US3792450A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for overcoming faults in magnetic anisotropic material
Assignee: Singer Co
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Filing: 1972-05-08
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Granted: 1974-02-12
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Expires: 1992-05-08
Abstract
Abstract Mass memories using magnetic domain storage devices suffer from the large number of flaws found in the storage medium. This invention comprises a system for identifying and isolating those channels in a mass memory medium which contain flaws and for controlling the storage of information in the medium to avoid those channels. The system comprises the storage material having, in addition to the normal information storage registers, additional registers which contain the identification of those storage channels which contain flaws. This identification is in the form of bits of data whose movements are synchronized with the movements of the information stored in the memory, and which identification blocks the transfer of information into defective channels. During the initial testing of the mass memory, information is stored in each of the information storage channels, and that information is subsequently read out. The information which is read out is used as a word in a separate channel identification register to identify those channels which do not contain flaws. The information stored in the channel identification register is read during normal circulation of information through the transfer loop, and the presence of channel identification in that register opens loading gates to permit the loading of information into good channels and to prevent the loading of information into defective channels.
Inventors
- 👤 J Bogar
- 👤 J Bragg
- 👤 G Hare
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 11:43
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11C; G11C29/00; G11C29/70; G11C29/86
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
The method of identifying and segregating flawed areas of thin magnetic film information storage systems in which digital information is stored by means of magnetic bubbles, said method comprising the steps of: a. storing at least one magnetic bubble in each storage area in said thin magnetic film; b. driving said magnetic bubbles completely through their respective storage areas in at least one complete cycle; c. transferring the magnetic bubbles which complete said one cycle out of said respective storage areas and into a control storage area in a train of bubbles which contains gaps representing those storage areas through which the bubbles did not completely pass; and d. using the bubbles stored in said control area to control the subsequent transfer of digital information into said storage areas so that no information is transferred into those areas through which said magnetic bubbles did not completely pass.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
147 words
The method of identifying and segregating flawed areas of thin magnetic film information storage systems in which digital information is stored by means of magnetic bubbles, said method comprising the steps of: a. storing at least one magnetic bubble in each storage area in said thin magnetic film; b. driving said magnetic bubbles completely through their respective storage areas in at least one complete cycle; c. transferring the magnetic bubbles which complete said one cycle out of said respective storage areas and into a control storage area in a train of bubbles which contains gaps representing those storage areas through which the bubbles did not completely pass; and d. using the bubbles stored in said control area to control the subsequent transfer of digital information into said storage areas so that no information is transferred into those areas through which said magnetic bubbles did not completely pass.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
129 words
The method of segregating faulty information storage loops in a thin magnetic film memory system which includes a plurality of information storage loops and at least one control loop, said method comprising the steps of: a. inserting at least one bit of digital data into each of the information storage loops; b. driving said bits of digital data through at least one complete traverse of said information loops; c. transferring the bits of digital data which successfully complete one traverse of their respective loops into said control loop with gaps between bits representing the relative locations of these loops through which data bits did not successfully pass; and d. utilizing the contents of the control loop to determine into which information storage loops information is to be later stored.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
129 words
The method of segregating faulty information storage loops in a thin magnetic film memory system which includes a plurality of information storage loops and at least one control loop, said method comprising the steps of: a. inserting at least one bit of digital data into each of the information storage loops; b. driving said bits of digital data through at least one complete traverse of said information loops; c. transferring the bits of digital data which successfully complete one traverse of their respective loops into said control loop with gaps between bits representing the relative locations of these loops through which data bits did not successfully pass; and d. utilizing the contents of the control loop to determine into which information storage loops information is to be later stored.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
194 words
The method of detecting and segregating flaws in a thin magnetic film memory system in which digital data is stored in the form of magnetic bubbles in storage loops defined in said thin magnetic film and which also includes a control loop and a transfer loop in bubble-transfer relation to said other loops, said method comprising the steps of: a. inserting at least one magnetic bubble into each of said storage loops; b. providing forces to drive the bubbles inserted into said storage loops completely through the flawless loops; c. transferring into said transfer loop those bubbles which successfully completed at least one traverse of their respective storage loops to form in said transfer loop a train of magnetic bubbles in which train there are gaps between bubbles to represent the relative locations of those storage loops which have flaws; d. transferring into the control loop in serial form the train of bubbles in said transfer loop; and e. utilizing the train of bubbles in said control loop to control the transfer of magnetic bubbles at a later time into and out of those loops which are represented by bubbles in said control loop.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
194 words
The method of detecting and segregating flaws in a thin magnetic film memory system in which digital data is stored in the form of magnetic bubbles in storage loops defined in said thin magnetic film and which also includes a control loop and a transfer loop in bubble-transfer relation to said other loops, said method comprising the steps of: a. inserting at least one magnetic bubble into each of said storage loops; b. providing forces to drive the bubbles inserted into said storage loops completely through the flawless loops; c. transferring into said transfer loop those bubbles which successfully completed at least one traverse of their respective storage loops to form in said transfer loop a train of magnetic bubbles in which train there are gaps between bubbles to represent the relative locations of those storage loops which have flaws; d. transferring into the control loop in serial form the train of bubbles in said transfer loop; and e. utilizing the train of bubbles in said control loop to control the transfer of magnetic bubbles at a later time into and out of those loops which are represented by bubbles in said control loop.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method defined in claim 3 further including the step of indexing the circulation Of said bubbles through said information storage loops to ensure that the bubbles have been driven completely through their respective loops.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
237 words
In a thin film magnetic memory system for storing digital information in said thin film in the form of magnetic bubbles apparatus for identifying and segregating those portions of said thin films which contain magnetic imperfections, said memory system including at least one anisotropic thin magnetic film, a plurality of information storage loops defined in said film, at least one of said loops comprising a transfer loop in close information transfer relation to the other of said loops, means for creating a fixed magnetic field perpendicular to the plane of said thin film for creating and maintaining magnetic bubbles in said film, means for creating a rotating magnetic field parallel to the plane of said thin film for driving magnetic bubbles contained therein around said loops, said apparatus comprising a control loop defined on said film, means for causing at least one magnetic bubble to be transferred into each of said loops for storing digital data, said rotating magnetic field causing said bubbles to completely traverse said information loops in at least one complete circuit, means for transferring those magnetic bubbles which complete one traverse of said loops into said transfer loops, means for transferring the contents of said transfer loop into said control loop, and means for sensing the contents of said control loop in subsequent information storage operations and for storing information only in those information storage loops represented by bubbles in said control loop.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
237 words
In a thin film magnetic memory system for storing digital information in said thin film in the form of magnetic bubbles apparatus for identifying and segregating those portions of said thin films which contain magnetic imperfections, said memory system including at least one anisotropic thin magnetic film, a plurality of information storage loops defined in said film, at least one of said loops comprising a transfer loop in close information transfer relation to the other of said loops, means for creating a fixed magnetic field perpendicular to the plane of said thin film for creating and maintaining magnetic bubbles in said film, means for creating a rotating magnetic field parallel to the plane of said thin film for driving magnetic bubbles contained therein around said loops, said apparatus comprising a control loop defined on said film, means for causing at least one magnetic bubble to be transferred into each of said loops for storing digital data, said rotating magnetic field causing said bubbles to completely traverse said information loops in at least one complete circuit, means for transferring those magnetic bubbles which complete one traverse of said loops into said transfer loops, means for transferring the contents of said transfer loop into said control loop, and means for sensing the contents of said control loop in subsequent information storage operations and for storing information only in those information storage loops represented by bubbles in said control loop.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system defined in claim 5 in which said control loop is of a storage length at least one bubble position different from the storage length of the information storage loops.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
162 words
In a thin magnetic film memory system which comprises at least one thin magnetic film, means for creating a magnetic bias at right angles to the plane of said film, means for generating a rotating electrical magnetic field in the plane of said film, and means for defining channels for the movement of magnetic bubbles in said film, apparatus for segregating portions of said film which contain magnetic anomolies, said apparatus comprising means for inserting at least one magnetic bubble into each information storage channel in said film, said rotating magnetic field driving said magnetic bubbles through said channels, means for recovering those bubbles which were driven completely through said channels, means for storing said recovered bubbles as the addresses of the channels through which information bubbles can pass freely, reading means adjacent said means for storing address bubbles for generating a signal whenever a bubble passes thereby, and means for preventing the writing of information when no such signal is generated.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
162 words
In a thin magnetic film memory system which comprises at least one thin magnetic film, means for creating a magnetic bias at right angles to the plane of said film, means for generating a rotating electrical magnetic field in the plane of said film, and means for defining channels for the movement of magnetic bubbles in said film, apparatus for segregating portions of said film which contain magnetic anomolies, said apparatus comprising means for inserting at least one magnetic bubble into each information storage channel in said film, said rotating magnetic field driving said magnetic bubbles through said channels, means for recovering those bubbles which were driven completely through said channels, means for storing said recovered bubbles as the addresses of the channels through which information bubbles can pass freely, reading means adjacent said means for storing address bubbles for generating a signal whenever a bubble passes thereby, and means for preventing the writing of information when no such signal is generated.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system defined in claim 7 wherein said means for storing addresses comprises a control register located in said memory system whereby said control register is subjected to the same magnetic fields and influences as the remainder of said memory system.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
236 words
In a memory system, apparatus for segregating portions thereof which are not suitable for storing information, said memory system comprising a thin magnetic film, means for generating magnetic bubbles in said film, means for a generating a magnetic field at right angles to the plane of said film for maintaining said bubbles in stable conditions, means for defining channels of bubble movement in said film, said channels comprising at least a plurality of information storage loops, a transfer loop in bubble transferring relation with said information storage loops, means for selectively transferring bubbles into and out of said transfer loop, means for selectively transferring bubbles in both directions between said transfer loop and said storage loops; said apparatus including a control loop in said film in bubble transfer relation with said transfer loop, programming means for causing saiD apparatus to generate magnetic bubbles, transfer magnetic bubbles into said information storage loops, through said information storage loops and into said control loop to identify and segregate flawed portions of said memory system; said programming means comprising a sequencing means having at least one input and a plurality of outputs which are sequentially energized, said sequencing means being stepped to energize one output after another in response to pulses applied to said one input; and means for connecting individual outputs of said sequencing means to the individual inputs of said bubble generating means and said bubble transfer means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
236 words
In a memory system, apparatus for segregating portions thereof which are not suitable for storing information, said memory system comprising a thin magnetic film, means for generating magnetic bubbles in said film, means for a generating a magnetic field at right angles to the plane of said film for maintaining said bubbles in stable conditions, means for defining channels of bubble movement in said film, said channels comprising at least a plurality of information storage loops, a transfer loop in bubble transferring relation with said information storage loops, means for selectively transferring bubbles into and out of said transfer loop, means for selectively transferring bubbles in both directions between said transfer loop and said storage loops; said apparatus including a control loop in said film in bubble transfer relation with said transfer loop, programming means for causing saiD apparatus to generate magnetic bubbles, transfer magnetic bubbles into said information storage loops, through said information storage loops and into said control loop to identify and segregate flawed portions of said memory system; said programming means comprising a sequencing means having at least one input and a plurality of outputs which are sequentially energized, said sequencing means being stepped to energize one output after another in response to pulses applied to said one input; and means for connecting individual outputs of said sequencing means to the individual inputs of said bubble generating means and said bubble transfer means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus defined in claim 9 further including pulse generating means, and means for connecting the output of said pulse generating means to the input of said sequencing means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
78 words
The apparatus defined in claim 10 wherein the input to said means for transferring bubbles into said transfer loop comprises a write circuit which includes a write register in which the information to be written is stored; a write control flip-flop; and gating means for controlling the transfer of bubbles from said bubble generating means into said transfer loop in response to said write flip-flop, the information in said write register and an output of said sequencing means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
72 words
The apparatus defined in claim 11 wherein the input to said means for transferring bubbles between said transfer loop and said storage loops includes a first transfer flip-flop for controlling the transfer of bubbles into said storage loops and a second transfer flip-flop for controlling the transfer of bubbles out of said storage loops, each of said first and second transfer flip-flops being connected to a separate output of said sequencing means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
130 words
The apparatus defined in claim 12 further including read-write control units for carrying out repeated operations for writing information into said memory system and for reading information from said memory system, said read-write control units including a read-write stepping means having at least one input and a plurality of outputs, means for receiving from an external source a read instruction and means for receiving from an external source a write instruction, means responsive to the receipt of read or write instruction for initiating the operation of said read-write stepping means, and means responsive to the outputs from said read-write stepping means and to the contents of said control loop for causing the writing of information into said memory system and for causing the reading of information from said memory system.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
152 words
The apparatus defined in claim 13 wherein said sequencing means is stepped through its sequence of output conditions by the pulse output of said pulse generating means, and wherein the sequence of output conditions of said sequencing means is arranged to set said write flip-flop to transfer into said transfer loop at least one bubble for each storage loop in said memory system, then to set said first transfer flip-flop to transfer at least one bubble from said transfer loop into each of said storage loops, then to render said control flip-flops quiescent until the bubbles in said storage loops have circulated completely around said loops, then to set said second transfer flip-flop to transfer those bubbles which have successfully completed the circuit of their storage loops into said transfer loop, and finally to set said first transfer flip-flop to transfer the contents of said transfer loop bubble-by-bubble into said control loop.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
193 words
The apparatus defined in claim 14 wherein said write control unit includes a first write switch means responsive to a first output from said read-write stepping means and a write input instruction signal to generate an output signal, a second write switch means responsive to the output signal of said first write switch means and to a second output from said stepping means for generating an output signal, third write switch means responsive to the output Signal from said second write switch means and to a third output from said stepping means and to the presence of a bubble in a particular location in said control loop to generate an output signal, means for applying the output signal from said third write switch means to said write control flip-flop to initiate the transfer of bubbles into said transfer loop, and a fourth write switch means responsive to the output signal from said second write switch means and to the third output from said stepping means and to the absence of a bubble from said particular location in said control loop to generate an output signal for stepping said apparatus to the next step.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus defined in claim 13 further including an information reading means comprising a sensor adjacent said transfer loop to generating a signal when a bubble is present in said transfer loop adjacent said sensor, and a register for storing the signals generated by said sensor.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
197 words
The apparatus defined in claim 16 wherein said read control unit comprises first read switch means responsive to said read instruction and a first output from said read-write stepping means for generating an output signal, a second read switch means responsive to a second output from said read-write stepping means and to the output from said first read switch means to generate an output signal, a control sensor adjacent said control loop for generating an output signal when a bubble is present in said control loop adjacent said sensor, third read switch means responsive to the output signal from said second read switch means and to a third output from said read-write stepping means and to a signal from said control sensor to generate an output signal, a read control flip-flop, means for connecting the set output from said control flip-flop to said read register to shift the information stored therein to make room for the storage of additional information, and means for applying the output signal from said third read switch means to said read control flip-flop to set read control flip-flop and effect the storage of information from said read sensor in said read register.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus defined in claim 17 further including fourth read switch means responsive to the output signal from said second read switch means and the third output from said read-write stepping means and the absence of an output signal from said control sensor to generate an output signal for stepping the apparatus to the next step.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system defined in claim 9 wherein said system includes a plurality of said thin magnetic films stacked parallel to each other, said means for generating a magnetic field being common to all of the films in said stack.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system defined in claim 9 wherein said control loop is dimensioned to have a storage length at least one bubble position different from the storage length of said individual information storage loops.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
139 words
The method of identifying and segregating flawed loops of a multiple loop information storage systems in which digital information is stored, said method comprising the steps of: a. storing at least one information bit in each storage loop in said multi-loop system; b. driving said information bits completely through their respective storage areas in at least one complete cycle; c. transferring the bits which complete said one cycle out of said respective storage areas and into a control storage loop in a train of bits which contains gaps representing those storage areas through which the bits did not completely pass; and d. using the bits stored in said control loop to control the subsequent transfer of digital information into said storage loops so that no information is transferred into those loops through which said bits did not completely pass.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
139 words
The method of identifying and segregating flawed loops of a multiple loop information storage systems in which digital information is stored, said method comprising the steps of: a. storing at least one information bit in each storage loop in said multi-loop system; b. driving said information bits completely through their respective storage areas in at least one complete cycle; c. transferring the bits which complete said one cycle out of said respective storage areas and into a control storage loop in a train of bits which contains gaps representing those storage areas through which the bits did not completely pass; and d. using the bits stored in said control loop to control the subsequent transfer of digital information into said storage loops so that no information is transferred into those loops through which said bits did not completely pass.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
147 words
In a thin magnetic film memory system apparatus for segregating magnetic flaws in said film, said memory system comprising thin films of magnetic material, magnetic biasing means for supporting magnetic bubbles in said films, a plurality of information storage loops defined in said films, and a transfer loop defined in said film, said apparatus comprising a control loop defined in said film, means for loading at least one magnetic bubble into each of said information storage loops, means for driving said magnetic bubbles through a complete circuit of those of said information storage loops which contain no flaws, means for transferring the bubbles which have completely traversed their respective loops into said transfer loop, and means for utilizing the bubbles in said transfer loop to produce a sequence of bubbles and spaces in said control loop representing the relative positions of the flawed or unflawed storage loops.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
147 words
In a thin magnetic film memory system apparatus for segregating magnetic flaws in said film, said memory system comprising thin films of magnetic material, magnetic biasing means for supporting magnetic bubbles in said films, a plurality of information storage loops defined in said films, and a transfer loop defined in said film, said apparatus comprising a control loop defined in said film, means for loading at least one magnetic bubble into each of said information storage loops, means for driving said magnetic bubbles through a complete circuit of those of said information storage loops which contain no flaws, means for transferring the bubbles which have completely traversed their respective loops into said transfer loop, and means for utilizing the bubbles in said transfer loop to produce a sequence of bubbles and spaces in said control loop representing the relative positions of the flawed or unflawed storage loops.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
150 words
In a thin magnetic film memory system apparatus for segregating magnetic flaws in said film, said memory system comprising thin films of magnetic material, magnetic biasing means for supporting magnetic bubbles in said films, a plurality of information storage loops defined in said films, and a transfer loop defined in said film, said apparatus comprising a control loop defined in said film, means for loading at least one magnetic bubble into each of said information storage loops, means for driving said magnetic bubbles through a complete circuit of those of said information storage loops which contain no flaws, means for transferring the bubbles which have completely traversed their respective loops into said transfer loop, and means for transferring the bubbles in said transfer loop into said control loop in series so that the relative positions of those storage loops which contain magnetic flaws are represented by empty spaces between bubbles.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
150 words
In a thin magnetic film memory system apparatus for segregating magnetic flaws in said film, said memory system comprising thin films of magnetic material, magnetic biasing means for supporting magnetic bubbles in said films, a plurality of information storage loops defined in said films, and a transfer loop defined in said film, said apparatus comprising a control loop defined in said film, means for loading at least one magnetic bubble into each of said information storage loops, means for driving said magnetic bubbles through a complete circuit of those of said information storage loops which contain no flaws, means for transferring the bubbles which have completely traversed their respective loops into said transfer loop, and means for transferring the bubbles in said transfer loop into said control loop in series so that the relative positions of those storage loops which contain magnetic flaws are represented by empty spaces between bubbles.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
76 words
The system defined in claim 23 further including a plurality of thin magnetic films arranged in a stack, said magnetic biasing means and said means for driving the magnetic bubbles being common to all films in the stack, each of said films including similar information storage and transfer loops, said stack also including one magnetic film having transfer and storage loops wherein said storage loops comprise the control loops for the other films in said stack.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system defined in claim 23 which said control loop is of a storage length which is different from that of said information storage loops.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
97 words
In a memory system for storing digital information in a tree pattern having a plurality of first branches, indexing means comprising a second branch, a transfer trunk for transferring information into and out of said first and second branches, means for inserting at least one control digit into said second branch, means for synchronizing the circulation of said control digit in said second branch with the circulation of digits in said first branches and said trunk, and first datum sensing means adjacent said second branch for sensing when said control digit has circulated to the datum position.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
97 words
In a memory system for storing digital information in a tree pattern having a plurality of first branches, indexing means comprising a second branch, a transfer trunk for transferring information into and out of said first and second branches, means for inserting at least one control digit into said second branch, means for synchronizing the circulation of said control digit in said second branch with the circulation of digits in said first branches and said trunk, and first datum sensing means adjacent said second branch for sensing when said control digit has circulated to the datum position.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
72 words
The memory system defined in claim 26 further including a third branch, means for inserting at least one control digit into said third branch, the circulation of the control digit in said third branch being synchronized with the circulation of digits in said first and second branches, and second datum sensing means adjacent said third branch for sensing when said control digit in said third branch has circulated to the datum position.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
61 words
The memory system defined in claim 27 wherein the storage capacity of said third branch is at least one digit greater than the storage capacity of said second branch so that the digits in said second and third branches do not arrive at their datum positions at the same time until several circulations of information in said branches have taken place.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
61 words
The memory system defined in claim 27 wherein the storage capacity of said third branch is at least one digit smaller than the storage capacity of said second branch so that the digits in said second and third branches do not arrive at their datum positions at the same time until several circulations of information in Said branches have taken place.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-11 | 1977-08-13 | 1978-02-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-11 | 1981-08-13 | 1982-02-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-11 | 1985-08-13 | 1986-02-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |