GB926706A - Improvements in or relating to apparatus for intelligence transfer - Google Patents

Abstract

926,706. Electrical digital-data-storage apparatus. STANDARD TELEPHONES & CABLES Ltd. Sept. 29, 1961 [Dec. 21, 1930], No. 43848/60. Class 106 (1). Apparatus for intelligence transfer includes a transfer wave source arranged to feed an electromagnetic wave transmission line to which a series of storage elements (or a single distributed storage element with locally settable regions) are successively connected, with a transfer wave which is propagated along the line to set up transfer inputs at each element in turn, whereby information represented by the electrical state of the element, is passed along the series of storage elements in phase with the transfer wave. Each storage element 10, 11, 12, consists of two tunnel diodes 10a, 10b, &c., connected in series across a transmission line formed by opposed conductors 15, 16, the central connections between the diodes being attached to a transmission line 17 provided with an input 18 and output 19. The two transmission lines are terminated by load resistances 20, 21 having values equal to the characteristic impedance of the associated line. A periodic unidirectional waveform (whose instantaneous voltage distribution along the transmission line in relation to the elements 10, 11, &c. is shown at 23) is provided by a generator 22 connected to the conductors 15, 16. As the voltage difference across the element 10 increases to say, that at the position 27 of waveform 23, one of the diodes 10a, 10b adopts a high impedance condition and the other a low impedance condition. A small positive current applied along the line 17 ensures that diode 10b switches to the high impedance condition first, whilst a negative current causes diode 10a to do so. Once switched the element holds its condition (representing information) until the transfer voltage drops below a critical value, say that corresponding to position 28 of waveform 23. By ensuring that, by this time, the transfer voltage across the next element has increased to its triggering value, information is passed from one element to the next in phase with the transfer wave. In a modification, Fig. 3, a single distributed storage element is employed. Three spaced strip conductors 30, 31, 32 are separated by continuous ribbons of semi-conductive material 33 having tunnel junctions 34, 35 formed therein. Information is entered by means of input 36 and the transfer wave is applied at input 37. The devices may be used as a delay line or a continuously circulating store, in which ease output 19 is connected back to input 18.