US3921154A
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US
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Electric polarization domain device and method
Assignee: EIDP Inc
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Filing: 1973-11-09
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Granted: 1975-11-18
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Expires: 1993-11-09
Abstract
Abstract Domain tips in a single crystal of gadolinium molybdate or similar material are controllably produced, stabilized and moved at a speed which can be very high, in a manner suitable for information storage, logic operations, and light control applications. In one form, an elongated blade domain having its tip spaced inwardly from an edge of a C-cut crystal is stored and controllably extended and contracted along its length so that its tip occupies different stabilized positions; the crystal is a coupled ferroelastic-ferroelectric material exhibiting uniaxial electric polarization. The blade is extended by applying a supportive electric or stress field to the blade region, is stabilized in position by applying the opposite or inhibiting polarity of stress or electric field to portions of the crystal outside of the blade region and adjacent the desired tip position, and is contracted by applying an opposing or inhibiting electric or stress field to the blade. In another form, elongated lens domains are produced, the opposite ends or tips of which are both spaced inwardly from the crystal edges toward which they extend, and such lenses are moved along the direction of their lengths to various desired positions and extended or contracted as desired; again, supportive fields are used to extend the lengths of the lenses, opposite or inhibiting fields are used to stabilize the lens lengths and positions, and opposite or inhibiting fields are applied without supportive fields to reduce lens lengths or to annihilate the lenses. Such a lens domain is produced by forming a blade, extending it to a desired position, and amputating it by means of voltages applied to localized electrodes on the crystal so as to leave the isolated lens. The source of the blade may comprise blade storage means in the form of an unelectroded wedge-shaped region in an otherwise electroded portion of the crystal. Controlled motion of a lens is accomplished by a three-phase voltage which applies a new supportive field just ahead of the leading tip of the lens to extend it in that direction, and, while applying a supportive field to the central portion of the lens, applies an opposite field to the trailing portion of the lens to eliminate this trailing portion; this sequence is repeated cyclically to advance the lens progressively further. Annihilation of a lens can be accomplished by removing the supportive field. Electronic, optical or other sensing of the positions of the blade and/or lens domains may be employed, and a special electrical detector system is used to sense exiting of lenses from the output end of the crystal.
Inventors
- 👤 John R Barkley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 23:19
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11C; G11C11/00; G11C11/21; G11C11/22; B; B82; B82Y; B82Y10/00; G11C19/00; G11C19/02; G11C19/08; G11C19/0808; G11C19/0841; G11C19/0858; G11C19/0866; H; H01; H01G; H01G7/00; H01G7/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 56
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
A controlled electric polarization domain device, comprising: a single crystal of a coupled ferroelastic-ferroelectric material exhibiting uniaxial electric polarization; means for producing in said single crystal an electric polarization domain region of electric polarization reversed with respect to that of adjacent material of said crystal, at least one portion of which domain: (a) is elongated along a predetermined twinning plane in said crystal, (b) has at least one tip spaced inwardly from that surface of said crystal toward which said tip extends, and (c) extends less than completely across said crystal in a direction perpendicular to said direction of elongation; and means for producing localized fields in said single crystal adjacent said tip, selectively to control the position of said tip in said crystal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
124 words
A controlled electric polarization domain device, comprising: a single crystal of a coupled ferroelastic-ferroelectric material exhibiting uniaxial electric polarization; means for producing in said single crystal an electric polarization domain region of electric polarization reversed with respect to that of adjacent material of said crystal, at least one portion of which domain: (a) is elongated along a predetermined twinning plane in said crystal, (b) has at least one tip spaced inwardly from that surface of said crystal toward which said tip extends, and (c) extends less than completely across said crystal in a direction perpendicular to said direction of elongation; and means for producing localized fields in said single crystal adjacent said tip, selectively to control the position of said tip in said crystal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
The domain device of claim 1, in which said means for producing said localized fields comprises means for applying a domain-supportive field to the portion of said crystal within said domain tip and means for applying a domain-inhibiting field to another portion of said crystal adjacent said tip and outside said domain region.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The domain device of claim 1, in which said means for producing said localized fields comprises spaced-aparT electrodes on said crystal and means for applying different voltages to said electrodes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The domain device of claim 1, comprising means for varying said fields as a function of time to vary the position of said tip.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
77 words
The domain device of claim 1, comprising: means for applying a domain-supportive field to the part of said crystal containing said domain tip; means for applying a domain-inhibiting field to another portion of said crystal adjacent said tip and outside said domain; and means for progressively changing, along the direction of the length of said domain, the positions at which said supportive and inhibiting fields are applied to said crystal to produce controlled motion of said tip.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The domain device of claim 1, comprising means for sensing said one portion of said domain region.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The domain device of claim 1, in which said domain region is a blade-domain region.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
70 words
The domain device of claim 1, in which said domain region is a lens-domain region having another opposite tip in addition to said one tip, said other tip being spaced inwardly from that surface of said crystal toward which said other tip extends, said domain device also comprising means for producing localized electric fields in said crystal adjacent said other tip selectively to control the position of said other tip.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The domain device of claim 1, in which said material is one characterized by one of the following Aizu point groups: 42mFmm2; 4F2; and 222F2.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The domain device of claim 1, in which said material is one characterized by the following Aizu point group: 42mFmm2.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
The domain device of claim 10, in which said material has the formula (RxR''1-x)2 O3.3Mo1-e WeO3 wherein R and R'' represent scandium, yttrium, or a rare earth element having an atomic number of from 57 to 71, x is from 0 to 0.1 and e is from 0 to 0.2.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
80 words
A controlled electric polarization domain device, comprising: a single crystal of a coupled ferroelastic-ferroelectric material exhibiting uniaxial electric polarization; means for generating in said crystal an electric polarization lens-domain region having opposite tips spaced inwardly from those surfaces of said crystal toward which they extend; means for applying a local domain-supportive field to said lens domain; and means for applying domain-inhibiting fields to portions of said crystal adjacent but outside said tips to stabilize the position of said lens domain.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
80 words
A controlled electric polarization domain device, comprising: a single crystal of a coupled ferroelastic-ferroelectric material exhibiting uniaxial electric polarization; means for generating in said crystal an electric polarization lens-domain region having opposite tips spaced inwardly from those surfaces of said crystal toward which they extend; means for applying a local domain-supportive field to said lens domain; and means for applying domain-inhibiting fields to portions of said crystal adjacent but outside said tips to stabilize the position of said lens domain.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 12, in which said fields comprise electric fields.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
The device of claim 12, in which said means for applying a domain-supportive field and said means for applying a domain-inhibiting field comprise localized electrodes on said crystal and means for applying different voltages thereto.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device of claim 12, comprising means for varying the positions of said domain-supportive field and said domain-inhibiting fields to effect controlled movement of said lens domain.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 12, comprising means for sensing said lens domain.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The domain device of claim 12, in which said material is one characterized by one of the following Aizu point groups: 42mFmm2; 4F2; and 222F2.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The domain device of claim 17, in which said material is one characterized by the following Aizu point group: 42mFmm2.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
51 words
The domain device of claim 18, in which said material has the formula (Rx R''1-x)2 O3.Mo1-e WeO3 wherein R and R'' represent scandium, yttrium, or a rare earth element having an atomic number of from 57 to 71, x is from 0 to 0.1 and e is from 0 to 0.2.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
38 words
An electric polarization domain device, comprising: a single crystal of a coupled ferroelastic-fErroelectric material exhibiting uniaxial electric polarization; and means for generating and stabilizing an array of electric polarization lens domains in predetermined controlled positions in said crystal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
38 words
An electric polarization domain device, comprising: a single crystal of a coupled ferroelastic-fErroelectric material exhibiting uniaxial electric polarization; and means for generating and stabilizing an array of electric polarization lens domains in predetermined controlled positions in said crystal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 20, comprising means for moving said lens domains controlledly to predetermined positions in said crystal.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device of claim 20, comprising means for controlling the arrangement of said lenses in said array in response to signals representing binary number information.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device of claim 20, comprising means for applying changing local fields to said crystal to move said lenses along the directions of their lengths.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
79 words
An electric polarization domain device, comprising: a single crystal of a coupled ferroelastic-ferroelectric material exhibiting uniaxial electric polarization; means for generating in said crystal an electric polarization blade domain having a tip spaced inwardly from the surface of said crystal toward which it extends; means for applying a domain-supportive field to said blade domain; and additional means for providing a domain-inhibiting field to portions of said crystal adjacent but outside said tip to stabilize the position of said tip.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
79 words
An electric polarization domain device, comprising: a single crystal of a coupled ferroelastic-ferroelectric material exhibiting uniaxial electric polarization; means for generating in said crystal an electric polarization blade domain having a tip spaced inwardly from the surface of said crystal toward which it extends; means for applying a domain-supportive field to said blade domain; and additional means for providing a domain-inhibiting field to portions of said crystal adjacent but outside said tip to stabilize the position of said tip.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 24, in which said domain-supportive field and said domain-inhibiting field are electric fields.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device of claim 24, in which said means for applying said domain-supportive and domain-inhibiting fields comprise localized electrodes on said crystal and means for applying different voltages thereto.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device of claim 24, comprising means for varying the positions of said domain-supporting field and said domain-inhibiting field to effect controlled movement of said blade domain tip.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
13 words
The domain device of claim 24, comprising means for sensing said blade domain.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
25 words
The domain device of claim 24, in which said material is one characterized by one of the following Aizu point groups: 42mFmm2; 4F2; and 222F2.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
20 words
The domain device of claim 24, in which said material is one characterized by the following Aizu point group: 42mFmm2.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
51 words
The domain device of claim 30, in which said material has the formula (Rx R''1-x)2 03.3Mo1-e We03 wherein R and R'' represent scandium, yttrium, or a rare earth element having an atomic number of from 57 to 71, x is from 0 to 0.1 and e is from 0 to 0.2.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
66 words
An electric polarization domain device, comprising: a single crystal of a coupled ferroelastic-ferroelectric material exhibiting uniaxial electric polarization; means for generating an electric polarization blade domain in said crystal; first electrode means responsive to an applied domain-supportive voltage for expanding said blade domain along its length; and second electrode means responsive to an applied domain inhibiting voltage for stabilizing said blade domain in its expanded position.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
66 words
An electric polarization domain device, comprising: a single crystal of a coupled ferroelastic-ferroelectric material exhibiting uniaxial electric polarization; means for generating an electric polarization blade domain in said crystal; first electrode means responsive to an applied domain-supportive voltage for expanding said blade domain along its length; and second electrode means responsive to an applied domain inhibiting voltage for stabilizing said blade domain in its expanded position.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
39 words
An electric polarization domain device, comprising: a single crystal of a coupled ferroelastic-ferroelectric material exhibiting uniaxial electric polarization; and means for generating and stabilizing an array of electric polarization blade domains of predetermined selectively controlled lengths in said crystal.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
39 words
An electric polarization domain device, comprising: a single crystal of a coupled ferroelastic-ferroelectric material exhibiting uniaxial electric polarization; and means for generating and stabilizing an array of electric polarization blade domains of predetermined selectively controlled lengths in said crystal.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 33, comprising means for controlledly and selectively changing the lengths of said blade domains.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device of claim 33, comprising means for controlling selectively the lengths of said blade domains in response to signals representing binary number information.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
58 words
Controlled electric polarization domain apparatus, comprising: a single crystal of a coupled ferroelastic-ferroelectric material exhibiting uniaxial electric polarization; means for producing in said crystal an electric polarization lens domain; a plurality of separate electrodes on said crystal; and electrical means for applying a repeating sequence of voltages to said electrodes to control the motion of said lens domains.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
58 words
Controlled electric polarization domain apparatus, comprising: a single crystal of a coupled ferroelastic-ferroelectric material exhibiting uniaxial electric polarization; means for producing in said crystal an electric polarization lens domain; a plurality of separate electrodes on said crystal; and electrical means for applying a repeating sequence of voltages to said electrodes to control the motion of said lens domains.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 41, in which said electrical means comprises means for generating N different phases of a periodic electrical waveform, where N is greater than 1, and means for supplying each of said N different phases of electrical waveform to N corresponding different sets of said electrodes.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
10 words
The apparatus of claim 37, in which N is 3.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 38, in which each of said sets comprises every third one of said electrodes along the direction of motion of said lens.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 39, in which said waveform is of the lens-inhibiting polarity for about one-third of each period of said waveform and is of the lens-supportive polarity for about two-thirds of each said period.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 40, in which the transitions of said waveform from the lens-supportive polarity to the lens-inhibiting polarity occur more quickly than the transitions thereof in the opposite sense.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
314 words
Electric polarization lens domain apparatus, comprising: a single crystal of a coupled ferroelastic-ferroelectric material exhibiting uniaxial electric polarization; means for producing a plurality of stored electric polarization blade domains spaced from each other along one side of said crystal and each extending along the same predetermined direction to define a number of lens channels in said crystal equal to the number of said blade domains; a plurality of input electrodes each positioned on said crystal adjacent the tip of a corresponding one of said stored blade domains and along the corresponding channel in said crystal; means for applying a blade-domain supportive voltage to any selected ones of said input electrodes to cause corresponding selected one of said blade domains to expand along the corresponding channels so that the tips of the expanded blade domains underlie said selected input electrodes; first driving electrode means spaced from said input electrodes along said predetermined direction and responsive to blade-domain supportive voltages applied thereto for further expanding said selected blade domains so that the tips thereof are positioned substantially under said first driving electrode means; means for applying a blade-domain inhibiting voltage to said input electrodes while said blade domains are in said further-expanded condition to annihilate the portions of said further-extended blade domains beneath said input electrodes, return said selected blade domains to their stored state, and thereby form an electric polarization lens domain from each of said further-extended blade domains; second driving electrode means spaced along said channels from said first driving electrode means; means for applying lens-supportive voltages to said second driving electrode means at positions adjacent but along said channel from the forward tip portions of said lenses to extend said lenses further along said channels and for applying lens-annihilating voltages to the opposite tip portions of said lens domains to annihilate them, thereby to effect controlled motion of said lenses along said channels.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
314 words
Electric polarization lens domain apparatus, comprising: a single crystal of a coupled ferroelastic-ferroelectric material exhibiting uniaxial electric polarization; means for producing a plurality of stored electric polarization blade domains spaced from each other along one side of said crystal and each extending along the same predetermined direction to define a number of lens channels in said crystal equal to the number of said blade domains; a plurality of input electrodes each positioned on said crystal adjacent the tip of a corresponding one of said stored blade domains and along the corresponding channel in said crystal; means for applying a blade-domain supportive voltage to any selected ones of said input electrodes to cause corresponding selected one of said blade domains to expand along the corresponding channels so that the tips of the expanded blade domains underlie said selected input electrodes; first driving electrode means spaced from said input electrodes along said predetermined direction and responsive to blade-domain supportive voltages applied thereto for further expanding said selected blade domains so that the tips thereof are positioned substantially under said first driving electrode means; means for applying a blade-domain inhibiting voltage to said input electrodes while said blade domains are in said further-expanded condition to annihilate the portions of said further-extended blade domains beneath said input electrodes, return said selected blade domains to their stored state, and thereby form an electric polarization lens domain from each of said further-extended blade domains; second driving electrode means spaced along said channels from said first driving electrode means; means for applying lens-supportive voltages to said second driving electrode means at positions adjacent but along said channel from the forward tip portions of said lenses to extend said lenses further along said channels and for applying lens-annihilating voltages to the opposite tip portions of said lens domains to annihilate them, thereby to effect controlled motion of said lenses along said channels.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 42, comprising optical means for sensing the locations of said lens domains.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 42, comprising electrical means for sensing the locations of said lens domains.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
144 words
Apparatus for sensing an electric polarization domain tip in a crystal of coupled ferroelectric-ferroelastic material exhibiting uniaxial electric polarization, comprising: a driving electrode on a surface of said crystal; a detector electrode adjacent said driving electrode but spaced therefrom along a direction of permissible motion of a lens domain in said crystal; means for forming an electric polarization lens domain in said crystal extending along said direction and at least in part under said driving electrode, and means for applying a lens-supportive voltage to said driving electrode to support said lens domain and to extend it under said detector electrode; means for changing said lens-supportive voltage to a lens annihilating voltage to move said lens domain beyond said detector electrode; and means for sensing changes in the electrical condition of said detector electrode due to motion of said lens domain under said detector electrode.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
144 words
Apparatus for sensing an electric polarization domain tip in a crystal of coupled ferroelectric-ferroelastic material exhibiting uniaxial electric polarization, comprising: a driving electrode on a surface of said crystal; a detector electrode adjacent said driving electrode but spaced therefrom along a direction of permissible motion of a lens domain in said crystal; means for forming an electric polarization lens domain in said crystal extending along said direction and at least in part under said driving electrode, and means for applying a lens-supportive voltage to said driving electrode to support said lens domain and to extend it under said detector electrode; means for changing said lens-supportive voltage to a lens annihilating voltage to move said lens domain beyond said detector electrode; and means for sensing changes in the electrical condition of said detector electrode due to motion of said lens domain under said detector electrode.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 45, in which said driving electrode extends on both sides of said detector electrode along said direction.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 45, in which said driving electrode extends along said direction to an edge of said crystal and is provided with a cutout therein extending from said edge, and said detector electrode is positioned within said cutout.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3825910A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-11-17 | 1979-05-19 | 1979-11-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-17 | 1983-05-19 | 1983-11-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-17 | 1987-05-19 | 1987-11-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |