Patent ID: 7050248
Filing Date: 2006-05-23
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 workpiece including a surface comprised of said magnetic material, said magnetic material including a plurality of magnetic domains aligned in a first direction parallel to said surface; (b) providing a stamper having an imprinting surface, said imprinting surface comprising a plurality of projections and depressions arranged in a pattern corresponding to said magnetic transition pattern to be formed in said magnetic material, said stamper being formed of at least one high saturation magnetization, high permeability magnetic material; (c) placing said workpiece surface comprised of said magnetic material in contact with said imprinting surface of said stamper; and (d) applying a unidirectional re-alignment magnetic field from a magnet means to said stamper and said workpiece to effect selective re-alignment of the magnetic domains of those portions of said magnetic material which face said depressions of said imprinting surface of said stamper, such that said magnetic domains of said facing portions are selectively unidirectionally aligned in a second direction reverse that of said first direction, and the combination of aligned+re-aligned magnetic domains forms a pattern replicating said pattern of said projections and depressions, wherein: step (d) further comprises applying sufficient pressure to said stamper and said workpiece to overcome magnetic attraction between said stamper and said magnet means to thereby maintain full contact between said imprinting surface and said workpiece surface, and said pressure applied to said stamper and said workpiece is adjustable in relation to the strength of said magnetic attraction between said stamper and said magnet means.