Nanotube-based switching element

• US 7,652,337 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2006
• Issued: 01/26/2010
• 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): COLEMAN, WILLIAM D
• Application Number:
  US11/542,524
• Publication Number:
  US 20080290423A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,211 Days
• Field of Search: 257/363, 257/369, 257/393, 977/708
• US Class Current: 257/393
• 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 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 19/80 Interconnections, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 85/221 Carbon nanotubes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/708 with distinct switching device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/762 Nanowire or quantum wire, i.e. axially elongated structure having two dimensions of 100 nm or less

Abstract

Nanotube-based switching elements and logic circuits. Under one aspect, a switching element includes an input node; an output node; a nanotube channel element comprising a ribbon of nanotube fabric; and a control electrode disposed in relation to the nanotube channel element to form an electrically conductive channel between the input node and the output node, wherein the electrically conductive channel at least includes the nanotube channel element. Under another aspect, a switching element includes an input node; an output node; a nanotube channel element comprising at least one electrically conductive nanotube, the nanotube being clamped at both ends by a clamping structure; and a control electrode disposed in relation to the nanotube channel element to form an electrically conductive channel between the input node and the output node, wherein the electrically conductive channel at least includes the nanotube channel element.

Claims

1. A switching element, comprising:

an input node;

an output node comprising an output electrode;

a nanotube channel element, in electrical communication with the input node, the channel element comprising a ribbon of nanotube fabric;

a control electrode disposed in relation to the nanotube channel element to form and unform an electrically conductive pathway between the nanotube channel element and the output node; and

wherein the control electrode is constructed and arranged so that when the electrically conductive pathway is unformed, and electrical stimulus applied to the control electrode is relatively large compared to electrical stimulus applied to the output node, the electrically conductive pathway is substantially undisturbed by electrical stimulus applied to the output node.

2. A switching element, comprising:

an input node;

an output node;

a nanotube channel element in electrical communication with the input node, the channel element comprising at least one electrically conductive nanotube and clamped at both ends by a clamping structure;

a control electrode disposed in relation to the nanotube channel element to form and unform an electrically conductive pathway between the nanotube channel element and the output node; and

wherein the control electrode is constructed and arranged so that when the electrically conductive pathway is unformed, and electrical stimulus applied to the control electrode is relatively large compared to electrical stimulus applied to the output node, the electrically conductive pathway is substantially undisturbed by electrical stimulus applied to the output node.

3. The switching element of claim 2, wherein the control electrode is covered by an insulating layer and wherein the control electrode pulls the nanotube channel element into contact with the insulating layer and also the output node.

4. A logic circuit comprising:

first and second switches, each switch comprising an input node, an output node, a control node, and a nanotube element;

a logical input in electrical communication with the control node of the first and second switches;

a logical output in electrical communication with the output node of the first and second switches; and

a reference voltage in electrical communication with the input node of the first and second switches,

wherein, in response to a logical input signal on the logical input, the first and second switches perform a logical operation on the logical input signal and provide a corresponding logical output signal on the logical output.

5. The logical circuit of claim 4, wherein the nanotube element of each switch comprises a nonwoven fabric of nanotubes.

6. The logical circuit of claim 4, wherein the logical operation comprises a Boolean function transformation.

7. The logical circuit of claim 4, wherein the logical operation comprises an inversion.

8. The logical circuit of claim 4, wherein at least one of the first and second switches responds to the logical input signal by forming a conductive path between its output node and its nanotube element.

9. The logical circuit of claim 4, further comprising a second logical input and third and fourth switches, each switch comprising an input node, an output node, a control node, and a nanotube element, wherein the second logical input is in electrical communication with the control node of the third and fourth switches.

10. A logic circuit comprising:

first and second switches, each switch comprising an input node, an output node, and a matted, porous nanotube fabric comprising a plurality of nanotubes;

a logical input in electrical communication with the first and second switches; and

a logical output in electrical communication with the first and second switches,

wherein, in response to a logical input signal on the logical input, the first and second switches perform a logical operation on the logical input signal and provide a corresponding logical output signal on the logical output.

11. The logical circuit of claim 10, wherein the logical operation comprises a Boolean function transformation.

12. The logical circuit of claim 10, wherein the logical operation comprises an inversion.

13. The logical circuit of claim 10, wherein the first and second switches each also comprise a control node, and wherein at least one of the first and second switches responds to the logical input signal by forming a conductive path between its output node and its nanotube element.

14. The logical circuit of claim 10, further comprising a second logical input and third and fourth switches, each switch comprising an input node, an output node, and a porous nanotube fabric, wherein the second logical input is in electrical communication with the third and fourth switches.