Abstract:
A radiation tolerant differential buffer amplifier provides amplification to small amplitude input signals. Circuitry is provided to selectively gate portions of the input signals for reduction of noise problems. Biasing circuitry sets a constant DC bias level for the amplifier to accomplish generally constant triggering of the amplifier.
Abstract:
A sensing circuit for use in a core memory, in which sense lines passing through magnetic cores have near-ends connected with an amplifier and with first termination resistors and far-ends connected with second termination resistors, the first termination resistors having a resistance higher than the characteristic impedence of the sense lines while the resistance of the second termination resistors is equal to or lower than the characteristic impedance of the sense lines.
Abstract:
A system for supplying a current to a core memory stack having substantial inductance including a transformer having a selectively variable primary/secondary turns ratio. The variable turns ratio permits the current buildup time interval in the core state to be minimized while reducing the power required to drive the stack.
Abstract:
Sense line and sense amplifier configurations and circuits for coupling to magnetic memory elements. A sense line comprising a twisted pair of conductors provides coupling along its length to the memory elements. A pair of sense lines may be connected in series or parallel to provide sense signal output pulses of increased amplitude or provide redundancy in the sensing scheme. Further permutations and combinations of the twisted pair sense line provide sense signal output pulses of different amplitude to also provide, e.g., half select pulses. A sense amplifier system utilizes multiplexing techniques to simplify the sense scheme and reduce the amount of circuitry required between the sense lines and the buffer system.
Abstract:
A selection matrix for a data memory having random access and which is dimensioned for a medium loading such as exists during normal operation and to which a control device is assigned which ensures that even in exceptional cases such as constant order the selection circuits are not overloaded the selection matrix employing a control system constructed as a selection matrix, two groups of control signal generators each corresponding to lines and columns of the selection matrix by which individual control signal generators may be selected.
Abstract:
A selective circuit with optional access is provided with means for preventing overload of the circuit in case of repetitive or continuous call by the same address. The prevention of overload is effected by a technique which provides a simulation of the thermal state of the circuit. Also, a control unit is provided to limit the call succession of frequently used addresses.
Abstract:
Apparatus for supplying selection lines of a magnetic core memory with drive currents of uniform amplitude and configuration. The apparatus includes a pair of line selection switches at opposite ends of a selection line group for steering current from a source through a selected line and a current regulator that maintains the sum of the currents through the line at a constant level. The lines in the group are terminated by a set of alternately operable termination circuits, which set is common to all of the lines of a coordinate axis of the memory array. The termination circuit serve to damp voltage spikes, ringing oscillations and the inductive energy of the line upon energization and de-energization thereof and to maintain the lines of the memory stack at a fixed potential to prevent the lines from floating due to leakage currents and capacitive voltage build-ups that would establish the lines at different potentials during inactive or memory idle periods.
Abstract:
A current steering system is described in the context of a multi-plane magnetic core memory stack. The system is designed to control a given end of a set of core drive lines and includes a pair of bipolar switches for each pair of lines. Each bipolar switch includes two diode pairs, each pair being connected in series through a common unipolar switch to form two switchable unidirectional current paths for each bipolar switch. One current path from each bipolar switch is connected between respective ones of their associated pair of drive lines and a switchable current source of a given polarity. The remaining two current paths of the pair of bipolar switches are connected between the same two lines and a switchable current source of the opposite polarity. In this way both bipolar switches participate in controlling the flow of current in each of a pair of drive lines.
Abstract:
A drive system for a magnetic core memory is disclosed using a pulsed current source to charge a selected group of lines common at one (sink) end and simultaneously raising the bias on the other open (drive) end. When the group has been charged sufficiently to forward bias a diode connected to a supply voltage VS, a termination resistor having a resistance approximately equal to the characteristic impedance of all lines common at the sink end, suppresses reflections and ringing. The output of the sink current source is connected to an isolating diode at the drive end of each line by a resistor, whereby the bias across the diode remains substantially constant as the lines are charged. A drive current source is selectively connected to one line of the selected (sink) group. A coupling diode in series with a resistor connected to a source of bias potential terminates the drive end of the selected line during the drive current rise time. When the sink current source is turned off after a memory cycle, a shunt switch is turned on to allow the selected group of lines to discharge to a level of approximately zero volts with respect to circuit ground. Two corresponding, but complementary sets of components are provided for read and write cycles with one shunt switch on during any given cycle to reduce voltage stresses on selection elements.
Abstract:
An arrangement for decreasing the noise in tandem matrix access circuits which employ diodes to interconnect their primary and secondary sets of matrices. In particular, each rail circuit of the secondary matrix is coupled to its respective pair of rail circuits of the primary matrix by diodes which are oppositely poled with respect to one another. Connection of the rail circuits in this manner permits the nonselected rails of the secondary matrix to be coupled to ground through low impedances during selection of a particular rail of the matrix. As a result, leakage currents appearing in the nonselected rails are shunted to ground, thereby eliminating the noise effects of these currents in the matrix. In one embodiment of the invention, the two diodes coupled to each rail of the secondary matrix are charge-storage diodes. In another embodiment, one of the diodes is a charge-storage diode whereas the other is a Schottky diode.