IP Library Granted Patent US 7,038,229
Granted Patent B2
US 7,038,229 · App. 10/721,973 · Granted May 2, 2006

Electric switching device and electric circuit device having the same

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,038,229
App. No.
10/721,973
Granted
May 2, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided are an electric switching device with improved reliability and improved speed characteristics and an electric circuit device having the electric switching device. In the electric switching device, a first area is formed on an insulating substrate, and a second area formed on the insulating substrate such as to be a predetermined apart from the first area. The first and second areas contract or expand depending on the intensity of a laser.

Claims (24)

1. An electric switching device comprising:

an insulating substrate;

a first area formed on the insulating substrate; and

a second area formed on the insulating substrate such as to be a predetermined distance apart from the first area,

wherein the first and second areas contract or expand depending on the intensity of a laser.

2. The electric switching device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second areas are formed of a chalcogenide-family material.

3. The electric switching device of claim 2 , wherein the first and second areas are formed of Ge—Sb—Te.

4. The electric switching device of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined distance between the first and second areas is wide enough for the first and second areas to contact with each other when expanding.

5. The electric switching device of claim 4 , wherein the first and second areas enter into an amorphous state and expand to contact with each other when a 740 nm-wavelength laser with 12 mW intensity is applied to the first and second areas, and enter into a polycrystalline state and contract to be separated from each other when a 740 nm-wavelength laser with 6 mW intensity is applied to the first and second areas.

6. The electric switching device of claim 1 , wherein a conductive pattern is installed between the insulating substrate and each of the first and second areas, the conductive patterns are apart from each other by a distance smaller than the distance between the first and second areas, and when the first and second areas expand by a received laser, the conductive patterns come into contact with each other.

7. The electric switching device of claim 6 , wherein the conductive patterns are formed of aluminum or gold.

8. The electric switching device of claim 1 , wherein a groove is formed in a portion of the insulating substrate that is below predetermined portions of the first and second areas so that the first and second areas can expand or contract freely.

9. The electric circuit device of claim 8 , wherein a programmable photomask is used as the laser radiating means and comprises:

a lower substrate including a plurality of unit cells, in each of which a thin film transistor and a pixel electrode are formed;

an upper substrate opposite to the lower substrate and including common electrodes that form electric fields together with the pixel electrodes;

a liquid crystal layer formed between the upper and lower substrates;

a polarization plate attached to an outer surface of each of the upper and lower substrates; and

a laser source installed above the upper substrate,

wherein the programmable photomask transmits or blocks a laser from the laser source according to an operation of the liquid crystal layer when an electric field is formed between each of the pixel electrodes and each of the common electrodes.

10. The electric circuit device of claim 9 , wherein the unit cells of the programmable photomask are located directly over the switching transistors.

11. An electric circuit device comprising:

an insulating substrate on which a plurality of switching transistors including chalcogenide source and drain areas that are a predetermined distance apart from each other are arranged; and

a laser radiating means installed above the insulating substrate, selectively applying a laser to the switching transistors.

12. The electric circuit device of claim 11 , wherein laser diodes are used as the laser radiating means and arranged at regular intervals over the insulating substrate so that one switching transistor is located above one laser diode.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 15, 2013
From: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
To: INTELLECTUAL DISCOVERY CO. LTD.
Reel/Frame 030418/0587 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 16, 2012
From: IPG ELECTRONICS 502 LIMITED
To: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Reel/Frame 029134/0699 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ONE HALF (1/2) OF ALL OF ASSIGNORS' RIGHT, TITLE AND INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2009
From: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
To: IPG ELECTRONICS 502 LIMITED
Reel/Frame 023456/0363 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 24, 2003
From: JUNG, MOON YOUN; JUN, CHI HOON; KIM, YUN TAE
To: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Reel/Frame 014750/0519 →