Patent · US Expired

Non-volatile memory device including a micro-mechanical storage element

US4979149A · kind A · utility

144Cited by
10References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 5, 1989
Grant dateDec 18, 1990
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 5, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11C23/00
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A memory device for digital electronic signals includes at least one micro-mechanical memory element. The memory element includes a support having recess defined therein and a curved mechanical component bridging the recess and fixed to the support. The mechanical component has two stable positions, each of which being maintained by mechanical forces, one concave down towards the support and the other convex up away from the support. The mechanical component is adapted to be selectively changed from one stable position to the other stable position during a writing cycle and to have its stable position determined during a reading cycle so that the memory element can be used for storing binary logic information.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.