Nanomechanical switches and circuits
First Claim
1. A nanomechanical switch comprising:
- a substrate;
formed on the substrate, an emitter electrode including a cantilever element extending from the emitter electrode, the emitter being formed of a material having a magnetic permeability greater than one;
a base electrode formed on the substrate, at least a portion of the base electrode being beneath the cantilever element;
a collector electrode formed on the substrate adjacent the base electrode, at least a portion of the collector electrode being beneath the cantilever element and being formed of a material having a magnetic permeability greater than one; and
a current source coupled to the base electrode.
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Abstract
A highly miniaturized nanomechanical transistor switch is fabricated using a mechanical cantilever which creates a conductive path between two electrodes in its deflected state. In one embodiment, the cantilever is deflected by an electrostatic attraction arising from a voltage potential between the cantilever and a control electrode. In another embodiment, the cantilever is formed of a material with high magnetic permeability, and is deflected in response to complementary magnetic fields induced in the cantilever and in an adjacent electrode. The nanomechanical switch can be fabricated using well known semiconductor fabrication techniques, although semiconductor materials are not necessary for fabrication. The switch can rely upon physical contact between the cantilever and the adjacent electrode for current flow, or can rely upon sufficient proximity between the cantilever and the adjacent electrode to allow for tunneling current flow.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A nanomechanical switch comprising:
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a substrate;
formed on the substrate, an emitter electrode including a cantilever element extending from the emitter electrode, the emitter being formed of a material having a magnetic permeability greater than one;
a base electrode formed on the substrate, at least a portion of the base electrode being beneath the cantilever element;
a collector electrode formed on the substrate adjacent the base electrode, at least a portion of the collector electrode being beneath the cantilever element and being formed of a material having a magnetic permeability greater than one; and
a current source coupled to the base electrode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification