Plastic functional element

• US 5,883,397 A
• Filed: 05/23/1997
• Issued: 03/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation), Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Nishikawa, Satoshi, Akiyama, Kouichi, Isoda, Satoru, Kawakubo, Hiroaki
• Primary Examiner(s): WHITEHEAD JR, CARL W
• Application Number:
  US08/862,741
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 257/40, 257/79, 257/184, 257/192, 257/225, 257/414, 257/429, 257/431
• US Class Current: 257/40
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 10/00 Nanotechnology for information processing, storage or transmission, e.g. quantum computing or single electron logic
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 13/0014 comprising cells based on organic memory material
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 13/0016 comprising polymers
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 7/005 with combined beam-and individual cell access
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/02 using combined reduction-oxidation reactions, e.g. redox arrangement or solion
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/12 Stacked hybrid or EDL capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/26 characterised by their structure, e.g. multi-layered, porosity or surface features
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 9/20 Light-sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 9/22 Devices using combined reduction and oxidation, e.g. redox arrangement or solion
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 10/701 Organic molecular electronic devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/13 Energy storage using capacitors

Abstract

A plastic functional element comprising a lower electrode and a transparent upper electrode provided perpendicular to the contact surface between a first oxidation reduction material membrane and a second oxidation reduction material membrane, the oxidation reduction potentials of which being different each other, wherein, based on the difference in oxidation reduction potentials between the oxidation reduction material membranes, by irradiating light to the contact surface or applying a voltage between the electrodes, the condition of electron in the oxidation reduction material is controlled, so as to store information of incident light or applied voltage, and an operational function responding to an input voltage is given, thereby the minimization in size is possible to realize a high density and high speed operation.

Claims

1. A plastic functional element comprising:

a first oxidation reduction material membrane comprised of a first oxidation reduction material;

a second oxidation reduction material membrane comprised of a second oxidation reduction material having an oxidation reduction potential different from that of said first oxidation reduction material, and provided in contact with said first oxidation reduction material membrane;

a first electrode connected to said first oxidation reduction material membrane; and

a second electrode connected to said second oxidation reduction material membrane, said first and second oxidation reduction material membranes being sandwiched between said second electrode and said first electrode;

wherein at least one of said first and second oxidation reduction material membranes includes an alterable inter-molecular transferable electron condition stored within said at least one of said first and second membrane for a certain time periods, said time period being sufficient to maintain storage of a status condition, in response to, and after removal of, a light or voltage stimulus, said electron condition being based on the difference of the oxidation reduction potentials between said first and second oxidation reduction materials.

2. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plastic functional element includes an organic memory element which includes a means for storing a time changing signal of input light or input voltage by controlling the electron condition in the first or the second oxidation reduction material, and includes a means for using at least one of a light pulse and a step voltage as a read out signal.

3. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 2, wherein said organic memory element includes a means for altering the electron condition in said first or second oxidation reduction material to control a memory capacity of input information by being controlled by at least one of a wave length, an intensity of said light stimulus and an applied voltage value.

4. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 2, wherein said organic memory element includes a means for erasing input information by said voltage application, so as to perform repeated writing in and reading out of input information.

5. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 3, wherein said organic memory element includes a means for erasing input information by said voltage application, so as to perform repeated writing in and reading out of input information.

6. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 2, wherein said organic memory element is constructed and arranged such that a source electrode and a drain electrode are provided apart from each other, and in contact with, a plane of a contact surface between said first and second oxidation reduction materials, and includes a means for applying a voltage between said source electrode and said drain electrode so as to control the electron condition in at least one of said first and the second oxidation reduction material.

7. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 3, wherein said organic memory element is constructed and arranged such that a source electrode and a drain electrode are provided apart from each other, and in contact with, a plane of a contact surface between said first and second oxidation reduction materials, and includes a means for applying a voltage between said source electrode and said drain electrode so as to control the electron condition in at least one of said first and the second oxidation reduction material.

8. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 4, wherein said organic memory element is constructed and arranged such that a source electrode and a drain electrode are provided apart from each other, and in contact with, a plane of a contact surface between said first and second oxidation reduction materials, and includes a means for applying a voltage between said source electrode and said drain electrode so as to control the electron condition in at least one of said first and the second oxidation reduction material.

9. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 2, wherein in said organic memory element, a plurality of said first oxidation reduction material membranes and second oxidation reduction material membranes are laminated alternately.

10. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 3, wherein in said organic memory element, a plurality of said first oxidation reduction material membranes and second oxidation reduction material membranes are laminated alternately.

11. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 4, wherein in said organic memory element, a plurality of said first oxidation reduction material membranes and second oxidation reduction material membranes are laminated alternately.

12. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 5, wherein in said organic memory element, a plurality of said first oxidation reduction material membranes and second oxidation reduction material membranes are laminated alternately.

13. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 6, wherein in said organic memory element, a plurality of said first oxidation reduction material membranes and second oxidation reduction material membranes are laminated alternately.

14. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 7, wherein in said organic memory element, a plurality of said first oxidation reduction material membranes and second oxidation reduction material membranes are laminated alternately.

15. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 8, wherein in said organic memory element, a plurality of said first oxidation reduction material membranes and second oxidation reduction material membranes are laminated alternately.

16. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 2, wherein in said organic memory element, at least one of said first and second oxidation reduction material membrane is monomolecular membrane or a monomolecular laminated membrane prepared by Langmuir-Blodgett method.

17. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 3, wherein in said organic memory element, at least one of said first and second oxidation reduction material membrane is monomolecular membrane or a monomolecular laminated membrane prepared by Langmuir-Blodgett method.

18. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 4, wherein in said organic memory element, at least one of said first and second oxidation reduction material membrane is monomolecular membrane or a monomolecular laminated membrane prepared by Langmuir-Blodgett method.

19. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 5, wherein in said organic memory element, at least one of said first and second oxidation reduction material membrane is monomolecular membrane or a monomolecular laminated membrane prepared by Langmuir-Blodgett method.

20. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 6, wherein in said organic memory element, at least one of said first and second oxidation reduction material membrane is monomolecular membrane or a monomolecular laminated membrane prepared by Langmuir-Blodgett method.

21. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 7, wherein in said organic memory element, at least one of said first and second oxidation reduction material membrane is monomolecular membrane or a monomolecular laminated membrane prepared by Langmuir-Blodgett method.

22. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 8, wherein in said organic memory element, at least one of said first and second oxidation reduction material membrane is monomolecular membrane or a monomolecular laminated membrane prepared by Langmuir-Blodgett method.

23. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 2, wherein in said organic memory element, at least one of said first and second oxidation reduction material membrane is monomolecular membrane or monomolecular laminated membrane prepared by vacuum evaporation method or organic ICB method.

24. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 3, wherein in said organic memory element, at least one of said first and second oxidation reduction material membrane is monomolecular membrane or monomolecular laminated membrane prepared by vacuum evaporation method or organic ICB method.

25. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 4, wherein in said organic memory element, at least one of said first and second oxidation reduction material membrane is monomolecular membrane or monomolecular laminated membrane prepared by vacuum evaporation method or organic ICB method.

26. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 5, wherein in said organic memory element, at least one of said first and second oxidation reduction material membrane is monomolecular membrane or monomolecular laminated membrane prepared by vacuum evaporation method or organic ICB method.

27. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 6, wherein in said organic memory element, at least one of said first and second oxidation reduction material membrane is monomolecular membrane or monomolecular laminated membrane prepared by vacuum evaporation method or organic ICB method.

28. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 7, wherein in said organic memory element, at least one of said first and second oxidation reduction material membrane is monomolecular membrane or monomolecular laminated membrane prepared by vacuum evaporation method or organic ICB method.

29. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 8, wherein in said organic memory element, at least one of said first and second oxidation reduction material membrane is monomolecular membrane or monomolecular laminated membrane prepared by vacuum evaporation method or organic ICB method.

30. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plastic functional element includes an organic operational element which includes a means for performing an operation with respect to time by inputting a time changing voltage signal after controlling at least one of said first and second oxidation reduction materials so as to hold the electron condition for the certain time period, said time period being sufficient to maintain storage of a status of said changed condition.

31. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 30, wherein said organic operational element includes a means for controlling the operational function by reacting to at least one of a wave length, an intensity of said light stimulus and a voltage applied to control the electron condition in at least one of the first and second oxidation reduction materials.

32. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 30, wherein said organic operational element includes a means for erasing the input-output relationship of the operation by an applied voltage so as to provide outputs responding to inputs repeatedly.

33. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 31, wherein said organic operational element includes a means for erasing the input-output relationship of the operation by an applied voltage so as to provide outputs responding to inputs repeatedly.

34. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 30, wherein said organic memory element is constructed and arranged such that a source electrode and a drain electrode are provided apart from each other, and in contact with, a plane of a contact surface between said first and second oxidation reduction material membranes, and includes a means for controlling the electron condition in at least one of the first and second oxidation reduction materials by applying a voltage between said source electrode and drain electrode.

35. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 31, wherein said organic memory element is constructed and arranged such that a source electrode and a drain electrode are provided apart from each other, and in contact with, a plane of a contact surface between said first and second oxidation reduction material membranes, and includes a means for controlling the electron condition in at least one of the first and second oxidation reduction materials by applying a voltage between said source electrode and drain electrode.

36. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 32, wherein said organic memory element is constructed and arranged such that a source electrode and a drain electrode are provided apart from each other, and in contact with, a plane of a contact surface between said first and second oxidation reduction material membranes, and includes a means for controlling the electron condition in at least one of the first and second oxidation reduction materials by applying a voltage between said source electrode and drain electrode.

37. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 30, wherein in said organic operational element, a plurality of said first and second oxidation reduction material membranes is laminated alternately.

38. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 31, wherein in said organic operational element, a plurality of said first and second oxidation reduction material membranes is laminated alternately.

39. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 32, wherein in said organic operational element, a plurality of said first and second oxidation reduction material membranes is laminated alternately.

40. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 33, wherein in said organic operational element, a plurality of said first and second oxidation reduction material membranes is laminated alternately.

41. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 34, wherein in said organic operational element, a plurality of said first and second oxidation reduction material membranes is laminated alternately.

42. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 35, wherein in said organic operational element, a plurality of said first and second oxidation reduction material membranes is laminated alternately.

43. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 36, wherein in said organic operational element, a plurality of said first and second oxidation reduction material membranes is laminated alternately.

44. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 30, wherein in said organic operational element, at least one of said first and second oxidation reduction material membrane is a monomolecular membrane or a laminated monomolecular membrane prepared by Langmuir-Blodgett method.

45. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 31, wherein in said organic operational element, at least one of said first and second oxidation reduction material membrane is a monomolecular membrane or a laminated monomolecular membrane prepared by Langmuir-Blodgett method.

46. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 32, wherein in said organic operational element, at least one of said first and second oxidation reduction material membrane is a monomolecular membrane or a laminated monomolecular membrane prepared by Langmuir-Blodgett method.

47. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 33, wherein in said organic operational element, at least one of said first and second oxidation reduction material membrane is a monomolecular membrane or a laminated monomolecular membrane prepared by Langmuir-Blodgett method.

48. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 34, wherein in said organic operational element, at least one of said first and second oxidation reduction material membrane is a monomolecular membrane or a laminated monomolecular membrane prepared by Langmuir-Blodgett method.

49. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 35, wherein in said organic operational element, at least one of said first and second oxidation reduction material membrane is a monomolecular membrane or a laminated monomolecular membrane prepared by Langmuir-Blodgett method.

50. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 36, wherein in said organic operational element, at least one of said first and second oxidation reduction material membrane is a monomolecular membrane or a laminated monomolecular membrane prepared by Langmuir-Blodgett method.

51. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 30, wherein in said organic operational element, at least one of said first and second oxidation reduction material membrane is a monomolecular membrane or a laminated monomolecular membrane prepared by vacuum evaporation method or organic ICB method.

52. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 31, wherein in said organic operational element, at least one of said first and second oxidation reduction material membrane is a monomolecular membrane or a laminated monomolecular membrane prepared by vacuum evaporation method or organic ICB method.

53. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 32, wherein in said organic operational element, at least one of said first and second oxidation reduction material membrane is a monomolecular membrane or a laminated monomolecular membrane prepared by vacuum evaporation method or organic ICB method.

54. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 33, wherein in said organic operational element, at least one of said first and second oxidation reduction material membrane is a monomolecular membrane or a laminated monomolecular membrane prepared by vacuum evaporation method or organic ICB method.

55. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 34, wherein in said organic operational element, at least one of said first and second oxidation reduction material membrane is a monomolecular membrane or a laminated monomolecular membrane prepared by vacuum evaporation method or organic ICB method.

56. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 35, wherein in said organic operational element, at least one of said first and second oxidation reduction material membrane is a monomolecular membrane or a laminated monomolecular membrane prepared by vacuum evaporation method or organic ICB method.

57. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 36, wherein in said organic operational element, at least one of said first and second oxidation reduction material membrane is a monomolecular membrane or a laminated monomolecular membrane prepared by vacuum evaporation method or organic ICB method.

58. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 30, in combination with an RC circuit, to form an infinite real number differential integration circuit, including a means for providing an output of differential or integration operation of infinite real number rank with respect to time, by controlling the electron condition in at least one of the first and the second oxidation reduction materials with at least one of light irradiation and voltage application, and then by supplying input of a time changing voltage signal.

59. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 31, plastic functional element is infinite real number differential integration circuit comprising in combination with an RC circuit, to form an infinite real number differential integration circuit, including a means for providing an output of differential or integration operation of infinite real number rank with respect to time, by controlling the electron condition in at least one of the first and the second oxidation reduction materials with at least one of said light irradiation and voltage application, and then by supplying input of a time changing voltage signal.

60. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 32, in combination with an RC circuit, to form an infinite real number differential integration circuit, including a means for providing an output of differential or integration operation of infinite real number rank with respect to time, by controlling the electron condition in at least one of the first and the second oxidation reduction materials with at least one of light irradiation and voltage application, and then by supplying input of a time changing voltage signal.

61. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 33, plastic functional element is infinite real number differential integration circuit comprising in combination with an RC circuit, to form an infinite real number differential integration circuit, including a means for providing an output of differential or integration operation of infinite real number rank with respect to time, by controlling the electron condition in at least one of the first and the second oxidation reduction materials with at least one of said light irradiation and voltage application, and then by supplying input of a time changing voltage signal.

62. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 34, in combination with an RC circuit, to form an infinite real number differential integration circuit, including a means for providing an output of differential or integration operation of infinite real number rank with respect to time, by controlling the electron condition in at least one of the first and the second oxidation reduction materials with at least one of light irradiation and voltage application, and then by supplying input of a time changing voltage signal.

63. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 35, plastic functional element is infinite real number differential integration circuit comprising in combination with an RC circuit, to form an infinite real number differential integration circuit, including a means for providing an output of differential or integration operation of infinite real number rank with respect to time, by controlling the electron condition in at least one of the first and the second oxidation reduction materials with at least one of said light irradiation and voltage application, and then by supplying input of a time changing voltage signal.

64. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 36, in combination with an RC circuit, to form an infinite real number differential integration circuit, including a means for providing an output of differential or integration operation of infinite real number rank with respect to time, by controlling the electron condition in at least one of the first and the second oxidation reduction materials with at least one of light irradiation and voltage application, and then by supplying input of a time changing voltage signal.

65. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 2, in combination with an electric circuit, to form a chaos signal generating element which includes a means for generation and suppression of chaos signal by reacting to at least one of light irradiation and voltage application.

66. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 3, plastic functional element is chaos signal generating element incorporating said organic in combination with an electric circuit, to form a chaos signal generating element which includes a means for generation and suppression of chaos signal by reacting to at least one of said light irradiation and voltage application.

67. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 4, in combination with an electric circuit, to form a chaos signal generating element which includes a means for generation and suppression of chaos signal by reacting to at least one of light irradiation and voltage application.

68. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 5, plastic functional element is chaos signal generating element incorporating said organic in combination with an electric circuit, to form a chaos signal generating element which includes a means for generation and suppression of chaos signal by reacting to at least one of said light irradiation and voltage application.

69. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 6, in combination with an electric circuit, to form a chaos signal generating element which includes a means for generation and suppression of chaos signal by reacting to at least one of light irradiation and voltage application.

70. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 7, plastic functional element is chaos signal generating element incorporating said organic in combination with an electric circuit, to form a chaos signal generating element which includes a means for generation and suppression of chaos signal by reacting to at least one of said light irradiation and voltage application.

71. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 8, in combination with an electric circuit, to form a chaos signal generating element which includes a means for generation and suppression of chaos signal by reacting to at least one of light irradiation and voltage application.

72. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 30, in combination with an electric circuit, to form a chaos signal generating element which includes a means for generation and suppression of chaos signal by reacting to at least one of light irradiation and voltage application.

73. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 31, plastic functional element is chaos signal generating element incorporating said organic in combination with an electric circuit, to form a chaos signal generating element which includes a means for generation and suppression of chaos signal by reacting to at least one of said light irradiation and voltage application.

74. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 32, in combination with an electric circuit, to form a chaos signal generating element which includes a means for generation and suppression of chaos signal by reacting to at least one of light irradiation and voltage application.

75. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 33, in combination with an electric circuit, to form a chaos signal generating element which includes a means for generation and suppression of chaos signal by reacting to at least one of said light irradiation and voltage application.

76. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 34, in combination with an electric circuit, to form a chaos signal generating element which includes a means for generation and suppression of chaos signal by reacting to at least one of light irradiation and voltage application.

77. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 35, plastic functional element is chaos signal generating element incorporating said organic in combination with an electric circuit, to form a chaos signal generating element which includes a means for generation and suppression of chaos signal by reacting to at least one of said light irradiation and voltage application.

78. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 36, in combination with an electric circuit, to form a chaos signal generating element which includes a means for generation and suppression of chaos signal by reacting to at least one of light irradiation and voltage application.

79. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 65, in combination with an information processing system which employs said chaos signal generating element, and has capabilities of information searching function, memory function, and switching function using said chaos signal.

81. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 67, in combination with an information processing system which employs said chaos signal generating element, and has capabilities of information searching function, memory function, and switching function using said chaos signal.

82. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 68, in combination with an information processing system which employs said chaos signal generating element, and has capabilities of information searching function, memory function, and switching function using said chaos signal.

83. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 69, in combination with an information processing system which employs said chaos signal generating element, and has capabilities of information searching function, memory function, and switching function using said chaos signal.

84. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 70, in combination with an information processing system which employs said chaos signal generating element, and has capabilities of information searching function, memory function, and switching function using said chaos signal.

85. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 71, in combination with an information processing system which employs said chaos signal generating element, and has capabilities of information searching function, memory function, and switching function using said chaos signal.

86. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 72, in combination with an information processing system which employs said chaos signal generating element, and has capabilities of information searching function, memory function, and switching function using said chaos signal.

87. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 73, in combination with an information processing system which employs said chaos signal generating element, and has capabilities of information searching function, memory function, and switching function using said chaos signal.

88. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 74, in combination with an information processing system which employs said chaos signal generating element, and has capabilities of information searching function, memory function, and switching function using said chaos signal.

89. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 75, in combination with an information processing system which employs said chaos signal generating element, and has capabilities of information searching function, memory function, and switching function using said chaos signal.

90. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 76, in combination with an information processing system which employs said chaos signal generating element, and has capabilities of information searching function, memory function, and switching function using said chaos signal.

91. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 77, in combination with an information processing system which employs said chaos signal generating element, and has capabilities of information searching function, memory function, and switching function using said chaos signal.

92. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 78, in combination with an information processing system which employs said chaos signal generating element, and has capabilities of information searching function, memory function, and switching function using said chaos signal.

93. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 2, wherein said plastic functional element includes an image memory element employing said organic memory element, and includes a means for utilizing a one-dimensional time-changing light pulse or a one-dimensional time-changing voltage pulse converted from image information being used as an input signal to said organic memory element.

94. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 3, wherein said plastic functional element includes an image memory element employing said organic memory element, and includes a means for utilizing a one-dimensional time-changing light pulse or a one-dimensional time-changing voltage pulse converted from image information being used as an input signal to said organic memory element.

95. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 4, wherein said plastic functional element includes an image memory element employing said organic memory element, and includes a means for utilizing a one-dimensional time-changing light pulse or a one-dimensional time-changing voltage pulse converted from image information being used as an input signal to said organic memory element.

96. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 5, wherein said plastic functional element includes an image memory element employing said organic memory element, and includes a means for utilizing a one-dimensional time-changing light pulse or a one-dimensional time-changing voltage pulse converted from image information being used as an input signal to said organic memory element.

97. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 6, wherein said plastic functional element includes an image memory element employing said organic memory element, and includes a means for utilizing a one-dimensional time-changing light pulse or a one-dimensional time-changing voltage pulse converted from image information being used as an input signal to said organic memory element.

98. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 7, wherein said plastic functional element includes an image memory element employing said organic memory element, and includes a means for utilizing a one-dimensional time-changing light pulse or a one-dimensional time-changing voltage pulse converted from image information being used as an input signal to said organic memory element.

99. A plastic functional element as claimed in claim 8, wherein said plastic functional element includes an image memory element employing said organic memory element, and includes a means for utilizing a one-dimensional time-changing light pulse or a one-dimensional time-changing voltage pulse converted from image information being used as an input signal to said organic memory element.

80. A plastic functional element as claimed in 66, in combination with an information processing system which employs said chaos signal generating element, and has capabilities of information searching function, memory function, and switching function using said chaos signal.

100. A method for operating a device to manipulate data, said device including a first oxidation reduction material membrane having a first oxidation reduction potential and a second oxidation reduction material membrane having a second oxidation reduction potential that is different than said first oxidation reduction potential, wherein each membrane is in contact with one another and each membrane includes an alterable electron condition which can represent data within one of said first and second membranes, said method comprising the steps of:

applying a stimulus to at least one of said first and second oxidation reduction material membranes;

changing the electron condition within at least one of said first and second membranes to an altered state which defines data, in response to said stimulus;

removing said stimulus from said at least one membrane;

maintaining said altered state of said electron condition after removal of said stimulus; and

reading out said altered state of said electron condition as data.

101. The method of claim 100, wherein:

said step of applying further includes applying said stimulus as a time changing signal to said at least one of said first and second oxidation reduction material membrane, wherein said membranes are sandwiched between first and second electrodes; and

said step of reading out comprises applying a read stimulus to at least one of said first oxidation reduction material membrane and said second oxidation reduction material membrane, to read said altered state of said electron condition as data in a form of a signal that corresponds to said time changing signal.

102. The method of claim 100 wherein said stimulus is light irradiation.

103. The method of claim 100 wherein said stimulus is voltage application between a first electrode that is connected to said first oxidation reduction material membrane and a second electrode that is connected to said second oxidation reduction material membrane.

104. The method of claim 100, wherein the step of applying a stimulus includes applying a first stimulus, the method further comprising a steps of erasing said altered state of said electron condition by applying a second stimulus to at least one of said first and second membranes.

105. The method of claim 104 wherein said second stimulus is light irradiation.

106. The method of claim 104 wherein said second stimulus is voltage application between a first electrode that is connected to said first oxidation reduction material membrane and a second electrode that is connected to said second oxidation reduction material membrane.

107. The method of claim 100, further comprising the steps of:

controlling said stimulus applied to said membranes, so that said membranes provide chaos signals to an electronic circuit; and

suppressing said chaos signals by further controlling said stimulus applied to said membranes.

108. The method of claim 107, further comprising the steps of:

performing information searching functions in response to said chaos signals;

performing memory functions in response to said chaos signals;

performing switching functions in response to said chaos signals.

109. The method of claim 100, further comprising the steps of:

controlling said stimulus applied to said membranes, so that said membranes in combination with an RC circuit, provide an integration operation of infinite real number rank with respect to time; and

controlling said stimulus applied to said membranes, so that said membranes in combination with an RC circuit, provide an output differential operation of infinite real number rank with respect to time.

110. The method of claim 100, wherein said stimulus is a one-dimensional time-changing light pulse, and said method further comprises the steps of:

obtaining said stimulus from an image information input; and

converting said stimulus applied to said membranes, such that said membranes provide input signals to an image memory element.