An Experimental Nondestructive Microwave Ferrite Core Readout Using Stripline

A static ferrite storage readout technique is described which utilizes microwave transmission phenomena rather than voltage induction to achieve readout. Reversible, rotational impulse switching is used to effect nondestructive interrogation of a small toroidal core which is coupled to a strip-type ``sense line.´´ The core coupled to the stripline causes an electrically controllable discontinuity in the transmission line. The change of stripline transmission characteristics during interrogation, in turn, is dependent upon the remnant state of the core. Detection of a microwave signal transmitted through the stripline yields a bipolar signal which may be used to identify the remnant state of the core. The microwave readout technique which utilizes an XN-band signal permits readout of information in an extremely short duration of time. Experimental results are given to demonstrate readout in as little time as 3 nanoseconds. Utilization of the technique for readout of information from a mass memory configuration is potentially possible.