Serial Access Memory

The opposite of Random Access Memory

The Serial Access memory
Serial Access Memories (S.A.M.) are Memory devices
that are accessed serially.
Large SAM store information in a fixed set of tracks,
each a series of 1 bit storage cells. These tracks have
one or more access points where the “head” can read or
write data into the media.
During data accessing either the medium, the head or
both are moved.
Serial Access Memory
S.A.M. are typically used as secondary memory in
computer systems.
Also has low cost per bit ratio, this is achieved by using
small and simple storage cells.
It is slow, its long access time is attributed to
 Read write head positioning time
 Relatively slow speed or track reading
 Data transfer to and from the memory is serial
Most S.A.M. have mechanical components with the
exception of Solid State Disks
SAM: Access Methods
There are two kinds of magnetic hard disks , the fixed
r/w head and shared r/w heads.
 In a Fixed r/w head, the track may have one or more r/w
heads
 In a Shared r/w head, the head moves among different
tracks.
SAM: Access Mode delays
Seek time (Ts) - The delay when the head moves
between tracks.
Latency (TL ) – The delay when the part of the track
that contains the data moves towards the r/w head. In
SAM that rotate around a closed track, this is called
rotational latency
Storing a w-bit word
A storage cell can only contain 1 bit, therefore in
storing a w-bit word, the system may:
 Use one track to store w bits simultaneously
 Use w tracks to store w bits
Using this method the system will then require
synchronization of the w tracks then providing a r/w head
each, it however provides simultaneous access for all w-bit
However both methods are inefficient in reading /
writing single words since seek time and rotational
latency will consume so much time
Words are grouped into larger units called blocks, and
are stored into consecutive locations in order to reduce
overall delay (one seek and one latency per access)

The rate of data transfer depends on two factors, the

storage information speed and the storage density
along the tracks.
 For example a track has s storage density of T bits/cm
and moves at a velocity of V cm/s past the r/w head,
then the data transfer will be
TV bits/sec
Sample computation
In estimating the time (Tb) needed to access a block of
data in a SAM, assuming the memory has closed
rotating storage tracks. Each track has a capacity of N
words and rotate at r rev/sec. let n be the number of
words/block .
Data Transfer rate : rN words/s
When r/w head is positioned at the start of the block
then data transfer is approximately n/(rN) seconds
The average latency is 1/(2r) seconds
If ts is the average seek time then the approximate
formula for tb is
Tb = ts +1/(2r)+n/(rN)
Organization of a Serial Access Memory

Storage
Tracks

…
RW RW RW
head head head

Timing and Control Logic

Address
Decoder
Control Bus

Address Bus Data Bus

SAM: Memory Organization
The SAM diagram as shown above accesses data
according to the data received by the address decoder.
The address decoder will output the address of the r/w
head to be used, the timing and control logic handles
the selection of heads to be activated accordingly. Only
the r/w heads specified by the address will be active at
a time and the block to be accessed will only be active
when the head is directly above it
Serial Access Memory
Most of the SAM devices have mechanical/moving
parts. Often used electromechanical components are
electric motors, the most common secondary storage
device –the Hard Disk Drive uses electric motors to
rotate its platters.
Another is the CD Rom drive which spins the CD
using yet another motor and several more (including
stepper motors) for the movement and focusing of its
lens.
Only Solid State Disks(SSD) do not employ
electromechanical parts.
 Magnetic Surface
Recording
The Most common data storage in modern computers
Magnetic Surface Recording
Magnetic storage in the form of audio recording on a wire was publicized
by Oberlin Smith in 1888. He filed a patent in September, 1878 but did
not pursue the idea as his business was machine tools. The first publicly
demonstrated (Paris Exposition of 1900) magnetic recorder was invented
by Valdemar Poulsen in 1898. Poulsen's device recorded a signal on a
wire wrapped around a drum. In 1928, Fritz Pfleumer developed the first
magnetic tape recorder. Early magnetic storage devices were designed to
record analog audio signals. Computer and now most audio and video
magnetic storage devices record digital data.

In old computers, magnetic storage was also used for primary storage in
a form of magnetic drum, or core memory, core rope memory, thin film
memory, twistor memory or bubble memory. Unlike modern computers,
magnetic tape was also often used for secondary storage.
MSR
Magnetic-surface recording media include the
Magnetic tape and the more common Magnetic disks.
Magnetic Surface Recording is achieved by coating a
substrate with a layer of magnetic medium.
 The coating in use is either Ferric Oxide or Chromium
Oxide
In the case of Tapes, magnetic material is embedded
on a plastic binder on a polyester film
MSR: Write method
When executing a write cycle in a MSR device, the r/w
head or the addressed cell is moved towards the
read/write gap with respect to the specified address.
The read write head which has a small electromagnet
magnetizes the field directly underneath thus
changing the magnetic state.
The magnetic state is defined by the direction
/magnitude of the magnetic flux in the cell, and they
represent logical 0 or logical 1.
MSR: Read Method
When executing a Read cycle in a MSR device the head
does the opposite, instead of setting off magnetic
fields, the head senses for magnetic fields. As the
medium moves past the head, the magnetic field
inducts a magnetic field at the core material where a
voltage pulse will also be induced into the read coil .
The readout process is nondestructive.
Magnetic-Surface Recording Mechanism
(Write)
0101

Substrate
Magnetic-Surface Recording Mechanism
(Write)
010 1

Substrate
Magnetic-Surface Recording Mechanism
(Write)
010

Substrate
Magnetic-Surface Recording Mechanism
(Write)
01 0

Substrate
Magnetic-Surface Recording Mechanism
(Read)

Substrate
Magnetic-Surface Recording Mechanism
(Read)
1

Substrate
Magnetic-Surface Recording Mechanism
(Read)
1

Substrate
Magnetic-Surface Recording Mechanism
(Read)
0 1

Substrate
Magnetic-Surface Recording Mechanism
(Read)
01

Substrate
Magnetic Disk Memories
Thin disks are used with magnetic material coating.
Both sides f the disk are used and both have thousands
of recoding tracks which are arranged in concentric
circles. Larger capacity drives have multiple disks and
have 2 recording surfaces and heads for each disk.
The disks are rotated at a constant speed by a disk
drive unit. And each r/w head are connected to a r/w
arm and all heads move in unison.
Magnetic Disk Memory Accessing
The r/w arm is in charge of moving the head towards
the specified sector within a track. The head then
reads or writes on each sector.
Each sector are “equal” in capacity in order to simplify
memory control, therefore inner tracks have higher
track density than the outer sectors.
Top View of a Magnetic Disk Drive Unit
Side view of a Magnetic Disk Drive Unit
MDM: Portable
There are magnetic disks that are smaller, lightweight
and portable. Generally called Floppy Disks, these are
sealed disks with flexible mylar substrate.
Came in three sizes 8in, 5.25 in and 3.5 in
MDM: Average Block Access Time
Parameters
PARAMETERS
Disk Diameter (size factor)
Number of Disks
Number of Recording surfaces
Read write heads pre recording surfaces
Number of tracks per recording surface
Number of sectors per track
Storage capacity per thrack
Track-Recording density
Storage capacity pre recording surface (formatted)
Storage capacity of drive (formatted)
Disk rotation speed
Average seek time
Average rotational latency
Internal data transfer rate
External (buffered) data transfer rate
Magnetic Tape memory
Oldest and cheapest form or mass memory, mainly
used for backup storage.
Data is stored in parallel, longitudinal tracks
troughout out the tape. Modern tape memories have
hundreds of tracks which can be read simultaneously.
Data transfer varies depending on the relative speed of
the tape to the r/w head and the tape’s storage density
MTM: devices
MTM: devices
MTM: access speed
Consider a 80 track tapewith a storage density(per
track) of 110 Kb/in and a tape speed of 50 in/sec
100000*80/8*50 = 55MB/s

200meters of this tape can store

55/50 * 200/0.0254 = 8.661GB

The time it takes to rewind and scan the entire tape is

about a minute.
MTM: Utilization
The Tape’s utilization or tape space utilization is
computed by:
U = bl/(bl+gl)
Where bl is block length and gl is the inter block gap
length.
MTM: Effective data transfer rate
“real” data transfer rate considering interblock gaps
and the time needed to start/stop the tape

Deff = tDd / tD +tG +tSS

Where
d is the maximum transfer rate
tD is time required to scan data block
tG is the time to scan interblock gap
And tSS is the time to start/stop the device
MTM: Effective data transfer rate
tD (time required to scan data block)is also computed
by :
tD = bs* d
tG (the time to scan interblock gap) can also be
computed by:
tG = gs/d
The Equiation for efficiency can be expanded to
D eff = (bs * d) / (bs + gs + tss *d)
MTM: Effective data transfer rate
The effective block access time tB is the inverse of Deff
 tB = 1/Deff