METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR WRITING AND READING A CHARGE-TRAP MEDIA WITH A PROBE TIP

• US 20080174918A1
• Filed: 01/19/2007
• Published: 07/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nanochip, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nanochip, Inc.
• Inventors: Kim, Byong Man
• Application Number:
  US11/625,221
• Publication Number:
  US 20080174918A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 360/250
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 11/08 using recording by electric charge or by variation of electric resistance or capacitance G11B11/002, G11B11/10 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 9/08 using electrostatic charge injection; Record carriers therefor

Abstract

An embodiment of a system for storing information in accordance with the present invention comprises a media including a barrier layer, an isolation layer and a trapping layer disposed between the barrier layer and the isolation layer; and a tip adapted to inject a charge through the barrier layer and into the trapping layer.

Claims

1. A system for storing information, the system comprising:

a media including a barrier layer, an isolation layer and a trapping layer disposed between the barrier layer and the isolation layer; and

a tip adapted to inject a change through the barrier layer and into the trapping layer.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the tip and the media are movable relative to one another.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the tip is adapted to read a digital bit signal from a plurality of charges stored in the media.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising:

a charge amplifier associated with the tip for detecting a voltage potential from the media.

5. The system of claim 3, further comprising:

a charge amplifier associated with the tip for detecting charge distribution from the media.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the barrier layer comprises oxide.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the barrier layer has a thickness substantially in the range of 1 to 2 manometers.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the trapping layer comprises nitride.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the trapping layer has a thickness substantially in the range of 3 to 5 manometers.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the isolation layer comprises a dielectric.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the isolation layer has a thickness of at least four nanometers.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the tip is further adapted to eject a charge from the trapping layer.

13. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a tip platform;

a plurality of cantilevers extending from the tip platform; and

a plurality of tips extending from corresponding cantilevers;

a media platform fixedly connected with the media;

wherein the media platform is positionable to allow the plurality of tips to access portions of the media.

14. A method of storing information in a media including a barrier layer, an isolation layer and a trapping layer disposed between the barrier layer and the isolation layer with a tip, the method comprising:

positioning the tip over the media so that the tip approximately contacts the barrier layer;

injecting a charge through the barrier layer and into the trapping layer.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

repositioning the tip a predetermined pitch; and

injecting a second charge through the barrier layer and into the trapping layer.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein injecting a charge includes tunneling through the barrier layer.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising detecting a voltage potential from the media with a charge amplified associated with the tip.

18. The method of claim 15, further comparing detecting a charge destruction form the media with a charge amplifier associated with the tip.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein injecting a charge further includes applying a negative pulse to the tip.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

ejecting the charge by applying a positive pulse to the tip.