← Back to Patent Explorer
US4550389A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Apparatus and method for switching a magnetic domain lens

Assignee: Northrop Grumman Guidance and Electronics Co Inc
•
Filing: 1983-08-15
•
Granted: 1985-10-29
•
Expires: 2003-08-15
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A magnetic domain device has at least one post element formed from a material that exhibits magnetic domain characteristics and that is positioned on a nonmagnetic substrate material. A pair of electrical drive lines associated with a post element permit coincident current selection of the post element to nucleate a magnetic domain reversal, and an additional current introduced into an adjacent drive line establishes an additive magnetic field to assist the propagation of a domain wall associated with the nucleated magnetic domain reversal so that the direction of magnetization of the post element is reversed.

Inventors

  • 👤 David L. Cox
  • 👤 William E. Ross
  • 👤 Calvin A. Toche

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 23:34
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11C; G11C11/00; G11C11/02; G11C11/14; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/09

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim 104 words
In a magneto-optic device having a magnetic domain lens including a plurality of separated geometric elements wherein each of the geometric elements contain a volume of magnetic material that is bistable or magnetically reversible and has an easy axis, the magnetic domain lens further comprising: (a) first means establishing additive magnetic fields to nucleate a magnetic domain reversal in a selected geometric element, and (b) second means establishing an aiding magnetic field to assist the propagation of a domain wall associated with the nucleated magnetic domain reversal through said selected element so that a desired degree of magnetic reversal of said element is completed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 104 words
In a magneto-optic device having a magnetic domain lens including a plurality of separated geometric elements wherein each of the geometric elements contain a volume of magnetic material that is bistable or magnetically reversible and has an easy axis, the magnetic domain lens further comprising: (a) first means establishing additive magnetic fields to nucleate a magnetic domain reversal in a selected geometric element, and (b) second means establishing an aiding magnetic field to assist the propagation of a domain wall associated with the nucleated magnetic domain reversal through said selected element so that a desired degree of magnetic reversal of said element is completed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 32 words
The magnetic domain lens of claim 1 in which said aiding magnetic field is an additive field proportionately less than individual ones of said additive magnetic fields established by said first means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 42 words
The magnetic domain lens of claim 1 in which said first means is at least a pair of electrical conductors having respective first and second ones of said pair positioned to adjoin associated first and second surfaces of said selected geometric element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 26 words
The magnetic domain lens of claim 3 in which the nucleation of said magnetic domain reversal occurs in a nucleation region of said selected geometric element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 15 words
The magnetic domain lens of claim 4 in which said selected geometric element is quadrilateral.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 15 words
The magnetic domain lens of claim 5 in which said quadrilateral geometric element is square.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 21 words
The magnetic domain lens of claim 5 in which said nucleation region is a corner region of said quadrilateral geometric element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 37 words
The magnetic domain lens of claim 7 in which said propagation of said domain wall associated with the nucleation magnetic domain reversal is through said element toward an opposite corner region relative to said nucleation corner region.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 36 words
The magnetic domain lens of claim 8 in which said propagation of said domain wall is through said element to and including said opposite corner region so that magnetic domain reversal in said element is complete.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 32 words
The magnetic domain lens of claim 8 in which said propagation of said domain wall is through said element to an intermediate point between said corner region and said opposite corner region.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 17 words
The magnetic domain lens of claim 4 in which said associatd surfaces develop said necleation region therebetween.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 22 words
The magnetic domain lens of claim 11 in which said respective ones of said pair of conductors cross adjoining said nucleation region.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 19 words
The magnetic domain lens of claim 3 in which said pair of electrical conductors are row and column conductors.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 20 words
The magnetic domain lens of claim 13 in which said row and column conductors are positioned orthogonal to each other.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 45 words
The magnetic domain lens of claim 3 in which said second means is a third electrical conductor both spaced apart from said selected geometric element and said first one of said pair of conductors, and crossing the second one of said pair of electrical conductors.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 23 words
The magnetic domain lens of claim 15 in which said third conductor is parallel with said first one of said pair of conductors.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3715736A Cited
US4500177A Cited
US4500176A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1988-10-28 1989-04-29 1989-10-29 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1992-10-28 1993-04-29 1993-10-29 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1996-10-28 1997-04-29 1997-10-29 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag