determining and scanning means includes means for adjusting the position of said electron beam so that said electron beam can be scanned along another portion of said given path; and wherein said electron beam direction determining and scanning means causes said electron beam to be scanned along said another portion of said given path until said logic means counts sufficient indexing signals to indicate that said electron beam has reached a certain element in said block.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
225 words
The invention according to claim 10 in which said integrated circuit target includes a plurality of said addressable pages arranged in a rows-by-columns configuration; wherein said apparatus for controlling the beam position further includes first and second electrical conductors which have fingers extending therefrom, said first electrical conductor being positioned substantially parallel to said columns and having at least one finger for a predetermined number of said rows, said second electrical conductor being positioned substantially parallel to said rows and having at least one finger for a predetermined number of said columns, there being an indexing signal applied to said logic means each time a finger is scanned by said electron beam; wherein each page of said integrated circuit has an address corresponding to a first number of first conductor fingers and a second number of second conductor fingers; and wherein a given page may be accessed in response to signals from said logic means by causing said electron beam to scan across the fingers of one of said first and second electrical conductors until the finger corresponding to said one conductor address of said given page is reached, by thereafter causing said electron beam to scan across the fingers at the other of said first and second electrical conductors until the finger corresponding to the other conductor address of said given page is reached.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
135 words
The invention according to claim 10 wherein said logic means includes: means for providing an address signal indicative of a value corresponding to the address of said given block; a counter, responsive to the application thereto of said indexing signals, for providing a signal indicative of a value equal to the number of indexing signals applied thereto; a comparator responsive to said counter signal and said address signal for providing a signal whenever said counter signal and said address signal both indicate the same value; and means responsive to said comparator signal, for providing signals which are applied to said electron beam direction determining and scanning means to cause the position and the direction of said electron beam to be affected in such a manner that said electron beam is scanned along said given path.
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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) | 1976-11-19 | 1977-05-21 | 1977-11-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-19 | 1981-05-21 | 1981-11-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-19 | 1985-05-21 | 1985-11-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |