Patents by Inventor Otto Voegeli

Otto Voegeli 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).

  • Patent number: 8334147
    Abstract: A magnetic sensor for identifying small magnetic particles bound to a substrate includes a regular, planar orthogonal array of MTJ cells formed within or beneath that substrate. Each MTJ cell has a high aspect ratio and positions of stable magnetic equilibrium along an easy magnetic axis and positions of unstable magnetic equilibrium along a hard magnetic axis. By initializing the magnetizations of each MTJ cell in its unstable hard-axis position, the presence of even a small magnetic particle can exert a sufficient perturbative strayfield to tip the magnetization to its stable position. The magnetization change in an MTJ cell can be measured after each of two successive opposite polarity magnetizations of a bound particle and the presence of the particle thereby detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: MagIC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Otto Voegeli
  • Patent number: 8294543
    Abstract: A system and method of generating a magnetic field that is uniform in magnitude and direction may generally restrict the field from expanding away from a longitudinal axis. In some instances, such a magnetic field may be controllable in magnitude and direction. In accordance with some embodiments, a generated magnetic field may be selectively confined to a predetermined three-dimensional space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Inventor: Otto Voegeli
  • Publication number: 20120212310
    Abstract: A system and method of generating a magnetic field that is uniform in magnitude and direction may generally restrict the field from expanding away from a longitudinal axis. In some instances, such a magnetic field may be controllable in magnitude and direction. In accordance with some embodiments, a generated magnetic field may be selectively confined to a predetermined three-dimensional space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Inventor: Otto Voegeli
  • Patent number: 8179220
    Abstract: A system and method of generating a magnetic field that is uniform in magnitude and direction may generally restrict the field from expanding away from a longitudinal axis. In some instances, such a magnetic field may be controllable in magnitude and direction. In accordance with some embodiments, a generated magnetic field may be selectively confined to a predetermined three-dimensional space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Inventor: Otto Voegeli
  • Patent number: 7977937
    Abstract: A planar array of GMR or TMR sensor elements with planar free and pinned layers is used as the basis of a sensor for detecting the presence of small magnetized particles. In particular, the sensor is used for detecting the presence of magnetized particles bonded to biological molecules that are themselves bonded to a substrate. The magnetized particles on the molecules are detected by the sensors as a result of the interaction between the stray fields of the particles and the magnetic configuration of the sensors. By forming a co-planar layer of soft magnetic material over the sensor or its array, the external field used to magnetize the particles is self-aligned perpendicularly to the sensor plane whereby it does not interfere with the stray fields of the particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: MagIC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Otto Voegeli
  • Publication number: 20100302689
    Abstract: A magnetic sensor for identifying small magnetic particles bound to a substrate includes a regular, planar orthogonal array of MTJ cells formed within or beneath that substrate. Each MTJ cell has a high aspect ratio and positions of stable magnetic equilibrium along an easy magnetic axis and positions of unstable magnetic equilibrium along a hard magnetic axis. By initializing the magnetizations of each MTJ cell in its unstable hard-axis position, the presence of even a small magnetic particle can exert a sufficient perturbative strayfield to tip the magnetization to its stable position. The magnetization change in an MTJ cell can be measured after each of two successive opposite polarity magnetizations of a bound particle and the presence of the particle thereby detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventor: Otto Voegeli
  • Publication number: 20100109657
    Abstract: A planar array of GMR or TMR sensor elements with planar free and pinned layers is used as the basis of a sensor for detecting the presence of small magnetized particles. In particular, the sensor is used for detecting the presence of magnetized particles bonded to biological molecules that are themselves bonded to a substrate. The magnetized particles on the molecules are detected by the sensors as a result of the interaction between the stray fields of the particles and the magnetic configuration of the sensors. By forming a co-planar layer of soft magnetic material over the sensor or its array, the external field used to magnetize the particles is self-aligned perpendicularly to the sensor plane whereby it does not interfere with the stray fields of the particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Inventor: Otto Voegeli
  • Publication number: 20090295378
    Abstract: A system and method of generating a magnetic field that is uniform in magnitude and direction may generally restrict the field from expanding away from a longitudinal axis. In some instances, such a magnetic field may be controllable in magnitude and direction. In accordance with some embodiments, a generated magnetic field may be selectively confined to a predetermined three-dimensional space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventor: Otto Voegeli
  • Patent number: 7040005
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a current-perpendicular-to-plane (CPP) giant magnetoresistive (GMR) sensor stack, wherein the parasitic resistance of the high-resistance antiferromagnetic (AFM) pinning layer is effectively reduced by enlarging its surface area and forming between it and the remainder of the sensor stack an equal area, contiguous, thin, highly conductive ferromagnetic layer, the current channeling (CCL) layer. The magnetic properties and increased current carrying capacity of the CCL allows the AFM pinning layer to effectively couple to the pinned layer while eliminating the effect of its high resistance on the sensor sensitivity as measured by the GMR ratio, ?R/R.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Headway Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Youfeng Zheng, Kochan Ju, Otto Voegeli
  • Publication number: 20040184197
    Abstract: A current-perpendicular-to-plane (CPP) giant magnetoresistive (GMR) sensor stack and its method of fabrication are provided, wherein the parasitic resistance of the high-resistance antiferromagnetic (AFM) pinning layer is effectively reduced by enlarging its surface area and separating it from the remainder of the sensor stack by an equal area, contiguous, thin, highly conductive ferromagnetic layer, the current channeling (CCL) layer. The magnetic properties and increased current carrying capacity of the CCL allows the AFM pinning layer to effectively couple to the pinned layer while eliminating the effect of its high resistance on the sensor sensitivity as measured by the GMR ratio, &Dgr;R/R. In another embodiment, the effects of a CCL are provided by the synthetic pinned layer of a synthetic GMR formation, wherein the spacer and free layers of the GMR are reduced in width relative to the synthetic pinned layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2003
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Applicant: Headway Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Youfeng Zheng, Kochan Ju, Otto Voegeli
  • Patent number: 6358635
    Abstract: A magnetic shielding element for a magnetic recording and sensing device which prevents the problem of pop-corn noise or covariance of amplitude noise in the magnetic sensing device. The shielding element has a layer of antiferromagnetic exchange material formed on a layer of single domain first ferromagnetic material. The single domain first ferromagnetic material is stabilized by the antiferromagnetic exchange material. A layer of non-magnetic metal is then formed on the layer of antiferromagnetic exchange material and a layer of second ferromagnetic material is formed on the layer of non-magnetic metal to complete the shielding element. When the single domains of the first ferromagnetic material are disturbed by the strong magnetic fields of a write cycle they relax with a relaxation time of pico seconds and are fully relaxed before a read cycle begins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Headway Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Tai Min, Otto Voegeli, Rongfu Xiao, Cherng-Chyi Han, Po-Kang Wang
  • Patent number: 5561896
    Abstract: A magnetoresistive transducer has a sensor which includes a magnetic layer and an interdiffusion layer. An active central region of the sensor extends between two passive end regions which are used to magnetically bias the active central region longitudinally. The biasing function is attained by fabricating the transducer on a wafer in an H-configuration, with the crossbar of the H as the active central region and a portion of the side legs as the passive end regions. When short current pulses are passed through the side legs of the H, the associated heating of the side legs (but not the crossbar of the H) causes interdiffusion between the interdiffusion layer and the magnetic layer and transforms the magnetic layer from soft magnetism to hard magnetism as required for the biasing function. The wafer is diced near the crossbar of the H and then processed further to form the finished transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Inventors: Otto Voegeli, George Tzanavaras
  • Patent number: 5483403
    Abstract: A thin film magnetic structure for use as a flux guide in a magnetic recording system has tapered edges transverse to the magnetization axis of the film. The tapered edges eliminate magnetic edge domains and thereby assure a single magnetic domain in the film structure. Thus, Barkhausen noise is essentially eliminated from the signal read by the film structure from the magnetic recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Otto Voegeli
  • Patent number: 5479308
    Abstract: A magnetoresistive transducer has a sensor which includes a magnetic layer and an interdiffusion layer. An active central region of the sensor extends between two passive end regions which are used to magnetically bias the active central region longitudinally. The biasing function is attained by fabricating the transducer on a wafer in an H-configuration, with the crossbar of the H as the active central region and a portion of the side legs as the passive end regions. When short current pulses are passed through the side legs of the H, the associated heating of the side legs (but not the crossbar of the H) causes interdiffusion between the interdiffusion layer and the magnetic layer and transforms the magnetic layer from soft magnetism to hard magnetism as required for the biasing function. The wafer is diced near the crossbar of the H and then processed further to form the finished transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Inventors: Otto Voegeli, George Tzanavaras
  • Patent number: 5376587
    Abstract: Cooling structure for direct heat transfer between an active layer of a chip in which electric elements are formed and a heat sink are disclosed. The inventive cooling structure consists of a current/voltage supply level, with metal structures and insulation spacers and/or layers, partly covered by an insulation layer and followed by a heat transfer structure. A heat transfer bridge is in thermal connection with the heat transfer structure that provides for heat flux between the inventive cooling structure and the heat sink. The inventive cooling structure of this invention can be used with semiconductor devices and/or with opto-electronic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Buchmann, Peter Unger, Peter Vettiger, Otto Voegeli
  • Patent number: 5344746
    Abstract: An integrated light deflector and fabrication method are disclosed. In accordance with the method, a mold is constructed above the surface of a substrate using a thick photo resist and a mask to define a deflector plane. A collimated light beam is applied at an appropriate angle of incidence to the photo resist material and mask. The developed resist provides a mold into which the deflector body is cast, leaving a deflector body whose front surface serves as the deflecting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Vettiger, Otto Voegeli
  • Patent number: 5327415
    Abstract: An integrated light deflector and fabrication method are disclosed. In accordance with the method, a mold is constructed above the surface of a substrate using a thick photo resist and a mask to define a deflector plane. A collimated light beam is applied at an appropriate angle of incidence to the photo resist material and mask. The developed resist provides a mold into which the deflector body is cast, leaving a deflector body whose front surface serves as the deflecting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Vettiger, Otto Voegeli
  • Patent number: 5287001
    Abstract: Cooling structure for direct heat transfer between an active layer of a chip in which electric elements are formed and a heat sink are disclosed. The inventive cooling structure consists of a current/voltage supply level, with metal structures and insulation spacers and/or layers, partly covered by an insulation layer and followed by a heat transfer structure. A heat transfer bridge is in thermal connection with the heat transfer structure that provides for heat flux between the inventive cooling structure and the heat sink. The inventive cooling structure of this invention can be used with semiconductor devices and/or with opto-electronic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Buchmann, Peter Unger, Peter Vettiger, Otto Voegeli
  • Patent number: 5155642
    Abstract: A magnetoresistive (MR) read transducer comprising an MR layer having longitudinally magnetized end regions separated by a central active region and a soft magnetic biasing layer parallel to but spaced from the MR layer. The easy axes of the MR layer and the soft magnetic biasing layer are tilted at a small angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the transducer and these angles are substantially equal, but in the opposite sense.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Otto Voegeli
  • Patent number: 5103493
    Abstract: A method, and device produced therewith, for improving the planarity of etched mirror facets 18 of integrated optic structures with non-planar stripe waveguides, such as ridge or groove diode lasers or passive devices such as modulators and switches. The curvature of the mirror facet surface at the edges of the waveguide due to topographical, lithographical and etch process effects, causes detrimental phase distortions, and is avoided by widening the waveguide end near the mirror surface thereby shifting the curved facet regions away from the light mode region to surface regions where curvature is not critical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1992
    Inventors: Peter L. Buchmann, Peter Vettiger, Otto Voegeli, David J. Webb