US 2006/0234462 A1 · Method of operating a multi-terminal electronic device

Abstract

A method of operating a multi-terminal electronic device. The device includes an active material in electrical communication with three or more electrical terminals. The active material is able to undergo a transformation from one state to another state, where the two states differ in resistance. The method includes the step of providing energy between one pair of terminals of the device, where the provided energy effects a change in the state of the active material adjacent to one or more other terminals of the device. In one embodiment, energy is applied between a first terminal and a second terminal of a three-terminal device and the state of the active material adjacent to the third terminal is altered. In one embodiment, energy is applied in the form of electrical energy and the active material is a phase change material that undergoes a transformation from one structural state to another structural state. The two structural states may include different volume fractions of a crystalline phase and an amorphous phase.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A method of operating an electronic device, said electronic device comprising an active material having a first state and a second state, said first and second states differing in resistance;

a first terminal in electrical communication with said active material;
a second terminal in electrical communication with said active material;
a third terminal in electrical communication with said active material;
said method comprising the step of:
providing energy between said first terminal and said second terminal;
wherein said providing energy step induces a transformation of said active material from said first state to said second state, said transformation occurring adjacent to said third terminal.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

11/451,740Filed 13 Jun 2006

Priority

8 Sep 2003

Published

19 Oct 2006

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

G11C 13/0004
Using resistive RAM [RRAM] elements: comprising amorphous/crystalline phase transition cells
H10N 70/231
Multistable switching devices, e.g. memristors: based on solid-state phase change, e.g. between amorphous and crystalline phases, Ovshinsky effect
H10N 70/253
Multistable switching devices, e.g. memristors: having three or more electrodes, e.g. transistor-like devices
H10N 70/826
Device geometry: adapted for essentially vertical current flow, e.g. sandwich or pillar type devices

Family

Application10/657,285Continuation in part · filed 8 Sep 2003

Application10/761,022Continuation in part · filed 20 Jan 2004

Application11/451,740Continuation in part · filed 13 Jun 2006

US 2004/0178402 A1Published application

US 2004/0178404 A1Published application

US 7,186,998 B2Related patent

US 7,227,170 B2Related patent

US 7,529,123 B2Related patent

US 2006/0234462 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Method of operating a multi-terminal electronic device

Life of this patent

Method of operating a multi-terminal electronic device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims11