US3953109A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Domain switching element
Assignee: Hitachi Ltd
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Filing: 1974-03-07
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Granted: 1976-04-27
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Expires: 1994-03-07
Abstract
Abstract In an irregular ferroelectric crystal plate having a domain switching element, the domain is made to grow unilaterally in a desired direction only, so that the domain wall is made movable in a desired direction only. The invention pertains also to a method of operating such element and to a method of making the same.
Inventors
- 👤 Akio Kumada
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 02:19
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/03; G02F1/05; H; H01; H01G; H01G7/00; H01G7/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
A domain switching element comprising: an irregular ferroelectric crystal plate having first and second surfaces opposite one another, said plate containing multi-domain nucleus regions disposed in spaced-apart portions thereof; a first electrode layer disposed on a first portion of said first surface of said plate between said multi-domain nucleus regions therein; second and third electrode layers disposed on second and third portions of said first surface of said plate, respectively spaced apart from opposite edges of said first electrode layer, so as to overlie said multi-domain nucleus regions disposed in said spaced-apart portions of said plate, respectively; and a fourth electrode layer disposed on a first portion of said second surface of said plate between said spaced-apart portions of said plate containing said multi-domain nucleus regions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
A domain switching element comprising: an irregular ferroelectric crystal plate having first and second surfaces opposite one another, said plate containing multi-domain nucleus regions disposed in spaced-apart portions thereof; a first electrode layer disposed on a first portion of said first surface of said plate between said multi-domain nucleus regions therein; second and third electrode layers disposed on second and third portions of said first surface of said plate, respectively spaced apart from opposite edges of said first electrode layer, so as to overlie said multi-domain nucleus regions disposed in said spaced-apart portions of said plate, respectively; and a fourth electrode layer disposed on a first portion of said second surface of said plate between said spaced-apart portions of said plate containing said multi-domain nucleus regions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A domain switching element according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of multi-domain nucleus regions, spaced apart from each other, are disposed in said plate beneath each of said second and third electrode layers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A domain switching element according to claim 2, wherein said nucleus regions are stripe-shaped regions aligned with the < 110> plane in said plate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A domain switching element according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second surfaces of said plate is orthogonal to the C-axis of the plate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
A domain switching element according to claim 1, wherein said opposite edges of said first electrode layer and said second and third electrode layers are aligned in the < 110> direction of said plate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
A domain switching element according to claim 1, further including means for selectively coupling first and second voltages to said first, second, third and fourth electrode layers, to effect the movement of a domain wall across said plate between said nucleus regions, thereby switching the state of polarization of said plate beneath said fourth electrode layer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A domain switching element according to claim 1, wherein said plate is a Gd 2 (MoO 4 ) 3 C-plate.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
301 words
A method of operating a domain switching element, said element comprising: an irregular ferroelectric crystal plate having first and second surfaces opposite one another, said plate containing multi-domain nucleus regions disposed in spaced-apart portions thereof; a first electrode layer disposed on a first portion of said first surface of said plate between said multi-domain nucleus regions therein; second and third electrode layers disposed on second and third portions of said first surface of said plate, respectively spaced-apart from opposite edges of said first electrode layer, so as to overlie said multi-domain nucleus regions disposed in said spaced-apart portions of said plate, respectively; and a fourth electrode layer disposed on a first portion of said second surface of said plate between said spaced-apart portions of said plate containing said multi-domain nucleus regions, said method comprising the steps of: a1. applying a first potential to said fourth electrode layer, while a2. applying a second potential to said first, second and third electrode layers and progressively increasing said second potential, thereby switching the portion of said plate between said spaced-apart portions thereof containing said multi-domain nucleus regions to a single prescribed state of polarization; b1. applying said second potential to said first and second electrode layers and said first potential to said third electrode layer, while b2. applying said first potential to said fourth electrode layer, thereby moving a domain wall defining the boundary between regions of opposite states of polarization into the portion of said plate between said second and third electrode layers; and c1. applying said second potential to said third electrode layer and said first potential to said fourth electrode layer, while c2. applying said second potential to said first and second electrode layers, thereby causing said domain wall to vanish in a nucleus domain region beneath said third electrode layer.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
301 words
A method of operating a domain switching element, said element comprising: an irregular ferroelectric crystal plate having first and second surfaces opposite one another, said plate containing multi-domain nucleus regions disposed in spaced-apart portions thereof; a first electrode layer disposed on a first portion of said first surface of said plate between said multi-domain nucleus regions therein; second and third electrode layers disposed on second and third portions of said first surface of said plate, respectively spaced-apart from opposite edges of said first electrode layer, so as to overlie said multi-domain nucleus regions disposed in said spaced-apart portions of said plate, respectively; and a fourth electrode layer disposed on a first portion of said second surface of said plate between said spaced-apart portions of said plate containing said multi-domain nucleus regions, said method comprising the steps of: a1. applying a first potential to said fourth electrode layer, while a2. applying a second potential to said first, second and third electrode layers and progressively increasing said second potential, thereby switching the portion of said plate between said spaced-apart portions thereof containing said multi-domain nucleus regions to a single prescribed state of polarization; b1. applying said second potential to said first and second electrode layers and said first potential to said third electrode layer, while b2. applying said first potential to said fourth electrode layer, thereby moving a domain wall defining the boundary between regions of opposite states of polarization into the portion of said plate between said second and third electrode layers; and c1. applying said second potential to said third electrode layer and said first potential to said fourth electrode layer, while c2. applying said second potential to said first and second electrode layers, thereby causing said domain wall to vanish in a nucleus domain region beneath said third electrode layer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 8, further including the step of (d) repeating steps (a1), (a2), (b1), (b2), (c1) and (c2) at regular intervals with said first and second potentials being interchanged with each other for each consecutive interval.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-04-27 | 1979-10-27 | 1980-04-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-04-27 | 1983-10-27 | 1984-04-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-04-27 | 1987-10-27 | 1988-04-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |