Patent · US Expired

Method of magnetically patterning a thin film by mask-controlled local phase transition

US6500497B1 · kind B1 · utility

18Cited by
2References
34Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 19, 2002
Grant dateDec 31, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 19, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S977/95
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method of producing a patterned magnetic nanostructure is disclosed. The method includes providing a substrate having a non-magnetic single layer or multi layer film that can be converted into a magnetic state by annealing and/or mixing. The method further includes positioning a mask having a desired pattern and resolution associated with the patterned magnetic nanostructure on or over the film. The method additionally includes subjecting the mask-covered substrate to a beam of radiation (focussed or unfocussed) having sufficient energy to locally anneal and/or mix the non-magnetic or weak-magnetic single-layer or multi layer film. Because of the mask effect, only the desired portions of the non-magnetic film are exposed to the beam of radiation. As such, the desired portions of the non-magnetic film are changed from a non-magnetic to a magnetic state to produce an array of magnetic elements in a non-magnetic matrix. The size of each magnetic element is dependent on the resolution of mask.

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