DATA STORAGE SYSTEM WITH MEANS FOR ELIMINATING DEFECTIVE STORAGE LOCATIONS

摘要

A data storage system containing an integrated memory for the storage of words of a given number of bits wherein the memory is constructed so that each word address in the memory is provided with a number of memory elements in excess of the given number of bits of the words to be stored and any unusable memory elements in the matrix are modified so that when interrogated they cause a distinctive signal to be produced. In response to these distinctive signals circuitry is provided for directing the data bits into those bit locations or columns of a word address containing only usable memory elements during the writing operation and for compacting or eliminating the gaps between the data bits as the result of unusable memory elements in certain bit locations of a word address during read out. A number of techniques for identifying the unusable memory elements upon interrogation, as well as additional features and schemes for improving the operation of such data systems are also disclosed.