Semipermanent Storage by Capacitive Coupling

The need arises for reliable, economical high-speed, semipermanent stores for electronic-telephone switching systems, as well as for modern digital computers. A semipermanent or fixed store is one in which the stored information may not be changed by the machine that is able to consult it. These stores provide data security for such information as operational programs and test routines. A random-access store system where the memory elements consist of a matrix of printed capacitors has been developed. The store has a cycle time of 3 Asec and contains 1024 words each 34 bits long. The access circuits developed enable one to utilize a matrix arrangement of components where a need exists for stores of thousands of words. These circuits consist of diodes and biased square-loop ferrite cores in the input, and magnetic gates, utilizing three transformers in a novel arrangement, in the output.