Shiftable magnetic shift register and method of using the same
First Claim
1. A shift register, comprising:
- a track made of magnetic material and comprised of;
a storage region that contains a plurality of magnetic domains for storing data; and
a reservoir region that is contiguous to the storage region;
wherein an electric current is applied to the track to shift at least some of the magnetic domains of the storage region, along the track, in a direction of the electric current, in and out of the reservoir region, in order to shift at least some of the stored data from the storage region to the reservoir region.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A magnetic shift register uses the inherent, natural properties of domain walls in magnetic materials to store data. The shift register uses spin electronics without changing the physical nature of its constituent materials. The shift register comprises a fine track or strip of magnetic materials. Information is stored as domain walls in the track. An electric current is applied to the track to move the magnetic moments along the track past a reading or writing device. In a magnetic material with domain walls, a current passed across the domain wall moves the domain wall in the direction of the current flow. As the current passes through a domain, it becomes “spin polarized”. When this spin polarized current passes through the next domain and across a domain wall, it develops a circle of spin torque. This spin torque moves the domain wall.
307 Citations
70 Claims
-
1. A shift register, comprising:
-
a track made of magnetic material and comprised of;
a storage region that contains a plurality of magnetic domains for storing data; and
a reservoir region that is contiguous to the storage region;
wherein an electric current is applied to the track to shift at least some of the magnetic domains of the storage region, along the track, in a direction of the electric current, in and out of the reservoir region, in order to shift at least some of the stored data from the storage region to the reservoir region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
wherein the track is disposed out of the reference plane relative to the control circuit, to enable three-dimensional storage of data.
-
-
29. The shift register of claim 28, wherein the track is disposed at an angle relative to the reference plane.
-
30. The shift register of claim 29, wherein the track is disposed at an approximately 90-degree angle relative to the reference plane.
-
31. The shift register of claim 29, wherein the control circuit comprises at least one data reading element and one data writing element.
-
32. The shift register of claim 28, wherein the reference plane is defined by a plane of a semiconductor substrate on which the control circuit is formed.
-
33. The shift register of claim 32, wherein the reference plane lies in a horizontal plane.
-
34. The shift register of claim 33, wherein the track generally lies in a vertical plane.
-
35. The shift register of claim 34, further comprising an energy source for passing the electric current through the track to shift the magnetic domains.
-
36. The shift register of claim 28, wherein the track is formed on one side of the reference plane.
-
37. The shift register of claim 28, wherein the track comprises at least a first track and a second track;
-
wherein the first track is disposed on a first side of the reference plane; and
wherein the second track is disposed on a second side of the reference plane.
-
-
38. The shift register of claim 28, wherein the control circuit comprises at least one reading element for selectively accessing the stored data.
-
39. The shift register of claim 28, wherein the control circuit comprises a writing element for writing data in the magnetic domains.
-
40. The shift register of claim 28, wherein the track comprises a plurality of tracks.
-
41. A shift register, comprising
a magnetic storage means for storing data comprised of: -
a storage region that contains a plurality of magnetic domains for storing the data; and
a reservoir region that is contiguous to the storage region; and
means for selectively shifting at least some of the magnetic domains of the storage region in and out of the reservoir region, along the track, in a direction of an electric current that is applied to the track. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
wherein the means for accessing the stored data is substantially disposed in a reference plane; and
wherein the magnetic data storage means is disposed out of the reference plane relative to the control circuit.
-
-
52. The shift register of claim 51, wherein the magnetic data storage means is disposed at an angle relative to the reference plane.
-
53. The shift register of claim 52, wherein the magnetic data storage means is disposed at an approximately 90-degree angle relative to the reference plane.
-
54. The shift register of claim 51, wherein the reference plane is defined by a plane of a semiconductor substrate on which the control circuit is formed.
-
55. The shift register of claim 54, wherein the reference plane lies in a horizontal plane.
-
56. The shift register of claim 55, wherein the magnetic data storage means generally lies in a vertical plane.
-
57. The shift register of claim 56, further comprising an energy means for passing the electric current through the magnetic data storage means, to shift the magnetic domains.
-
58. The shift register of claim 51, wherein the magnetic data storage means is formed on one side of the reference plane.
-
59. The shift register of claim 51, wherein the magnetic data storage means comprises at least a first track and a second track;
-
wherein the first track is disposed on a first side of the reference plane; and
wherein the second track is disposed on a second side of the reference plane.
-
-
60. The shift register of claim 51, wherein the means for accessing the stored data comprises at least one reading element for selectively accessing the stored data.
-
61. A method of shifting data in a register, comprising:
-
the register is made of magnetic material, and comprises;
a storage region that contains a plurality of magnetic domains for storing the data; and
a reservoir region that is contiguous to the storage region; and
selectively shifting at least some of the magnetic domains of the storage region in and out of the reservoir region, along the track, in a direction of an electric current that is applied to the track. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70)
forming a control circuit in a reference plane; and
disposing the register out of the reference plane relative to the control circuit.
-
-
67. The method of claim 66, wherein disposing the register comprises disposing the register at an angle relative to the reference plane.
-
68. The method of claim 67, wherein disposing the register comprises disposing the register at an approximately 90-degree angle relative to the reference plane.
-
69. The method of claim 66, wherein forming the control circuit comprising defining the reference plane by a plane of a semiconductor substrate.
-
70. The method of claim 69, wherein the reference plane lies in a horizontal plane.
Specification