US5691865A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Magnetic device and method for locally controllably altering magnetization direction
Assignee: US Philips Corp
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Filing: 1996-12-16
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Granted: 1997-11-25
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Expires: 2016-12-16
Abstract
Abstract A device and method for controllably locally altering the magnetization direction in a body of magnetic material, whereby a layer of at least one of non-metallic material and a semi-metallic material is disposed on a surface of the body, on which layer is provided a body of magnetic material having a fixed magnetization direction, whereby both bodies of magnetic material are magnetically coupled across the interposed layer, the nature of this magnetic coupling being locally alterable by means of locally subjecting the layer to a controllable electric field.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark T. Johnson
- 👤 Friedrich J. A. den Broeder
- 👤 Jelto W. Smits
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 20:23
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B5/00; G11B5/02; G11B5/09; B; B82; B82Y; B82Y25/00; G11B5/127; G11B5/187; G11B5/245; G11B5/31; G11B5/33; G11B5/39; G11B5/3903; G11B5/465; G11C; G11C11/00; G11C11/02; G11C11/14; G11C11/15; H; H01; H01F; H01F10/00; H01F10/32; H01F10/324; H01F10/3254; G11B2005/0002; G11B2005/0005; G11B2005/0008
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of controllably locally altering the magnetization direction in a body of magnetic material, characterized in that a layer of at least one of a non-metallic material and a semi-metallic material is disposed on a surface of the body, on which layer is provided a body of magnetic material having a fixed magnetization direction, whereby both bodies of magnetic material may be magnetically coupled across the interposed layer, the magnetic coupling being locally alterable by means for locally subjecting the layer to a variable electric field.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of controllably locally altering the magnetization direction in a body of magnetic material, characterized in that a layer of at least one of a non-metallic material and a semi-metallic material is disposed on a surface of the body, on which layer is provided a body of magnetic material having a fixed magnetization direction, whereby both bodies of magnetic material may be magnetically coupled across the interposed layer, the magnetic coupling being locally alterable by means for locally subjecting the layer to a variable electric field.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the layer comprises a semiconductor material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 2, characterized in that the semiconductor material is Si.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the layer comprises a semi-metallic material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 4, characterized in that the semi-metallic material is an FeSi compound.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the layer comprises an insulator material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 6, characterized in that the insulator material is an oxide of Si.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the thickness of the layer does not exceed 10 nm.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
83 words
A device suitable for use in a method according to claim 1, which device comprises at least two bodies of magnetic material which may be magnetically coupled across an interposed layer of at least one of a non-metallic material and a semi-metallic material, one of the magnetic bodies having a fixed magnetization direction, the device further comprising means for at least locally subjecting the layer to a controllable electric field so as to controllably locally alter the nature of the said magnetic coupling.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device according to claim 9, characterized in that at least one of the bodies of magnetic material comprises non-oxidic metallic material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device according to claim 10, characterized in that the non-oxidic metallic material is Fe.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device according to claim 9, characterized in that at least one of the bodies of magnetic material is a magnetic multilayer structure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device according to claim 12, characterized in that the magnetic multilayer structure demonstrates a spin-valve magneto-resistive effect.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
10 words
A magnetic head comprising a device according to claim 9.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
79 words
A method of controllably representing localized binary information in a device according to claim 9, whereby a first binary symbol is represented by locally invoking ferromagnetic coupling across the layer so as to locally induce substantially mutually parallel alignment of the magnetizations in the two magnetic bodies, whereas a second binary symbol is represented by locally invoking antiferromagnetic coupling across the layer so as to locally induce substantially mutually anti-parallel alignment of the magnetizations in the two magnetic bodies.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the layer comprises a non-metallic material.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-11-24 | 2001-05-26 | 2001-11-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-11-24 | 2005-05-26 | 2005-11-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-11-24 | 2009-05-26 | 2009-11-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |