Transfer of magnetic domains in single wall domain memories

Claim 2

A magnetic arrangement comprising a layer of material in which single-wall domains can be moved, a pattern of magnetically soft elements for defining first and second propagation paths for moving domains along first and second axes, respectively, in response to a magnetic field reorienting in the plane of said layer, said paths being most closely spaced at a transfer position, an electrical conductor coupled to said layer at said transfer position at an acute angle to both said first and second axes, and a magnetically soft guide element having a center and first and second portions associated with said first and second paths, respectively, for defining a transfer path between said first and second paths, said conductor having a geometry to generate when pulsed a magnetic field for moving a domain from a first position in said first path to said center, said guide element having a geometry to generate a magnetic field to move a domain to said second portion when said in-plane field reorients to a next consecutive direction to move a domain from said first to a second position in said first path.

Claim 3

A magnetic arrangement comprising a layer of material in which single-wall domains can be moved, a pattern of magnetically soft elements for defining first and second propagation paths for moving domains along first and second axes, respectively, in response to a magnetic field reorienting in the plane of said layer, said paths being most closely spaced at a transfer position, an electrical conductor coupled to said layer at said transfer position at an acute angle to both said first and second axes, and a magnetically soft guide element having a center and first and second portions associated with said first and second paths, respectively, for defining a transfer path between said first and second paths, said conductor having a geometry to generate when pulsed a magnetic field for moving a domain from a first position in said first path to said center, said guide element having a geometry to generate a magnetic field to move a domain to said second portion when said in-plane field reorients to a next consecutive direction to move a domain from said first to a second position in said first path.

Claim 4

A magnetic arrangement comprising a layer of material in which single-wall domains can be moved, a pattern of magnetically soft elements for defining first and second propagation paths for moving domains along first and second axes, respectively, in response to a magnetic field reorienting in the plane of said layer, said paths being most closely spaced at a transfer position, an electrical conductor coupled to said layer at said transfer position at an acute angle to both said first and second axes, and a magnetically soft guide element having a center and first and second portions associated with said first and second paths, respectively, for defining a transfer path between said first and second paths, said conductor having a geometry to generate when pulsed a magnetic field for moving a domain from a first position in said first path to said center, said guide element having a geometry to generate a magnetic field to move a domain to said second portion when said in-plane field reorients to a next consecutive direction to move a domain from said first to a second position in said first path.

Claim 5

A magnetic arrangement in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first and second paths are of closed loop geometry for recirculating domains thereabout.

Claim 6

A magnetic arrangement in accordance with claim 2 wherein said in-plane field reorients by rotation and said guide element has a dollar-sign geometry.

Claim 7

A magnetic arrangement in accordance with claim 3 wherein said conductor has a hairpin geometry for generating a field for attracting a domain to a position at said center of said guide element when pulsed.

Claim 8

A magnetic arrangement in accordance with claim 4 wherein said pattern defines a first and a plurality of said second paths defining a plurality of said transfer positions therebetween, each of said transfer positions including a dollar-sign-shaped guide element, said conductor coupling said layer at said transfer positions electrically in series.

Claim 9

An arrangement comprising a layer of material in which single-wall domains can be moved, a pattern of elements for defining in said layer first and second paths for moving single-wall domains along first and second axes in the plane of said layer in response to a reorienting in-plane field, said pattern also defining a transfer region between said first and second paths, each of said first and second paths including first and second consecutive positions for a domain for said field oriented in first and second directions, respectively, a conductor coupled to said layer at said transfer region, said conductor being of a geometry and being disposed to generate when pulsed both a field for moving a domain from said first position in said first path into said transfer region and a field for repelling a domain from the associated second position, said transfer region including a guide element with a center and first and second portions associated with said first and second paths, respectively, to provide a field to move a domain to said second portion in response to an in-plane field in said second direction.

Claim 10

An arrangement comprising a layer of material in which single-wall domains can be moved, a pattern of elements for defining in said layer first and second paths for moving single-wall domains along first and second axes in the plane of said layer in response to a reorienting in-plane field, said pattern also defining a transfer region between said first and second paths, each of said first and second paths including first and second consecutive positions for a domain for said field oriented in first and second directions, respectively, a conductor coupled to said layer at said transfer region, said conductor being of a geometry and being disposed to generate when pulsed both a field for moving a domain from said first position in said first path into said transfer region and a field for repelling a domain from the associated second position, said transfer region including a guide element with a center and first and second portions associated with said first and second paths, respectively, to provide a field to move a domain to said second portion in response to an in-plane field in said second direction.

Claim 11

An arrangement in accordance with claim 6 wherein said conductor has a hairpin geometry and is disposed to generate at said center a field parallel to the magnetization of a domain and to generate at said associated second position a field antiparallel to the magnetization of a domain.

Claim 12

An arrangement in accordance with claim 7 wherein said pattern defines a plurality of first paths and a single second path with a plurality of transfer regions therebetween, said conductor at each of said regions being connected electrically in series with the conductors at the others of said regions.

Claim 13

An arrangement in accordance with claim 7 wherein said conductor is disposed at an angle to said first and second axes.

Claim 14

An arrangement in accordance with claim 8 wherein said conductors are disposed at an angle to said first and second axes.

Claim 15

An arrangement in accordance with claim 10 wherein said guide element at each of said transfer regions has a dollar-sign shape having a center and said conductor couples said layer at said center.

Claim 16

An arrangement in accordance with claim 11 also including means for providing said reorienting in-plane field and means for pulsing said conductor at a time when said field is in an orientation such that domains in response thereto occupy said selected first positions.

Claim 17

An arrangement in accordance with claim 12 wherein said conductors also couple said associated second positions to provide said antiparallel field there when pulsed.

Claim 18

An arrangement in accordance with claim 13 wherein each of said first and second plurality of second paths is of closed loop geometry for recirculating information thereabout.

Claim 19

An arrangement in accordance with claim 13 also including means responsive to a first signal for providing in said conductor a sequence of pulses timed with respect to said reorienting in-plane field for transferring a domain pattern from said second paths to said first path and back again.

Claim 20

An arrangement in accordance with claim 9 wherein said conductor is adapted to provide a field anti-parallel to the magnetization of a domain in each of said second positions when pulsed.