Just a cool picture - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: Roeland_R
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2017, 05:06:00 pm
content: This picture just made with my fresh arrived Andonstar V160 usb microscope. I don't tell what it is....

author: Zbig
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2017, 05:09:42 pm
content: You underestimate usCore memory.

author: Twoflower
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2017, 05:10:40 pm
content: A well taken picture of a Zntargvp-pber zrzbel ;-)

author: martys
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2017, 05:59:00 pm
content: Di-lithium fast-proton synchronizer.

author: Benta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2017, 07:00:44 pm
content: Nice!1960s FRAM

author: MickM
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2017, 08:07:48 pm
content: Tholian web

author: orolo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2017, 08:16:57 pm
content: Easy, a Cesium Chloride crystal. Do they sell the usb tunneling scope in ebay?

author: tpowell1830
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2017, 08:59:34 pm
content: Just to emphasize the criticality of this mystery device, I found this old video. Look around 13:00 if you want to see what this is.

author: Roeland_R
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 25, 2017, 09:51:08 am
content: Quote from: Benta on February 24, 2017, 07:00:44 pmWell, I made a teardown of my iPhone 10

author: JenniferG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 25, 2017, 09:54:53 am
content: Looks like ferrite beads in a core memory module. I believe they even used these on the space shuttle because the memory would be persistent even if the computer lost power unlike static & dynamic ram -- good for mission critical stuff, at least back then.Learned about core memory back in 1994 in my Computer Architecture class for Software Engineering degree. [Humorous little side story about that class: In that class, we also simulated an 8 bit computer with 8 bit address space in LogicWorks. Built in modules (full of tons of gates) over the semester (ALU, registers, etc) to where we finally built the decoder and executed code. My little simulated computer worked where most other students didn't. I kind of cheated though because I didn't do the boolean algebra to simplify the decoder.. I was afraid I was going to make a mistake and wanted a functioning decoder, lol. I think most other students made algebraic errors, is why their decoder didn't work. My teacher caught on and kind of said I cheated because the decoder wasn't simplified, but he seemed very pleased it actually worked and gave me an A.]

author: retrolefty
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 25, 2017, 11:57:52 am
content: Quote from: JenniferG on February 25, 2017, 09:54:53 amNice story. And it's great when anyone is forced to learn the logic basics of a basic CPU with it's ALU, PC counter, data buses, instruction decoder (the real bitch!), etc. However it is just history. Today that is learned as a higher order abstraction, which is more effective and applicable with the gigabit transistor density of today's microprocessors.

author: Roeland_R
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 25, 2017, 03:35:01 pm
content: Quote from: JenniferG on February 25, 2017, 09:54:53 amI learnt about core memory round 1980 at school. There we had to build micro computers with a 6502 processor. If I remember well it was a Eurocom kit. Even the transformer for the powersupply we had to wind ourselves. The teacher told us to use 10% more windings than calculated. Othewise output voltage might be to low. Classmates that didn't listen to the teacher indeed had a problem with their powersupply. I hope to connect my core memory to an Arduino one, which I program in assembly and not in C. Just for the fun of it. First I have to find a diagram for driving this fujitsu core memory.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 25, 2017, 03:44:37 pm
content: It's an easy one to get but still a nice pic for such a cheap microscope. I've been thinking about getting one of those.(as a present for the missus)

author: Audioguru
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 25, 2017, 04:15:47 pm
content: In about 1969 I worked with an office computer that had core memory like that and the program was on punched cards. The logic was DTL. The wiring was wires wrapped on pins.It had a design problem and I fixed it by piggy-backing a gate IC on top of another IC. I was awarded an electric shaver for my idea.

author: JenniferG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 26, 2017, 12:32:55 am
content: Quote from: retrolefty on February 25, 2017, 11:57:52 amThanks. I am glad I learned about this in college for my Computer Science degree back then. It definitely gave me a lot of insight to digital logic & digital electronics. Loved that class. I probably wouldn't even be here today in this forum, asking for help with electronics in general, if it wasn't for that class.

author: JenniferG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 26, 2017, 12:35:14 am
content: Quote from: Roeland_R on February 25, 2017, 03:35:01 pmNice little storyAwesome I'd love to see that.. arduino hooked up to core memory! Then turn it off and back on and re-read the memory and find what you stored in it is still there .. HAH so awesomeWhere did you get that core memory? Geesh I want a block of it! Would be so cool to have here on the shelf for display at least.

author: JenniferG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 26, 2017, 12:38:33 am
content: Quote from: Audioguru on February 25, 2017, 04:15:47 pmWow an electric shaver!

author: cncjerry
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 26, 2017, 03:29:18 am
content: A snow cone maker.Is that memory from a IBM 700 series? That's where the term "core" came from, no?

author: tpowell1830
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 26, 2017, 07:46:05 pm
content: Also, here is a Jeri Ellsworth video showing how to use them.

author: eugenenine
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 26, 2017, 07:53:49 pm
content: Quote from: JenniferG on February 25, 2017, 09:54:53 amThe Amiga LogicWorks or is there a different one?

author: Benta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 26, 2017, 08:10:17 pm
content: QuoteLike I said: 1960s FRAM.

author: JenniferG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 26, 2017, 08:35:42 pm
content: Quote from: Benta on February 26, 2017, 08:10:17 pmIndeed!And I added a bit to that. Like the fact that 1960's technology was used in the Space Shuttle even up to 1986, for mission critical purposes. Then I shared my little story.

author: Roeland_R
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 26, 2017, 08:38:04 pm
content: I wonder if original data stil is stored.

author: Roeland_R
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 27, 2017, 06:30:27 pm
content: Quote from: JenniferG on February 26, 2017, 12:35:14 amI don't remember how I got this "memory card" anymore. Somewhere around 1985 I think. I worked for a company that sold several brands of computersystems like Sharp, Wordplex, Hayac. There was one system that more looked like a vacuum cleaner. Perhaps the module comes from that machine. When you had to change tax percentage of the system it was a hardware patch. cutting diodes and placing new ones.

author: tpowell1830
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 27, 2017, 06:38:52 pm
content: Quote from: MickM on February 24, 2017, 08:07:48 pmAha Trekkie!

author: Luminax
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 01, 2017, 07:03:58 am
content: Didn't Dave do a video on this somewhere inside a Mailbag? hmmm link digging time...

author: innkeeper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 01, 2017, 07:07:00 am
content: now i am feeling old.i've actually crashed a computer by accidentally kicking the core memory box.

author: eugenenine
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 01, 2017, 12:18:21 pm
content: Quote from: innkeeper on March 01, 2017, 07:07:00 amOn purpose or by accident?

author: obiwanjacobi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 01, 2017, 02:13:27 pm
content: I once had two double cards with core memory in my possession - and I gave them away

author: Tom45
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 01, 2017, 02:35:54 pm
content: In the 60s and 70s I worked with Control Data 3300, 3500, and 6600 computers. All with core memory.CDC started making core memory in Mexico (don't tell Trump). So we dubbed that plant the Tijuana core house.

author: DBecker
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 01, 2017, 06:39:15 pm
content: Core memory was inherently rad-hard and could be woven as a rope for installation in small compartments. It's not especially low power, but it's thermal behavior is excellent -- it has copper in exactly the right spots to transport the heat. This is critical when you don't have convection, and perhaps not even atmosphere.It's not just power-off retention that was a benefit, it was reliability in the face of power variations. Spacecraft power systems have lots of glitches. They don't waste weight on oversize wires, and capacitors are always a challenge.

author: innkeeper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 04, 2017, 05:32:55 am
content: Quote from: eugenenine on March 01, 2017, 12:18:21 pmlol it was completely by accident, but it wasn't my fault, they shouldn't have had the memory drawer pulled out like that. Funny no one accepted that excuse.