Abstract: Digital devices such as, e.g., shift registers and logical gates are disclosed which are predicated on domain wall motion in a film of a ferroelectric material, such as, e.g., gadolinium molybdate or lead germanate. Disclosed devices comprise electrodes on both sides of the film of ferroelectric material and may further comprise a resistive layer whose presence facilitates domain wall motion past inter-electrode gaps. Electrodes or facing portions of electrodes define regions in the film and, in particular, an input region and an output region.To facilitate series connection of devices, electrodes are designed so as to cause energy gain during device operation. According to such design, surface area of an output region is larger than surface area of an input region. A current sensor is electrically connected to an electrode defining such output region.

Abstract: Alloys are disclosed which contain Cu, Ni, Sn, and prescribed amounts of Mo, Nb, Ta, V, or Fe. A predominantly spinodal structure is developed in such alloys by a treatment which requires annealing, quenching, and aging, and which does not require cold working to develop alloy properties. The shape of articles made from such alloys may be as cast, forged, extruded, hot worked, hot pressed, or cold worked. Shaped articles are strong, ductile, and have isotropic formability.

Abstract: Analog readout devices are disclosed which utilize domain wall motion in a film of ferroelectric material to produce an electrical signal having a desired waveform. Disclosed devices comprise electrodes disposed on facing sides of the film, at least one electrode being patterned in correspondence with the desired waveform. Readout from devices may be direct or as the difference between two signals produced by domain wall motion. In the latter case, constant-width pairs of electrodes may be used in combination with a feedback circuit to ensure constant-velocity ferroelectric wall motion.

Abstract: Electroacoustic devices are disclosed which comprise a permanent magnet and a magnetically permeable component. The permanent magnet is made of an Fe-Cr-Co alloy comprising 20-40 weight percent Cr and 3-30 weight percent Co; the permeable component is made of an Fe-Al alloy comprising 1.5-18 weight percent Al.In addition to a magnetic circuit, disclosed devices comprise means such as, e.g., an induction coil for inducing a variable magnetic field in the magnetic circuit. Also, devices comprise means for utilizing energy output in response to the magnetic field. Energy output may typically be in the form of an acoustical signal having desirably flat frequency response. Due to their low cost, disclosed devices are particularly suitable for use in telephone receivers and other mass produced articles.

Abstract: Fine-grained Fe-Cr-Co magnetic alloys are disclosed which have desirable magnetic properties such as, in particular, a coercive force in the range of 300-600 Oersted, a remanence in the range of 8000-13000 Gauss, and a maximum energy product in the range of 1-6 MGOe. Disclosed alloys consist essentially of 25-29 weight percent Cr, 7-12 weight percent Co, and remainder iron; processing of disclosed alloys may typically include low-temperature solution annealing, cold shaping, and an aging heat treatment. Disclosed magnetic alloys may be used, e.g., in the manufacture of ringers, relays, and electro-acoustic transducers.

Abstract: Magnetic alloys are disclosed having an anisotropic magnetic structure produced by thermomechanical treatment in the absence of a magnetic field. Disclosed treatment calls for developing magnetic particles in an alloy by cooling such alloy in a controlled fashion from a first temperature at which the alloy is in a predominantly single phase state to a second temperature at which the alloy is in a multi-phase state.Treatment further calls for deforming the alloy, resulting in cross-sectional area reduction of at least 30 percent (corresponding to elongation of magnetic particles by a factor of at least 1.7). Disclosed treatment leads to desirable magnetic properties, e.g., in Cu-Ni-Fe, Cu-Ni-Co, Fe-Al-Ni, Fe-Al-Ni-Co, and Fe-Cr-Co alloys. For example, in the case of Fe-Cr-Co, alloy properties such as remanence-to-saturation squareness ratio in excess of 0.90 and maximum energy product in the range of 0.6-8.0 MGOe are achieved.

Abstract: Strengthening and hardening of metallic alloys has formerly been effected by inclusion of various metal and metal oxide additives. According to the invention, alloys having face-centered cubic structure are strengthened and hardened by the inclusion of one or several hydrides which are formed upon interstitial diffusion of hydrogen. Inclusion of hydrogen is conveniently effected in a shaped body of an alloy comprising a first and a second, more easily hydrided component by exposure to a hydrogen atmosphere at elevated temperature.Resulting alloys also have essentially scale-free surface, high electrical conductivity, and high creep resistance. Hydrided alloys may be shaped, e.g., into electrical components such as wire and switch elements.

Abstract: Electrically activated components such as switches, modulators, attenuators, and mode selectors are disclosed which can be used in networks of waveguides in optical communications systems. Disclosed components comprise an electrochromic medium in combination with a suitable ion source and means for producing a variable electric field across the medium. A change of color in the medium in response to variation of the electric field strength is instrumental in influencing direction and intensity of light propagating in a network.

Abstract: Electrically activated optical switches, couplers, and modulators are disclosed which can be incorporated in waveguide networks in optical communications systems. Disclosed devices comprise an electroplating medium in combination with a suitable source of an electric field whose strength can be varied to cause transition of the electroplating medium between plated and unplated states. Changes of reflectivity and refractive index are the bases of switching and coupling applications, respectively.

Abstract: Pulse amplitude modulated data systems typically utilize linear combinations of Nyquist pulses to transmit data signals. Ideally, required bandwidth for the transmitted signal is 1/(2T)=.rho./2L where .rho. is the data rate, T the signaling interval, and L the number of bits per signal. In practice, however, an "excess bandwidth" of at least 10-20 percent is required.According to the invention, data signals are encoded to produce an encoded signal which can be transmitted over a communications channel having excess bandwidth of merely 2-4 percent. The encoding scheme utilizes linear combinations of characteristic sequences which are known as discrete prolate spheroidal sequences. A transmitter and a corresponding receiver are disclosed.

Abstract: A method and a device implementing the method are disclosed for testing electrical conductor elements in the manufacture of integrated circuit devices. The method is based on determining nonlinearity of electrical resistance, a quantity which was found to be closely related to reliability of conductor elements. The method calls for applying a repetitive train of pulses to an AC-coupled linear network across whose output terminals the element being tested is placed. The resulting average current through or voltage across the element provides a measure of nonlinearity of resistance.

Abstract: A technique is described for the preparation of an electrically conductive adhesive system and electrical devices including such system. Briefly, the adhesive system comprises a novolac epoxy resin and a chemically blocked imidazole curing agent in combination with a viscosity reducer and conductive particles. The resulting adhesive system is found comparable to commercially available adhesive systems and is superior thereto with respect to thermal stability.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for determining electrical properties of dielectric and semiconducting materials and devices by admittance measurement. According to the disclosed method, a sample contained between electrodes is subjected to an essentially sinusoidal radio frequency signal. Simultaneously, the sample is subjected to a perturbation as may be produced, e.g., by thermal, optical, or electron irradiation. Admittance is determined as a current-to-voltage ratio.According to the invention, signal-to-noise ratio in the output signal is enhanced by establishing a resonant circuit formed by the sample capacitor and an appropriately selected inductor element and pulsing the perturbation synchronous to the resulting resonant oscillation.

Abstract: Disclosed are unipolar semiconductor devices such as, e.g., metal-semiconductor field effect transistors. The disclosed devices comprise an n- or p-type active layer on a substrate and a drain contact on the active layer.The active layer comprises two contiguous regions, namely a first, more heavily doped region which is in contact with the drain contact and a second, less heavily doped region which in a direction perpendicular to the active layer extends through the remainder of the active layer. In the disclosed configuration the more heavily doped region extends past the edge of the drain contact towards a source of free carriers such as e.g., a source contact.Devices incorporating such configuration of regions in the active layer are more resistant to burnout and are capable of operating at higher voltage and power levels.

Abstract: An optical lens system is disclosed which comprises a body of a nematic liquid crystal material placed in a variable electric or magnetic field. In response to variation of the field strength from zero to an upper limit, the focal length of the lens system changes continuously from a first focal length to a second focal length. The new lens system may be used, e.g., in cameras, telescopes, binoculars, projectors, and eyeglasses.

Abstract: The disclosed magnetic devices, including a magnetically coupled conducting path, incorporate amorphous, low magnetostriction alloys of the general formula (Co.sub.a Fe.sub.b T.sub.c).sub.i X.sub.j, the "metallic" constituents thereof being within the parenthetical expression. T, in the formulation, is selected from among Ni, Cr, Mn, V, Ti, Mo, W, Nb, Zr, Pd, Pt, Cu, Ag and Au, X being at least one "glass former" selected from among P, Si, B, C, As, Ge, Al, Ga, In, Sb, Bi and Sn. The "metallic" constituents comprise from 70-90 atomic percent of the alloy with cobalt being present in an amount of at least 70 atomic percent of the "metallic" constituents. The described material has been prepared by rapid cooling from the liquid, directly to the shape needed for fabrication of the device (e.g., tape to be wound to form an inductor core).

Abstract: A method is disclosed for making a metallic body having desirable magnetic properties. The metallic body is made from an alloy which contains Fe, Cr, and Co and which may also contain one or several additional ferrite forming elements such as, e.g., Zr, Mo, V, Nb, Ta, Ti, Al, Si, or W. According to the disclosed method the alloy is cooled at a rate of at least 60 degrees C. per hour from an initial temperature at which the alloy is in an essentially single phase alpha state to a second temperature which is in a vicinity of 600 degrees C. Subsequently, the alloy is cooled at a second, slower rate to a third temperature which is in the vicinity of 525 degrees C.The disclosed method allows for a relatively broad range of initial temperatures, is relatively insensitive to compositional variations of the alloy, and permits simple reclamation of suboptimally treated parts. As a consequence, the method is particularly suited for large scale industrial production of permanent magnets as may be used, e.g.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for suppressing hard bubbles in epitaxial magnetic garnet films. The method comprises annealing in an essentially inert atmosphere and renders the annealed film incapable of sustaining hard bubbles.