GB1477881A - Data storage systems - Google Patents

Abstract

1477881 Data store SIEMENS AG 12 Sept 1974 [25 Sept 1973] 39724/74 Heading G4C A data storage system includes a matrix array of byte storage assemblies SB11-SBki, each row including a number i of assemblies equal to the number of bytes in a word, and each assembly including a number of bit storage modules equal to the number of bits in a byte, an assembly select input CS, a write/read input S/L through which write and read operations are selected, and a number of address inputs (not shown) corresponding to the number of bits stored in each bit storage module, the address inputs to each assembly being connected to all the modules in that assembly and to a common address source; a word select AND gate VG1 for each row receiving a respective word select signal WI-Wk and feeding all the select inputs CS in the respective row; and a byte select AND gate VG2 for each column receiving a respective byte select signal BI-Bi and a common write/read select signal S/L* and feeding all the write/read inputs S/L in the respective column. The arrangement allows write and read operations to be performed in a selected byte or bytes of a selected word while requiring fewer AND gates than prior art arrangements (Fig. 1, not shown) in which each assembly receives a common write/read signal via column gates and in which the assembly select signals CS are produced by feeding each of the k word select signal to i AND gates each of which receives a respective one of the i byte select signals so as to produce an individual select signal CS for each assembly. A write operation into selected bytes of a selected word and a simultaneous read operation from the remaining bytes of the word are possible by arranging that, say, binary 1 signals at write/read inputs S/L produced by binary 1 signals on the appropriate byte select inputs B produce a write operation while binary O signals at write/read inputs S/L produced by binary O signals at the remaining byte select inputs B produce a read operation.