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US 5,671,437 AGranted
Quantum dot-tunnel device and information processing apparatus and method using same
AssigneeSony Corporation
InventorKenichi Taira
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AssigneeSony Corporation
InventorKenichi Taira
Estimating the term…
A novel quantum dot-tunnel device having a revolutionarily faster processing speed and higher processing precision than conventional computer computation, which device has an array consisting of a large number of quantum dots which confine electrons three-dimensionally, with the coupling among quantum dots, that is, the tunnel transition probability, being defined by controlling the positional relationship and the shape of the quantum dots in accordance with an algorithm of predetermined information processing, so that the algorithm is expressed in solid state rather than by a conventional computer program. The electron transition among quantum dots occurs instantaneously and wave mechanically with a strict precision, and the results of the information processing are expressed as a spatial distribution of electrons over the plurality of quantum dots. Data is written into the quantum dots by irradiating light (high energy) of a wavelength corresponding to the band gap energy, for example, to a specific region on the array, while data is read out by irradiating light (low energy) of a wavelength corresponding to the energy gap between a ground level of the valence band and a first excited level. Also, an information processing apparatus and method using the device.
A quantum dot-tunnel device processing the information comprising a plurality of side-by-side quantum dots mounted, in accordance with an algorithm of the information to be processed, on a transparent base, first light emitting means for selectively scanning during a first time period said plurality of quantum dots so as to excite electrons in said quantum dots to a first level, excited electrons in certain ones of said quantum dots tunnel to other quantum dots;
A quantum dot-tunnel device comprising a plurality of side-by-side quantum dots mounted on a transparent base, first light emitting means for selectively scanning during a first time period said plurality of quantum dots so as to selectively excite electrons in certain ones of said quantum dots to an energy level which is higher than they were before such excitation, a second light emitting means for scanning during a second time period said plurality of quantum dots, and said second light emitting means mounted on one side of said transparent base, and a two-dimensional light detecting means mounted on the opposite side of said transparent base from which said second light emitting means is mounted so as to detect during said second time period which ones of said quantum dots have electrons which have been excited by detecting the light energy which has passed straight through said transparent base;
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.