Symmetric switching functions using magnetic bubble domains

• US 3,919,701 A
• Filed: 04/16/1973
• Issued: 11/11/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Chin Tung, Hsu Chang, Tien Chi Chen
• Original Assignee: Chin Tung, Hsu Chang, Tien Chi Chen
• Inventors: Chang, Hsu, Chen, Tien Chi, Tung, Chin
• Primary Examiner(s): Orynowicz, Jr., Stanley M.
• Application Number:
  US05/351,665
• Time in Patent Office: 939 Days
• Field of Search: 340/174TR,174SR,174GA 307/88LC
• US Class Current: 365/5
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 19/168 using thin-film devices

Abstract

A symmetric switching device which can be personalized to do any mathematical operation relying upon the mounting of the number of bubble domains present. This can be used as a universal logic element to provide any logical function. The device will handle multiple inputs and is rewritable to provide the desired function. The device broadly comprises a counter for counting the number of 1 bits in the input data stream, a means for producing a control data stream for personalizing the switch, and a comparison means for comparing the counter output and the control stream. A particularly suitable embodiment comprises a bubble domain sifter for shifting the position of the bubbles in the input data stream, a leading bubble detector for detecting the leading (first) bubble in the input data stream, means for creating a personalized control bubble stream for designating the function to be performed, and means for comparing the personalized control bubble stream with the output of the leading bubble detector to provide a circuit output representing the output value of the function desired. Means are provided for serial or parallel data inputs to the symmetric switching circuit. Any known type of domain propagation structure can be used to implement this device.

Claims

1. A symmetric switching device for performing a desired function using magnetic bubble domains, comprising:

a magnetic medium in which said bubble domains exist, a counter responsive to an input data pattern comprised of bubble domains representative of information, said counter including means for counting the number of said bubble domains in said input data pattern and means for providing an output indicative of said count, personalization means for providing a control pattern of bubble domains corresponding to said desired function, and comparison means for comparing the output of said counter with said bubble domains in said control pattern.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said counter includes means for simultaneously receiving a plurality of bubble domains in said input data pattern.

3. The device of claim 1, further including means for storage of said bubble domains in said magnetic medium, and means for removing said bubble domains from storage and moving said removed domains to said symmetric switching device.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said counter includes means for providing a bubble domain output from said counter.

5. The device of claim 1, where said personalization means includes means for providing a plurality of different control data patterns, in accordance with different desired functions.

6. The device of claim 1, where said counter, personalization means, and comparison means are comprised of patterns of magnetically soft material located near said magnetic sheet, said device further including field means for producing a reorienting magnetic field substantially in the plane of said magnetic medium.

7. The device of claim 1, further including means for removing bubble domains from said device after the output of said counter is compared with said control pattern in order to clear said device.

8. The device of claim 1, where said counter includes means for receiving said input data bubble domains, means for rearranging the relative positions of said input data bubble domains to provide a rearranged data pattern, and means for detecting a specified bubble domain in said rearranged data pattern.

9. A process for performing symmetric switching functions using magnetic bubble domains, comprising:

providing a magnetic medium in which said bubble domains can exist, counting the number of magnetic bubble domains in an input data pattern and providing an output representing said count, providing a selected pattern of bubble domains corresponding to said function to be performed, and comparing said output representing said counting step with said selected pattern of bubble domains corresponding to said function, and providing an output representative of said comparision.

10. The process of claim 9, including the further step of providing a different pattern of bubble domains corresponding to another function to be preformed.

11. The process of claim 9, where said output of said counting step is comprised of a bubble domain.

12. The process of claim 11, where said output of said comparing step is a bubble domain.

13. The process of claim 9, where said counting step includes the steps of rearranging bubble domains in said input data pattern to provide a rearranged data pattern, and detecting a selected bubble domain in said rearranged data pattern.

14. A device for performing a desired function using magnetic bubble domains, comprising:

a magnetic medium in which said bubble domains can exist, counter means for counting the number of bubble domains representing a particular information state in an input pattern of data bubble domains, means for providing a bubble domain representing the output of said counter, personalization means for providing a control pattern of bubble domains corresponding to said desired function, and comparison means for comparing the output of said counter with bubble domains in said control pattern, the output of said comparison means indicating the value of said function.

15. The device of claim 14, where said personalization means includes means for providing different control patterns corresponding to different functions to be performed by said device.

16. The device of claim 14, further including storage means for storing said bubble domains, and means for removing said bubble domains from said storage means and for moving said removed domains to said device to provide said input pattern thereto.

17. The device of claim 14, where said counter, said personalization means, and said comparison means are comprised of magnetically soft elements, said device further being comprised of a field source for providing a reorienting magnetic field substantially in the plane of said medium.

18. A device for performing a desired symmetric function using magnetic bubble domains, comprising:

a magnetic medium in which said bubble domains exist, counting means for counting data bubble domains representing data bits in an input data pattern, said counting means being comprised of means for permuting the position of said data bits in said input pattern to provide a permuted data pattern, source means for providing a bubble domain corresponding to a selected bubble domain in said permuted data pattern, personalization means for providing a pattern of magnetic bubble domains, said pattern corresponding to said desired symmetric function, comparison means for comparing said pattern of bubble domains produced by said personalization means with said bubble domain provided by said source means to provide an output representing the value of said function performed on said input data bubble domains.

19. The device of claim 18, where said counter and said personalization means are comprised of magnetically soft elements, said device further including field means for creating a reorienting magnetic field substantially in the plane of said magnetic medium.

20. The device of claim 18, where said means for permuting includes means for Gravitating bubble domains representing a particular data state to desired locations in said permuted data pattern, and said source means includes means for providing a bubble domain corresponding to a bubble domain in said permuted data pattern having said particular data state.

21. The device of claim 20, where said means for permuting includes a plurality of positions for receiving said data bubble domains in said input pattern, and means for moving said bubble domains in said positions to said source means.

22. The device of claim 21, where said means for moving bubble domains in said positions includes means for providing pusher bubble domains which interact with said data bubble domains.

23. The device of claim 18, further including means for clearing said bubble domains from said device after said symmetric function is performed.

24. The device of claim 18, where said counting means includes means for receiving input data bubble domains simultaneously.

25. The device of claim 18, where said personalization means includes means for changing the pattern of bubble domains provided by said personalization means in order to change the function performed by said device.

26. A device for performing a desired symmetric function using magnetic bubble domains, comprising:

a magnetic medium in which said bubble domains can exist, an input means for receiving input bubble domains representative of information, means for permuting the positions of said input bubble domains to provide a permuted bubble domain pattern, source means for providing a bubble domain corresponding to a selected bubble domain having a particular data state in said permuted bubble domain pattern, personalization means for providing a control bubble domain pattern corresponding to said desired function, and comparison means for comparing said bubble domain produced by said source means with said bubble domain pattern produced by said personalization means.

27. The device of claim 26, where said input means is comprised of at least one idler position for receiving said input bubble domains.

28. The device of claim 26, including means for clearing bubble domains provided by said source means and said personalization means from said device after said symmetric function is performed.

29. The device of claim 26, further including means for moving said permuted bubble domain pattern to said source means to trigger said source means for provision of said bubble domain corresponding to a selected bubble domain in said permuted data pattern.

30. The device of claim 26, where said personalization means includes a controlled source of bubble domains and a propagation means for movement of said control bubble domain pattern to said comparison means.

31. The device of claim 30, further including means for recirculating said control bubble domain pattern.

32. The device of claim 26, where said input means, said means for permuting, said personalization means, and said comparison means are comprised of magnetically soft elements, said device further including magnetic field means for producing a reorienting magnetic field substantially in the plane of said magnetic medium.

33. The device of claim 26, where said comparison means is comprised of an AND circuit.

34. The device of claim 26, where said comparison means is a bridge circuit comprised of at least one sensor responsive to said input bubble domains and at least one other sensor responsive to said control bubble domain pattern.