Printed logic gate

1. An apparatus manufactured using an additive manufacturing process and having a gas filled sealed cavity containing at least two cathodes and an anode spaced from the cathodes such that a continuous electric discharge of the gas stimulated between at least one of the cathodes and the anode provides a Boolean function output at the anode corresponding to electrical input signals at two of the cathodes, wherein the cathodes and the anode are additively manufactured with the apparatus.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an additively manufactured stabilizing resistor as a resistive material electrically coupled to the anode to stabilize the continuous electric discharge.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the continuous electric discharge of the gas occurs as an electric arc.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cavity contains two cathodes such that the Boolean function is an OR function.

5. A 3D printed article comprising one or more of the apparatus of claim 4 as NAND gates within the fabric of the article wherein the NAND gates are arranged to form any number of one or more of: OR, NOT, AND, NOR and XOR logic gates.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the anode is an output anode and the at least two cathodes include: a control cathode spaced opposing the output anode; and a first and second input cathodes to receive the input signals via additively manufactured electrical signal paths, the apparatus further comprising at least two drain anodes each spaced opposing a respective one of the input cathodes,

wherein a potential difference between the control cathode and output anode stimulates the continuous electric discharge allowing current to flow therebetween,

wherein a potential difference between one of the input cathodes and a respective drain anode is insufficient to deflect the continuous electric discharge allowing current to flow via the output anode, and

wherein a potential difference between both of the input cathodes and the respective drain anodes is sufficient to deflect the continuous electric discharge preventing current flowing via the output anode, such that the Boolean function output at the anode corresponds to a logical NAND operation on the input signals at the input cathodes.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein an axis through the control cathode and the output anode is substantially perpendicular to an axis between the first input cathode and respective drain cathode and also perpendicular to an axis between the second input cathode and respective drain anode.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus further comprises an additively manufactured circuit.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the anode is an output anode and the at least two cathodes include: a control cathode spaced opposing the output anode; and a first and second input cathodes to receive the input signals via additively manufactured electrical signal paths, the apparatus further comprising at least two drain anodes each spaced opposing a respective one of the input cathodes, and

wherein an axis through the control cathode and the output anode is substantially perpendicular to an axis between the first input cathode and respective drain cathode and also perpendicular to an axis between the second input cathode and respective drain anode.

10. A method of manufacturing an article with integral logic gate electronic component comprising:

using an additive manufacturing process to:

a) form an electrically non-conductive substrate;

b) form an electrically non-conductive perforated layer having a cavity;

c) form electrically conductive anode and cathode elements spaced in the cavity including at least two cathodes;

d) deposit an electrically conductive connection to each of the elements sufficient to imparting an electrical potential difference between the elements;

e) form an electrically non-conductive sealing layer atop the perforated layer so as to retain and seal the cavity in the perforated layer,

wherein the cavity contains gas and wherein the electrical potential difference is sufficient to stimulate a continuous electric discharge of the gas between at least one of the cathodes and the anode to provide a Boolean function output at the anode corresponding to electrical input signals at two of the cathodes.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein forming one or more of: the substrate; perforated layer; and sealing layer includes forming a channel providing fluid communication between the cavity and a fluid port of the article, wherein the fluid port via which the gas can be inserted into the cavity.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the additive manufacturing process takes place within a sealed atmosphere constituted substantially of an inert gas so as to encase the inert gas in the cavity on formation of the sealing layer.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the anode is positioned at a side of the cavity opposing a side at which the cathodes are positioned such that the logic gate constitutes a Boolean OR function of the electrical input signals.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the anode is an output anode and the at least two cathodes include: a control cathode formed spaced opposing the output anode; and a first and second input cathodes formed to receive the input signals via additively manufactured electrical signal paths, the method further comprising forming at least two drain anodes each spaced opposing a respective one of the input cathodes,

wherein a potential difference between the control cathode and output anode stimulates the continuous electric discharge allowing current to flow therebetween,

wherein a potential difference between one of the input cathodes and a respective drain anode is insufficient to deflect the continuous electric discharge allowing current to flow via the output anode, and

wherein a potential difference between both of the input cathodes and the respective drain anodes is sufficient to deflect the continuous electric discharge preventing current flowing via the output anode, such that the Boolean function output at the anode corresponds to a logical NAND operation on the input signals at the input cathodes.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the additive manufacturing process includes one or both of an extrusion deposition process and a granular material binding process.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein at least one of the: electrically non-conductive substrate; perforated layer; and sealing layer are formed in ceramic.

17. The method of claim 10 wherein at least one of the anode and the cathodes are formed from a gallium alloy.

18. An article with integral logic gate electronic component manufactured by the process of claim 10 .

19. An additive manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing an article with integral active electronic component, the apparatus comprising:

a computer system;

a first additive manufacturing component adapted to form electrically non-conductive three dimensional structures;

a second additive manufacturing component adapted to form electrically conductive three dimensional structures;

wherein the first and second additive manufacturing components are operable under control of the computer system, the computer system being adapted to control the components to:

a) form an electrically non-conductive substrate;

b) form an electrically non-conductive perforated layer having a cavity;

c) form electrically conductive anode and cathode elements spaced in the cavity including at least two cathodes;

d) deposit a conductive electrical connection to each of the elements sufficient to imparting an electrical potential difference between the elements;

e) form an electrically non-conductive sealing layer atop the perforated layer so as to retain and seal the cavity in the perforated layer,

wherein the cavity contains gas and wherein the electrical potential difference is sufficient to stimulate a continuous electric discharge of the gas between at least one of the cathodes and the anode to provide a Boolean function output at the anode corresponding to electrical input signals at two of the cathodes.

20. A computer system for controlling an additive manufacturing apparatus, the additive manufacturing apparatus being adapted to manufacture three dimensional structures from both electrically non-conductive and electrically conductive materials, the computer system being operable to control the additive manufacturing apparatus to perform the method of claim 10 .