Nanotube relay device

• US 7,279,760 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2002
• Issued: 10/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chalmers Intellectual Property Rights AB
• Original Assignee: Chalmers Intellectual Property Rights AB
• Inventors: Kinaret, Jari, Viefers, Susanne, Nord, Tomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Baumeister; Bradley
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fulk; Steven J.
• Application Number:
  US10/508,288
• Publication Number:
  US 20050230710A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,986 Days
• Field of Search: 977/742, 977/938, 977/936, 977/940, 977/932, 257/415, 257/418, 257/E29.167, 438/52, 200/181
• US Class Current: 257/415
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 10/00 Nanotechnology for information processing, storage or transmission, e.g. quantum computing or single electron logic
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 15/00 Nanotechnology for interacting, sensing or actuating, e.g. quantum dots as markers in protein assays or molecular motors
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 11/56 using storage elements with more than two stable states represented by steps, e.g. of voltage, current, phase, frequency
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 13/025 using fullerenes, e.g. C60, or nanotubes, e.g. carbon or silicon nanotubes
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 2213/16 Memory cell being a nanotube, e.g. suspended nanotube
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 2213/17 Memory cell being a nanowire transistor
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 23/00 Digital stores characterised by movement of mechanical parts to effect storage, e.g. using balls; Storage elements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 1/0094 Switches making use of nanoelectromechanical systems [NEMS]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/742 Carbon nanotubes, CNTs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/94 in a logic circuit

Abstract

The present invention relates to a nanotube device (100, 600), comprising a nanotube with a longitudinal and a lateral extension, a structure for supporting at least a first part of the nanotube, and first means for exerting a force upon the nanotube in a first direction defined by its lateral extension. At least a second part of the nanotube protrudes beyond the support of said structure, so that when said force exceeds a certain level, the second part of the nanotube will flex in the direction of its lateral extension, and thereby close a first electrical circuit. Suitably, the first means for exerting said force upon the nanotube is an electrical means, the force being created by applying a voltage to the means.

Claims

1. A nanotube device, comprising a nanotube having a longitudinal extension extending in a longitudinal direction of said nanotube and a lateral extension extending in a lateral direction transverse to the longitudinal direction, said nanotube including a first part extending in the longitudinal direction, a second part connected to said first part and extending in the longitudinal direction, said second part having a free end spaced a distance from said first part, the nanotube device further including a structure extending at least substantially in the longitudinal direction at least generally parallel to said first part of said nanotube to support said first part of said nanotube, and first means operable to exert a force upon said second part in a first direction defined by the lateral extension, characterized in that said second part of said nanotube protrudes in the longitudinal direction beyond said structure such that said free end is unsupported, and when the force exceeds a predetermined level, said second part of said nanotube is subject to flex in a the first direction to thereby close a first electrical circuit.

2. A nanotube device according to claim 1, characterized in that said first means includes an electrical means, said electrical means being operable upon application of a voltage to exert the force.

3. A nanotube device according to claim 1, in which said structure includes a first structure at a first level of a multiple-level terraced structure, said multi-level terraced structure further including a second structure at a second level above or below the first level, said first part of said nanotube being supported by said first structure, and said first means being supported by said second structure.

4. A nanotube device according to claim 3, in which said first means includes a first gate electrode, and the first circuit includes a first drain electrode supported by said second structure and a first source electrode supported by said first structure.

5. A nanotube device according to any of claims 3 or 4, in which said multi-level terraced structure additionally includes a third structure on a third level of said terraced structure, said third structure having a longitudinal extension oriented parallel to a longitudinal extension of said second structure, and said third structure being disposed on an opposite side of said second part from said second structure, the nanotube device further comprising a second means operable to exert a second force upon said nanotube in a second direction defined by the lateral extension, the second direction being different from the first direction, so that when the force exceeds a second predetermined level in the second direction, said second part of said nanotube is subject to flex in the second direction to thereby close a second electrical circuit.

6. A nanotube device according to claim 5, characterized in that said second means includes an electrical means, said electrical means being operable upon application of a voltage to exert the force.

7. A nanotube device according to claim 5, in which said second means includes a second gate electrode, and the second circuit includes a second drain electrode supported by said third structure.

8. A nanotube device according to claim 2, in which said structure includes a multiple-level terraced structure having a first structure at a first level and a second structure at a second level, said first part of said nanotube being supported by said first structure, and said first means being supported by said second structure.