Digital storage system having a dual-function segmented register

Claim 2

In a digital storage system, the combination comprising: a. a moving magnetic recording member; b. a plurality of read-write electromagnetic head adjacent the recording member, each such head defining a data track for recording binary-coded bits of data on the recording member, at least one of the data tracks containing address data; c. a plurality of independently operable and sequentially arranged shift registers, each associated with a different one of said heads, and each having an input adapted to receive serial bits of data and a first output adapted to emit serial bits of data; d. first means for simultaneously and selectively coupling the input of each of the shift registers to its associated head thereby enabling the binary bits of data stored on the associated data tracks to be serially shifted into each individual shift register; e. second means for selectively coupling the shift reGister together in series with the inputs of each shift register being coupled to the first outputs of each preceding-in-sequence shift register such that a single shift register is formed from the plurality of independently operable shift registers with an input for the input of the first-in-sequence independent shift register; and f. third means for selectively coupling the input of the single shift register to the head associated with the track containing the address data thereby enabling the binary bits of an address to be serially shifted into the first-in-sequence of independent shift registers and then sequentially through the remaining independent shift registers.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1, further comprising fourth means for each independent shift register, each for coupling the first output of its associated shift register to the electromagnetic head associated therewith, thereby enabling the bits in each independent shift register to be serially shifted out thereof through the associated head and stored in the associated data track on the recording member.

Claim 4

The combination of claim 2, further including means for requesting binary bits of data from the magnetic recording members and for supplying binary bits of data into each of the independent shift registers in parallel.

Claim 5

The combination of claim 3, further comprising fifth means for coupling registers to the means for requesting binary bits of data in parallel.

Claim 6

The combination of claim 4, further including a clock head adjacent the recording member and defining a clock track for supplying clock bits through the clock head to each of the plurality of independent and sequentially arranged shift registers thereby enabling each such shift register to serially shift bits of data therethrough in synchronism with the movement of the record member.

Claim 7

In a digital storage system, the combination comprising: a. a moving magnetic recording member; b. a plurality of read-write electromagnetic heads adjacent the recording surface, each such head defining a data track for recording binary-coded bits of data on the recording member, at least one of the data tracks containing address data; c. logic means for providing separate control commands indicative of read and address modes of operation; d. a plurality of independently operable and sequentially arranged shift registers, each associated with a different one of the heads, and each having an input adapted to receive serially bits of data and a first output adapted to emit serial bits of data; e. first means for coupling the input of each of the shift registers to its associated head, responsive to a control command from the logic means indicative of a read mode of operation, thereby enabling binary bits of data stored in the associated data track to be serially shifted into each individual shift register; f. second means for coupling the shift registers together in series, the input of each shift register being coupled to the first output of each preceding-in-sequence shift register, said second means being responsive to a control command from the logic means indicative of an address mode of operation, such that a single shift register is formed from the plurality of independently operable shift registers with an input corresponding to the input of the first-in-sequence independent shift register; and g. third means for coupling the input of the single shift register to the head associated with the track containing the address data, responsive to a control command from the logic means indicative of an address mode of operation, thereby enabling the binary bits of an address to be serially shifted into the first-in-sequence of independent shift registers and then sequentially through the remaining independent shift registers.

Claim 8

In a digital storage system, the combination comprising: a. a moving magnetic recording member; b. a plurality of read-write electromagnetic heads adjacent the recording surface, each such head defining a data track for recording binary-coded bits of data on the recording member, at least one of the data tracks containing address data; c. logic means for providing separate control commands indicative of read and address modes of operation; d. a plurality of independently operable and sequentially arranged shift registers, each associated with a different one of the heads, and each having an input adapted to receive serially bits of data and a first output adapted to emit serial bits of data; e. first means for coupling the input of each of the shift registers to its associated head, responsive to a control command from the logic means indicative of a read mode of operation, thereby enabling binary bits of data stored in the associated data track to be serially shifted into each individual shift register; f. second means for coupling the shift registers together in series, the input of each shift register being coupled to the first output of each preceding-in-sequence shift register, said second means being responsive to a control command from the logic means indicative of an address mode of operation, such that a single shift register is formed from the plurality of independently operable shift registers with an input corresponding to the input of the first-in-sequence independent shift register; and g. third means for coupling the input of the single shift register to the head associated with the track containing the address data, responsive to a control command from the logic means indicative of an address mode of operation, thereby enabling the binary bits of an address to be serially shifted into the first-in-sequence of independent shift registers and then sequentially through the remaining independent shift registers.

Claim 9

The combination of claim 6, in which the logic means provides a separate control signal indicative of a write mode of operation; and, further including fourth means, for each indepeNdent shift register, each for coupling the first output of its associated shift register to the electromagnetic head associated therewith, responsive to a control command from the logic means indicative of a write mode of operation, thereby enabling the bits in each independent shift register to be serially shifted out thereof, through the associated head, and stored in the associated data track on the recording member.

Claim 10

The combination of claim 7, further including means for requesting binary bits of data from the magnetic recording member and for supplying binary bits of data into each of the independent shift registers in parallel.

Claim 11

The combination of claim 8, further comprising fifth means, coupling the shift registers in parallel to the means for requesting binary bits of data responsive to a control command from the logic means indicative of either an information data read or an address data read mode of operation.

Claim 12

The combination of claim 9, wherein each of the independent shift registers includes means, responsive to control command from the logic means indicative of either an information data read or an address data read mode of operation, for serially shifting the binary bits therein.

Claim 13

The combination of claim 10, in which the logic means provides a separate control signal indicative of an information data write load operation; and a. further including means responsive to the write load control signal for storing bits of data in parallel into each of the shift registers.

Claim 14

The combination of claim 11, further including means, responsive to a write load command signal from the logic means, for inhibiting the shifting of the bits, supplied in parallel, serially through each shift.

Claim 15

The combination of claim 12, further including a clock head adjacent the recording member and defining a clock track for supplying clock bits at a predetermined frequency of occurrence.

Claim 16

The combination of claim 13, further including means, responsive to the receipt of a command signal from the logic means, for supplying the clock bits to each of the plurality of independent shift registers thereby enabling each to serially shift bits of data therethrough.

Claim 17

In a data processing system, the combination comprising: a. a magnetic recording disc with a surface having a clock track and a plurality of data tracks defined, respectively, by a first electromagnetic head adapted to read clock pulses stored on the clock track and by a plurality of second electromagnetic head each associated with a different data track; b. means for reading information from or writing information to the magnetic disc recording surface; c. a plurality of sequentially arranged and independently operable shift registers respectively associated with the plurality of data tracks; d. first means coupling bits of data, read from each data track, by associated second electromagnetic heads, in series, to an associated shift register; e. second means coupling clock pulses, read from the clock track by the first electromagnetic head, simultaneously to each of the shift registers thereby causing the bits of read data supplied to each shift register to shift therethrough, each shift register operating independently of one another during data track reading to convert serial read data bits supplied thereto into parallel read data bits; f. third means coupling the read data bits from each shift register in parallel to the means for reading information; g. fourth means coupling bits of address data read from the magnetic disc recording surface to the first-in-sequence of shift registers; h. means causing the address data bits to shift serially through all of the shift registers until the first address data bit is registered in the last-in-sequence of shift registers and the last address data bit is registered in the first-in-sequence of shift registers, the shift registers thus operating in sequence as a single continuous shift register; and i. fifth means coupling the registered address data bits from each shift register in parallel to the means for reading information.

Claim 18

In a data processing system, the combination comprising: a. a magnetic recording disc with a surface having a clock track and a plurality of data tracks defined, respectively, by a first electromagnetic head adapted to read clock pulses stored on the clock track and by a plurality of second electromagnetic head each associated with a different data track; b. means for reading information from or writing information to the magnetic disc recording surface; c. a plurality of sequentially arranged and independently operable shift registers respectively associated with the plurality of data tracks; d. first means coupling bits of data, read from each data track, by associated second electromagnetic heads, in series, to an associated shift register; e. second means coupling clock pulses, read from the clock track by the first electromagnetic head, simultaneously to each of the shift registers thereby causing the bits of read data supplied to each shift register to shift therethrough, each shift register operating independently of one another during data track reading to convert serial read data bits supplied thereto into parallel read data bits; f. third means coupling the read data bits from each shift register in parallel to the means for reading information; g. fourth means coupling bits of address data read from the magnetic disc recording surface to the first-in-sequence of shift registers; h. means causing the address data bits to shift serially through all of the shift registers until the first address data bit is registered in the last-in-sequence of shift registers and the last address data bit is registered in the first-in-sequence of shift registers, the shift registers thus operating in sequence as a single continuous shift register; and i. fifth means coupling the registered address data bits from each shift register in parallel to the means for reading information.