GB1284074A - Improvements in apparatus for storing information - Google Patents

Abstract

1284074 Magnetic storage arrangements NATIONAL RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT CORP 19 Nov 1969 [17 Sept 1968] 44202/68 Heading H3B [Also in Division H1] A storage array comprises a plurality of thin magnetic film storage elements 10, 11, 15, Fig. 1, each having a closed loop easy axis path in the plane of the film, and a selective readout arrangement in which a change in the closed loop flux produces a Hall voltage or a change in magneto resistance in an adjacent semi-conductor strip 13, 14. A portion of a storage matrix is shown in which writing is effected as described in Specification 1,284,075, the elements 10, 11 being shown as storing a "1" and a "0" respectively. A current producing a magnetic field in direction 12 is applied to a word-read conductor 41, 42 to read-out, this field increasing the magnetization 16 coupled with strip 13 and reducing that magnetization 17 coupled with strip 14. The junction between the films 10, 11, 15 and the associated strip is convoluted as shown in Fig. 2 so that the magnetization 16, 17 passes through the semi-conductor strip at peaks 25. By coincidently passing current through a selected word-read conductor and a semi-conductor strip, a Hall voltage orthogonal to both the penetrating magnetization and the semi-conductor current is produced. A modification is shown in Fig. 3 in which a change in the magnetizations 16, 17 produces a change in magneto-resistance of the associated strips 13, 14. Each strip may be the base of a transistor amplifier common to each strip of transistors may be formed each individual to a storage location along a strip, the strips being bounded by intrinsic semi-conductor material or semiconductor material of opposite conductivity type. Dummy semi-conductor lines 20, 21 may also be provided which also consitute the base of transistor amplifiers, the read-out and dummy amplifiers so formed by the strips 13, 20 14, 21 being paired to provide a differential amplifying circuit for suppressing noise. Individual storage films may be used or discrete storage locations in a common film.