Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
A magneto-optic device (10) having a low switching threshold comprising: at least two layers of magnetic material juxtaposed in an exchange coupled relationship upon a non-magnetic substrate; a first layer (14) including magnetic material having magnetic and optical properties; a second layer (16) including magnetic material having switching properties; wherein said first layer has improved magnetic and optical properties over said record layer, and said second layer has an improved switching property over said first layer; said first layer having a relative thickness greater than the thickness of said second layer, and a relative anisotropy constant higher than the anisotropy constant of said second layer; and a region (18) of said magnetic material within said second layer having a relative anisotropy constant less than the anisotropy constant of the remainder of said magnetic material of said second layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
138 words
A magneto-optic device (10) having a low switching threshold comprising: at least two layers of magnetic material juxtaposed in an exchange coupled relationship upon a non-magnetic substrate; a first layer (14) including magnetic material having magnetic and optical properties; a second layer (16) including magnetic material having switching properties; wherein said first layer has improved magnetic and optical properties over said record layer, and said second layer has an improved switching property over said first layer; said first layer having a relative thickness greater than the thickness of said second layer, and a relative anisotropy constant higher than the anisotropy constant of said second layer; and a region (18) of said magnetic material within said second layer having a relative anisotropy constant less than the anisotropy constant of the remainder of said magnetic material of said second layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said second layer is no greater than 1.5 micrometers in thickness.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said first layer is positioned between said non-magnetic substrate and said second layer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said second layer is positioned between said non-magnetic substrate and said first layer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said region is modified through laser or electron beam annealing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said region is modified through ion doping.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said substrate is a granet based material and said first and second layers are formed of bismuth doped garnet films.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The device of claim 1, wherein: said first and second layers of magnetic material define at least one isolated post element upon said substrate; and said region is a peripheral area of said post element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
111 words
In a magneto-optic device formed from a primary magnetic material that exhibits optimum magnetic domain and optical characteristics including a high anisotropy characteristic, said primary material supported upon a non-magnetic and optically transparent material, the improvement comprising: a secondary layer of magnetic material having a thickness less than the thickness of said primary magnetic material, exhibiting magnetic domain and switching characteristics including a lower anisotropy characteristic than said primary magnetic material and juxtaposed in a exchange couple relationship with said primary magnetic material; and a modified region within said secondary layer of magnetic material having a low anisotropy characteristic relative to said anisotropy characteristic of said secondary layer of magnetic material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
111 words
In a magneto-optic device formed from a primary magnetic material that exhibits optimum magnetic domain and optical characteristics including a high anisotropy characteristic, said primary material supported upon a non-magnetic and optically transparent material, the improvement comprising: a secondary layer of magnetic material having a thickness less than the thickness of said primary magnetic material, exhibiting magnetic domain and switching characteristics including a lower anisotropy characteristic than said primary magnetic material and juxtaposed in a exchange couple relationship with said primary magnetic material; and a modified region within said secondary layer of magnetic material having a low anisotropy characteristic relative to said anisotropy characteristic of said secondary layer of magnetic material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
A magneto-optic device as claimed in claim 9, wherein: said primary and secondary layers of magnetic material define at least one isolated post element upon said non-magnetic material; and said modified region having low anisotropy characteristics is a peripheral area of each isolated post.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
A magneto-optic device, as claimed in claim 10, wherein said peripheral area is a corner of said post element.