Memory Chip

1. Memory Chip

The Memory chip is the top-level abstraction of the Hack computer’s general-purpose memory. It integrates:

RAM16K – the main user-accessible memory

Screen – mapped to memory addresses 16384 to 24575

Keyboard – mapped to memory address 24576

It receives a 16-bit address, a 16-bit in, a load signal, and produces a 16-bit out. Depending on the address:

address[14..] == 0 → RAM16K (0–16383)

address[14..] == 1 and address < 24576 → Screen (16384–24575)

address == 24576 → Keyboard

2. Truth Table

address (15-bit)	in (16-bit)	load	out (16-bit)	Memory Target	Notes
000000000000000	0000000000000001	1	0000000000000001	RAM16K	Writes to general memory (RAM[0])
001111111111111	1111111111111111	1	1111111111111111	RAM16K	Writes to RAM[8191]
010000000000000	1010101010101010	1	1010101010101010	Screen	Writes to Screen[0] (address 16384)
010011111111111	0000000000000000	0	current screen value	Screen	Reads from Screen[8191]
011000000000000	x	0	0000000000000001	Keyboard	Reads key input

3. Implementation (HDL)

Memory uses 1 RAM16K, 1 Screen chip, and 1 Keyboard chip. Routing is based on the upper bits of the address.

CHIP Memory {
    IN in[16], load, address[15];
    OUT out[16];

    PARTS:
    // Determine where to route based on address
    Not(in=address[14], out=ramSel);                // address < 16384
    And(a=ramSel, b=load, out=loadRam);             // load RAM if address < 16384

    And(a=address[14], b=address[13], out=screenSel); // 16384 <= address < 24576
    And(a=screenSel, b=load, out=loadScreen);         // load screen if in range

    // RAM16K block
    RAM16K(in=in, load=loadRam, address=address[0..13], out=ramOut);

    // Screen block (mapped to 16384 to 24575)
    Screen(in=in, load=loadScreen, address=address[0..12], out=screenOut);

    // Keyboard block (mapped to 24576)
    Keyboard(out=keyOut);

    // Choose correct output based on address
    Mux16(a=ramOut, b=screenOut, sel=address[14], out=ramOrScreen);
    Mux16(a=ramOrScreen, b=keyOut, sel=address[13] & address[14], out=out);
}