Patent ID: 6985314
Filing Date: 2006-01-10
Classification: B82Y,G11B

Abstract:
1. A method of forming a magnetic transition pattern in a magnetic material by contact printing, comprising steps of: (a) providing a stacked assembly including: (b) providing a contact printing apparatus including a magnet means having a pair of spaced-apart, stationary magnetic poles with a fixed gap therebetween, said magnet means adapted for providing a unidirectional re-alignment magnetic field of uniform and fixed intensity between said magnetic poles; (c) placing said stacked assembly of said workpiece and said stamper in said gap between said magnetic poles, with an orientation such that the direction of said unidirectional re-alignment magnetic field between said magnetic poles is opposite the direction of alignment of said unidirectionally aligned, initialized magnetic domains of said magnetic material; and (d) applying said unidirectional, uniform, and fixed intensity re-alignment magnetic field from said magnet means to said stacked assembly of said workpiece and said stamper for an interval sufficient to effect selective re-alignment of the magnetic domains of those portions of said magnetic material which are in contact with said projections of said imprinting surface of said stamper or which face said depressions of said imprinting surface of said stamper, such that said magnetic domains of said contacted portions or said facing portions are unidirectionally aligned in a second direction reverse that of said first direction, and the combination of initialized magnetic domains+re-aligned magnetic domains forms a pattern replicating said pattern of projections and depressions of said imprinting surface of said stamper.