Patent · US Expired

Magnetic memory device

US5717630A · kind A · utility

6Cited by
5References
33Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 12, 1996
Grant dateFeb 10, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 12, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S977/865
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A magnetic memory device comprises: a vertically magnetic recording medium; a probe formed of an electrically conductive as well as soft-magnetic material, a pointed end of the probe faces the magnetically recording medium across a gap; a magnetic flux detecting element for detecting a magnetic flux caught by the probe, where the magnetic flux is from a data recorded on the magnetically recording medium; a vertical controller for keeping the gap constant by the use of a tunnel current flowing via said gap into the probe while a voltage is applied across the gap; and a scan mechanism for scanning the probe along the magnetically recording medium. The magnetic memory device may further comprises an exciting coil for magnetizing the probe so as to write a data in the magnetically recording medium. The probe may be recessed from the scanning position when the probe is not in operation.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.