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US 5,677,823 AGranted
Bi-stable memory element
AssigneeCavendish Kinetics, Inc.
InventorCharles Gordon Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bi-stable memory element (1) comprises a base contact (3), and a bridging contact (8), both made from an electrically conductive material. The bridging contact (8) is dimensioned so as to have two stable positions, in one of which the bridging contact (8) is in contact with the base contact (3), and in the other of which the bridging contact (8) is spaced apart from the base contact (3). Deflection means (4, 5) deflects the bridging contact (8) from one stable position to the other.
Claims11
In an integrated circuit, a bi-stable memory element comprising:
- a base contact, made from an electrically conductive material;
- a bridging contact having first and second sides, made from an electrically conductive material, and dimensioned so as to have two stable positions, in one of which the bridging contact is in contact with the base contact, and in the other of which the bridging contact is spaced apart from the base contact;
- and
- deflection means, for deflecting the bridging contact from one stable position to the other, at least part of the deflection means and the base contact being on the first side of the bridging contact.
1 more element
A bi-stable memory element comprising:
- a base contact, made from an electrically conductive material;
- a bridging contact, made from an electrically conductive material, and dimensioned so as to have two stable positions, in one of which the bridging contact is in contact with the base contact, and in the other of which the bridging contact is spaced apart from the base contact;
- and
- deflection means, for deflecting the bridging contact from one stable position to the other, wherein said deflection means comprises a pair of electrodes, electrically insulated from the base contact and bridging contact, and operating in sequence to attract or deflect the bridging contact towards or away from the base contact by electrostatic forces.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.