Abstract: A three-dimensional circuit and methods for fabricating such a circuit are described. The three-dimensional circuit includes a plurality of stacked levels on a substrate. Each level includes a plurality of all-metal circuit components exhibiting giant magnetoresistance and arranged in two dimensions, the circuit further includes an interconnect for providing interconnections between the circuit components on different ones of the plurality of levels.

Abstract: A sample-and-hold circuit is described which includes a network of thin-film elements in a bridge configuration. Each of the thin-film elements exhibits giant magnetoresistance. The circuit also includes a plurality of conductors inductively coupled to each of the thin-film elements for applying magnetic fields thereto. The circuit is operable using the plurality of conductors to sample and store a value corresponding to an input signal.

Abstract: Electronic systems are described including semiconductor circuitry characterized by first signals and all-metal circuitry characterized by second signals and comprising a plurality of transpinnors. Each transpinnor includes a network of thin-film elements. At least one thin-film element in each transpinnor exhibits giant magnetoresistance. Each transpinnor includes a conductor inductively coupled to the at least one thin-film element for controlling operation of the transpinnor. Interface circuitry connects the semiconductor circuitry to the all-metal circuitry and converts between the first signals and the second signals.

Abstract: A multi-layered memory cell is described having a plurality of magnetic layers, each of the magnetic layers being for magnetically storing one bit of information. A plurality of access lines are integrated with the plurality of magnetic layers and configured such that the bits of information stored in each of selected ones of the magnetic layers may be independently accessed using selected ones of the plurality of access lines and the giant magnetoresistive effect. The memory cell further includes at least one keeper layer. The magnetic layers, the access lines, and the at least one keeper layer form a substantially closed flux structure.

Abstract: A transpinnor switch is described having a network of thin-film elements in a bridge configuration, selected ones of the thin-film elements exhibiting giant magnetoresistance. The switch also includes at least one input conductor inductively coupled to a first subset of the selected thin-film elements, and a switch conductor inductively coupled to a second subset of the selected thin-film elements for applying magnetic fields thereto. The switch is configurable using the switch conductor to generate an output signal representative of an input signal on the input conductor. The switch is also configurable using the switch conductor to generate substantially no output signal regardless of whether the input signal is present. The transpinnor switch described herein may be used in a wide variety of applications including, for example, a field programmable gate array.

Abstract: A transpinnor-based magnetometer is provided having four resistive elements exhibiting GMR in a bridge configuration. A bias current is applied to the bridge, yielding an output if the bridge is unbalanced due to changes in the GMR resistors. An oscillating magnetic field is applied inductively to the GMR resistors alternately driving them between saturated magnetic states. The drive conductors are physically arranged so that an external magnetic field will oppose the applied field in two resistors and aid the applied field in the other two. The output is nonzero only when the sum of the applied field and external field exceeds the GMR coercivity in one pair of GMR films and not the other. The frequency of the output signal can be varied by switching the polarity of the bias current and controlling the phase with respect to the drive current.

Abstract: A sample-and-hold circuit is described which includes a network of thin-film elements in a bridge configuration. Each of the thin-film elements exhibits giant magnetoresistance. The circuit also includes a plurality of conductors inductively coupled to each of the thin-film elements for applying magnetic fields thereto. The circuit is operable using the plurality of conductors to sample and store a value corresponding to an input signal.

Abstract: A transpinnor switch is described having a network of thin-film elements in a bridge configuration, selected ones of the thin-film elements exhibiting giant magnetoresistance. The switch also includes at least one input conductor inductively coupled to a first subset of the selected thin-film elements, and a switch conductor inductively coupled to a second subset of the selected thin-film elements for applying magnetic fields thereto. The switch is configurable using the switch conductor to generate an output signal representative of an input signal on the input conductor. The switch is also configurable using the switch conductor to generate substantially no output signal regardless of whether the input signal is present. The transpinnor switch described herein may be used in a wide variety of applications including, for example, a field programmable gate array.

Abstract: A memory device is described which includes memory cells, access lines, and support electronics for facilitating access to information stored in the memory cells via the access lines. Both the memory cells and the support electronics comprise multi-layer thin film structures exhibiting giant magnetoresistance.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described relating to an electronic device which includes at least one configurable resistive element. Each such configurable resistive element includes at least one multi-layer thin film element exhibiting giant magnetoresistance. The resistance value of each configurable resistive element is configurable over a resistance value range by application of at least one magnetic field which manipulates at least one magnetization vector associated with the thin film element. One embodiment is an adjustable output gate. Another embodiment is a differential amplifier in which the gain of each channel is adjustable.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described relating to an electronic device which includes at least one configurable resistive element. Each such configurable resistive element includes at least one multi-layer thin film element exhibiting giant magnetoresistance. The resistance value of each configurable resistive element is configurable over a resistance value range by application of at least one magnetic field which manipulates at least one magnetization vector associated with the thin film element. One embodiment is an adjustable output gate. Another embodiment is a differential amplifier in which the gain of each channel is adjustable.

Abstract: A memory device is described which includes memory cells, access lines, and support electronics for facilitating access to information stored in the memory cells via the access lines. Both the memory cells and the support electronics comprise multi-layer thin film structures exhibiting giant magnetoresistance.

Abstract: A multi-layered memory cell is described having a plurality of magnetic layers, each of the magnetic layers being for magnetically storing one bit of information. A plurality of access lines are integrated with the plurality of magnetic layers and configured such that the bits of information stored in each of selected ones of the magnetic layers may be independently accessed using selected ones of the plurality of access lines and the giant magnetoresistive effect. The memory cell further includes at least one keeper layer. The magnetic layers, the access lines, and the at least one keeper layer form a substantially closed flux structure.

Abstract: A transpinnor-based magnetometer is provided having four resistive elements exhibiting GMR in a bridge configuration. A bias current is applied to the bridge, yielding an output if the bridge is unbalanced due to changes in the GMR resistors. An oscillating magnetic field is applied inductively to the GMR resistors alternately driving them between saturated magnetic states. The drive conductors are physically arranged so that an external magnetic field will oppose the applied field in two resistors and aid the applied field in the other two. The output is nonzero only when the sum of the applied field and external field exceeds the GMR coercivity in one pair of GMR films and not the other. The frequency of the output signal can be varied by switching the polarity of the bias current and controlling the phase with respect to the drive current.

Abstract: A solid-state component is described which includes a network of thin-film elements. At least one thin-film element exhibits giant magnetoresistance. The network has a plurality of nodes, each of which represents a direct electrical connection between two of the thin-film elements. First and second ones of the plurality of nodes comprise power terminals. Third and fourth ones of the plurality of nodes comprise an output. A first conductor is inductively coupled to the at least one thin-film element for applying a first magnetic field thereto.

Abstract: A solid-state component is described which includes a network of thin-film elements. At least one thin-film element exhibits giant magnetoresistance. The network has a plurality of nodes, each of which represents a direct electrical connection between two of the thin-film elements. First and second ones of the plurality of nodes include power terminals. Third and fourth ones of the plurality of nodes comprise an output. A first conductor is inductively coupled to the at least one thin-film element for applying a first magnetic field thereto.

Abstract: An electronic transducer array and transfer device and method which provides for activation of selected transducers at selected times. In one application, the device performs data transfer by a combination of suitably interconnected submillimeter transducers (4) capable of sensing and/or actuating microscopic data-storage cells, and electronic switching (402, 602, 702) to activate selected individual transducers. One embodiment of the invention provides for magnetic transducers for reading (304) and writing (302) on a magnetic medium (8). Another embodiment of the invention provides tunneling electron transducers (10) arranged in an array.

Abstract: A memory cell including a storage element having a first structure with a plurality of layers, selected layers having magnetization vectors associated therewith, the first structure exhibiting giant magnetoresistance, wherein the storage element has a closed flux structure in at least one dimension, and wherein the magnetization vectors are confined to the at least one dimension during all stages of operation of the storage element. The memory cell includes a means for reading information from and writing information to the first structure and a selection conductor for applying one or more selection signals to the storage element to enable reading from and writing to the first structure. In one embodiment, the reading and writing means includes a read conductor electrically coupled to the first structure, and a write conductor electrically isolated from the read conductor and the first structure.

Abstract: Methods of high resolution imaging and measuring dynamic surface effects of substrate surfaces is provided. The present invention utilizes electronic scanning with multiple scanning tunneling microscope (STM) tunnel-effect probes on an array that is stationary relative to the substrate surface. A high resolution image of the substrate surface is obtained by positioning an array of STM probes stationary relative to the substrate surface during the scanning process, selecting spatial points at which probes of the array of STM probes are to be activated, selecting times at which the selected STM probes are to be activated, activating the selected STM probes at the selected times, and measuring tunneling currents between the selected STM probes and the substrate.

Abstract: An electronic transducer array and transfer device and method which provides for activation of selected transducers at selected times In one application, the device performs data transfer by a combination of suitably interconnected submillimeter transducers (4) capable of sensing and/or actuating microscopic data-storage cells, and electronic switching (402, 602, 702) to activate selected individual transducers. One embodiment of the invention provides for magnetic transducers for reading (304) and writing (302) on a magnetic medium (8). Another embodiment of the invention provides tunneling electron transducers (10) arranged in an array.