Plated-wire memory
Computer memory and Computer data storage types |
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Volatile |
Non-volatile |
Plated-wire memory is a variation of
Instead of threading individual ferrite cores on wires, plated-wire memory used a grid of wires coated with a thin layer of iron–nickel alloy (permalloy).[2] The magnetic field normally stored in the ferrite core was instead stored on the wire itself. Operation was generally similar to core memory, with the wire itself acting as the data line, and the magnetic domains providing the individual bit locations defined by address (word) lines running on either side of (and perpendicular to) the data wire.
Early versions operated in a destructive read mode,[citation needed] requiring a write after read to restore data. Non-destructive read mode was possible, but this required much greater uniformity of the magnetic coating.
Improvements in semiconductor RAM chips provided the higher storage densities and higher speeds needed for large-scale application such as mainframe computers, replacing previous types of memory, including both core and plated-wire memory.
Plated-wire memory has been used in a number of applications, typically in
References
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- ^ Tomayko, James. "Chapter Four: Computers in the Space Shuttle Avionics System". Computers in Spaceflight: The NASA Experience. NASA. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
- ^ "The HEXAGON story". National Reconnaissance Office. 1988.