Patents by Inventor David E. Laughlin

David E. Laughlin has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20160372146
    Abstract: In one aspect, a magnetic data storage device comprises a template layer, an underlayer, and a magnetic recording layer. The template layer includes a patterned array of protruding features. The underlayer is formed on the patterned array of protruding features of the template layer. The underlayer includes an array pattern of protruding features that aligns with the patterned array of protruding features of the template layer. The magnetic recording layer is formed on the underlayer. The magnetic recording layer includes columnar grains of magnetic material separated by grain boundaries of non-magnetic material, with each columnar grain being on a protruding feature of the array pattern of the underlayer, and the grain boundaries being in trenches between the protruding features of the array pattern of the underlayer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Inventors: Vignesh SUNDAR, Jian-Gang ZHU, David E. LAUGHLIN
  • Patent number: 8675456
    Abstract: A method of writing binary data comprising (i) heating a magnetic microstructure from an initial temperature to an above-ambient temperature that is not less than a transition temperature for the magnetic microstructure, which causes a phase transition interlayer of the magnetic microstructure to transition from an antiferromagnetic phase to a ferromagnetic phase; and (ii) reversing an orientation of magnetization of a magnetic storage layer of the magnetic microstructure with a magnetic field while the phase transition interlayer is in the ferromagnetic phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Carnegie Mellon University
    Inventors: Jian-Gang (Jimmy) Zhu, David E. Laughlin
  • Patent number: 8665055
    Abstract: The invention discloses a soft magnetic amorphous alloy and a soft magnetic nanocomposite alloy formed from the amorphous alloy. Both alloys comprise a composition expressed by the following formula: (Fe1-x-yCoxMy)100-a-b-cTaBbNc where, M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ni and Mn; T is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Nb, W, Ta, Zr, Hf, Ti, Cr, Cu, Mo, V and combinations thereof, and the content of Cu when present is less than or equal to 2 atomic %; N is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Si, Ge, C, P and Al; and 0.01?x+y?0.5; 0?y?0.4; 1?a?5 atomic %; 10?b?30 atomic %; and 0?c?10 atomic %. A core, which may be used in transformers and wire coils, is made by charging a furnace with elements necessary to form the amorphous alloy, rapidly quenching the alloy, forming a core from the alloy; and heating the core in the presence of a magnetic field to form the nanocomposite alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Inventors: Michael E. McHenry, Jianguo Long, Vladimir Keylin, David E Laughlin, Joseph Huth, Edward Conley
  • Patent number: 8449730
    Abstract: A process of fabricating a perpendicular magnetic recording medium. In one embodiment, the process may comprise forming a metallic buffer layer with a (002) texture on an underlayer using a deposition process performed at a temperature below 30° C. The underlayer may have a crystalline (001) texture. The process may further comprise forming a perpendicular magnetic recording layer on top of the metallic buffer layer using a deposition process performed at a temperature above 350° C. The magnetic recording layer may comprise a magnetic material with a L10 crystalline structure and with a c-axis perpendicular to a plane of the perpendicular magnetic recording layer. The process may further comprise removing metal of the metallic buffer layer from a top surface of the perpendicular magnetic recording layer that moved to the top surface of the perpendicular magnetic recording layer during the forming of the perpendicular magnetic recording layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Carnegie Mellon University
    Inventors: En Yang, David E. Laughlin, Jian-Gang Zhu
  • Publication number: 20120281512
    Abstract: A method of writing binary data comprising (i) heating a magnetic microstructure from an initial temperature to an above-ambient temperature that is not less than a transition temperature for the magnetic microstructure, which causes a phase transition interlayer of the magnetic microstructure to transition from an antiferromagnetic phase to a ferromagnetic phase; and (ii) reversing an orientation of magnetization of a magnetic storage layer of the magnetic microstructure with a magnetic field while the phase transition interlayer is in the ferromagnetic phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: Carnegie Mellon University
    Inventors: Jian-Gang Zhu, David E. Laughlin
  • Patent number: 8211557
    Abstract: A magnetic microstructure comprising (i) a magnetic storage layer having a magnetic easy axis perpendicular to a film plane of the storage magnetic layer; (ii) a magnetic assist layer having a magnetic easy axis in the film plane; and (iii) a phase transition interlayer between the magnetic storage layer and the magnetic assist layer. The phase transition layer comprises a material, such as FeRh, that switches from antiferromagnetic at ambient to ferromagnetic at a transition temperature that is greater than ambient, but below the Curie temperature. When the phase transition interlayer is in antiferromagnetic phase, there exists little magnetic coupling between the storage and assist layers. When the interlayer changes to ferromagnetic phase, the interlayer couples the magnetic moments of the storage and assist layer ferromagnetically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Carnegie Mellon University
    Inventors: Jian-Gang Zhu, David E. Laughlin
  • Publication number: 20110011733
    Abstract: A process of fabricating a perpendicular magnetic recording medium. In one embodiment, the process may comprise forming a metallic buffer layer with a (002) texture on an underlayer using a deposition process performed at a temperature below 30° C. The underlayer may have a crystalline (001) texture. The process may further comprise forming a perpendicular magnetic recording layer on top of the metallic buffer layer using a deposition process performed at a temperature above 350° C. The magnetic recording layer may comprise a magnetic material with a L10 crystalline structure and with a c-axis perpendicular to a plane of the perpendicular magnetic recording layer. The process may further comprise removing metal of the metallic buffer layer from a top surface of the perpendicular magnetic recording layer that moved to the top surface of the perpendicular magnetic recording layer during the forming of the perpendicular magnetic recording layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2009
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicant: Carnegie Mellon University
    Inventors: En Yang, David E. Laughlin, Jian-Gang Zhu
  • Publication number: 20080180827
    Abstract: A magnetic microstructure comprising (i) a magnetic storage layer having a magnetic easy axis perpendicular to a film plane of the storage magnetic layer; (ii) a magnetic assist layer having a magnetic easy axis in the film plane; and (iii) a phase transition interlayer between the magnetic storage layer and the magnetic assist layer. The phase transition layer comprises a material, such as FeRh, that switches from antiferromagnetic at ambient to ferromagnetic at a transition temperature that is greater than ambient, but below the Curie temperature. When the phase transition interlayer is in antiferromagnetic phase, there exists little magnetic coupling between the storage and assist layers. When the interlayer changes to ferromagnetic phase, the interlayer couples the magnetic moments of the storage and assist layer ferromagnetically.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Applicant: Carnegie Mellon University
    Inventors: Jian-Gang Zhu, David E. Laughlin
  • Patent number: 6649277
    Abstract: The present invention provides a longitudinal magnetic recording media having a substrate, optionally, a sputter deposited MgO seed layer, a Co or Co alloy based magnetic layer and an underlayer disposed between the substrate and the magnetic layer comprised of a material having a body centered cubic derivative ordered crystalline structure, preferably a B2, DO3 or L21 structure. The material may be for example, NiAl, FeAl or Mn3Si. A thin Cr or Cr alloy intermediate layer of about 1.0 nm to 5.0 nm thick may be positioned between the underlayer and the magnetic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Carnegie Mellon University
    Inventors: Li-Lien Lee, David N. Lambeth, David E. Laughlin, Byung-Ki Cheong
  • Patent number: 6596417
    Abstract: The present invention provides a longitudinal magnetic recording media having a substrate, a Co or Co alloy based magnetic layer arid an underlayer disposed between the substrate and the magnetic layer. The underlayer is made of a material having a Ga3Pt5 crystalline structure, most preferably Ni5Al3. Several intermediate layers, disposed between the underlayer and the magnetic layer may also be included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Carnegie Mellon University
    Inventors: Yu-Nu Hsu, David E. Laughlin, David N. Lambeth
  • Patent number: 6432563
    Abstract: The present invention provides a magnetic recording media incorporating Zn containing layers in close proximity to a magnetic layer to provide media having increased coercivity and lower noise. The Zn containing layer can be incorporated in a rotating, translating or stationary recording media to operate in conjunction with magnetic transducing heads for recording and reading of magnetic data, as well as other applications. The magnetic recording medium of the invention preferably includes a Co or Co alloy film magnetic layer, underlayer structures to promote epitaxial crystalline structure in the magnetic layer, and a Zn containing layer to promote isolation between the magnetic grains. The medium can further include seed layers, underlayers, intermediate layers, and overlayers. The process of manufacture includes promoting diffusion of Zn to the magnetic layer grain boundaries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Carnegie Mellon University
    Inventors: Jie Zou, David N. Lambeth, David E. Laughlin
  • Patent number: 6248416
    Abstract: The present invention provides for magnetic and magneto-optic recording media, transducers and data storage devices constructed therefrom that have highly oriented films having long range order in the crystal structure of the film. The recording medium includes a magnetic recording layer comprised of Co-based material, such as Co or one or more Co alloys having a (10{overscore (1)}0) crystal texture, a substrate, a first underlayer having a fcc structure and a (110) crystal texture disposed between the substrate and the magnetic recording layer. A second underlayer having a bcc structure and a (112) crystal texture is also disposed between the magnetic recording layer and the first underlayer. In particular, if a (110) Si single crystal substrate is non-oxidized certain metals having fcc structures, such as Ag, Cu, Al, and Au and fcc derivative structures, such L10 and L12 structures, can be epitaxially grown on the Si surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Carnegie Mellon University
    Inventors: David N. Lambeth, David E. Laughlin, Wei Yang, Heng Gong, Jie Ziou
  • Patent number: 5993956
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a magnetic recording media incorporating Mn-containing layers between a substrate and a magnetic layer to provide media having increased coercivity and lower noise. The Mn-containing layer can be incorporated in a rotating, translating or stationary recording media to operate in conjunction with magnetic transducing heads for recording and reading of magnetic data, as well as other applications. The magnetic recording medium of the invention preferably includes a Co or Co alloy film magnetic layer, and Mn-containing layer, preferably comprised of VMn, TiMn, MnZn, CrMnMo, CrMnW, CrMnV, and CrMnTi, and most preferably a CrMn alloy, disposed between the substrate and the magnetic layer to promote an epitaxial crystalline structure in the magnetic layer. The medium can further include seed layers, preferably polycrystalline MgO for longitudinal media, underlayers, and intermediate layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Carnegie Mellon University
    Inventors: David N. Lambeth, Li-Lien Lee, David E. Laughlin
  • Patent number: 5800931
    Abstract: The present invention provides a longitudinal magnetic recording media having a substrate, a sputter deposited MgO seed layer, a Co or Co alloy based magnetic layer and an underlayer disposed between the seed layer and the magnetic layer comprised of Cr, a Cr alloy or a material having a B2 ordered crystalline structure, preferably NiAl or FeAl. A thin Cr or Cr alloy intermediate layer of about 1.0 nm to 5.0 nm thick may be positioned between the underlayer and the magnetic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Carnegie Mellon University
    Inventors: Li-Lien Lee, David N. Lambeth, David E. Laughlin, Byung-Ki Cheong
  • Patent number: 5693426
    Abstract: The present invention provides a longitudinal magnetic recording media having a substrate, a Co or Co alloy based layer and an underlayer disposed between the substrate and the magnetic layer comprised of a material having a B2 ordered crystalline structure, preferably NiAl or FeAl. A thin Cr intermediate layer of about 1.0 nm to 5.0 nm thick may be positioned between the underlayer and the magnetic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Assignee: Carnegie Mellon University
    Inventors: Li-Lien Lee, David N. Lambeth, David E. Laughlin
  • Patent number: 4152842
    Abstract: A cabinet dehydrator for home preservation of food under relative humidity, pressure, and temperature restraints. Intake air is obtained from the surrounding atmosphere and displaced into the dehydrator over heating elements by a blower. This heated air is ported through a manifold defined by the cabinet walls having a sloping chamber which narrows toward the top of the cabinet to evenly displace the heated air over the tops of removable drying trays. The heated air withdraws moisture from the articles of food placed on the drying trays, and is partially exhausted through exhaust portals, depending upon the relative humidity, temperature, and pressure of the surrounding atmosphere. The remaining heated air is mixed with an amount of surrounding air entering through intake portals to replace the amount exhausted. This mixture of heated air and intake air is then heated and recirculated by the blower until the articles of food are dried.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1979
    Assignee: Laughlin Enterprises
    Inventor: David E. Laughlin