US3646550A
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US
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Magnetic decoder network with multidimensional selection capability
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1969-12-24
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Granted: 1972-02-29
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Expires: 1989-12-24
Abstract
Abstract A decoding network with two- or three-dimensional selection capability is composed of magnetic switch elements such as toroidal cores, toroidal films or other films operated in the parallel-field switching mode. Each switch element has a response-excitation characteristic that enables the element to remain in a normal stable state unless it is subjected to an excitation in excess of a given threshold level, whereupon it switches to a different state, at least for the duration of the applied excitation. A coincidence of excitations applied in several selection coordinates may be required to condition an entire set or column of such elements for switching. The elements in each conditioned set or column are selectively switched in response to binary or other bivalued input signals applied to input lines which are individual to the respective elements of any one set but shared by corresponding elements of other sets, the selection of these input signal values constituting still another dimension or coordinate of selection. The input lines are paired so that one selected line of each pair is energized by an input signal of a given binary value. Thus, half of the elements in a set are switched for any given combination of input values. Furthermore, the number of elements switched is always even. A plurality of output lines is associated with each set of elements in such fashion that a unique output line is energized for each different combination of input signal values, with all of the switched elements in the set additively contributing portions of the output signal on that line; whereas in all of the other output lines of that set, the component signals contributed by the switched elements cancel each other out. If toroidal switch elements are used, they are arranged in relatively shiftable planes to facilitate threading the output lines through the switch elements in the desired individual wiring configurations.
Inventors
- 👤 Wilhelm Anacker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 20:31
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03M; H03M7/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
169 words
A magnetic element switching device comprising: a plurality of magnetic elements each biased to a common stable point on its B-H characteristic curve; a plurality of selection wires, each selection wire associated with two of said plurality of magnetic elements, each of said selection wires being arranged so as to switch one of said associated magnetic elements when a current flows thereon in one direction and arranged to switch the other magnetic element when a current flows thereon in the opposite direction; a plurality of driver means, each driver means being connected to a single selection wire and operative to generate a signal in response to external control signals. said generated signal being capable of switching either magnetic elements associated with the connected selection wire; a plurality of output wires, each output wire being arranged to receive a signal from each switching magnetic element and for each combination of each external signal only one of said output wires will receive complimentary signals from the switching of each magnetic element.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
169 words
A magnetic element switching device comprising: a plurality of magnetic elements each biased to a common stable point on its B-H characteristic curve; a plurality of selection wires, each selection wire associated with two of said plurality of magnetic elements, each of said selection wires being arranged so as to switch one of said associated magnetic elements when a current flows thereon in one direction and arranged to switch the other magnetic element when a current flows thereon in the opposite direction; a plurality of driver means, each driver means being connected to a single selection wire and operative to generate a signal in response to external control signals. said generated signal being capable of switching either magnetic elements associated with the connected selection wire; a plurality of output wires, each output wire being arranged to receive a signal from each switching magnetic element and for each combination of each external signal only one of said output wires will receive complimentary signals from the switching of each magnetic element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
137 words
A magnetic switching circuit comprising: a plurality of switching cells each having a pair of magnetic elements made of material exhibiting a substantially rectangular hysteresis characteristic and different stable states of flux remanence including a datum stable state; control means coupled to said cells and responsive to information control signals to switch only one of said magnetic elements from its datum state toward a different stable state in accordance with said information control signals; means operative after operation of said control means to switch all of said magnetic elements of each cell to the datum stable state; and, a plurality of output lines each coupling all of said elements in accordance with a predetermined combinatorial code such that a net output voltage is manifested on only one of said output lines upon switching of said magnetic elements.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
137 words
A magnetic switching circuit comprising: a plurality of switching cells each having a pair of magnetic elements made of material exhibiting a substantially rectangular hysteresis characteristic and different stable states of flux remanence including a datum stable state; control means coupled to said cells and responsive to information control signals to switch only one of said magnetic elements from its datum state toward a different stable state in accordance with said information control signals; means operative after operation of said control means to switch all of said magnetic elements of each cell to the datum stable state; and, a plurality of output lines each coupling all of said elements in accordance with a predetermined combinatorial code such that a net output voltage is manifested on only one of said output lines upon switching of said magnetic elements.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The magnetic switch of claim 2, wherein said means for switching all of said magnetic elements of each cell to the datum stable state comprises means for biasing all of said elements in the datum stable state.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
193 words
A device for decoding combinations of bivalued input signals into unique output signals comprising: at least one set of magnetic switch elements, each element having a normal stable state and capable of being switched to a different state in response to an applied excitation exceeding a predetermined threshold level; input lines on which bivalued input signals can be placed in various selected combinations, at least some of which cause excitations exceeding said threshold level to be applied selectively to various combinations of said switch elements according to the input signal combinations that are being decoded; and output lines on which signals are selectively manifested according to the manner in which said elements are switched by the input signals, there being a plurality of output lines for each set of switch elements, and each of said output lines being arranged to receive a contributory signal of one polarity or the other from each element in its set that switches from a normal stable state to a different state, the arrangement being such that each output line manifests an output signal of predetermined magnitude in response to the switching of a unique combination of elements.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
193 words
A device for decoding combinations of bivalued input signals into unique output signals comprising: at least one set of magnetic switch elements, each element having a normal stable state and capable of being switched to a different state in response to an applied excitation exceeding a predetermined threshold level; input lines on which bivalued input signals can be placed in various selected combinations, at least some of which cause excitations exceeding said threshold level to be applied selectively to various combinations of said switch elements according to the input signal combinations that are being decoded; and output lines on which signals are selectively manifested according to the manner in which said elements are switched by the input signals, there being a plurality of output lines for each set of switch elements, and each of said output lines being arranged to receive a contributory signal of one polarity or the other from each element in its set that switches from a normal stable state to a different state, the arrangement being such that each output line manifests an output signal of predetermined magnitude in response to the switching of a unique combination of elements.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
121 words
A decoding device as set forth in claim 4 wherein said input lines are arranged in pairs, one pair for each bivalued input signal that may be applied to said device; the input lines of each pair being selectively energizable according to the value of the respective input signal; each input line, when energized applying excitation to a respective one of the switch elements in each set thereof; whereby half of the switch elements in each set will be switched only in response to input signals of one particular value exceeding the threshold level, while the other half of the elements in that set will be switched only in response to input signals of the other value exceeding the threshold level.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
A decoding device as set forth in claim 4 wherein each of said output lines is so arranged that the contributory signals which it receives from the switched elements in its set will assume a mutually aiding relationship only in response to a unique combination of input signal values.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
296 words
A magnetic switching device comprising: a plurality of magnetic elements divided into sets where each set has an even number of magnetic elements; a plurality of bias wires, each being associated with a single set of elements and arranged such that a current flowing therein can bias each magnetic element to a common stable point on its B-H characteristic curve; a first set of external control signals; a plurality of bias current drivers each connected to a single bias wire and having a first and second output current state being of the proper magnitude and direction so as to prevent any magnetic element associated with the connected bias wire from switching when said bias current source is in either said first output current state or said second output current state, said bias current source responsive to said first external control signals for controlling the output current state of said bias current driver; a second set of control signals; a plurality of selection means responsive to said second set of control signals, each switching means being associated with two magnetic elements of each set of elements and operative to switch one magnetic element in each associated pair of magnetic elements when said bias current driver is operating in said second output current state, said selection means inoperative to switch one magnetic element in each associated pair of magnetic elements when said bias current source is in that first output current state; and, a plurality of output wires for each set of magnetic elements, each output wire being arranged to receive a signal from each switching magnetic element within a set of magnetic elements and for each combination of control signals only one of said output wires will receive complimentary signals from the switching of each magnetic element.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
296 words
A magnetic switching device comprising: a plurality of magnetic elements divided into sets where each set has an even number of magnetic elements; a plurality of bias wires, each being associated with a single set of elements and arranged such that a current flowing therein can bias each magnetic element to a common stable point on its B-H characteristic curve; a first set of external control signals; a plurality of bias current drivers each connected to a single bias wire and having a first and second output current state being of the proper magnitude and direction so as to prevent any magnetic element associated with the connected bias wire from switching when said bias current source is in either said first output current state or said second output current state, said bias current source responsive to said first external control signals for controlling the output current state of said bias current driver; a second set of control signals; a plurality of selection means responsive to said second set of control signals, each switching means being associated with two magnetic elements of each set of elements and operative to switch one magnetic element in each associated pair of magnetic elements when said bias current driver is operating in said second output current state, said selection means inoperative to switch one magnetic element in each associated pair of magnetic elements when said bias current source is in that first output current state; and, a plurality of output wires for each set of magnetic elements, each output wire being arranged to receive a signal from each switching magnetic element within a set of magnetic elements and for each combination of control signals only one of said output wires will receive complimentary signals from the switching of each magnetic element.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
139 words
A decoding apparatus for decoding combinations of input signals into discrete output signals comprising: at least one pair of magnetic switching elements, each element having a nonlinear magnetic characteristic with two signal states and capable of being switched from one state to another in response to an applied excitation signal having a magnitude greater than a given threshold value; an input signal means for each pair of magnetic switching elements for carrying said excitation signal to switch one of said magnetic switching elements in each pair of magnetic switching elements; and a plurality of output means, each output means receiving a signal due to the switching of each of said magnetic switching elements, the contribution of signals from each magnetic switching element switch being complimentary upon only one of said output means for each combination of applied excitation signals.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
139 words
A decoding apparatus for decoding combinations of input signals into discrete output signals comprising: at least one pair of magnetic switching elements, each element having a nonlinear magnetic characteristic with two signal states and capable of being switched from one state to another in response to an applied excitation signal having a magnitude greater than a given threshold value; an input signal means for each pair of magnetic switching elements for carrying said excitation signal to switch one of said magnetic switching elements in each pair of magnetic switching elements; and a plurality of output means, each output means receiving a signal due to the switching of each of said magnetic switching elements, the contribution of signals from each magnetic switching element switch being complimentary upon only one of said output means for each combination of applied excitation signals.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
147 words
An apparatus for decoding combinations of input signals into discrete output signals comprising: at least one pair of magnetic switching elements, each element having a nonlinear magnetic characteristic with two saturation states and capable of being switched from one saturation state to another; a bias means for maintaining each of said magnetic switching elements in one of said saturation states; an input signal means for each pair of magnetic switching elements for carrying an excitation signal having a given threshold value so as to switch one of said magnetic switching elements in each pair of magnetic switcHing elements; and a plurality of output means, each output means receiving a signal due to the switching of each of said magnetic switching elements, the contribution of signals from each magnetic switching element switch being complimentary upon only one of said output means for each combination of applied excitation signals.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
147 words
An apparatus for decoding combinations of input signals into discrete output signals comprising: at least one pair of magnetic switching elements, each element having a nonlinear magnetic characteristic with two saturation states and capable of being switched from one saturation state to another; a bias means for maintaining each of said magnetic switching elements in one of said saturation states; an input signal means for each pair of magnetic switching elements for carrying an excitation signal having a given threshold value so as to switch one of said magnetic switching elements in each pair of magnetic switcHing elements; and a plurality of output means, each output means receiving a signal due to the switching of each of said magnetic switching elements, the contribution of signals from each magnetic switching element switch being complimentary upon only one of said output means for each combination of applied excitation signals.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-02-28 | 1975-08-30 | 1976-02-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-02-28 | 1979-08-30 | 1980-02-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-02-28 | 1983-08-30 | 1984-02-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |