Device selection circuitry constructed with nanotube technology
View Patent ↗A memory system having electromechanical memory cells and decoders is disclosed. A decoder circuit selects at least one of the memory cells of an array of such cells. Each cell in the array is a crossbar junction at least one element of which is a nanotube or a nanotube ribbon. The decoder circuit is constructed of crossbar junctions at least one element of each junction being a nanotube or a nanotube ribbon.
1. An addressing element in a circuit, the addressing element comprising:
a switching element;
control logic to control the switching element; and
a nanotube ribbon comprising a non-woven fabric of nanotubes and configured to provide an electrical communication path between the control logic and the switching element.
2. The addressing element of claim 1 , wherein the nanotubes of the nanotube ribbon provide a plurality of conductive pathways between the control logic and the switching element.
3. The addressing element of claim 1 , wherein the switching element comprises at least one nanotube.
4. The addressing element of claim 3 , wherein the switching element comprises a non-woven fabric of nanotubes.
5. The addressing element of claim 1 , wherein a section of the nanotube ribbon comprises a portion of the switching element.
6. The addressing element of claim 1 , wherein the switching element is electromechanically operable in response to electrical stimulus by the control logic.
7. The addressing element of claim 1 , wherein the switching element comprises a memory cell.
8. The addressing element of claim 1 , wherein the switching element is non-volatile.
9. The addressing element of claim 1 , wherein the control logic comprises a decoder circuit.
10. The addressing element of claim 1 , wherein the control logic comprises at least one nanotube.
11. The addressing element of claim 1 , wherein the control logic is non-volatile.
12. The addressing element of claim 1 , wherein a section of the nanotube ribbon comprises at least a portion of the control logic.
13. An addressing trace to carry an electrical signal, the trace comprising a nanotube ribbon.
14. The trace of claim 13 , wherein the ribbon comprises a non-woven fabric of nanotubes.
15. The trace of claim 14 , wherein the ribbon comprises a matted layer of nanotubes.
16. The trace of claim 14 , wherein the ribbon comprises a layer of entangled nanotubes, the layer being substantially planar.
17. The trace of claim 13 , wherein the ribbon comprises a plurality of nanotubes having an orientation that is substantially unconstrained in a plane and highly constrained in a direction normal to that plane.
18. The trace of claim 13 , wherein the nanotube ribbon provides redundant conductive pathways along the trace.
19. The trace of claim 13 , wherein the nanotube ribbon is a non-contiguous film.