Memory system to perform data transfer by a contactless electromagnetic induction coupling system using induction coils

• US 4,953,123 A
• Filed: 01/17/1989
• Issued: 08/28/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tokyo Keiki Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tokyo Keiso Company
• Inventors: Takeuchi, Kunihiko, Horinouchi, Shinichi, Oba, Masao
• Primary Examiner(s): Hecker, Stuart N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Garcia, Alfonso
• Application Number:
  US07/297,579
• Time in Patent Office: 588 Days
• Field of Search: 365/226, 365/185, 365/52, 365/66, 365/230.02, 365/189.02, 370/69.1, 370/76, 364/478, 364/468
• US Class Current: 365/66
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 7/00 Arrangements for writing information into, or reading information out from, a digital store G11C5/00 takes precedence; auxiliary circuits for stores using semiconductor devices G11C11/4063, G11C11/413

Abstract

A control signal used to write access or read access and data are transmitted between a write/read unit and a memory module by a contactless coupling using induction coils. The write/read unit multiplexes a control signal consisting of three signals including a power source signal, sync clocks, and enable clocks using frequency modulation and supplies the resultant multiplexed signal to one end of the induction coil for transmission. The write/read unit frequency modulates access data and supplies same to the other end of the same induction coil for transmission. The transmitting coil in the memory module allows the signal which is obtained by adding an access signal to the control signal to be induced in the coil for reception in the write/read unit. The read data from the memory module is frequency modulated and sent from the memory module to the write/read unit by using the transmitting and receiving coils for a down-signal which is used only to read out data.

Claims

1. A memory package system for performing one of a data writing or data reading operation by a serial data transmission by a contactless coupling system using induction coils between a memory modulate having therein a (non-volatile) memory and a write/read unit, wherein

said write/read unit comprises:

(a) a first induction coil for transmission of up-signals;

(b) a second induction coil for reception of a down-signal;

(c) a control data transmitting means for frequency modulating a power source signal, a sync clock signal, and an enable clock signal which are transmitted to said memory package and, thereafter, time sharingly multiplexing and for outputting same to one end of said first induction coil;

(d) an access data transmitting means for frequency modulating serial bit data of each of write access data including a write command, write addresses, and one of write data or read access data including a read command and read addresses for said memory package and for outputting same to another end of said first induction coil'"'"';

and

(e) a read data receiving means for demodulating read data from an induction signal when a frequency modulated signal of the read data from the memory module was induced in said second induction coil;

and said memory module comprises;

(i) a third induction coil for reception of up-signals which is arranged so as to face said first induction coil in said write/read unit;

(ii) a fourth induction coil for transmission of a down-signal which is arranged so as to face said second induction coil in said write/read unit;

(iii) a rectifying means for rectifying all frequency modulated signals of said power source signal, sync clock signal, enable clock signal, and write or read access data which were included in said third induction coil and for supplying a DC operating electrical power;

(iv) a control data receiving means for individually demodulating sync clocks and enable clocks from frequency modulated signals induced in said third induction coil and for outputting said sync clocks and enable signal;

(v) an access data receiving means for demodulating said write command, write addresses, and write data from frequency modulated signals induced in said third induction coil in a write access mode, and for demodulating said read command and read addresses in a read access mode;

(vi) a memory control means which is made operative by receiving said sync clocks and enable signal reproduced by said control data receiving means and for performing one of a writing or reading operation for said memory on the basis of write access data or read access data obtained from said access data receiving means; and

(vii) a read data transmitting means for frequency modulating serial bit data read out of the memory by said reading operation by said memory control means and for supplying same to said fourth induction coil.

2. A memory package system according to claim 1, wherein each of the write/read unit and the memory module has a magnetic core concentrically having two coil grooves, said first and third induction coils consisting of coils of large diameters wound in said coil grooves on an outer peripheral side of each of said magnetic cores, and said second and fourth induction coils consisting of coils of small diameters wound in said coil grooves on an inner peripheral side of each of said magnetic cores.

3. A memory package system according to claim 1, wherein said control data transmitting means provided in said write/read unit comprises:

a first oscillator for generating a signal of a frequency f₁ for a power source;

a second oscillator for generating a signal of a frequency f₂ for clocks;

a third oscillator for generating a signal of a frequency f₃ for enable clocks; and

a first multiplexer for selecting an output of said first oscillator in a standby mode, and for selecting an output of said second oscillator in response to bit "1" of the sync clock, and for selecting an output of said third oscillator in response to bit "0" of the sync clock.

4. A memory package system according to claim 1, wherein said access data transmitting means provided in said write/read unit comprises:

a fourth oscillator for generating a signal of a frequency f₄ to access; and

a second multiplexer for selecting an output of said fourth oscillator in response to a data bit "1" of the serially converted write access data or read access data, and for inhibiting the output of the fourth oscillator in response to a data bit "0".

5. A memory package system according to claim 1, wherein said control data receiving means in said memory module comprises:

an enable signal generating means for generating an enable signal for said memory control means on the basis of a logic OR combination of the demodulated sync clock and enable clock.

6. A memory package system according to claim 1, wherein said memory control means in said memory module comprises:

a shift register for reading the write access data or read access data which is output from said access data receiving means as serial bit data in response to the sync clock by receiving the enable signal from said control data receiving means, and for converting same into parallel data and outputting same;

an instruction decoder for decoding an access command which is output from said shift register; and

an address decoder for decoding an instruction address which is output from the shift register.