US 7,116,573 B2 · Switching element method of driving switching element rewritable logic integrated circuit and memory

Abstract

A switching element has an ion conductor capable of conducting metal ions for use in an electrochemical reaction therein, a first electrode and a second electrode which are disposed in contact with said ion conductor and spaced a predetermined distance from each other, and a third electrode disposed in contact with the ion conductor. When a voltage for causing the switching element to transit to an on state is applied to the third electrode, metal is precipitated between the first electrode and the second electrode by metal ions, electrically interconnecting the first electrode and the second electrode. When a voltage for causing the switching element to transit to an off state is applied to the third electrode, the precipitated metal is dissolved to electrically disconnect the first electrode and the second electrode from each other.

Claims42

Dependent claims

A switching element comprising:

an ion conductor capable of conducting metal ions therein;
a first electrode and a second electrode which are disposed in contact with said ion conductor;
and
a third electrode disposed in contact with said ion conductor and including said metal ions;
wherein an interelectrode distance L1 between said first electrode and said second electrode, an interelectrode distance L2 between said first electrode and said third electrode, and an interelectrode distance L3 between said second electrode and said third electrode satisfy the condition according to the expression:
L1<L2×2 and L1<L3×2.

3 more elements

A switching element disposed on a substrate covered with an insulating film or an insulating substrate, comprising:

an ion conductor capable of conducting metal ions therein;
a first electrode and a second electrode which are disposed in contact with said ion conductor;
and
a third electrode disposed in contact with said ion conductor and including a metal dissolvable into said ion conductor based on an electrochemical reaction;
wherein an interelectrode distance L1 between said first electrode and said second electrode, an interelectrode distance L2 between said first electrode and said third electrode, and an interelectrode distance L3 between said second electrode and said third electrode satisfy the condition according to the expression:
L1<L2×2 and L1<L3×2.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Switching element method of driving switching element rewritable logic integrated circuit and memory

Life of this patent

Switching element method of driving switching element rewritable logic integrated circuit and memory

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims42