Application of the Plasma Display Technique to Associative Memory Systems

摘要

For the past two decades the concepts of associative memory and computer systems using associative memories have attracted considerable attention. When the plasma display panel was invented, the properties and applications of this device have been the subject of research projects at the University of Illinois Coordinated Science Laboratory. During the early development of the device, it was noticed that the plasma display elements exhibited device characteristics which were similar to those required of associative memory elements. Since the expected cost of producing plasma display/memory panels was estimated to be very low, considerable interest was generated concerning the use of these devices to form associative memories. As a result, a research effort was initiated at the University of Illinois for the purpose of determining the technical feasiblility of using plasma display elements to make associative memories. This thesis describes that research and in addition, presents a number of conceptual system configurations which evolved as a results of the research. (Author Modified Abstract)