Associative memories using magnetic bubbles

Abstract

An associative magnetic domain memory comprising; a predetermined number of storage loops having a predetermined number of magnetic elements on which domains circulate, said domains or absence of said domains on said magnetic elements in said storage loops representing bits of binary information; write-in section and read-out means disposed relative to said storage loops; said write-in section including, generator for generating bits and propagating said bits to positions adjacent said storage loops as a set of bits with a subset of said bits representing address bits and the rest of said set being data bits, and a gate for transferring said set of bits into said storage loops for storage therein; said read-out section including a replicator for forming replicas of sets of bits in said storage loops, a gate for transferring said replica sets one at a time, a sensor for receiving and sensing said transferred replica sets if one of said address bits does not match the desired address criteria. A plurality of similar memories are arranged in parallel with the replica address bits of each subset from each memory sensed as a row and an association performed on a plurality of address bit criteria. As before, the associative process will continue until there is a complete match of all the replica address bits with all the address criteria at which time the replica data associated with each of the replica address bits is read out.