A semipermanent memory utilizing correlation addressing

A mechanically changeable, semipermanent, random access memory with a 16,384 twenty bit word capacity is described. This solenoid array memory is useful for stored programs and tables in computers, character generation and as a combined input and storage device for special purpose computers. It utilizes an associative technique to allow addressing of any of its 1024 sixteen word datacontaining sheets, which completely avoids any need for electrical connections to the data-containing sheets or for any ordering of the sheets within the memory. Each sheet is a very thin printed circuit onto which data is entered by etching or punch-card controlled cutting. The data is inductively interrogated by means of solenoids which pass loosely through the sheets. The sheets are contained in loose-leaf notebooklike magazines which fit into a file drawer. The present memory's access time is 0.7 microsecond and its cycle is below two microseconds.