Isolation structure for deflectable nanotube elements

• US 7,289,357 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2004
• Issued: 10/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nantero Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Nantero Incorporated
• Inventors: Bertin, Claude L., Segal, Brent M., Rueckes, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Hu; Shouxiang
• Application Number:
  US10/917,606
• Publication Number:
  US 20050035344A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,173 Days
• Field of Search: 977/DIG.1, 977/762, 977/766, 977/940, 977/943, 257/254, 257/415, 257/420, 365/153, 365/186, 365/151, 365/166, 365/154, 365/164
• US Class Current: 365/166
• 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 13/025 using fullerenes, e.g. C60, or nanotubes, e.g. carbon or silicon nanotubes
• 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: H01H 1/027 containing carbon particles or fibres
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2001/0005 Redundant contact pairs in one switch for safety reasons
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 29/0665 the shape of the body defining a nanostructure nanotechnology per se B82B
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 29/0673 oriented parallel to a substrate
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 29/73 Bipolar junction transistors
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 29/78 with field effect produced by an insulated gate H01L29/7725, H01L29/775, H01L29/778 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 10/46 Field-effect transistors, e.g. organic thin-film transistors [OTFT] H10K10/43 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 19/00 Integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, comprising at least one organic element specially adapted for rectifying, amplifying, oscillating or switching, covered by group H10K10/00
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 85/221 Carbon nanotubes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/94 in a logic circuit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/943 Information storage or retrieval using nanostructure

Abstract

Nanotube-based switching elements and logic circuits. Under one embodiment of the invention, a switching element includes an input node, an output node, a nanotube channel element having at least one electrically conductive nanotube, and a control electrode. The control electrode is disposed in relation to the nanotube channel element to controllably form an electrically conductive channel between the input node and the output node. The channel at least includes said nanotube channel element. The output node is constructed and arranged so that channel formation is substantially unaffected by the electrical state of the output node. Under another embodiment of the invention, the control electrode is arranged in relation to the nanotube channel element to form said conductive channel by causing electromechanical deflection of said nanotube channel element. Under another embodiment of the invention, the output node includes an isolation structure disposed in relation to the nanotube channel element so that channel formation is substantially invariant from the state of the output node. Under another embodiment of the invention, the isolation structure includes electrodes disposed on opposite sides of the nanotube channel element and said electrodes produce substantially the same electric field. Under another embodiment of the invention, a Boolean logic circuit includes at least one input terminal and an output terminal, and a network of nanotube switching elements electrically disposed between said at least one input terminal and said output terminal. The network of nanotube switching elements effectuates a Boolean function transformation of Boolean signals on said at least one input terminal. The Boolean function transformation includes a Boolean inversion within the function, such as a NOT or NOR function.

Claims

1. An isolation structure for a deflectable nanotube element, comprising:

a pair of electrodes disposed on opposite sides of a deflectable nanotube element, at least a portion of the deflectable nanotube element being anchored to a support structure, at least one of said pair of electrodes being an output terminal for a signal carried on the deflectable nanotube element, said pair producing substantially the same but opposing electrostatic forces on the deflectable nanotube element, so that the position of the deflectable nanotube element near the pair of electrodes is substantially unaffected by the electrical state of the output terminal; and

a control electrode disposed between the support structure and one of the pair of electrodes so as to control the position of the deflectable nanotube element.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said electrodes are in low resistance electrical communication.