Abstract:
A semiconductor device comprises a plurality of integrated circuits and at least one MEMS device interconnecting the integrated circuits for signal transmission between the circuits.
Abstract:
This invention provides a multilayer pinned reference layer for a magnetic device. In a particular embodiment a magnetic tunnel junction cell is provided. Each magnetic memory tunnel junction cell provides at least one ferromagnetic data or sense layer, an intermediate layer in contact with the data layer, and a multilayer pinned ferromagnetic reference layer. The multilayer pinned reference layer is in contact with the intermediate layer, opposite from the data layer. The multilayer pinned reference layer is characterized by at least one first layer of ferromagnetic material and at least one second layer of ferromagnetic material in physical contact with the first layer and magnetically coupled to the first layer. The first and second layer self seed to provide a crystal texture used in establishing the pinning magnetic field of the reference layer.
Abstract:
A magnetic random access memory (MRAM) that includes an array of magnetic memory cells and a plurality of word and bit lines connecting columns and rows of the memory cells so that the memory cells are positioned at cross-points of the word and bit lines. Each memory cell has a magnetic reference layer and a magnetic data layer. Each magnetic reference layer and each magnetic data layer has a magnetization that is switchable between two states under the influence of a magnetic field and each reference layer has at a first temperature a coercivity that is lower than that of each data layer at the first temperature. The MRAM also includes a plurality of heating elements each proximate to a respective data layer. Each heating element provides in use for localized heating of the respective data layer to reduce the coercivity of the data layer so as to facilitate switching of the data layer.
Abstract:
An aspect of the present invention is a method of patterning material in a thin-film device. The method includes forming a liftoff stencil, depositing a first layer of material through the liftoff stencil, depositing a second layer of material through the liftoff stencil, removing at least a portion of the liftoff stencil and performing a directional etch on the first and second layer of material.
Abstract:
A method of providing information from a plurality of fleet machines located at a plurality of locations for purposes of permitting a manager of fleet equipment to make management decisions pertaining to a fleet comprised of such equipment, monitoring functional operational data from individual machines in a fleet of machines, conveying the monitored data to a remote server, converting the monitored data into a first group pertaining to current existing operational data, and into a second group comprised of past historical data, and transmitting by wirelss means to a person having responsibility for the fleet information at least one of the groups of data.
Abstract:
This invention provides a directional ion etching process for making nano-scaled angled features such as may be used, for example, in liquid crystal displays and or nanoimprinting templates. In a particular embodiment a semiconductor wafer substrate is prepared with at least one layer of material. A photoresist is applied, masked, exposed and developed. Anisotropic ion etching at a high angle relative to the wafer is performed to remove portions of the non protected material layer. The remaining photoresist caps shadow at least a portion of the material layer, and as the ion etching is performed at an angle, the protected portions of the material layer also appear at an angle.
Abstract:
A magneto-resistive device includes first and second ferromagnetic layers having different coercivities, and a spacer layer between the first and second layers. Each ferromagnetic layer has a magnetization that can be oriented in either of two directions.
Abstract:
This invention provides a soft-reference magnetic memory digitizing device. In a particular embodiment the digitizing device includes an array of soft-reference magnetic memory cells. Each memory cell has at least one ferromagnetic sense layer characterized by an alterable orientation of magnetization, the orientation changing upon the substantially proximate application of at east one externally-applied magnetic field as may be provided by a magnetically tipped stylus. Each memory cell also provides at least one ferromagnetic soft-reference layer having a non-pinned orientation of magnetization. An intermediate layer forming a magnetic tunnel junction is placed between the sense layer and soft-reference layer. The orientation of the sense layer is not substantially affected by the soft-reference layer. A related method of use involving a magnetic stylus is also provided.
Abstract:
An exemplary nonvolatile memory array comprises a substrate and a plurality of memory cells formed on the substrate, each of the memory cells being addressable via at least first and second conductors during operations. An exemplary memory cell in the exemplary memory array includes a ferromagnetic annular data layer having an opening, the opening enabling the second conductor to electrically contact the first conductor, an intermediate layer on at least a portion of the annular data layer, and a soft reference layer on at least a portion of the intermediate layer.
Abstract:
A memory device includes a data layer having a magnetization that can be oriented in first and second directions; and a synthetic ferrimagnet reference layer. The data and reference layers have different coercivities.