US2778005A

US2778005A - Core matrix

Info

Publication number: US2778005A
Application number: US482980A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lloyd W Allen
Original assignee: International Business Machines Corp
Current assignee: International Business Machines Corp
Priority date: 1955-01-20
Filing date: 1955-01-20
Publication date: 1957-01-15
Anticipated expiration: 1974-01-15
Also published as: DE1013448B; FR1142472A

Description

Jan. 15, 1957 w. ALLEN 2,778,005

CORE MATRIX Filed Jan. 20, 1955 IN VEN TOR.

7 fi LLOYD W. ALLEN FIG. Z QW/iM *GENT United States Patent CORE MATRIX Lloyd W. Allen, Santa Clara County, Calif., assignor to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application January 20, 1955, Serial No. 482,980

4 Claims. (Cl. 340-174) The present invention relates generally to magnetic cores and more particularly to pluggable magnetic cores and matrices therefor.

Magnetic cores are attractive as memory elements because they are small, fast, and they provide non-volatile storage. When magnetic cores are assembled in a matrix for storage purposes, the access time to the various portions thereof is constant and access at random to desired portions is inherent. Thus, it will be understood that the magnetic core matrix is potentially an important storage device.

The basic objection to the use of magnetic cores at present is the high cost of manufacturing a suitable matrix. The cores themselves are inexpensive, and it is the cost of the matrix that is excessive. This cost is attributed in part to the fact that cores may be damaged during assembly of the matrix and, due to the lack of a suitable technique, it is not possible to replace damaged cores to thereby render the matrix useful. Furthermore, after assembly a matrix having any defective or inoperative core elements must be completely discarded.

It is one object of the present invention to provide an improved magnetic core matrix.

Another object is to provide an improved magnetic core for use with a magnetic core matrix.

A further object of the invention is to provide a magnetic core matrix wherein defective cores may be readily replaced.

Various techniques have been utilized to manufacture matrices of magnetic cores, among them being weaving wherein the various wires are strung between the several cores either by hand or by suitable machines. This method has proved expensive both from the standpoint that expensive hand labor and/or machinery is utilized and also, as explained above, cores are often rendered defective during the manufacturing processes, thereby rendering the matrix unusable.

It is another object of this invention, therefore, to provide a matrix for magnetic cores wherein the matrix may be manufactured inexpensively and in mass production by using common techniques and the magnetic core may be readily assembled in such a matrix.

A still further object is to provide a pluggable magnetic core for use with a matrix adapted to releasably receive it.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which disclose, by way of example, the principle of the invention and the best mode which has been contemplated of applying that principle.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an enlarged plan view of a partially assembled matrix of this invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a single receptacle of the novel matrix.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a magnetic core adapted for use with the matrix shown in Fig. 1.

The matrix of the invention comprises a plurality of core receptacles (Fig. 1) interconnected by various wires 11 according to the rule of operation of the matrix, the disclosed matrix being suitable, for example, for operation as a coincidence type matrix wherein it is necessary for a coincidence of pulses on two of the wires 11a and 11b (Fig. 2) to occur to control the core associated therewith to change to its opposite state of magnetization. The third Wire 11c in this matrix is utilized for readout in a Well known manner. The receptacles 10 are arranged to receive therewithin magnetic cores 12 (Fig. 3) suitable means being provided to connect the wires 13 associated with the cores 12 to the corresponding wires 11 (Fig. 2) of the matrix. In the present embodiment clips 14 are imbedded in the body of the receptacles 10, the wires 11 being electrically connected to the clips 14, and each of the clips 14 is arranged to releasably receive therewithin a wire 13. It will be understood, however, that any suitable means for interconnecting the wires 11 and 13 may be utilized. For example, it will be obvious that the various wires 11 may be in the form of circuitry printed on a suitable backing and that the wires 13 might be pressed into engagement therewith.

The cores 12 (Fig. 3) are composed of a magnetic material, such as the recently developed magnetic ceramic material, and are arranged to receive therein a laminated wafer assembly 15 which includes the wires 13. The three wires 13a, 13b and associated with each Wafer 15 are insulated from each other and are supported in an adjusted angular position relative thereto by two sheets 16 and 17 of a suitable insulator, the wire 13a being disposed between and afiixed to each of the sheets 16 and 17 and the Wires 13b and 13a being afiixed to opposite sides of these sheets. The sheets 16 and 17 of each wafer 15 are provided with notches 18 adapted to receive the core 12 when the core is mounted thereon. To mount the wafer 15 Within the core, the wafer is bowed slightly to permit its insertion, and it is then rel-eased and permitted to assume the position shown in the drawing, thereby rigidly supporting the wires 13 relative to the core 12.

To assemble the matrix, it is necessary only that the cores be inserted in the receptacles 10, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. After assembly and testing it will be seen that defective cores may be easily replaced simply by removal of the defective core and insertion of an operative core, thereby rendering an otherwise defective matrix useful. It will be readily understood that the matrix shown in Fig. 1 may be composed of any suitable plastic and that it is, therefore, easily adapted to being Stamper out in large quantities at a relatively low cost.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to the preferred embodiment, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A magnetic core assembly comprising a laminated wafer, a plurality of conductors, said conductors being separated by the laminations of said wafer, and a closed magnetic core disposed about said wafer and said c011- ductors in such a way that an electrical current flowing in any of said conductors generates a magnetic flux in said core.

2. A magnetic core assembly comprising a-laminated wafer, a plurality of conductors separately interspersed by the laminations of said wafer, each said conductor lying in a plane parallel to the plane of said wafer and having terminals extending from the said wafer, a closed magnetic core disposed about said wafer and said conductors in such a way that said conductors extend through said core so that an electrical current flowing in any of said conductors generates a magnetic flux in said core, and a receptacle for said wafer and said core having a plurality of connectors corresponding to the said terminals, each said terminal being adapted to be de'ta chably fastened in a said connector.

3. A magnetic core assembly comprising a laminated wafer having conductors separately interspersed thereby in planes parallel thereto and at angles respectively to each other, each said conductor having terminals extending from the said water, said wafer having notches provided therein, a closed magnetic core disposed about said wafer and inserted Within said notches in such a way that magnetic flux is generated in said core by electrical current flowing in any said conductor, and a receptacle for said wafer and said core having means for releasably receiving the terminals of said conductors whereby said core is releasably secured by said receptacle.

4. A magnetic core matrix comprising a plurality of magnetic cores, each said core having a laminated Wafer mounted therein, said wafers having notched edges for receiving said core and comprising several conductors interspersed between the laminations of said wafer and insulated from each other thereby, each said conductor having terminals extending from said wafer, and a plurality of receptacles interconnected in a predetermined manner for receiving said cores, said receptacles having connectors arranged to releasably receive the terminals associated with said conductors in such a Way that each said core is operatively associated with said matrix.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,700,150 Wales Jan. 18, 1955 2,712,126 Rosenberg et al. June 28, 1955 2,719,965 Person Oct. 4, 1955