Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080225572 | CIRCUIT ARRAYS HAVING CELLS WITH COMBINATIONS OF TRANSISTORS AND NANOTUBE SWITCHING ELEMENTS - Circuit arrays having cells with combinations of transistors and nanotube switches. Under one embodiment, cells are arranged as pairs with the nanotube switching elements of the pair being cross coupled so that the set electrode of one nanotube switching element is coupled to the release electrode of the other and the release electrode of the one nanotube switching element being coupled to the set electrode of the other. The nanotube articles are coupled to the reference line, and the source of one field effect transistor of a pair is coupled to the set electrode to one of the two nanotube switching elements and the source of the other field effect transistor of the pair is coupled to the release electrode to the one of the two nanotube switching elements. | 09-18-2008 |
20080231320 | TRI-STATE CIRCUIT USING NANOTUBE SWITCHING ELEMENTS - Nanotube-based logic circuitry is disclosed. Tri-stating elements add an enable/disable function to the circuitry. The tri-stating elements may be provided by nanotube-based switching devices. In the disabled state, the outputs present a high impedance, i.e., are tri-stated, which state allows interconnection to a common bus or other shared communication lines. In embodiments wherein the components are non-volatile, the inverter state and the control state are maintained in the absence of power. Such an inverter may be used in conjunction with and in the absence of diodes, resistors and transistors or as part of or as a replacement to CMOS, biCMOS, bipolar and other transistor level technologies. | 09-25-2008 |
20090091352 | NANOTUBE-BASED SWITCHING ELEMENTS WITH MULTIPLE CONTROLS - Nanotube-based switching elements with multiple controls and circuits made from such. A switching element includes an input node, an output node, and a nanotube channel element having at least one electrically conductive nanotube. A control structure is disposed in relation to the nanotube channel element to controllably form and unform an electrically conductive channel between said input node and said output node. The output node is constructed and arranged so that channel formation is substantially unaffected by the electrical state of the output node. The control structure includes a control electrode and a release electrode, disposed on opposite sides of the nanotube channel element. The control and release may be used to form a differential input, or if the device is constructed appropriately to operate the circuit in a non-volatile manner. The switching elements may be arranged into logic circuits and latches having differential inputs and/or non-volatile behavior. | 04-09-2009 |
20090271971 | METHODS OF MAKING NANOTUBE-BASED SWITCHING ELEMENTS AND LOGIC CIRCUITS - Nanotube-based switching elements and logic circuits. Under one embodiment of the invention, a switching element includes an input node, an output node, a nanotube channel element having at least one electrically conductive nanotube, and a control electrode. The control electrode is disposed in relation to the nanotube channel element to controllably form an electrically conductive channel between the input node and the output node. The channel at least includes said nanotube channel element. The output node is constructed and arranged so that channel formation is substantially unaffected by the electrical state of the output node. Under another embodiment of the invention, the control electrode is arranged in relation to the nanotube channel element to form said conductive channel by causing electromechanical deflection of said nanotube channel element. Under another embodiment of the invention, the output node includes an isolation structure disposed in relation to the nanotube channel element so that channel formation is substantially invariant from the state of the output node. Under another embodiment of the invention, the isolation structure includes electrodes disposed on opposite sides of the nanotube channel element and said electrodes produce substantially the same electric field. Under another embodiment of the invention, a Boolean logic circuit includes at least one input terminal and an output terminal, and a network of nanotube switching elements electrically disposed between said at least one input terminal and said output terminal. The network of nanotube switching elements effectuates a Boolean function transformation of Boolean signals on said at least one input terminal. The Boolean function transformation includes a Boolean inversion within the function, such as a NOT or NOR function. | 11-05-2009 |
20100073031 | NANOTUBE-BASED SWITCHING ELEMENTS WITH MULTIPLE CONTROLS AND LOGIC CIRCUITS HAVING SAID ELEMENTS - Boolean logic circuits comprising nanotube-based switching elements with multiple controls. The Boolean logic circuits include input and output terminals and a network of nanotube switching elements electrically disposed between said at least one input terminal and said output terminal. Each switching element includes an input node, an output node, and a nanotube channel element having at least one electrically conductive nanotube. A control structure is disposed in relation to the nanotube channel element to controllably form and unform an electrically conductive channel along the nanotube channel element. At least one nanotube switching element non-volatilely retains an informational state and at least one nanotube switching elements volatilely retains an informational state. The network of nanotube switching elements effectuates a Boolean function transformation of Boolean signals on said at least one input terminal. Dual rail cascode logic circuits may also be constructed from the nanotube switching elements. | 03-25-2010 |
20100283528 | NANOTUBE-ON-GATE FET STRUCTURES AND APPLICATIONS - Under one aspect, non-volatile transistor device includes a source and drain with a channel in between; a gate structure made of a semiconductive or conductive material disposed over an insulator over the channel; a control gate made of a semiconductive or conductive material; and an electromechanically-deflectable nanotube switching element in fixed contact with one of the gate structure and the control gate structure and is not in fixed contact with the other of the gate structure and the control gate structure. The device has a network of inherent capacitances, including an inherent capacitance of an undeflected nanotube switching element in relation to the gate structure. The network is such that the nanotube switching element is deflectable into contact with the other of the gate structure and the control gate structure in response to signals being applied to the control gate and one of the source region and drain region. | 11-11-2010 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080212361 | NONVOLATILE NANOTUBE DIODES AND NONVOLATILE NANOTUBE BLOCKS AND SYSTEMS USING SAME AND METHODS OF MAKING SAME - Under one aspect, a memory array includes word lines; bit lines; memory cells; and a memory operation circuit. Each memory cell responds to electrical stimulus on a word line and on a bit line and includes: a two-terminal non-volatile nanotube switching device having first and second terminals, a semiconductor diode element, and a nanotube fabric article capable of multiple resistance states. The semiconductor diode and nanotube article are between and in electrical communication with the first and second terminals, which are coupled to the word line bit line respectively. The operation circuit selects cells by activating bit and/or word lines, detects a resistance state of the nanotube fabric article of a selected memory cell, and adjusts electrical stimulus applied to the cell to controllably induce a selected resistance state in the nanotube fabric article. The selected resistance state corresponds to an informational state of the memory cell. | 09-04-2008 |
20080218210 | INTEGRATED NANOTUBE AND FIELD EFFECT SWITCHING DEVICES - Hybrid switching devices integrate nanotube switching elements with field effect devices, such as NFETs and PFETs. A switching device forms and unforms a conductive channel from the signal input to the output subject to the relative state of the control input. In embodiments of the invention, the conductive channel includes a nanotube channel element and a field modulatable semiconductor channel element. The switching device may include a nanotube switching element and a field effect device electrically disposed in series. According to one aspect of the invention, an integrated switching device is a four-terminal device with a signal input terminal, a control input terminal, a second input terminal, and an output terminal. The devices may be non-volatile. The devices can form the basis for a hybrid NT-FET logic family and can be used to implement any Boolean logic circuit. | 09-11-2008 |
20080290423 | NANOTUBE-BASED SWITCHING ELEMENT - Nanotube-based switching elements and logic circuits. Under one aspect, a switching element includes an input node; an output node; a nanotube channel element comprising a ribbon of nanotube fabric; and a control electrode disposed in relation to the nanotube channel element to form an electrically conductive channel between the input node and the output node, wherein the electrically conductive channel at least includes the nanotube channel element. Under another aspect, a switching element includes an input node; an output node; a nanotube channel element comprising at least one electrically conductive nanotube, the nanotube being clamped at both ends by a clamping structure; and a control electrode disposed in relation to the nanotube channel element to form an electrically conductive channel between the input node and the output node, wherein the electrically conductive channel at least includes the nanotube channel element. | 11-27-2008 |
20090295431 | INTEGRATED NANOTUBE AND FIELD EFFECT SWITCHING DEVICES - Hybrid switching devices integrate nanotube switching elements with field effect devices, such as NFETs and PFETs. A switching device forms and unforms a conductive channel from the signal input to the output subject to the relative state of the control input. In embodiments of the invention, the conductive channel includes a nanotube channel element and a field modulatable semiconductor channel element. The switching device may include a nanotube switching element and a field effect device electrically disposed in series. According to one aspect of the invention, an integrated switching device is a four-terminal device with a signal input terminal, a control input terminal, a second input terminal, and an output terminal. The devices may be non-volatile. The devices can form the basis for a hybrid NT-FET logic family and can be used to implement any Boolean logic circuit. | 12-03-2009 |
20090296481 | EEPROMS USING CARBON NANOTUBES FOR CELL STORAGE - An electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) cell includes cell selection circuitry and a storage cell for storing the informational state of the cell. The storage cell is an electro-mechanical data retention cell in which the physical positional state of a storage cell element represents the informational state of the cell. The storage cell element is a carbon nanotube switching element. The storage is writable with supply voltages used by said cell selection circuitry. The storage is writable and readable via said selection circuitry with write times and read times being within an order of magnitude. The write times and read times are substantially the same. The storage has no charge storage or no charge trapping. | 12-03-2009 |
20100072957 | Nanotube-based logic driver circuits - Nanotube based logic driver circuits. These include pull-up driver circuits, push-pull driver circuits, tristate driver circuits, among others. Under one embodiment, an off-chip driver circuit includes a differential input having first and second signal links, each coupled to a respective one of two differential, on-chip signals. At least one output link is connectable to an off-chip impedance load, and at least one switching element has an input node, an output node, a nanotube channel element, and a control structure disposed in relation to the nanotube channel element to controllably form and unform an electrically conductive channel between said input node and said output node. The input node is coupled to a reference signal and the control structure is coupled to the first and second signal links. The output node is coupled to the output link, and the channel element is sized to carry sufficient current to drive said off-chip impedance load. | 03-25-2010 |
20120181621 | Field effect devices controlled via a nanotube switching element - Field effect devices having a drain controlled via a nanotube switching element. Under one embodiment, a field effect device includes a source region and a drain region of a first semiconductor type and a channel region disposed therebetween of a second semiconductor type. The source region is connected to a corresponding terminal. A gate structure is disposed over the channel region and connected to a corresponding terminal. A nanotube switching element is responsive to a first control terminal and a second control terminal and is electrically positioned in series between the drain region and a terminal corresponding to the drain region. The nanotube switching element is electromechanically operable to one of an open and closed state to thereby open or close an electrical communication path between the drain region and its corresponding terminal. When the nanotube switching element is in the closed state, the channel conductivity and operation of the device is responsive to electrical stimulus at the terminals corresponding to the source and drain regions and the gate structure. | 07-19-2012 |