Nonvolatile programmable switch

A nonvolatile programmable switch comprising:

• a first magnetic conductor having a first magnetic pole and a second magnetic conductor having a second magnetic pole;
• the first and second magnetic poles being mounted for relative movement between a first position in which the first and second magnetic poles are in contact with each other so as to complete an electric circuit between the first and second magnetic conductors and a second position in which the first and second magnetic poles are insulated from each other so as to prevent an electric circuit between the first and second magnetic conductors;
• the first magnetic conductor being permanently magnetized with the first magnetic pole being one of a north and a south magnetic pole, the second magnetic conductor being switchable between a first magnetic state in which the second magnetic pole is a north magnetic pole and a second magnetic state in which the second magnetic pole is a south magnetic pole in response to a magnetic field applied thereto, and the second magnetic conductor including nonvolatile magnetization which remains in a selected one of the first and second magnetic states when the magnetic field is removed;
• and
• programming means associated with the second magnetic conductor for switchably magnetizing the second magnetic conductor so that the second magnetic pole is alternatively one of a north and a south magnetic pole, the first and second magnetic poles being moved into and held in the first position by magnetic attraction when the first magnetic pole and the second magnetic pole are opposite magnetic poles and in the second position by magnetic repulsion when the first magnetic pole and the second magnetic pole are similar magnetic poles.

An array of nonvolatile programmable switches comprising:

• a plurality of nonvolatile programmable switches each switch including
• a first magnetic conductor having a first magnetic pole and a second magnetic conductor having a second magnetic pole,
• the first and second magnetic poles being mounted for relative movement between a first position in which the first and second magnetic poles are in contact with each other so as to complete an electric circuit between the first and second magnetic conductors and a second position in which the first and second magnetic poles are insulated from each other so as to prevent an electric circuit between the first and second magnetic conductors, and
• the first magnetic conductor being permanently magnetized with the first magnetic pole being one of a north and a south magnetic pole, the second magnetic conductor being switchable between a first magnetic state in which the second magnetic pole is a north magnetic pole and a second magnetic state in which the second magnetic pole is a south magnetic pole in response to a magnetic field applied thereto, and the second magnetic conductor including nonvolatile magnetization which remains in a selected one of the first and second magnetic states when the magnetic field is removed;
• the plurality of nonvolatile programmable switches being positioned in rows and columns with each of the nonvolatile programmable switches in each row being connected in series with each of the other nonvolatile programmable switches in the row;
• and
• programming means associated with the second magnetic conductor of each of the plurality of nonvolatile programmable switches for switchably magnetizing the second magnetic conductor so that the second magnetic pole is alternatively one of a north and a south magnetic pole, the first and second magnetic poles being moved into and held in the first position by magnetic attraction when the first magnetic pole and the second magnetic pole are opposite magnetic poles and in the second position by magnetic repulsion when the first magnetic pole and the second magnetic pole are similar magnetic poles.