Circular magnetic domain devices

Claim 2

A circular magnetic domain device which includes a layer of uniaxial magnetic material; first generating means for generating within the magnetic layer circular magnetic domains in the form of a binary pattern of information, each bit of the binary pattern being represented by either the presence or absence of a domain; propagating means for causing the generated binary pattern of domains to propagate along the magnetic layer; and a read-out arrangement for translating the binary pattern into electrical impulSes, the read-out arrangement including first means for expanding a circular magnetic domain in a direction transverse to its direction of propagation in order to effect an abrupt division of the domain into at least two separate parts, each of the divided parts forming a further circular magnetic domain, and second means for detecting the division of the domain and generating an electrical impulse whose magnitude is proportional to the velocity of the said division.

Claim 3

A circular magnetic domain device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first means of the read-out arrangement are in series with the propagation means and effect division of each of the propagating domains of the binary pattern, the electrical impulses generated by the second means being in the form of a binary pattern identical to the binary pattern of circular magnetic domains.

Claim 4

A circular magnetic domain device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the read-out arrangement includes second generating means for generating circular magnetic domains within the magnetic layer and causing the generated domains to propagate through the first means, wherein the binary pattern of circular magnetic domains is caused to propagate past and in close proximity to the first means in a manner such that the appearance of each bit of the binary pattern at the first means is synchronized with the appearance thereat of a circular magnetic domain generated by the second generating means, wherein each bit of the binary pattern which is represented by a circular magnetic domain inhibits the division of the corresponding domain by the first means, and thereby prevents the generation of an electrical impulse, and wherein each bit of the binary pattern which is represented by the absence of a circular magnetic domain allows division of the corresponding domain to be effected and an electrical impulse to be generated.

Claim 5

A circular magnetic domain device as claimed in claim 3 including means for detecting and utilizing that one of the further domains of each division which provide a domain train having a binary pattern which is the reverse of the binary pattern of the domains generated by the first generating means.

Claim 6

A circular magnetic domain device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first means of the read-out arrangement includes a magnetically permeable circuit formed on a surface of the magnetic layer, the circuit defining a propagation path for the circular magnetic domains which divides into two paths; and means for generating magnetic pole concentrations at successive positions along the propagation paths to facilitate the propagation, transverse expansion, and thereby the division of each of the circular magnetic domains.

Claim 7

A circular magnetic domain device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second means of the read-out arrangement includes a conductor loop located in close proximity to, and encompassing that section of a surface of the magnetic layer whereat circular magnetic domain division is effected.