The article "History of the Computer - Core Memory; Part 3 of 3" talks about computers, it has been released by Tony Stockill.
OK, right now how does it work? We have said how we can store a 1 or 0 in a core by flipping it from one state to the other. The core can be magnetised in one direction or the other, clockwise ,or counter-clockwise, 1 or 0. We start with a clear memory, all bits in all addresses set to 0.To write a 1 in address 0 we would need to write a 1 bit in bit 0 of address 0000 0000 0000.
All other bits would be zero.
We would need to enable address lines X-0 and Y-0 by passing a small pulse through them, each pulse being half the size needed to flip the magentic field.
The one point where the two address lines pass through the same core would therefore casue a flip, as the sum of the two address line pulses is sufficient for that to happen.On each plane we have a 'write inhibit' wire passing through all cores in that plane. To write a 1 bit we do not use that wire, however to write a zero in the other bit planes we pass an 'inhibit write' pulse.
This pulse reduces the effect of the two address lines, such that there is insufficient current to flip the magnetic field, and the value remains at zero.No other core will flip as we need all three components, two address lines, plus no 'inhibit write', pulse to flip the magnetic field, if required.
The addressed core is the only one to have both address wires active, and so is the only one which will flip for a one bit, or remain at 0 if the 'inhibit write' pulse is present.Now, how do we read that data? As mentioned above we have a sense wire, which passes through all cores in each plane. We use the address lines as before to select one core in each plane. If the core is set to a 1, it will flip to 0, the change in magnetic field will induce a pulse in the sense wire, which will be read as a 1 bit. This aciton is similar to a generator, where a changing magnetic field induces a current in the coil. If the value is zero, it will remain so.This type of read is called a 'destructive readout', because the location which was read is right now all zeros.
For that reaon, the data is written back to the locaiton in the next memory cycle. A subsequent write of data will also require a prior read, to set the state to all zeros.Core memory has one monstrous advantage over the 'chip memory' currently in use, in that it is non-volatile.
This maens it retains its data even if power is removed.
A comupter may be restarted after being powered off, with all data intact. You may be familair with the term NVRAM, typically used in the BIOS or preset data in your home PC. NVRAM stands for Non Volatile Random Access Memory, In that case it is a bit of a cheat, as it needs a battery to maintain the data when power is removed.
(BIOS means Bsaic Input Output System, the subject of a later article.)Tony is an experienced computer engineer. He is currently webmaster and contributor to http://www.What-why-wisdom.Com A set of diagrams accmopanying these articles may be seen at http://www.What-why-wisdom.Com/history-of-the-computer-0.Html RSS feed also available - use http://www.What-why-wisdom.Com/Educational.Xml
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