US 5,473,466 A · Magneto-optical display and method of forming such display

Abstract

A thin transparent epitaxial layer of a magnetizable material (e.g. gallium ferrite) is deposited on a substrate of a dielectric transparent material (e.g. gadolinium gallium garnet). A mask made from an oxidizable material (e.g. silicon) deposited on the epitaxial layer covers pixels defining rows and columns and exposes the other areas on the epitaxial layer. The epitaxial layer is then annealed at a suitable temperature (e.g. 500.degree. C.) for a suitable time (e.g. 10 minutes) to oxidize the silicon and reduce the Fe atoms in the pixel areas beneath the mask to Fe.sup.++ ions. This causes the pixel areas beneath the mask to be more easily magnetizable than the other areas in the epitaxial layer. The mask is then removed and a first insulating layer is deposited on the epitaxial layer. A first plurality of windings is then deposited on the first insulated layer in insulating relationship to one another. Each winding extends in a sinuous path in three (3) directions, two (2) oppositely disposed, magnetically coupled to each pixel in an individual one of the columns. A second insulating layer is then deposited on the first windings. A second plurality of windings is then deposited on the second insulating layer in the same relationship to the pixels in the rows as the relationship of the first windings to the pixels in the columns. A pixel common to an individual winding in the first plurality and to an individual winding in the second plurality is then magnetized in accordance with the current magnitudes in the two (2) windings.

Claims40

Dependent claims

In combination,

a non-magnetizable substrate,
a magnetizable material disposed on the substrate to define a plurality of pixels in magnetically isolated relationship to one another, the pixels being disposed in a relationship defining a plurality of successive rows and a plurality of successive columns,
a first plurality of windings each disposed in a sinuous relationship around successive pixels in an individual one of the columns to apply a magnetizing force to such pixels in accordance with the current in such winding, and
a second plurality of windings each disposed in a sinuous relationship around successive pixels in an individual one of the rows to apply a magnetizing force to such pixels in accordance with the current in such winding.

1 more element

In combination,

a dielectric substrate formed from a gadolinium gallium garnet,
a transparent epitaxial planar layer of a gallium ferrite deposited on the dielectric substrate with more easily magnetizable properties at a plurality of spaced pixels on the layer than in the portion of the layers between the pixels, the pixels being disposed in the layer to define a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns,
a first plurality of windings disposed in a planar relationship substantially parallel to the planar layer of gallium ferrite, each of the windings in the first plurality being disposed to produce magnetic fluxes in the pixels of an individual one of the columns in the plurality, the windings in the first plurality being disposed in spaced and electrically isolated relationship to one another and to the planar layer of gallium garnet, and
a second plurality of windings disposed in a planar relationship substantially parallel to the planar layer of gallium ferrite, each of the windings in the second plurality being disposed to produce magnetic fluxes in the pixels of an individual one of the rows in the plurality, the windings in the second plurality being disposed in spaced and electrically isolated relationship to one another and to the planar layer of gallium garnet and to the windings in the first plurality.

1 more element

A method of forming a magnetizable array, including the following steps:

providing a dielectric substrate with properties of passing light,
disposing a layer of a material on the substrate with properties of being magnetizable,
disposing a mask on the layer in a pattern to define a plurality of pixels arranged in a number of rows and a number of columns, each of the pixels being covered by the mask and the areas between the pixels not being covered by the mask,
annealing the layer of the material with the mask on the magnetizable layer to enhance the magnetizable characteristics of the pixels relative to the areas between the pixels, and
removing the mask from the layer of the material.

2 more elements

A method of forming a magnetizable array, including the following steps:

providing a substrate from a material having non-magnetizable properties of passing light,
depositing on the substrate a layer of a material having properties of becoming magnetizable,
operating on the layer to form on the layer pixels at spaced positions with magnetizable properties, the pixels being disposed on the layer to define rows and columns,
forming a first plurality of windings on the pixels in a first planar relationship, each of the windings in the first plurality being disposed in spaced and isolated relationship to one another and to the pixels to produce magnetic flux through the pixels in an individual one of the columns in accordance with the flow of current through such winding,
forming a second plurality of windings on the pixels in a second planar relationship, each of the windings in the second plurality being disposed in spaced and isolated relationship to one another and to the pixels and to the windings in the first plurality to produce magnetic flux through the pixels in an individual one of the rows in accordance with the flow of current through such winding.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Magneto-optical display and method of forming such display

Life of this patent

Magneto-optical display and method of forming such display

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims40