Microscale digital vacuum electronic gates

A microscale digital vacuum electronic logic circuit comprising:

• at least one microscale digital vacuum electronic gate, each comprising:
• a microscale field emitter that can emit electrons and that is a microscale cathode;
• and
• a microscale anode;
• wherein the microscale field emitter and the microscale anode are disposed within at least a partial vacuum;
• wherein the microscale field emitter and the microscale anode are separated by a gap;
• wherein the potential difference between the microscale field emitter and the microscale anode is controllable such that the flow of electrons between the microscale field emitter and the microscale anode is thereby controllable;
• wherein when the microscale anode receives a flow of electrons, a first logic state is defined;
• and
• wherein when the microscale anode does not receive a flow of electrons, a second logic state is defined;
• at least one resistor;
• wherein at least one microscale digital vacuum electronic gate and at least one resistor are electrically interconnected such that the combination of at least one microscale digital vacuum electronic gate and at least one resistor operates as a logic gate.

A microscale digital vacuum AND gate comprising:

• at least two microscale digital vacuum electronic gates, each comprising:
• a microscale field emitter that can emit electrons and that is a microscale cathode;
• and
• a microscale anode;
• wherein the microscale field emitter and the microscale anode are disposed within at least a partial vacuum;
• wherein the microscale field emitter and the microscale anode are separated by a gap;
• wherein the potential difference between the microscale field emitter and the microscale anode is controllable such that the flow of electrons between the microscale field emitter and the microscale anode is thereby controllable;
• wherein when the microscale anode receives a flow of electrons, a first logic state is defined;
• and
• wherein when the microscale anode does not receive a flow of electrons, a second logic state is defined;
• wherein the microscale anode of a first microscale digital vacuum electronic gate is electrically coupled to the microscale anode of a second microscale digital vacuum electronic gate such that the microscale anodes are at substantially the same electric potential;
• wherein a resistor is electrically coupled to the electrically coupled microscale anodes;
• wherein when either the first microscale digital vacuum electronic gate or the second digital vacuum electronic gate is in a first logic state, then the microscale digital vacuum AND gate is defined to be in a first logic state;
• and
• wherein when both the first microscale digital vacuum electronic gate and the second microscale digital vacuum electronic gate are in a second logic state, then the microscale digital vacuum AND gate is defined to be in a second logic state.

A microscale digital vacuum OR gate comprising:

• at least two microscale digital vacuum electronic gates, each comprising:
• a microscale field emitter that can emit electrons and that is a microscale cathode;
• and
• a microscale anode;
• wherein the microscale field emitter and the microscale anode are disposed within at least a partial vacuum;
• wherein the microscale field emitter and the microscale anode are separated by a gap;
• wherein the potential difference between the microscale field emitter and the microscale anode is controllable such that the flow of electrons between the microscale field emitter and the microscale anode is thereby controllable;
• wherein when the microscale anode receives a flow of electrons, a first logic state is defined;
• and
• wherein when the microscale anode does not receive a flow of electrons, a second logic state is defined;
• wherein the microscale field emitter of a first microscale digital vacuum electronic gate is electrically coupled to the microscale field emitter of a second microscale digital vacuum electronic gate such that the microscale field emitters are at substantially the same electric potential;
• wherein a resistor is electrically coupled to the electrically coupled microscale field emitters;
• wherein when both the first microscale digital vacuum electronic gate and the second microscale digital vacuum electronic gate are in a first logic state, then the microscale digital vacuum OR gate is defined to be in a first logic state;
• and
• wherein when either the first microscale digital vacuum electronic gate or the second microscale digital vacuum electronic gate is in a second logic state, then the microscale digital vacuum OR gate is defined to be in a second logic state.

A microscale digital vacuum NOT gate comprising:

• a microscale digital vacuum electronic gates, itself comprising:
• a microscale field emitter that can emit electrons and that is a microscale cathode;
• and
• a microscale anode;
• wherein the microscale field emitter and the microscale anode are disposed within at least a partial vacuum;
• wherein the microscale field emitter and the microscale anode are separated by a gap;
• wherein the potential difference between the microscale field emitter and the microscale anode is controllable such that the flow of electrons between the microscale field emitter and the microscale anode is thereby controllable;
• wherein when the microscale anode receives a flow of electrons, a first logic state is defined;
• and
• wherein when the microscale anode does not receive a flow of electrons, a second logic state is defined;
• a resistor having a first terminal and a second terminal;
• a voltage source;
• wherein the resistor is electrically coupled to the microscale anode at its first terminal;
• wherein the resistor is electrically coupled to the voltage source at its second terminal;
• wherein when the microscale digital vacuum electronic gate is in a second logic state, then the microscale digital vacuum NOT gate is defined to be in a first logic state;
• and
• wherein when the microscale digital vacuum electronic gate is in a first logic state, then the microscale digital vacuum NOT gate is defined to be in a second logic state.