Magnetic material structures, devices and methods

US 20040058196A1
Filed: 08/29/2003
Published: 03/25/2004
Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2002
Status: Active Grant

First Claim

Patent Images

1. A magnetic material structure comprising:

a substrate;

at least one bcc-d magnetic layer forming a symmetry broken structure; and

at least one layer providing a (111) textured hexagonal atomic template disposed between said substrate and said symmetry broken bcc-d material structure.

View all claims

5 Assignments

Timeline View

Assignment View

0 Petitions

Accused Products

Abstract

A thin film magnetic structure, magnetic devices, and method of producing the same, wherein (110) textured, symmetry broken body centered cubic or body centered cubic derivative crystalline structures epitaxially grown on hexagonal shaped templates, in the presence of a symmetry breaking mechanism is provided to promote oriented uniaxial magnetic properties from a series of successively deposited film layers, result in new oriented magnetic layer structures and microstructures and thus improved magnetic devices and device performance.

17 Citations

65 Claims

1. A magnetic material structure comprising:
- a substrate;
  
  at least one bcc-d magnetic layer forming a symmetry broken structure; and
  
  at least one layer providing a (111) textured hexagonal atomic template disposed between said substrate and said symmetry broken bcc-d material structure.
- View Dependent Claims (21, 28)
- - 21. The magnetic material structure recited in claim 1 wherein the layer material forming said hexagonal atomic template is composed of Ag, Al, Au, Cu, fcc-Co, fcc-CoCr, Ir, Ni, NiFe, Pt, Rh, Pd, hcp-Co, Gd, Re Ru, Tb, or Ti, or their alloys
  - 28. A magnetic device incorporating therein the magnetic material structure of claims 1, 2, 26 or 27.

2. A magnetic material structure comprising:
- a substrate;
  
  at least one bcc-d magnetic layer forming a uniaxial symmetry broken structure; and
  
  at least one layer providing a (111) textured hexagonal atomic template disposed between said substrate and said symmetry broken bcc-d material structure.
- View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
- - 3. The magnetic material structure recited in claim 2 wherein said substrate is single crystal.
  - 4. The magnetic material structure recited in claim 2 wherein said substrate surface is amorphous or polycrystalline.
  - 5. The magnetic material structure recited in claim 4 wherein said amorphous surface is formed from an alloy of NiP, Cr_xTa₁₋
    - x, Cr_xNb_1−
      
      x, Fe_xTa_1−
      
      x, or Fe_xNb_1−
      
      xand 55<
      
      x<
      
      75.
  - 6. The magnetic material structure recited in claim 4 wherein said amorphous surface is oxidized and is formed from Cr_x,Ta₁₋
    - x, Cr_xNb_1−
      
      x, Fe_xTa_1−
      
      x, or Fe_xNb_1−
      
      xand 55<
      
      x<
      
      75.
  - 7. The magnetic material structure recited in claim 2 wherein the layer forming said hexagonal atomic template is formed from a fcc-d or hcp crystalline material.
  - 8. The magnetic material structure recited in claim 2 wherein the layer forming said hexagonal atomic template is magnetic.
  - 9. The magnetic material structure according to claim 2 further comprising at least one second magnetic layer wherein the second layer forms a hexagonal atomic surface.
  - 10. The magnetic material structure according to claim 2 further comprising at least one second bcc-d layer.
  - 11. The magnetic material structure according to claim 2 further comprising at least one second magnetic bcc-d layer.
  - 12. The magnetic material structure according to claim 2 further comprising at least one second bcc-d layer wherein the crystalline orientation of the second layer is epitaxially determined by the first bcc-d layer.
  - 13. The magnetic material structure according to claim 2 further comprising at least one second bcc-d layer;
    - and at least one second hexagonal (111) template wherein said hexagonal template is disposed between the first bcc-d layer and the second bcc-d layer.
  - 14. The magnetic material structure according to claim 2 further comprising at least one second magnetic bcc-d layer;
    - and at least one oxide layer between said first bcc-d layer and said second bcc-d layer.
  - 15. The magnetic material structure according to claim 2 further comprising at least one second and third non-magnetic bcc-d layers;
    - at least one fourth magnetic bcc-d layer; and
      
      at least one oxide layer between said second non-magnetic bcc-d layer and said third non-magnetic bcc-d layer wherein second and third non-magnetic layers are disposed between said first and fourth magnetic bcc-d layers.
  - 16. The magnetic material structure according to claim 2 further comprising at least one second and third non-magnetic hexagonal template layers;
    - at least one fourth magnetic bcc-d layer; and
      
      at least one oxide layer between said second non-magnetic layer and said third non-magnetic layer wherein second and third non-magnetic layers are disposed between said first and fourth magnetic bcc-d layers.
  - 17. The magnetic material structure recited in claim 2 wherein said symmetry broken bcc-d is composed of Fe or FeCo or an alloy of Fe or FeCo.
  - 18. The magnetic material structure recited in claim 2 wherein said symmetry broken bcc-d is composed of an alloy of Fe or FeCo and one or more of the elements Cr, Si, N, C, Cu, Nb, and Al.
  - 19. The magnetic material structure recited in claim 2 wherein said symmetry broken bcc-d is composed of an alloy of Fe or FeCo and one or more of the elements Al, B, Cr, C, Cu, Ni, N, Nb, Mo, V, Si, Ta, Ti and Nb.
  - 20. The magnetic material structure recited in claim 2 wherein the layer material forming said hexagonal atomic template is composed of Ag, Cu, Ni, fcc-Co, NiFe, Al, hcp-Co, or Ti, or their alloys.
  - 22. The magnetic material structure according to claim 2, further comprising at least one second bcc-d layer;
    - wherein first and second bcc-d layers are magnetic with anisotropy energy density constants of opposite sign.
  - 23. The magnetic material structure according to claim 2, further comprising at least one second bcc-d layer;
    - at least one third bcc-d layer;
      
      wherein first and third bcc-d layers are magnetic and second bcc-d layer material is antiferromagnetic.
  - 24. The magnetic material structure according to claim 2 further comprising at least one second magnetic symmetry broken bcc-d layer;
    - and at least one second hexagonal (111) template wherein said second hexagonal template is disposed between the first bcc-d layer and the second bcc-d layer.
  - 25. The magnetic material structure according to claim 2 further comprising at least one Co alloy magnetic hcp layer;
    - wherein Co alloy has a (1011) crystalline texture.
  - 29. The magnetic device recited in claim 24 wherein the device is a magnetic data storage system.
  - 30. The magnetic device recited in claim 24 wherein the device is a data storage magnetic recording transducer.
  - 31. The magnetic device recited in claim 24 wherein the device is a data storage magnetic playback transducer.
  - 32. The magnetic device recited in claim 24 wherein the device is a data storage magnetic recording media.
  - 33. The magnetic device recited in claim 24 wherein the device is a data storage magnetic recording media incorporating an oriented soft magnetic layer.
  - 34. The magnetic device recited in claim 24 wherein the device is data storage magnetic recording media incorporating an oriented hard magnetic layer.
  - 35. The magnetic device recited in claim 24 wherein the device is a data storage magnetic random access memory.
  - 36. The magnetic device recited in claim 24 wherein the device is an article surveillance tag.
  - 37. The magnetic device recited in claim 24 wherein the device is a magnetoelastic article surveillance tag.
  - 38. The magnetic device recited in claim 24 wherein the device is a magnetoelastic multiple harmonic generating article surveillance tag.
  - 39. The magnetic device recited in claim 24 wherein the device is a non-linear response multiple harmonic generating article surveillance tag.
  - 40. The magnetic device recited in claim 24 wherein the device is an electronic circuit inductive component.
  - 41. The magnetic device recited in claim 24 wherein the device is a signal mixing electronic circuit component.
  - 42. The magnetic device recited in claim 24 wherein the device is a magnetic fluxgate sensor.
  - 43. The magnetic device recited in claim 24 wherein the device is a anisotropic magnetoresistive sensor.
  - 44. The magnetic device recited in claim 24 wherein the device is a spin valve magnetoresistive sensor.
  - 45. The magnetic device recited in claim 24 wherein the device is a magnetic tunnel junction magnetoresistive sensor.
  - 46. The magnetic device recited in claim 24 wherein the device is an electronic circuit inductive transformer component.
  - 47. The magnetic device recited in claim 24 wherein the device is an electronic spin tunneling digital logic circuit component.

26. A magnetic material structure comprising:
- a (111) textured single crystal substrate; and
  
  at least one bcc-d magnetic layer forming a uniaxial symmetry broken structure;
  
  wherein the bcc-d magnetic layer is disposed upon the (111) textured substrate.

27. A magnetic material structure comprising:
- at least one (111) textured hexagonal atomic template; and
  
  at least one (110) textured bcc-d magnetic layer forming a symmetry broken structure disposed upon said (111) textured hexagonal atomic template.

48. An magnetic recording media device comprising;
- substrate;
  
  at least one hard magnetic recording layer;
  
  at least one (111) textured hexagonal atomic template; and
  
  a soft magnetic keeper layer composed of at least one bcc-d magnetic layer forming a uniaxial symmetry broken structure disposed between said hexagonal atomic template and said hard magnetic recording layer.

49. An magnetic recording media device comprising;
- substrate;
  
  at least one (111) textured hexagonal atomic template;
  
  at least one symmetry broken (110) textured bcc-d layer; and
  
  at least one oriented hard magnetic recording layer;
  
  where in said bcc-d layer is disposed between said hard magnetic layer and said hexagonal atomic template and said hexagonal atomic template is disposed between said bcc-d layer and said substrate.

50. An apparatus for depositing a disk media layer structure comprising;
- a rod shaped sputtering target of diameter smaller than the inside disk recording diameter;
  
  a shield and permanent magnet structure surrounding said sputtering target;
  
  a gas pathway between said sputtering target and said shield; and
  
  a gas exit near one end of the sputtering target;
  
  wherein the apparatus delivers vacuum disposed material symmetrically from near an end surface of said target rod in a generally radial direction to the hard disk media substrate at an angle of incidence angle of between 15 and 75 degrees.
- View Dependent Claims (51, 52)
- - 51. An apparatus recited in claim 50wherein said disk media layer structure is an oriented soft magnetic keeper layer.
  - 52. An apparatus recited in claim 50wherein said disk media layer structure is an oriented media underlayer.

53. A method of producing a symmetry broken bcc-d structure comprising:
- providing a (111) textured hexagonal atomic template;
  
  providing at least one bcc-d layer;
  
  depositing a bcc-d crystalline material on said (111) textured hexagonal atomic template while employing at least one symmetry breaking mechanism;
  
  forming a bcc-d (110) crystalline textured film; and
  
  forming a symmetry broken crystalline structure containing at least one dominate (110) orientational variant and not more than five dominate variants.
- View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65)
- - 54. A method of producing a symmetry broken bcc-d structure recited in claim 53, wherein at least one said dominate (110) orientational variant has a <
    - 111>
      
      crystalline direction in the plane of the said texture at approximately +5.26 or −
      
      5.26 degrees relative a <
      
      110>
      
      direction of the said (111) textured hexagonal atomic template in the plane of the template.
  - 55. A method of producing a symmetry broken bcc-d structure recited in claim 53, wherein said symmetry breaking mechanism is deposition of said bcc-d material upon said (111) textured hexagonal atomic template at an angle of incidence angle between 15 and 75 degrees.
  - 56. A method of producing a symmetry broken bcc-d structure recited in claim 55, wherein said angle of incidence is directed generally along the (111) textured template <
    - 110>
      
      direction.
  - 57. A method of producing a symmetry broken bcc-d structure recited in claim 53, wherein said symmetry breaking mechanism is deposition of said bcc-d material upon said (111) textured hexagonal atomic template in an applied magnetic field.
  - 58. A method of producing a symmetry broken bcc-d structure recited in claim 57, wherein said applied magnetic field is directed generally along the (111) textured template <
    - 112>
      
      direction.
  - 59. A method of producing a symmetry broken bcc-d structure recited in claim 57, wherein said applied magnetic field is directed generally along the (111) textured template <
    - 111>
      
      direction.
  - 60. A method of producing a symmetry broken bcc-d structure recited in claim 57, wherein said applied magnetic field is of magnitude 10 Oe or greater.
  - 61. A method of producing a symmetry broken bcc-d structure recited in claim 53, further comprising:
    - providing at least one second thin film bcc-d material; and
      
      forming at least one second symmetry broken bcc-d crystalline structure containing at least one dominate (110) orientational variant and not more than five dominate variants.
  - 62. A method of producing a symmetry broken bcc-d structure recited in claim 61, wherein said first and said second bcc-d materials have anisotropy energy density constants of opposite sign.
  - 63. A method of producing a symmetry broken bcc-d structure recited in claim 61, wherein said first and said second bcc-d materials have anisotropy energy density constants of the same sign.
  - 64. A method of producing a symmetry broken bcc-d structure recited in claim 61, further comprising:
    - forming at least one oxide layer between said first bcc-d layer and said second bcc-d layer, to form an electrical insulation barrier.
  - 65. A method of producing a symmetry broken bcc-d structure recited in claim 61, further comprising:
    - forming at least one second (111) textured hexagonal atomic template between said first bcc-d layer and said second bcc-d layer.

Specification

Resources

Litigation Campaign Assessment

Current Assignee
Lambeth Magnetic Structures LLC
Original Assignee
Lambeth Systems
Inventors
Lambeth, David N

Granted Patent

US 7,128,988 B2
Time in Patent Office

Days
Field of Search
US Class Current

428/694BH
CPC Class Codes

B82Y 10/00   Nanotechnology for informat...

B82Y 25/00   Nanomagnetism, e.g. magneto...

C23C 14/228   Gas flow assisted PVD depos...

C23C 14/35   by application of a magneti...

G11B 2005/3996   large or giant magnetoresis...

G11B 5/3903   using magnetic thin film la...

G11B 5/3909   Arrangements using a magnet...

G11B 5/65   characterised by its compos...

G11B 5/657   containing inorganic, non-o...

G11B 5/66   the record carriers consist...

G11B 5/674   having differing macroscopi...

G11B 5/676   having magnetic layers sepa...

G11B 5/678   having three or more magnet...

G11B 5/739   Magnetic recording media su...

H01F 10/16   containing cobalt H01F10/12...

H01F 10/30   characterised by the compos...

H01F 10/3254   the spacer being semiconduc...

H01F 10/3268   the exchange coupling being...

Magnetic material structures, devices and methods

First Claim

5 Assignments

0 Petitions

Accused Products

Abstract

17 Citations

65 Claims

Specification

Solutions

Use Cases

Quick Links

Magnetic material structures, devices and methods

First Claim

5 Assignments

Subscription Required

Subscription Required

0 Petitions

Subscription Required

Accused Products

Subscription Required

Abstract

17 Citations

65 Claims

Specification

Subscription Required

Solutions

Use Cases

Quick Links