Electrically addressable passive device, method for electrical addressing of the same and uses of the device and the method

An electrically addressable device for at least one of recording, storage and processing of data, said electrically addressable device comprising:

• a functional medium in the form of a substantially layer-like continuous or patterned structure, the functional medium undergoing a physical or chemical change of state by a suitable energetic influence, the functional medium including a plurality of individually addressable passive cells provided in a two-dimensional pattern, the functional medium being realized as a homogenous or stratified structure comprising at least one substantially organic material, and a given physical or chemical state in a cell representing a recorded or detected value or are assigned a predetermined logic value for the cell, the cells being provided between the electrodes of an electrode means which directly or indirectly contacts said functional medium in each cell to effect a direct or indirect electrical coupling therethrough, whereby each cell can be supplied with electrical energy for detection of the physical or chemical state or a change in the physical or chemical state therein,
• a plurality of substantially parallel electric conductors being provided on each side of said functional medium such that overlying and underlying conductors intersect each other in a substantially orthognal mutual relationship, said electrode means for each cell being formed in an intersection point between a respective overlying and underlying conductor, such that said cells in said functional medium and assigned electrode means form the elements of a matrix whose rows and columns are defined by respectively the overlying and underlying electric conductors which in the intersection points form the electrodes of said electrode means, that said functional medium in each cell having an overall non-linear impedance characteristic, and that said at least one substantially organic material of said functional medium being a polymer material.