Magnetic data storage arrangement having sequential addressing of rows

Claim 1

A magnetic data storage arrangement comprising: a plurality of current operated bistable magnetic elements arranged in rows and columns; a set of column conductors each of which is inductively coupled with a respective column of said magnetic elements; a set of row conductors each of which is inductively coupled with a respective row of said magnetic elements; write means comprising first drive means for applying a first current of predetermined value to any selected column conductor, and second drive means for applying a second current of predetermined value to each in turn of any desired selection of row conductors whereby simultaneous first and second said currents can be applied in turn to a desired selection of elements in a selected column, thereby to operate said desired selection of elements into their second stable magnetic state and store a data word in said selected column; impedance means incorporated in said second drive means for defining the value of said second current for each row conductor, at least two row conductors sharing the same current defining impedance means; and read means for sensing the stable states of all the elements in any selected column, thereby to read out the stored data word in that selected column.