JPS63153623A - Storage device and access method for same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To speed up access to a main storage means by providing a 2nd storage means which has a short access time. CONSTITUTION:A 1st storage means 1 has plural blocks 10-1n and also has address display parts a10-a1n corresponding to those blocks. The 2nd storage means consists of storage elements shorter in access time than the 1st storage means and unit chains 20-2n corresponding to the blocks are provided with step number information writing parts S20-S2n for storing information on the number of steps written in the respective blocks, pointer information writing pars p20-p2n which indicate connections with next blocks, and address storage parts a20-a2n which are stored with addresses corresponding to the address display parts. When a step whose address position needs to be detected is specified, the number of steps is counted according to pointer information and information is read out of the block having the address display part corresponding to a signal read out of the address storage part written in the unit chain.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Application of the Invention] The present invention relates to a storage device using a storage element with slow access time, such as a magnetic bubble memory as a main storage means, and a method of accessing the storage device. be.

[Background of the invention]

Magnetic bubble memory elements have large capacity and low cost.

Moreover, even if the power is cut off, the memory contents do not change.

Therefore, the use of magnetic bubble memory as a main memory element used to control office machines and industrial machines is being considered. However, despite having the above-mentioned characteristics, magnetic bubble memory is not used as much as expected.The main reason for this is that the access time is 100 μs compared to core memory elements and semiconductor memory elements. This is because, on the other hand, the magnetic bubble memory element is extremely slow at several Ioms.

Therefore, it is not suitable for devices such as high-performance robots and high-performance machine tools that require frequent access from the main memory element, and must be used for high-performance robots and high-performance machine tools. This is because the fields of use that require large storage capacity are limited.

[Objective of the Invention] The object of the present invention is to identify which block in the main memory element the target to find is located, even though a main memory element with slow access time, such as a magnetic bubble memory element, is used. The purpose is to provide a storage device and an access method that allow you to quickly find what you have.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a storage device and an access method that can quickly read out data to be read that has been designated for reading from a main memory element.

Still another object of the present invention is to construct a storage device that allows easy editing of data within a main memory element.

Still other objects and associated effects of the present invention will be easily understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

[Summary of the invention]

In the present invention, for example, the first storage means as a main storage means for storing programs has a slow access time as typified by a magnetic bubble storage element, but in other respects it is inexpensive and easy to use with a large capacity. Use one that has some special feature, such as being readily available or retaining the memory state before the power outage even if a power outage occurs.

This first storage means uses a storage area divided into a plurality of blocks. Further, each block uses its storage area divided into multiple sections as necessary. Each block divided into pages is called a page, so 1 block is 1 page.
Sometimes it's a page.

It is preferable that the plurality of blocks have the same number of pages, and it is preferable that the bytes of each page be the same. Each block is provided with a unique address display section.

A second storage means constituted by a storage element whose access time is faster than that of the first storage device is provided. The storage elements constituting this second storage means include random access memories (hereinafter simply referred to as RAM) that have quick access times and are rewritable, such as semiconductor storage elements and core storage elements. ) is preferable.

This second storage means is provided with a unit chain corresponding to each block, and each unit chain includes a step information writing part representing the number of steps written in each block, and a step information writing part representing the number of steps written in each block. A pointer information writing section indicating a connection and an address storage section storing addresses corresponding to the respective address display sections are provided. If the number of steps written to each block is the same, the step information writing section may not be provided.

This second storage means essentially only needs to provide a unit chain corresponding to each block as described above, so its storage capacity can be much smaller than that of the first storage means. 2. Even if a storage means is provided, the price will not increase that much.

Step specifying means is provided for generating a signal representing the number of the step to be detected. This step specifying means is instructed to output manually in most cases when teaching a movement, and is already taught when an automatic movement is to be performed.

is automatically output based on the teaching information.

This step specifying means can also be arranged to generate a signal representing the order of the blocks to be read according to the instructions of the pointer when each block is configured with the same number of steps. Therefore, in this case, the step designation means can be read as block order designation means. A counting means is provided for counting the number of steps counted according to the pointer information written in the pointer information writing section. When the step specifying means outputs a signal representing the order of blocks to be read according to the instructions of the pointer, the counting means counts the number of blocks to be read according to the instructions of the pointer.

A state detecting means is provided for detecting a specific state represented by coincidence between the outputs of the step specifying means and the counting means. As this state detection means, a comparator, an up/down counter, etc. can be used. When an up/down counter is used, the outputs of the step specifying means and the counting means may be converted into a pulse train as necessary, and one of them may be inputted to an up-count input terminal and the other to a down-count input terminal.

A reading means is provided which receives an output from the state detection means and reads out information written in the block when the output becomes a specific state. This reading means is normally configured to operate when an automatic operation is being performed, but since there may be cases where it is desired to read out the memory contents in the corresponding block during a teaching operation, it is designed to operate at such times as well. It is desirable to keep it.

A rewriting means is provided as necessary to receive an output from the state detection means and rewrite the pointer information written in the corresponding unit chain when the output becomes the specified state. It is preferable to operate this rewriting means during motion teaching.

[Embodiments of the invention]

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a first storage means, which is composed of a magnetic bubble storage element. This first storage means 1 stores a plurality of pages ioo, iot, etc., as shown schematically in FIG.
. ...Used as 1n. Each block has a unique address alo to aln, and each page also has an address ado"adm in the address display section so that it can be distinguished within each block. Each page has at least 1 byte
). 2 is the second storage means, which is L
It is composed of a semiconductor memory element called Ii memory.

As shown in FIG. 2, this second storage means stores the blocks alo, all, and the blocks of the first storage means 1, respectively.
...Unit chain 20.21...2 corresponding to aLn
n are provided, and each unit chain includes an address storage section a20.n for storing the block address in the first storage means 1 corresponding to this unit chain. a21...a2n and a step number information storage unit s20 that stores information representing the number of steps written in the corresponding block. s21.・
...s2n and blocks alO, all, ...aln
Pointer information writing section P20. which indicates the next connected block. p21...pan are provided.

Reference numeral 3 denotes step specifying means, which generates a signal representing the number of the step whose storage position is to be detected. This step specifying means 3 outputs a signal by operating a digital switch group 31 when teaching an operation to an automatic machine (not shown) controlled by this storage device, and in the case of automatic operation mode, a signal is output. A signal is automatically output based on the information.

4 is a microcomputer, which is a counting means 50
．． It has three functions: state detection means 60 and reading means 70. The counting means 50 is the pointer information writing section p20. shown in FIG. It is configured to count the pot total of the step counted according to the pointer information written in p21...p2n. In addition, the state detection means 6
0 is designed to output a signal when the output of the counting means 50 becomes greater than or equal to the output of the state detecting means 60. At that time, the unit chain section displays the addresses in the corresponding blocks held in the address storage sections a20 to a2n on the CRT display! ! 97. Further, when the state detection means 60 outputs a signal and the signal from the selection means 80 specifies the access mode, the reading means reads the blocks io, it, etc.
. . 1n, the information in the block containing the corresponding step is read out.

The selection means 80 instructs the access mode in most cases in the automatic operation mode, and instructs the access mode as necessary in the teaching operation mode. Reference numeral 90 denotes a rewriting means which receives an output from the state detecting means, and when this output becomes a specific state, the pointer information written in the corresponding unit chain is transferred to the digital switch group 91.
It is designed to be rewritten by manipulating .

Numeral 95 is a program number designating means, which outputs a signal through a group of digital switches 96 during a teaching operation, and automatically outputs a signal based on teaching information during an automatic operation.

97 is a CRT display that performs necessary display.

These first storage means 1. Second storage means 2. Step specifying means 3. Microcomputer 42 selection means8. The rewriting means 90 and the CRT display 97 are connected to the system bus 98.
The data bus controller 99 controls the flow of signals.

Next, the operation of the apparatus constructed as described above will be explained with reference to FIG.

Step 300 is the primary step 3 indicating the start of the operation.
01, the program number is designated by the program number designating means 95 by operating the digital switch group 96 or automatically. Then, the block that is the starting point of the program, ie, in the case of FIG. 2, either 10 or 13 is specified. Which one you choose depends on your purpose.

Assume that 13 is now selected.

In the next step 302, the step number N is designated by operating the digital switch group 31 by the step designating means 3.

In the next step 303, the step number 5t23 written in the block a13 is read from the step number information writing section s23 in the second storage means 2.

In the next step 304, since the number of steps counted by the counting means 50 so far is zero, the value obtained by adding the number of steps 5t23 to zero, that is, 5=st23, is output as is.

The output of this counting means 50 is compared with the step number N specified in step 302 by the state detecting means 60 in the next step 305. If N≦S, proceed to the next step 306, and N
>S, proceed to step 310.

Proceeding to step 306 means that step 302 is entered in block 13.
This indicates that the step number specified by .

Therefore, in step 306, the address storage section a2 in the unit chain is
Address a13 indicating block 13 which has 3 memories is CRT
displayed on the display 97.

In step 307, it is determined whether the selection means 80 indicates an access mode. If the access mode has been designated, the process moves to step 308; otherwise, the process moves to step 312.

In step 308, the reading means 70 reads out all the contents stored in the block 13 in which the display section a13 is located, and displays this on the CRT display 97. Step 309 indicates the end of the operation.

If N>S as a result of the determination in step 305, it is determined that there is no Nth program step within block 13. In that case, the process moves to step 310.

Here, the pointer p23 in the unit chain 23 is read out, and this pointer indicates that the unit chain 23 is followed by the unit chain 24, as shown by chain f34. Therefore, in step 311, the step number st24 written in the step number information writing section s24 in the chain 24 is read out, and then the process moves to step 304, where it is determined whether or not it is N5st23+5t24. If YES, the process moves to step 306. If ON, Y E S 4m Narumache range 310.311°304
and 305 are repeated.

Now, if it is determined in step 307 that it is ON, the process moves to step 312, where it is determined whether or not there is a rewriting command from the rewriting means 90. If there is no rewrite command, the process moves to step 315 and ends. In such a case, you may know what information is written in the Nth program step, but you do not know where that program step is written. Now, there is a rewrite command. If so, the process moves to step 313, where the chain is rewritten using the digital switch group 91 in the rewriting means 90.

FIG. 4 shows an example of such a case. In other words, the second
The chain f45 shown in the figure is separated, and FIG. 4 shows that a block 1n is inserted between blocks 14 and 15. In this case, pointer information writing section p
The information contained in 24 is rewritten using the digital switch group 91 so that it will be connected to the unit chain 2n, while the information that it will be connected to the unit chain 25 is input to the pointer information writing section p2n. Needless to say, necessary information is written into the block 1n corresponding to the unit chain 2n by a teaching box (not shown).

If at most one program step is written to each page and the empty portions of the program steps are concentrated only in the last page of the block, page-by-page reading can be performed. In this case, the counting means 50 shown in FIG. 1 executes the operation 5-N=P shown in step 316 of FIG. 5 when N≦S holds. If N≦S holds true when the contents of are read out, and P is 2, it can be seen that page 141 contains the information of step N6.Therefore, as shown in steps 306' and 30g', The corresponding page can be directly detected and the information within the corresponding page can be read out.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, even though a memory element with a long access time, such as a magnetic bubble memory, is used as the main memory element, the memory capacity is much greater than that of the main memory element. By providing a second storage means with a fast access time, which is small in number, it is possible to speed up access from the main storage means, which has the effect of achieving the desired purpose.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the storage device of the present invention, FIGS. 2 and 4 are diagrams showing models of information written in the first storage means and the second storage means, and FIGS.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the access method and rewriting method of the storage device of the present invention. 1... first storage means, 2... second storage means, 3...
・Step specifying means, 50... Counting means, 60...
State detection means, 70... Reading means, 80... Selection means, 90... Rewriting means, 95... Program number specifying means. Representative patent attorney Tadashi Akimoto Actual amendment drawing
2nd Diagram 45 Amended Drawings Amended Drawings 4th Diagram Amended Drawing Procedure Amendment Form) January 11, 1986

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A first storage means having a plurality of blocks and having an address display section corresponding to each block;
It is composed of a storage element whose access time is faster than the storage means, and a chain corresponding to each of the blocks is provided, and each unit chain represents the number of steps written in each of the blocks. a second storage means provided with a step number information writing section for storing information, a pointer information writing section for indicating a connection to the next block, and an address storage section for storing an address corresponding to the address display section; , step specifying means for generating a signal representing the step whose storage position is desired to be detected, and counting means for counting the number of steps counted according to pointer information written in the pointer information writing section;
A storage device comprising state detecting means for detecting that the step specifying means and the output signal of the counting means are in a specific state. 2. The storage device according to claim 1, wherein the first storage means is constituted by a magnetic bubble memory. 3. The storage device according to claim 2, wherein the second storage means is constituted by a random access memory. 4. The storage device according to claim 1, wherein each of the blocks is composed of at least one page. 5. A first storage means having a plurality of blocks and having an address corresponding to each block, and a storage element having a faster access time than the first storage means, and each of the blocks A unit chain corresponding to the block is provided, and each unit chain includes a step number information writing section for storing information representing the number of steps written in each of the blocks, and a step number information writing part for storing information representing the number of steps written in each block, and a unit chain for connecting to the next block. a second storage means provided with a pointer information writing section indicating the pointer information and an address storage section storing an address corresponding to the address display section; step specifying means generating a signal representing the step at which the storage device is desired to be detected; a counting means for counting the number of steps counted according to the pointer information written in the pointer information writing section; and a state detecting means for detecting that the step specifying means and the output of the counting means are in a specific state. , receives an output from the state detection means, and when this output becomes the specific state, information in the block having an address display section corresponding to a signal read from the address storage section written in the unit chain; and reading means for reading out the data. 6. a first storage means having a plurality of blocks and an address display section corresponding to each block;
It is composed of a rewritable memory element whose access time is faster than that of the memory means, and a unit chain corresponding to each of the blocks is provided, and each of the unit chains has data written in each of the blocks. a step number information writing unit that stores information representing the number of steps;
A second storage means is provided with a pointer information writing section indicating a connection to the block to which the next step is written, and an address storage section storing an address corresponding to the address display section, and a storage position is to be detected. step designating means for generating a signal representing the step; counting means for counting the number of steps counted according to pointer information written in the pointer information writing section; and outputs of the step designating means and the counting means. a state detecting means for detecting that a specific state has been reached; and the pointer information that receives an output from the state detecting means and is written in the corresponding unit chain when the output becomes the specific state. A storage device comprising a rewriting means for rewriting the . 7. a first storage means having a plurality of blocks and an address display section corresponding to each block;
A unit chain composed of a storage element having a faster access time than the storage means and in which pointer information indicating a connection to the next block and an address corresponding to the address display section is written corresponds to each of the blocks. a block order specifying means for generating a signal representing the order of the blocks to be detected as seen in accordance with the instructions of the pointer; A storage device comprising a counting means for counting the number of blocks, and a state detecting means for detecting that the block order means and the output signal of the counting means are in a specific state. 8. A number generation step for generating a signal representing the number of the step to be read, and each of the above-mentioned points in accordance with the order of the pointer information in the unit chain written in the second storage means whose access time is faster than the first storage means. A counting process in which the step number information of the unit chain is read and counted; and a comparison process in which the signal output in the counting process and the signal output in the number generation process are compared, and a signal is output when a specific state is reached. and a reading step of reading out information written in a block in the first storage means corresponding to the unit chain at that time when the signal is output in the comparing step.