Bubble domain lattice buffer arrangement

Claim 2

A combination for maintaining the integrity of a bubble domain lattice having an enclosed plurality of bubble domains in rows and columns on a medium supporting bubble domains, said combination comprising: a column of stripe domains established on each end of the latTice, one pair for each row of bubble domains in the lattice; and adjusting means for expanding and contracting, at opposite ends, the length of each pair of said stripe domains in accordance with the required propagation direction of its row of bubble domains.

Claim 3

A combination as described in claim 1 wherein said adjusting means comprises an essentially straight line current carrying conductor situated on each end of the lattice parallel to the column of bubble domains and producing a magnetic field gradient affecting the length of said stripe domains.

Claim 4

A combination as described in claim 1 wherein said adjusting means comprises a serpentine shaped current carrying conductor situated on each end of the lattice assisting in the enclosure of the domains in the lattice and producing a magnetic field gradient affecting the length of said stripe domains.

Claim 5

A combination as described in claim 1 wherein said adjusting means comprises propagation means for moving bubble domains along their rows, the domain interaction forces expanding and contracting the length of said stripe domains according to the propagation direction to maintain lattice integrity.

Claim 6

A combination as described in claim 1 further including propagation means for moving said bubble domains away from the expanding stripe domains towards the contracting stripe domains.

Claim 7

A combination as described in claim 1 wherein said adjusting means comprises a plurality of separately controllably adjusting means each expanding and contracting the length of at least one pair of stripe domains at each end of the lattice to propagate the bubble domains of its row.

Claim 8

In a magnetic domain arrangement including a bubble domain lattice having an enclosed plurality of bubble domains in rows and columns on a medium supporting bubble domains and at least one column accessing means including bubble domain generating means and sensing means, wherein the improvement for maintaining lattice integrity comprises: a column of stripe domains established on each end of the lattice, one pair for each row of bubble domains in the lattice; and means for adjusting the length of said stripe domains transverse to the column accessing means to position specific columns of bubble domains of said lattice into said column accessing means, said adjusting means expanding and contracting said stripe domains, respectively, at opposite ends of the lattice in accordance with the required propagation direction of its row of bubble domains.

Claim 9

In a magnetic domain arrangement including a bubble domain lattice having an enclosed plurality of bubble domains in rows and columns on a medium supporting bubble domains and at least one column accessing means including bubble domain generating means and sensing means, wherein the improvement for maintaining lattice integrity comprises: a column of stripe domains established on each end of the lattice, one pair for each row of bubble domains in the lattice; and means for adjusting the length of said stripe domains transverse to the column accessing means to position specific columns of bubble domains of said lattice into said column accessing means, said adjusting means expanding and contracting said stripe domains, respectively, at opposite ends of the lattice in accordance with the required propagation direction of its row of bubble domains.

Claim 10

An arrangement as described in claim 7 wherein said adjusting means comprises a plurality of separately controllable adjusting means each expanding and contracting the length of at least one pair of stripe domains at each end of the lattice to propagate the bubble domains of its row.

Claim 11

An arrangement as described in claim 7 wherein said adjusting means comprises an essentially straight line current carrying conductor situated on each end of the lattice extending along the length of each end parallel to the column accessing means and producing a magnetic field gradient affecting the length of said stripe domains.

Claim 12

An arrangement as described in claim 7 wherein said adjusting means comprise a serpentine shaped current carrying conductor situated on each end of the lattice assisting in the enclosure of the domains in the lattice and producing a magnetic field gradient affecting the length of said stripe domains.

Claim 13

An arrangement as described in claim 7 wherein said adjusting means comprises propagation means for moving bubble domains into and out of said column accessing means, the domain interaction forces expanding and contracting the length of said stripe domains according to the propagation direction to maintain lattice integrity.

Claim 14

An arrangement as described in claim 7 further including propagation means for moving said bubble domains away from the expanding stripe domains towards the contracting stripe domains.

Claim 15

A combination for maintaining the iNtegrity of a transverse access bubble domain lattice having a confined plurality of bubble domains in rows and columns on a medium supporting bubble domains, said lattice having at least one column accessing means including bubble domain generating means and sensing means and having propagating means actuable to move the columns of bubble domains in the lattice bidirectionally into and out of said column accessing means, said combination comprising: a column of stripe domains established on each end of the lattice, one pair for each row of bubble domains in the lattice; and means for adjusting the length of said stripe domains transverse to the column accessing means, said adjusting means, in conjunction with said propagation means, expanding and contracting said stripe domains at each end of the lattice in accordance with the direction of the movement of the columns of bubble domains controlled by said propagating means.

Claim 16

A combination for maintaining the iNtegrity of a transverse access bubble domain lattice having a confined plurality of bubble domains in rows and columns on a medium supporting bubble domains, said lattice having at least one column accessing means including bubble domain generating means and sensing means and having propagating means actuable to move the columns of bubble domains in the lattice bidirectionally into and out of said column accessing means, said combination comprising: a column of stripe domains established on each end of the lattice, one pair for each row of bubble domains in the lattice; and means for adjusting the length of said stripe domains transverse to the column accessing means, said adjusting means, in conjunction with said propagation means, expanding and contracting said stripe domains at each end of the lattice in accordance with the direction of the movement of the columns of bubble domains controlled by said propagating means.

Claim 17

A combination as described in claim 13 wherein said adjusting means comprises an essentially straight line current carrying conductor situated on each end of the lattice extending along the length of each end parallel to the column accessing means and producing a magnetic field gradient affecting the length of said stripe domains.

Claim 18

A combination as described in claim 13 wherein said adjusting means comprises a serpentine shaped current carrying conductor situated on each end of the lattice assisting in the enclosure of the bubble domains in the lattice and producing a magnetic field gradient affecting the length of said stripe domains.

Claim 19

An arrangement comprising: a plurality of bubble domains on a medium supporting bubble domains; means for enclosing said bubble domains into rows and columns to form a lattice; column accessing means for inserting and removing bubble domains into and out of the column of bubble domains positioned in said column accessing means; a column of stripe domains established on each end of the lattice, one pair of each row of bubble domains in the lattice; means for adjusting the length of said stripe domains transverse to the column accessing means to position specific columns of bubble domains in said lattice array into said column accessing means; control means for actuating said adjusting means to expand and contract said stripe domains, respectively, at each end of the lattice to position a column of bubble domains into said column accessing means, said control means further controlling said column accessing means to remove the positioned column of bubble domains and insert a column of bubble domains.

Claim 20

An arrangement comprising: a plurality of bubble domains on a medium supporting bubble domains; means for enclosing said bubble domains into rows and columns to form a lattice; column accessing means for inserting and removing bubble domains into and out of the column of bubble domains positioned in said column accessing means; a column of stripe domains established on each end of the lattice, one pair of each row of bubble domains in the lattice; means for adjusting the length of said stripe domains transverse to the column accessing means to position specific columns of bubble domains in said lattice array into said column accessing means; control means for actuating said adjusting means to expand and contract said stripe domains, respectively, at each end of the lattice to position a column of bubble domains into said column accessing means, said control means further controlling said column accessing means to remove the positioned column of bubble domains and insert a column of bubble domains.

Claim 21

An arrangement as described in claim 16 wherein said adjusting means comprises an essentially straight line current carrying conductor situated on each end of the lattice extending along the length of each end parallel to the column accessing means and producing a magnetic field gradient when actuated by said control means.

Claim 22

An arrangement as described in claim 16 wherein said column accessing means includes means for nucleating bubble domains having a data information state for storage in the lattice.

Claim 23

An arrangement as described in claim 18 wherein said column accessing means further includes means for sensing said bubble domain to retrieve the data information stored therein.

Claim 24

An arrangement comprising: a plurality of bubble domains on a medium supporting bubble domains; means for enclosing said bubble domains into rows and columns to form a lattice; column accessing means for inserting and removing bubble domains into and out of the column of bubble domains positioned in said column accessing means; a column of stripe domains established on each end of the lattice, one pair for each row of bubble domains in the lattice; means for adjusting the length of stripe domain transverse to the column accessing means; means for propagating the columns of bubble domains bidirectionally into and out of said column accesSing means; and control means for actuating said adjusting means in conjunction with said propagating means, to expand and contract said stripe domains, respectively, at each end of the lattice in accordance with the direction of propagation of the row of bubble domains by said propagating means and to position a column of bubble domains into said column accessing means, said control means further controlling said column accessing means to remove the positioned column of bubble domains and insert a column of bubble domains.

Claim 25

An arrangement comprising: a plurality of bubble domains on a medium supporting bubble domains; means for enclosing said bubble domains into rows and columns to form a lattice; column accessing means for inserting and removing bubble domains into and out of the column of bubble domains positioned in said column accessing means; a column of stripe domains established on each end of the lattice, one pair for each row of bubble domains in the lattice; means for adjusting the length of stripe domain transverse to the column accessing means; means for propagating the columns of bubble domains bidirectionally into and out of said column accesSing means; and control means for actuating said adjusting means in conjunction with said propagating means, to expand and contract said stripe domains, respectively, at each end of the lattice in accordance with the direction of propagation of the row of bubble domains by said propagating means and to position a column of bubble domains into said column accessing means, said control means further controlling said column accessing means to remove the positioned column of bubble domains and insert a column of bubble domains.

Claim 26

An arrangement as described in claim 20 wherein said adjusting means comprises an essentially straight line current carrying conductor situated on each end of the lattice extending along the length of each end parallel to the column accessing means and producing a magnetic field gradient affecting the length of said stripe domains.

Claim 27

An arrangement as described in claim 20 wherein said column accessing means includes means for nucleating bubble domains having a data information state for storage in the lattice.

Claim 28

An arrangement as described in claim 22 wherein said column accessing means further includes means for sensing said bubble domain to retrieve the data information stored therein.