Methods for manufacturing magnetoresistive devices are presented in which isolation of magnetic layers in the magnetoresistive stack is achieved by oxidizing exposed sidewalls of the magnetic layers and then depositing additional encapsulating material prior to subsequent etching steps. Etching the magnetic layers using a non-reactive gas further prevents degradation of the sidewalls.

Methods of and systems for directing flux from a transmit coil to a receive coil within an inductive power transfer system are disclosed. For example, a transmit coil can be shielded with a contoured shield made from a ferromagnetic material. The contoured shield contours to several surfaces of the transmit coil so as to define a single plane through which magnetic flux is directed to a receive coil.

A method provides a magnetic write apparatus. The method includes providing a pole including a pole tip, a yoke, a pole bottom and a pole top. The pole is seam free and formed vertically in a direction from the pole bottom toward the pole top. At least one coil for energizing the pole is also provided. In some aspects, providing the pole may include removing a portion of an intermediate layer to form a trench therein. The trench has a shape and location corresponding to the pole, a bottom, a top and sides. A conductive layer is deposited in the trench and on a top surface of the intermediate layer. Insulating layer(s) are provided on the sides of the trench. Only part of the conductive layer on the trench bottom is exposed. Pole material(s) are grown on the exposed portion of the conductive layer to provide the pole.

An apparatus includes a housing, a solenoid coil disposed within the housing, a pole member, and an armature configured to move from a first position to a second position when the solenoid coil is energized. A contact surface of the armature is spaced apart from a contact surface of the pole member by a first distance when the armature is in the first position, and a second distance when the armature is in the second position. The housing, the pole member and the armature collectively define a flux path characterized by a first reluctance when the armature is in the first position and a second reluctance when the armature is in the second position. The difference between the first reluctance and the second reluctance is less than about thirty percent of the value of the first reluctance.

A conductor assembly and method for making an assembly of the type which, when conducting current, generates a magnetic field or which, in the presence of a changing magnetic field, induces a voltage. In one series of embodiments the assembly comprises a spiral configuration, positioned along paths in a series of concentric cylindrical planes, with a continuous series of connected turns, each turn including a first arc, a second arc and first and second straight segments connected to one another by the first arc. Each of the first and second straight segments in a turn is spaced apart from an adjacent straight segment in an adjoining turn.

A cooking apparatus includes a cooking vessel, a support structure, an assortment of ferrous members and a source of electro-magnetic radiation. The ferrous members are mounted on the support structure along with food. The source of electro-magnetic radiation heats the ferrous members and enables a previously unobtainable level of precision and control in the preparation of food.

In one implementation, a magnetic sensor device used for sensing a static or dynamic magnetic field includes a ring-shaped magnet, a sensor chip arranged in an opening of the ring-shaped magnet, and a leadframe, with the ring-shaped magnet and the sensor chip directly disposed on the leadframe. The sensor chip may further include a carrier with a stepwise configuration having two or more different planes with the ring-shaped magnet and the sensor chip disposed on different planes.

An electrostatically tunable magnetoelectric inductor including: a substrate; a piezoelectric layer; and a magnetoelectric structure comprising a first electrically conductive layer, a magnetic film layer, a second electrically conductive layer, and recesses formed so as to create at least one electrically conductive coil around the magnetic film layer; with a portion of the substrate removed so as to enhance deformation of the piezoelectric layer. Also disclosed is a method of making the same. This inductor displays a tunable inductance range of >5:1 while consuming less than 0.5 mJ of power in the process of tuning, does not require continual current to maintain tuning, and does not require complex mechanical components such as actuators or switches.

A method for manufacturing a wiring board includes preparing a core structure, forming on a first surface of the core structure a first buildup structure including insulation layers, and forming on a second surface of the core structure on the opposite side of the first surface of the core structure a second buildup structure including insulation layers and an inductor device. The insulation layers in the second buildup structure have thicknesses which are thinner than thicknesses of the insulation layers in the first buildup structure, and the forming of the second buildup structure includes forming the inductor device in the second buildup structure on the second surface of the core structure such that at least a portion of a conductive pattern formed in the core structure is included as a portion of the inductor device.

A cooking apparatus includes a cooking vessel, a support structure, an assortment of ferrous members and a source of electro-magnetic radiation. The ferrous members are mounted on the support structure along with food. The source of electro-magnetic radiation heats the ferrous members and enables a previously unobtainable level of precision and control in the preparation of food.