Patent•
Molecular-junction-nanowire-crossbar-based inverter, latch, and flip-flop circuits, and more complex circuits composed, in part, from molecular-junction-nanowire-crossbar-based inverter, latch, and flip-flop circuits
31 Jan 2003-
TL;DR: In this paper, a 3-state inverter is combined with a transparent latch to produce a transparent-latch circuit, which can then be used as a basis for constructing a wide variety of useful, state-maintaining circuits, all implementable within molecular junction-nanowire crossbars.
Abstract: Methods for implementing familiar electronic circuits at nanoscale sizes using molecular-junction-nanowire crossbars, and nanoscale electronic circuits produced by the methods. In one embodiment of the present invention, a 3-state inverter is implemented. In a second embodiment of the present invention, two 3-state inverter circuits are combined to produce a transparent latch. The 3-state inverter circuit and transparent-latch circuit can then be used as a basis for constructing additional circuitry, including master/slave flip-flops, a transparent latch with asynchronous preset, a transparent latch with asynchronous clear, and a master/slave flip-flop with asynchronous preset. 3-state inverters can thus be used to compose latches and flip-flops, and latches and flip-flops can be used, along with additional Boolean circuitry, to compose a wide variety of useful, state-maintaining circuits, all implementable within molecular-junction-nanowire crossbars by selectively configuring junctions within the molecular-junction-nanowire crossbars.
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30 Sep 2003TL;DR: In this article, a method and apparatus for a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag includes an antenna and a beam-steering array, which can be configured in a distributed sensor network to provide security monitoring.
Abstract: Macroelectronic substrate materials incorporating nanowires are described. These are used to provide underlying electronic elements (e.g., transistors and the like) for a variety of different applications. Methods for making the macroelectronic substrate materials are disclosed. One application is for transmission an reception of RF signals in small, lightweight sensors. Such sensors can be configured in a distributed sensor network to provide security monitoring. Furthermore, a method and apparatus for a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag is described. The RFID tag includes an antenna and a beam-steering array. The beam-steering array includes a plurality of tunable elements. A method and apparatus for an acoustic cancellation device and for an adjustable phase shifter that are enabled by nanowires are also described.
382 citations
Patent•
25 Jul 2002
TL;DR: A conductive article is an aggregate of nanotubes segments in which the nanotube segments contact other nanotub segments to define a plurality of conductive pathways along the article.
Abstract: Nanotube films and articles and methods of making the same are disclosed. A conductive article includes an aggregate of nanotube segments in which the nanotube segments contact other nanotube segments to define a plurality of conductive pathways along the article. The nanotube segments may be single walled carbon nanotubes, or multi-walled carbon nanotubes. The various segments may have different lengths and may include segments having a length shorter than the length of the article. The articles so formed may be disposed on substrates, and may form an electrical network of nanotubes within the article itself. Conductive articles may be made on a substrate by forming a nanotube fabric on the substrate, and defining a pattern within the fabric in which the pattern corresponds to the conductive article. The nanotube fabric may be formed by growing the nanotube fabric on the substrate using a catalyst, for example, in which the catalyst is a gas phase catalyst, or in which the catalyst is a metallic gas phase catalyst. The nanotube fabric may be formed by depositing a solution of suspended nanotubes on the substrate. The deposited solution may be spun to create a spin-coating of the solution. The solution may be deposited by dipping the substrate into the solution. The nanotube fabric is formed by spraying an aerosol having nanotubes onto a surface of the substrate.
354 citations
Patent•
25 Jul 2002
TL;DR: A conductive article (1800) is an aggregate of nanotube segments in which the segments contact other nanotubes to define a plurality of conductive pathway along the article as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: Nanotube films and articles and method of making the same are disclosed. A conductive article (1800) includes an aggregate of nanotube segments in which the nanotube segments (1802) contact other nanotube segments (101) to define a plurality of conductive pathway along the article. The nanotube segments (1802) may be single walled carbon nanotubes, or multi-walled carbon nanotubes. The various segments may have different lengths and may include segments having a length shorter than the length of the article. The articles so formed may be disposed on substrates, and may form an electrical network of nanotubes within the article itself.
316 citations
Patent•
08 Aug 2007
TL;DR: In this paper, a nonvolatile nanotube diode device includes first and second terminals, a semiconductor element including a cathode and an anode, and capable of forming a conductive pathway between the cathodes and anodes in response to electrical stimulus applied to the first conductive terminal.
Abstract: Under one aspect, a non-volatile nanotube diode device includes first and second terminals; a semiconductor element including a cathode and an anode, and capable of forming a conductive pathway between the cathode and anode in response to electrical stimulus applied to the first conductive terminal; and a nanotube switching element including a nanotube fabric article in electrical communication with the semiconductive element, the nanotube fabric article disposed between and capable of forming a conductive pathway between the semiconductor element and the second terminal, wherein electrical stimuli on the first and second terminals causes a plurality of logic states.
287 citations
Patent•
12 Feb 2004
TL;DR: In this article, the authors describe a vertically-disposed nanofabric article with a conductive trace in a channel and a nanotube article vertically suspended in the channel, in spaced relation to a vertical wall of the channel.
Abstract: Electro-mechanical switches and memory cells using vertically-disposed nanofabric articles and methods of making the same are described. An electro-mechanical device, includes a structure having a major horizontal surface and a channel formed therein. A conductive trace is in the channel; and a nanotube article vertically suspended in the channel, in spaced relation to a vertical wall of the channel. The article is electro-mechanically deflectable in a horizontal direction toward the conductive trace. Under certain embodiments, the vertically suspended extent of the nanotube article is defined by a thin film process. Under certain embodiments, the vertically suspended extent of the nanotube article is about 50 nanometers or less. Under certain embodiments, the nanotube article is clamped with a conducting material disposed in porous spaces between some nanotubes of the nanotube article. Under certain embodiments, the nanotube article is formed from a porous nanofabric. Under certain embodiments, the nanotube article is electromechanically deflectable into contact with the conductive trace and the contact is either a volatile state or non-volatile state depending on the device construction. Under certain embodiments, the vertically oriented device is arranged into various forms of three-trace devices. Under certain embodiments, the channel may be used for multiple independent devices, or for devices that share a common electrode.
231 citations
References
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Patent•
29 Mar 1999TL;DR: In this article, a molecular wire crossbar memory (MWCM) system is provided. The MWCM comprises a two-dimensional array of a plurality of nanometer-scale devices, each device comprising a junction formed by a pair of crossed wires where one wire crosses another and at least one connector species connecting the pair of wires in the junction.
Abstract: A molecular wire crossbar memory (MWCM) system is provided. The MWCM comprises a two-dimensional array of a plurality of nanometer-scale devices, each device comprising a junction formed by a pair of crossed wires where one wire crosses another and at least one connector species connecting the pair of crossed wires in the junction. The connector species comprises a bi-stable molecular switch. The junction forms either a resistor or a diode or an asymmetric non-linear resistor. The junction has a state that is capable of being altered by application of a first voltage and sensed by application of a second, non-destructive voltage.
504 citations
Patent•
29 Mar 1999TL;DR: In this article, a demultiplexer for a two-dimensional array of a plurality of nanometer-scale switches (molecular wire crossbar network) is disclosed.
Abstract: A demultiplexer for a two-dimensional array of a plurality of nanometer-scale switches (molecular wire crossbar network) is disclosed. Each switch comprises a pair of crossed wires which form a junction where one wire crosses another and at least one connector species connecting said pair of crossed wires in said junction. The connector species comprises a bi-stable molecule. The demultiplexer comprises a plurality of address lines accessed by a first set of wires in the two-dimensional array by randomly forming contacts between each wire in the first set of wires to at least one of the address lines. The first set of wires crosses a second set of wires to form the junctions. The demultiplexer solves both the problems of data input and output to a molecular electronic system and also bridges the size gap between CMOS and molecules with an architecture that can scale up to extraordinarily large numbers of molecular devices. Further, the demultiplexer is very defect tolerant, and can work despite a large number of defects in the system.
366 citations
Patent•
29 Mar 1999TL;DR: In this paper, a two-dimensional array of a plurality of nanometer-scale switches is provided for signal routing and communications between a first level and a second level in a molecular-wire crossbar.
Abstract: A molecular-wire crossbar interconnect for signal routing and communications between a first level and a second level in a molecular-wire crossbar is provided The molecular wire crossbar comprises a two-dimensional array of a plurality of nanometer-scale switches Each switch is reconfigurable and self-assembling and comprises a pair of crossed wires which form a junction where one wire crosses another and at least one connector species connecting the pair of crossed wires in the junction The connector species comprises a bi-stable molecule Each level comprises at least one group of switches and each group of switches comprises at least one switch, with each group in the first level connected to all other groups in the second level in an all-to-all configuration to provide a scalable, defect-tolerant, fat-tree networking scheme The primary advantage is ease of fabrication, because an active switch is formed any time two wires cross This saves tremendously on circuit area (a factor of a few times ten), since no other wires or ancillary devices are needed to operate the switch or store the required configuration This reduction of the area of a configuration bit and its switch to just the area of two crossing wires is a major advantage in constructing a defect-tolerant interconnect network
239 citations
Patent•
17 Jan 2003TL;DR: In this paper, an architecture for nanoscale electronics is described, which consists of arrays of cross-programmable wires having selectively programmable crosspoints, where the wires of one array are shared by other arrays, thus providing signal propagation between the arrays.
Abstract: An architecture for nanoscale electronics is disclosed. The architecture comprises arrays of crossed nanoscale wires having selectively programmable crosspoints. Nanoscale wires of one array are shared by other arrays, thus providing signal propagation between the arrays. Nanoscale signal restoration elements are also provided, allowing an output of a first array to be used as an input to a second array. Signal restoration occurs without routing of the signal to non-nanoscale wires.
231 citations
Patent•
[...]
25 Jan 1983
TL;DR: The scannable latch circuit as discussed by the authors allows the output of the latch circuit to be monitored during effectively 100% of the system clock cycle, which is useful for error detection and other purposes without having to slow down the operating speed.
Abstract: An improved scannable latch circuit allows its output to be monitored during effectively 100% of the system clock cycle. The circuit further provides dual isolated outputs, one of which is used as a latch output and the other of which is used as a shift-register output. A computer system, in which the scannable latch circuit is used, in conjunction with combinatorial logic and error detection circuitry, may thus monitor the latch output, which is not loaded down by the shift register output, for error detection and other purposes without having to slow down the system operating speed. A preferred embodiment of the scannable latch circuit includes first, second, and third latch elements. When operating a latch circuit, the first latch element operates as the "master" and the second latch element operates as the "slave" of a master/slave latch circuit. When operating as a shift register circuit, shift-in data is coupled to the second latch element, and this second latch element operates as the "master" and the third latch element operates as the "slave" of a master/slave latch through which data is selectively shifted by appropriate clock signals.
134 citations