Nano-electronic memory array
View Patent ↗Systems and methods are disclosed to process a semiconductor substrate by fabricating a first layer on the substrate using semiconductor fabrication techniques; fabricating a second layer above the first layer having one or more NANO-bonding areas; self-assembling one or more NANO-elements; and bonding the NANO-elements to the NANO-bonding areas.
1. A memory device, comprising:
an array of memory cells disposed in rows and columns and constructed over a substrate, each memory cell comprising a first signal electrode, a second signal electrode, and a nano-layer disposed in the intersecting region between the first signal electrode and the second signal electrode, each memory cell comprising optical storage molecules;
a plurality of word lines each connecting the first signal electrodes of a row of memory cells; and
a plurality of bit lines each connecting the second signal electrodes of a column of memory cells.
2. The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the optical storage molecules include a nanophase storage luminescence material of the general formula X/Y, wherein X is at least one guest and Y is a host.
3. The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the optical storage molecules are spin-coated over the substrate.
4. The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the optical storage molecules in the array of memory cells are exposed to an energy pattern comprising photons or particles.
5. The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the photons are from the spectra of ultra-violet (UV) light, blue light, green light, red light or infrared light.
6. The memory device of claim 1 , wherein information in energy pattern is stored by change in the energy structure of the optical storage molecules in the array of memory cells.
7. The memory device of claim 1 , further the comprising a second light source for illuminating the optical storage molecules in the array of memory cells and one or more optical detectors for detecting the changed energy structure of the optical storage molecules.
8. The memory device of claim 7 , wherein the changed energy structure of the optical storage molecules is detected by sensing the luminescence signals from the optical storage molecules stimulated by the illumination of the second light source.
9. The memory device of claim 1 , comprising
a substrate;
an input optical signal;
an output optical signal; and
an optical circuit disposed over the substrate, wherein the optical circuit is formed by NANO elements in a self-assemble process.
10. The memory device of claim 9 , wherein the optical circuit comprises an optical transmitter or an optical receiver.
11. The memory device of claim 9 , wherein the optical circuit comprises an optical waveguide.
12. The memory device of claim 9 , wherein the input optical signal is provided by a laser.
13. The memory device of claim 9 , wherein the output optical signal is received by a photodetector.
14. The memory device of claim 1 , comprising
a semiconductor region over or in the substrate; and
an electronic circuit formed in the semiconductor region.
15. The memory device of claim 14 , wherein the electronic circuit controls or monitors interconnection of optical signals.
16. The memory device of claim 14 , wherein the electronic circuit converts electronic signals to input optical signal.
17. The memory device of claim 14 , wherein the electronic circuit converts output optical signal to electronic signals.
18. The memory device of claim 1 , comprising an optical circuit including a 3D circuit.
19. The memory device of claim 9 , wherein the optical circuit provides a plurality of NANO light paths between the input optical signals and the output optical signals.