Optical memory
AssigneeU.S. Department of Energy
InventorsSamuel S. Mao, Yanfeng Zhang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Optical memory comprising: a semiconductor wire, a first electrode, a second electrode, a light source, a means for producing a first voltage at the first electrode, a means for producing a second voltage at the second electrode, and a means for determining the presence of an electrical voltage across the first electrode and the second electrode exceeding a predefined voltage. The first voltage, preferably less than 0 volts, different from said second voltage. The semiconductor wire is optically transparent and has a bandgap less than the energy produced by the light source. The light source is optically connected to the semiconductor wire. The first electrode and the second electrode are electrically insulated from each other and said semiconductor wire.
Claims22
Optical memory comprising:
- a. a semiconductor wire, a first electrode, a second electrode, a light source, a means for producing a first voltage at said first electrode, a means for producing a second voltage at said second electrode, and a means for determining the presence of an electrical voltage across said first electrode and said second electrode exceeding a predefined voltage;
- b. said semiconductor wire essentially optically transparent;
- c. said semiconductor wire having a bandgap less than the energy of the light produced by said light source;
- d. said light source optically connected to said semiconductor wire;
- e. said first electrode electrically conductive and electrically insulated from said semiconductor wire;
- f. said second electrode electrically conductive and electrically insulated from said semiconductor wire;
- g. said first electrode and said second electrode electrically insulated from each other;
- h. said first electrode and said second electrode positioned producing an electric field across said semiconductor wire;
- and
- i. said first voltage different from said second voltage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.