Abstract: A ferromagnetic thin-film based digital memory having a plurality of bit structures electrically interconnected with information storage and retrieval circuitry that avoids information loss in one bit structure because of operating the others through this circuitry. Each of these bit structures formed of a relative orientation maintenance intermediate layer having two major surfaces on opposite sides thereof with a pair of memory films of an anisotropic ferromagnetic material each on a corresponding one of said relative orientation maintenance intermediate layer major surfaces. The relative orientation maintenance intermediate layer is of a material and a selected thickness so as to maintain magnetizations of said memory films oriented in substantially opposite directions.

Abstract: A ferromagnetic thin-film based digital memory having a bit structures therein a magnetic material film in which a magnetic property thereof is maintained below a critical temperature above which such magnetic property is not maintained, and may also have a plurality of word line structures each with heating sections located across from the magnetic material film in a corresponding one of the bit structures. These bit structures are sufficiently thermally isolated to allow selected currents in the adjacent word lines or in the bit structure, or both, to selectively heat the bit structure to approach the critical temperature. Such bit structures may have three magnetic material layers each with its own critical temperature for maintaining versus not maintaining a magnetic property thereof.

Abstract: A ferromagnetic thin-film based magnetic field sensor having a nonmagnetic intermediate layer with two major surfaces on opposite sides thereof upon one of which a magnetization reference layer is provided and upon the other there being provided a sensing layer. A spacer layer is provided on the sensing film to separate this sensing film from an augmenting film with the spacer layer being sufficiently thick so as to significantly reduce or eliminate topological coupling between the sensing and augmenting films, and to significantly randomize spin states of emerging electrons traversing therethrough.

Abstract: A ferromagnetic thin-film based digital memory cell with a memory film of an anisotropic ferromagnetic material and with a source layer positioned on one side thereof so that a majority of conduction electrons passing therefrom have a selected spin orientation to be capable of reorienting the magnetization of the film. A disruption layer is positioned on the other side of the memory film so that conduction electrons spins passing therefrom are substantially random in orientation. The magnitude of currents needed to operate the cell can be reduced using coincident thermal pulses to raise the cell temperature.

Abstract: A ferromagnetic thin-film based magnetoresistive device with a first ferromagnetic material based film having electrically conductive, ferromagnetic material nanogranules embedded in an intergranular material of a smaller electrical conductivity first nonmagnetic. The device may have an intermediate layer adjacent the first ferromagnetic material based film and a second film is on the other side of the intermediate layer of a substantially ferromagnetic material. The first film is less than 1.0 &mgr;m thick.

Abstract: A ferromagnetic thin-film based magnetic field sensor having an electrically insulative intermediate layer with two major surfaces on opposite sides thereof with an initial film of an anisotropic ferromagnetic material on one of those intermediate layer major surfaces and a superparamagnetic thin-film on on the remaining one of said intermediate layer major surfaces.

Abstract: A ferromagnetic thin-film based magnetic device with internal film coupling compensation including a nonmagnetic material intermediate layer with an initial thin-film of an anisotropic ferromagnetic material on one side. A compensation thin-film of an anisotropic ferromagnetic material is provided on the opposite side with an antiparallel coupling layer thereon and a subsequent thin-film of an anisotropic ferromagnetic material on the antiparallel coupling layer with the compensation thin-film being less thick than the subsequent thin-film. A antiferromagnetic layer can be supported by the layers on either side of the intermediate layer.

Abstract: A ferromagnetic thin-film based digital memory having a plurality of bit structures interconnected with manipulation circuitry having a plurality of transistors so that each bit structure has transistors electrically coupled thereto that selectively substantially prevents current in at least one direction along a current path through that bit structure and permits selecting a direction of current flow through the bit structure if current is permitted to be established therein. A bit structure has a nonmagnetic intermediate layer with two major surfaces on opposite sides thereof and a memory film of an anisotropic ferromagnetic material on each of the intermediate layer major surfaces with an electrically insulative intermediate layer is provided on the memory film on which a magnetization reference layer is provided having a fixed magnetization direction.

Abstract: A ferromagnetic thin-film based digital memory (FIG. 1) having in a bit structure (17,17′) a coupled moment material film (13,14,14′,14″) in which magnetic moments of adjacent atoms, ions or molecules are coupled to one another to maintain some alignment thereof below a critical temperature above which such alignment is not maintained, and also having a plurality of word line structures (20) each located across from the coupled moment material film (13,14,14′,14″) in a corresponding one of the bit structures (17,17′). The bit structures (17,17′) are sufficiently thermally isolated to allow currents in the adjacent word lines (20) and/or the bit structure (17,17′) to heat the bit structure (17,17′) to approach the critical temperature which may be supplied coincidently and then reduced to cool the bit structure (17,17′) while supplying a magnetic field during the cooling.

Abstract: A ferromagnetic thin-film based digital memory having a plurality of bit structures electrically interconnected with information storage and retrieval circuitry that avoids information loss in one bit structure because of operating the others through this circuitry. Each of these bit structures formed of a relative orientation maintenance intermediate layer having two major surfaces on opposite sides thereof with a pair of memory films of an anisotropic ferromagnetic material each on a corresponding one of said relative orientation maintenance intermediate layer major surfaces. The relative orientation maintenance intermediate layer is of a material and a selected thickness so as to maintain magnetizations of said memory films oriented in substantially opposite directions.

Abstract: A ferromagnetic thin-film based digital memory cell with a memory film of an anisotropic ferromagnetic material and with a source layer positioned on one side thereof so that a majority of conduction electrons passing therefrom have a selected spin orientation to be capable of reorienting the magnetization of the film. A disruption layer is positioned on the other side of the memory film so that conduction electrons spins passing therefrom are substantially random in orientation. The magnitude of currents needed to operate the cell can be reduced using coincident thermal pulses to raise the cell temperature.

Abstract: A ferromagnetic thin-film based magnetoresistive device with a first ferromagnetic material based film having electrically conductive, ferromagnetic material nanogranules embedded in an intergranular material of a smaller electrical conductivity first nonmagnetic. The device may have an intermediate layer adjacent the first ferromagnetic material based film and a second film is on the other side of the intermediate layer of a substantially ferromagnetic material. The first film is less than 1.0 &mgr;m thick.

Abstract: A ferromagnetic thin-film based sensing arrangement having a plurality of magnetic field sensors on a substrate each having an intermediate layer of a nonmagnetic material with two major surfaces on opposite sides thereof with one of a pair of magnetically permeable films each of a magnetoresistive, anisotropic ferromagnetic material correspondingly positioned thereon with first and second oriented sensors therein respectively having a selected and a reversing magnetization orientation structure provided with one of said pair of permeable films thereof for orienting its magnetization in a selected direction absent an externally applied magnetic field in at least partly opposing directions.

Abstract: A plurality of magnetic field sensing structures in a monolithic integrated circuit chip structure to provide output signals at outputs thereof of magnetic field changes provided therein from corresponding sources having poled pair structures with a gap space between them with adjacent ones of the magnetic field sensing structures that are interconnected with a circuit formed in the monolithic integrated circuit chip such as an amplifier. The paired pole structures may intersect a surface of the chip perpendicular to the major surfaces thereof or in one of, or a surface parallel to, the major surfaces thereof. A magnetic field generating structure may also be included in the chip.

Abstract: A ferromagnetic thin-film based digital memory having a plurality of bit structures interconnected with manipulation circuitry having a plurality of transistors so that each bit structure has transistors electrically coupled thereto that selectively substantially prevents current in at least one direction along a current path through that bit structure and permits selecting a direction of current flow through the bit structure if current is permitted to be established therein. A bit structure has a nonmagnetic intermediate layer with two major surfaces on opposite sides thereof and a memory film of an anisotropic ferromagnetic material on each of the intermediate layer major surfaces with an electrically insulative intermediate layer is provided on the memory film on which a magnetization reference layer is provided having a fixed magnetization direction.

Abstract: A digital data memory having a bit structure in a memory cell based on a dielectric intermediate separating material with two major surfaces having thereon an anisotropic ferromagnetic thin-film of differing thicknesses. These bit structures are fabricated within structural extent limits to operate satisfactorily, and are fabricated as series connected members of storage line structures. A corresponding conductive word line structure adjacent corresponding ones of these memory cells is used for selecting or operating them, or both, in data storage and retrieval operations.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensing structure for sensing magnetic field changes provided therein having a pair of pole structures with a gap space between them that each include permeable material and end in substantially a common surface. A plurality of field sensing structures is positioned successively in the gap space to be supported between the pole structures with each having an end thereof substantially the common surface. These sensing structures are formed of a plurality of magnetoresistive, anisotropic, ferromagnetic thin-film layers at least two of which are separated from one another by a nonmagnetic, electrically conductive layer positioned between them. They are electrically connected to one another adjacent the common surface, and may be electrically connected to one of the pole structures.

Abstract: A current determiner having an output at which representations of input currents are provided comprising an input conductor for the input current and a current sensor supported on a substrate electrically isolated from one another but with the sensor positioned in the magnetic fields arising about the input conductor due to any input currents. The sensor extends along the substrate in a direction at an angle to the extent of the input conductor and is formed of at least a pair of thin-film ferromagnetic layers separated by a nonmagnetic layer with one of these two ferromagnetic thin-film layers having a magnetization that is substantially maintained in a selected direction despite the magnetic fields arising from the input currents causing reversals of direction of magnetization of that remaining one of these two ferromagnetic thin-film layers.

Abstract: A plurality of magnetic field sensing structures in a monolithic integrated circuit chip structure to provide output signals at outputs thereof of magnetic field changes provided therein from corresponding sources having poled pair structures with a gap space between them with adjacent ones of the magnetic field sensing structures that are interconnected with a circuit formed in the monolithic integrated circuit chip such as an amplifier. The paired pole structures may intersect a surface of the chip perpendicular to the major surfaces thereof or in one of, or a surface parallel to, the major surfaces thereof. A magnetic field generating structure may also be included in the chip.

Abstract: A digital data memory having a bit structure in a memory cell based on a dielectric intermediate separating material with two major surfaces having thereon an anisotropic ferromagnetic thin-film of differing thicknesses. These bit structures are fabricated within structural extent limits to operate satisfactorily, and are fabricated as series connected members of storage line structures. A corresponding conductive word line structure adjacent corresponding ones of these memory cells is used for selecting or operating them, or both, in data storage and retrieval operations.