GB815540A - Improvements in or relating to magnetic core data storage apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

815,540. Electric digital-data-storage apparatus. INTERNATIONAL COMPUTERS & TABULATORS Ltd., [formerly BRITISH TABULATING MACHINE CO. Ltd.]. June 25, 1957 [July 13, 1956], No. 21711/56. Class 106 (1). A data store having a plurality of bi-stable magnetic elements arranged in groups having the same significance, comprises input means which may be operated to apply a potential to all the switching windings of a group, the circuit of one winding in each group being completed by distributing means so as to store an item of data; the distributing means then selects a different switching winding in each group for energization in accordance with the next input operation. As described, a record-card punching machine comprises magnetic core storage means whereby an item of data to be represented by a single hole in card column is entered on a key 0 ... 9, Fig. 1, stored in the cores in combination code and upon operation of a " punch " key (not shown) de-coded by a tree controlled by relays 28 ... 33, Fig. 3, so as to energize one ofa series of punch magnets 34(0) ... 34(9). Where more than one hole is to be punched in a card column, the key entry is switched over to control another storage, Fig. 2, having a core for each hole position. Input.-The input windings of the first four cores in a column of Fig. 1 are selected by commutators 12(0), 12(1), 12(3) and 12(5), and one or more of the cores are set in accordance with the combination code upon depression of one of the keys 0 ... 9. The last two cores in each column are associated with the " skip " and " space " keys, SK, SP respectively. For punching more than one hole per column a multihole key 72, Fig. 2, is depressed energizing a relay 73 which reverses the change-over contacts 43 to 62, Fig. 1, so connecting the keys to control the store of Fig. 2 which comprises a core for each possible hole position in a card; the relay 73 also sets all four cores in the column of the single hole store prepared by the commutators 12(0) ... 12(5). At the same time a relay 74 is energized via commutator 76 to prepare, by closing contacts 74a, a column of cores in the multihole store for a selection in accordance with the key depressed. Output.-Upon operation of a " punch " key (not shown) a read-out pulse generated by camoperated contacts 10, 11, Fig. 1, is directed through all the serially-connected read-out windings of a column of cores selected by a commutator 14, restoring any which have been set by the input means. The resetting of a core generates a pulse in the central output winding of the core, and this is transmitted through further commutators 16 ... 21 to the grid of an associated thyratron 22 ... 27, Fig. 3, causing it to conduct and energize a relay 28.. 33 in its anode circuit. The decoding tree controlled by relays 28 . . . 33 selects the appropriate punch magnet 34(0) . . . 34(9) for energization by a pulse produced by cam contacts 70, 71. When all four cores of a column, Fig. 1, are restored by the read-out pulse, this indicates that the multihole key 72 was operated at this point (see above). In this case decoding by the tree of Fig. 3 passes the pulse produced by cam contacts 70, 71 to a line 79 and so via commutator 80, Fig. 2, to a column of cores stoxing multihole punching signals. The output signals from these cores fire associated thyratrons 82 . . . 91 to energize relays 92 ... 101 which connect the appropriate punch magnets 34(0) .... 34(9) to the energizing pulse sources. The commutators 12(0)... 12(5) or 76 are stepped on at. each entry operation and commutators 14, 16... 21 or 77, 80 as appropriate during read-out. A warning lamp 103 is arranged to operate when the entering operations. are getting too far ahead of the punching operations ; a further warning lamp 105 indicates this condition in the multihole store. Instead of commutators of the type indicated in the drawings electronic counters may be employed. This will normally be so when the invention is applied to an electronic computing system. The store may be used for translating data received in one code to control printing, punching, &c. apparatus operating in another code. Specification 362,529, [Group VIII], is referred to.