US3913079A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Magnetic bubble domain pump shift register
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
•
Filing: 1974-01-02
•
Granted: 1975-10-14
•
Expires: 1994-01-02
Abstract
Abstract A propagation means for moving interactive elements, such as magnetic bubble domains in a magnetic medium, which comprises a very simple structure that can be used under many bias field conditions. A confinement means serves to constrain the movement of bubble domains to a single dimension, the bubble domains being close enough to each other to interact with one another. A pump means associated with the confinement means produces a magnetic field to expand some of the bubble domains within the confinement means. Expansion of some of the domains causes increased forces on other domains within the confinement means, thereby moving these other domains. When the expansion of the domains is terminated, the expanded domains will shrink which will result in a net displacement of other bubble domains into the area previously occupied by the expanded domains. Thus, movement of domains within the confinement means occurs. Associated structure is used to pulse domains within the confinement means and to generate domains within the confinement means. Additionally, means are provided for putting bubble domains within the confinement means and for removing bubble domains from within the confinement means. This pump propagation structure has particular utility for use with a bubble domain lattice file where the bias field conditions are similar to that required in the pump shift register.
Inventors
- 👤 Laurence L Rosier
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 19:43
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11C; G11C19/00; G11C19/02; G11C19/08; G11C19/0808; G11C19/0833
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
A propagation means for moving elements which have stray fields associated therewith, comprising: means for confining said elements in a channel, means for holding at least one of said elements in said channel in a substantially fixed position, means for changing the size of elements in said channel while said at least one element is held in said substantially fixed position to cause interactions between elements in said channel which propagate said elements along said channel when said at least one element is released from its substantially fixed position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
89 words
A propagation means for moving elements which have stray fields associated therewith, comprising: means for confining said elements in a channel, means for holding at least one of said elements in said channel in a substantially fixed position, means for changing the size of elements in said channel while said at least one element is held in said substantially fixed position to cause interactions between elements in said channel which propagate said elements along said channel when said at least one element is released from its substantially fixed position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The means of claim 1, where said elements are magnetic bubble domains.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The means of claim 2, where said means for changing includes means for producing a magnetic field which intercepts bubble domains in said channel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The means of claim 1, where said means for changing includes means for producing an electromagnetic field acting on said elements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The means of claim 1, where said means for confining includes means for magnetically interacting with said elements.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The means of claim 2, further including bias means for providing a magnetic bias field for stabilizing the size of said bubble domains.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
122 words
A bubble domain pump propagation structure for moving magnetic bubble domains in the magnetic medium, comprising: confinement means for restraining magnetic bubble domains in a restricted area of said magnetic medium in which said confined bubble domains can interact with one another, pump means for locally crowding said bubble domains in said confinement means to produce interaction forces on all bubble domains within said confinement means and for relaxing said local crowding, holding means for holding the position of at least one bubble domain in said restricted area substantially fixed during said local crowding when interaction forces are exerted on said at least one bubble domain, and for releasing said at least one bubble domain during said relaxing of said local crowding.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
122 words
A bubble domain pump propagation structure for moving magnetic bubble domains in the magnetic medium, comprising: confinement means for restraining magnetic bubble domains in a restricted area of said magnetic medium in which said confined bubble domains can interact with one another, pump means for locally crowding said bubble domains in said confinement means to produce interaction forces on all bubble domains within said confinement means and for relaxing said local crowding, holding means for holding the position of at least one bubble domain in said restricted area substantially fixed during said local crowding when interaction forces are exerted on said at least one bubble domain, and for releasing said at least one bubble domain during said relaxing of said local crowding.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
103 words
A bubble domain propagation structure for moving magnetic bubble domains in a magnetic medium, comprising: a confinement means for restricting the motion of bubble domains therein to a single dimension to form a channel, blocking means for magnetically blocking bubble domain movement along said dimension, and pump means for applying a magnetic field to selected bubble domains in said confinement means for expanding said selected bubble domains to cause interactions between domains in said channel while said blocking means prevents bubble domain movement along said dimension, means for releasing said blocked bubble domains after said pump means has expanded said selected bubble domains.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
103 words
A bubble domain propagation structure for moving magnetic bubble domains in a magnetic medium, comprising: a confinement means for restricting the motion of bubble domains therein to a single dimension to form a channel, blocking means for magnetically blocking bubble domain movement along said dimension, and pump means for applying a magnetic field to selected bubble domains in said confinement means for expanding said selected bubble domains to cause interactions between domains in said channel while said blocking means prevents bubble domain movement along said dimension, means for releasing said blocked bubble domains after said pump means has expanded said selected bubble domains.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
131 words
A propagation structure for moving magnetic bubble domains comprising: confinement means for defining a restrictive channel for magnetic bubble domain movement, there being a plurality of magnetic bubble domains in said channel having an equilibrium distance aO between said domains, force means for applying magnetic forces to selected bubble domains for moving bubble domains in said channel closer than said equilibrium distance aO, means for removing said magnetic forces from said selected domains to allow said bubble domains to move toward establishing said equilibrium distance aO therebetween, holding means for preventing the movement of at least one bubble domain in said channel while said force means applies said magnetic forces and for releasing said at least one domain when said means for removing removes said magnetic forces from said selected domains.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
131 words
A propagation structure for moving magnetic bubble domains comprising: confinement means for defining a restrictive channel for magnetic bubble domain movement, there being a plurality of magnetic bubble domains in said channel having an equilibrium distance aO between said domains, force means for applying magnetic forces to selected bubble domains for moving bubble domains in said channel closer than said equilibrium distance aO, means for removing said magnetic forces from said selected domains to allow said bubble domains to move toward establishing said equilibrium distance aO therebetween, holding means for preventing the movement of at least one bubble domain in said channel while said force means applies said magnetic forces and for releasing said at least one domain when said means for removing removes said magnetic forces from said selected domains.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
196 words
A bubble domain system comprising: first confinement means for confining an array of magnetic bubble domains which can interact with one another to form a lattice of bubble domains within said confinement means, access means for accessing bubble domains at positions within said first confinement means, said access means including: second confinement means for confining magnetic bubble domains in a channel wherein said bubble domains in said channel can move in either of two opposing directions substantially determined by the geometry of said second confinement means, and pump means for producing a magnetic field which couples to selected bubble domains in said channel to change the size of said selected domains thereby producing bubble-bubble interaction forces on all bubble domains in said channel, and for removing said magnetic field to allow said selected domains to relax toward their original sizes, holding means for holding at least one bubble domain in said channel in a substantially fixed position during application of said magnetic field to said selected domains, said at least one bubble domain being held in said substantially fixed position even when an interaction force is exerted on it by another bubble domain in said channel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
196 words
A bubble domain system comprising: first confinement means for confining an array of magnetic bubble domains which can interact with one another to form a lattice of bubble domains within said confinement means, access means for accessing bubble domains at positions within said first confinement means, said access means including: second confinement means for confining magnetic bubble domains in a channel wherein said bubble domains in said channel can move in either of two opposing directions substantially determined by the geometry of said second confinement means, and pump means for producing a magnetic field which couples to selected bubble domains in said channel to change the size of said selected domains thereby producing bubble-bubble interaction forces on all bubble domains in said channel, and for removing said magnetic field to allow said selected domains to relax toward their original sizes, holding means for holding at least one bubble domain in said channel in a substantially fixed position during application of said magnetic field to said selected domains, said at least one bubble domain being held in said substantially fixed position even when an interaction force is exerted on it by another bubble domain in said channel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
164 words
A shift register for moving magnetic bubble domains in a magnetic medium, comprising: a confinement means for providing magnetic interactions with a single row of magnetic bubble domains to confine said row of bubble domains, said domains beng able to move in said confinement means only in directions determined by the geometry of the confinement means, pump means for applying a magnetic field to a plurality of selected bubble domains within said confinement means for simultaneously changing the size of said plurality of selected bubble domains coupled by said magnetic field to thereby change the interactions between said selected bubble domains, and for substantially reducing the magnitude of said applied magnetic field to allow said selected bubble domains to relax from their changed size, holding means for holding at least one bubble domain at a substantially fixed position in said confinement means while the sizes of said selected domains are changed, and for releasing said at least one domain when said selected domains relax.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
164 words
A shift register for moving magnetic bubble domains in a magnetic medium, comprising: a confinement means for providing magnetic interactions with a single row of magnetic bubble domains to confine said row of bubble domains, said domains beng able to move in said confinement means only in directions determined by the geometry of the confinement means, pump means for applying a magnetic field to a plurality of selected bubble domains within said confinement means for simultaneously changing the size of said plurality of selected bubble domains coupled by said magnetic field to thereby change the interactions between said selected bubble domains, and for substantially reducing the magnitude of said applied magnetic field to allow said selected bubble domains to relax from their changed size, holding means for holding at least one bubble domain at a substantially fixed position in said confinement means while the sizes of said selected domains are changed, and for releasing said at least one domain when said selected domains relax.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The shift register of claim 11, further including generating means located adjacent to said confining means for generating magnetic bubble domains therein.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The shift register of claim 11, further including control means for producing localized magnetic field for movement of one bubble domain at a time in said confinement means.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
151 words
A method for moving magnetic bubble domains in a magnetic medium, comprising: confining said bubble domains within said medium in a restricted area of said medium, applying an electromagnetic field to at least one of said confined bubble domains in order to change the size of said at least one confined bubble domain to modify the interaction between said at least one bubble domain and another bubble domain in said restricted area, holding one otHer of said bubble domains in said restricted area in a substantially fixed position while the size of said at least one bubble domain is changed, and removing said appliied electromagnetic field to allow said at least one bubble domain whose size has been changed to relax toward its original size and releasing said one other bubble domain from its substantially fixed position said domains in said restricted area then moving due to interactions between said domains.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
151 words
A method for moving magnetic bubble domains in a magnetic medium, comprising: confining said bubble domains within said medium in a restricted area of said medium, applying an electromagnetic field to at least one of said confined bubble domains in order to change the size of said at least one confined bubble domain to modify the interaction between said at least one bubble domain and another bubble domain in said restricted area, holding one otHer of said bubble domains in said restricted area in a substantially fixed position while the size of said at least one bubble domain is changed, and removing said appliied electromagnetic field to allow said at least one bubble domain whose size has been changed to relax toward its original size and releasing said one other bubble domain from its substantially fixed position said domains in said restricted area then moving due to interactions between said domains.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 14, where said confined bubble domains are substantially close to one another to interact with one another.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 14, including the further step of detecting said domains which are confined.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 14, wherein said electromagnetic field is applied in a direction to expand said confined domains.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
132 words
A propagation structure for moving magnetic bubble domains in a magnetic medium, comprising: a confinement means for containing the motion of said bubble domains in a restricted direction in said magnetic medium, said bubble domains being sufficiently close to one another in said confinement means to have interaction therebetween, pump means for changing the size of a first bubble domain within said confinement means to produce interaction forces between all domains in said confinement means and for allowing said first domain having a changed size to relax toward its original size, holding means for holding at least one of said bubble domains in a substantially fixed position while said first domain has its size changed and for releasing said at least one domain when said first domain relaxes toward its original size.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
132 words
A propagation structure for moving magnetic bubble domains in a magnetic medium, comprising: a confinement means for containing the motion of said bubble domains in a restricted direction in said magnetic medium, said bubble domains being sufficiently close to one another in said confinement means to have interaction therebetween, pump means for changing the size of a first bubble domain within said confinement means to produce interaction forces between all domains in said confinement means and for allowing said first domain having a changed size to relax toward its original size, holding means for holding at least one of said bubble domains in a substantially fixed position while said first domain has its size changed and for releasing said at least one domain when said first domain relaxes toward its original size.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
The structure of claim 18, where said pump means includes means to produce magnetic fields which couple to said domains in said confinement means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
The structure of claim 18, where said confinement means contains a single row of magnetic bubble domains therein.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
25 words
The structure of claim 18, where said pump means includes a current-carrying conductor for producing magnetic fields which couple to domains in said confinement means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
17 words
The structure of claim 18, further including input means for producing bubble domains in said confinement means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
17 words
The structure of claim 18, further including output means for removing bubble domains from said confinement means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
14 words
The structure of claim 18, including means for detecting domains in said confinement means.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
121 words
A system for manipulation of magnetic bubble domains in a magnetic medium, comprising: a lattice of magnetic bubble domains spaced sufficiently close to one another to have interactions therebetween, said bubble domains in said lattice being in positions substantially determined by said interactions, a bubble domain pump propagation structure located adjacent to said lattice, said pump structure including confinement means for confining magnetic bubble domains to move in a direction substantially determined by the geometry of said confinement means, and pump means for producing magnetic fields which couple to said magnetic bubble domains in said confinement means to change the size of said coupled bubble domains and for allowing said bubble domains having changed size to relax toward their original sizes.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
121 words
A system for manipulation of magnetic bubble domains in a magnetic medium, comprising: a lattice of magnetic bubble domains spaced sufficiently close to one another to have interactions therebetween, said bubble domains in said lattice being in positions substantially determined by said interactions, a bubble domain pump propagation structure located adjacent to said lattice, said pump structure including confinement means for confining magnetic bubble domains to move in a direction substantially determined by the geometry of said confinement means, and pump means for producing magnetic fields which couple to said magnetic bubble domains in said confinement means to change the size of said coupled bubble domains and for allowing said bubble domains having changed size to relax toward their original sizes.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 25, where said pump means locally expands domains in said confinement means.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 25, further including a magnetic bias source for producing a stabilizing bias field on said magnetic domains.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 25, further including holding means for restricting the motion of at least one bubble domain in said confinement means while said pump means changes the size of said coupled bubble domains.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
110 words
A bubble domain pump propagation structure, comprising: confinement means for restricting a row of bubble domains therein which are sufficiently close to one another to interact with a force F1 betweeN adjacent bubble domains, pump means for altering said interaction to locally change the interactive force between adjacent domains to a new value F2, and for returning said interactive force to approximately the value F1, holding means for restricting the movement of at least one bubble domain in said confinement means while said interactive force is changed from F1 to F2, and for releasing said at least one bubble domain when said force F2 is relaxed toward the value F1.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
110 words
A bubble domain pump propagation structure, comprising: confinement means for restricting a row of bubble domains therein which are sufficiently close to one another to interact with a force F1 betweeN adjacent bubble domains, pump means for altering said interaction to locally change the interactive force between adjacent domains to a new value F2, and for returning said interactive force to approximately the value F1, holding means for restricting the movement of at least one bubble domain in said confinement means while said interactive force is changed from F1 to F2, and for releasing said at least one bubble domain when said force F2 is relaxed toward the value F1.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
19 words
The structure of claim 29, where said pump means and said holding means are comprised of the same structure.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3508225A
Cited
US3540021A
Cited
US3735145A
Cited
US3676870A
Cited
US3821725A
Cited
US3836895A
Cited
US3810133A
Cited
US3863234A
Cited
US3813661A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-10-13 | 1979-04-14 | 1979-10-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-13 | 1983-04-14 | 1983-10-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-13 | 1987-04-14 | 1987-10-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |