Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing fine line patterns on insulating surfaces utilizing a conductive spring-like cantilever having a pointed tip which is in proximity to the surface to be affected. Electrons emitted from the tip travel toward the insulator surface and cause changes therein or affect molecules located in the proximity of the insulator surface. Tunneling current is not required, and a highly conducting return current path for electrons through the insulator is not necessary. The incident electrons can be used to provide patterned, narrow-width features either by deposition of a material onto the insulator surface, or by producing etching in localized regions of the insulator surface, or by changing the insulator surface so that it can be etched.

Abstract: A lattice file using magnetic bubble domains which are arranged in a regular lattice which is moved or expanded to allow different operations, without requiring the need for bubble domains to be entered into or removed from the lattice. This distinguishes from prior lattice files where new information is entered into the lattice and information to be read is removed from the lattice. In a first embodiment, the inherent stability of the lattice is utilized by providing high density lattice for storage and a relaxed (expanded) lattice for operations such as read and write. Thus, the spacings between the elements in the lattice are changed but their relative positions in the lattice are not changed. In a second embodiment, the lattice is shifted without substantially changing the inter-element spacing and information is written and read from bubble domains magnetostatically coupled to the lattice domains.