Patents by Inventor Alan Hurst

Alan Hurst 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).

  • Methods for fabricating a magnetic keeper for a memory device
    Patent number: 7145798
    Abstract: An MRAM device comprising an array of MRAM elements, with each element having an MRAM bit influenced by a magnetic field from a current flowing through a conductor, also includes a magnetic keeper formed adjacent the conductor to advantageously alter the magnetic field. The magnetic keeper alters the magnetic field by concentrating the field within the keeper thereby reducing the extent in which fringe field exists, thus allowing the MRAM elements to be formed closer to increase the areal density of the MRAM device. Increase in magnetic field flux due to the magnetic keeper allows operation of the MRAM device with lowered power. Soft magnetic materials such as nickel iron, nickel iron cobalt, or cobalt iron may be used to form the magnetic keeper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: William F. Witcraft, Lonny Berg, Alan Hurst, William Vavra, Mark Jenson
  • Methods for fabricating a magnetic keeper for a memory device
    Publication number: 20060067113
    Abstract: An MRAM device comprising an array of MRAM elements, with each element having an MRAM bit influenced by a magnetic field from a current flowing through a conductor, also includes a magnetic keeper formed adjacent the conductor to advantageously alter the magnetic field. The magnetic keeper alters the magnetic field by concentrating the field within the keeper thereby reducing the extent in which fringe field exists, thus allowing the MRAM elements to be formed closer to increase the areal density of the MRAM device. Increase in magnetic field flux due to the magnetic keeper allows operation of the MRAM device with lowered power. Soft magnetic materials such as nickel iron, nickel iron cobalt, or cobalt iron may be used to form the magnetic keeper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2005
    Publication date: March 30, 2006
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: William Witcraft, Lonny Berg, Alan Hurst, William Vavra, Mark Jenson
  • Method for building a magnetic keeper or flux concentrator used for writing magnetic bits on a MRAM device
    Patent number: 6914805
    Abstract: An MRAM device comprising an array of MRAM elements, with each element having an MRAM bit influenced by a magnetic field from a current flowing through a conductor, also includes a magnetic keeper formed adjacent the conductor to advantageously alter the magnetic field. The magnetic keeper alters the magnetic field by concentrating the field within the keeper thereby reducing the extent in which fringe field exists, thus allowing the MRAM elements to be formed closer to increase the areal density of the MRAM device. Increase in magnetic field flux due to the magnetic keeper allows operation of the MRAM device with lowered power. Soft magnetic materials such as nickel iron, nickel iron cobalt, or cobalt iron may be used to form the magnetic keeper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: William F. Witcraft, Lonny Berg, Alan Hurst, William Vavra, Mark Jenson
  • Method for building a magnetic keeper or flux concentrator used for writing magnetic bits on a MRAM device
    Publication number: 20040037109
    Abstract: An MRAM device comprising an array of MRAM elements, with each element having an MRAM bit influenced by a magnetic field from a current flowing through a conductor, also includes a magnetic keeper formed adjacent the conductor to advantageously alter the magnetic field. The magnetic keeper alters the magnetic field by concentrating the field within the keeper thereby reducing the extent in which fringe field exists, thus allowing the MRAM elements to be formed closer to increase the areal density of the MRAM device. Increase in magnetic field flux due to the magnetic keeper allows operation of the MRAM device with lowered power. Soft magnetic materials such as nickel iron, nickel iron cobalt, or cobalt iron may be used to form the magnetic keeper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2002
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Inventors: William F. Witcraft, Lonny Berg, Alan Hurst, William Vavra, Mark Jenson
  • Solar powered lighting fixture
    Patent number: D404842
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Solar Outdoor Lighting, Incorporated
    Inventor: Alan Hurst