US3836892A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
D.c. stable electronic storage utilizing a.c. stable storage cell
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
•
Filing: 1972-06-29
•
Granted: 1974-09-17
•
Expires: 1992-06-29
Abstract
Abstract An electronic data storage which operates as a DC stable storage array, but retains the advantages of an AC stable storage cell circuit. The AC stable storage cells are regenerated at a frequency asynchronous with respect to the storage cycle time. Gating means inhibit the regenerating signals when the system desires access, thereby permitting the storage cells to be accessed for information at any time in a completely random access mode.
Inventors
- 👤 Simone R De
- 👤 N Donofrio
- 👤 R Linton
- 👤 G Sonoda
- 👤 W Wade
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 04:41
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11C; G11C11/00; G11C11/21; G11C11/34; G11C11/40; G11C11/401; G11C11/406; G11C11/402; G11C11/4023; G11C8/00; G11C8/04; G11C8/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
In an electronic data storage array, having a plurality of storage cells requiring periodic regeneration, and having means through which said array is accessed by the system, the improvement comprising: regenerating means, including a pulse source for generating a train of pulses, that is asynchronous with the cycle time of the storage array, for periodically regenerating at least selected ones of said storage cells; and gating means for inhibiting said regenerating means, when the storage array is accessed by the system.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
81 words
In an electronic data storage array, having a plurality of storage cells requiring periodic regeneration, and having means through which said array is accessed by the system, the improvement comprising: regenerating means, including a pulse source for generating a train of pulses, that is asynchronous with the cycle time of the storage array, for periodically regenerating at least selected ones of said storage cells; and gating means for inhibiting said regenerating means, when the storage array is accessed by the system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said regenerating means systematically regenerates one row of storage cells in said array at any given time.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the regenerating means further comprises: shift register means responsive to said pulse source, for circulating at least one ''''1'''' level signal at a shift rate determined by the frequency of said pulse source.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said gating means is a single field effect transistor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
63 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 in which said gating means are complementary gating means such that the signal from the means through which said array is accessed by the system and the signal from the regenerating means are each gated in a complementary manner, thereby permitting the regenerating means to access the storage array only when it is not required by the system.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
79 words
The method of refreshing AC stable storage cells in a storage array operable as a DC stable storage, comprising the steps of: generating a pulse train at a frequency that is asynchronous with the cycle time of the storage array; applying at least one of said pulses in said pulse train, as a refreshing signal, to at least one row of said cells in said array; and inhibiting the refreshing signal whenever the system desires access to the storage.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
79 words
The method of refreshing AC stable storage cells in a storage array operable as a DC stable storage, comprising the steps of: generating a pulse train at a frequency that is asynchronous with the cycle time of the storage array; applying at least one of said pulses in said pulse train, as a refreshing signal, to at least one row of said cells in said array; and inhibiting the refreshing signal whenever the system desires access to the storage.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
94 words
Method as in claim 6 wherein each of the storage cells to be refreshed has a particular data retention time, said cells being arranged in the storage array having N rows of word lines, M rows of cells to be refreshed at any given time, tHe step of generating a pulse train being at a frequency such that the minimum frequency is a direct function of the shortest data retention time of one of said cells, and an inverse function of the number of rows of cells to be refreshed at any given time.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
Method as in claim 6 in which the maximum frequency of said pulse train is a function of the minimum time required to refresh one of said cells.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
Method as in claim 6 in which said asynchronous pulse train is also asymmetric.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3541530A
Cited
US3530443A
Cited
US3528065A
Cited
US3550097A
Cited
US3699544A
Cited
US3731287A
Cited
US3760379A
Cited
US3737879A
Cited
US3748651A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-09-16 | 1978-03-18 | 1978-09-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-16 | 1982-03-18 | 1982-09-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-16 | 1986-03-18 | 1986-09-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |