Method and system of using nanotube fabrics as joule heating elements for memories and other applications
US8525143B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 6, 2006 |
| Grant date | Sep 3, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 30, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11C2213/81
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Methods and systems of using nanotube elements as joule heating elements for memories and other applications. Under one aspect, a method includes providing an electrical stimulus, regulated by a drive circuit, through a nanotube element in order to heat an adjacent article. Further, a detection circuit electrically gauges the state of the article. The article heated by the nanotube element is, in preferred embodiments, a phase changing material, hi memory applications, the invention may be used as a small-scale CRAM capable of employing small amounts of current to induce rapid, large temperature changes in a chalcogenide material. Under various embodiments of the disclosed invention, the nanotube element is composed of a non-woven nanotube fabric which is either suspended from supports and positioned adjacent to the phase change material or is disposed on a substrate and in direct contact with the phase change material. A plurality of designs using various geometric orientations of nanotube fabrics, phase change materials, and drive and detection circuitry is disclosed. Additionally, methods of fabricating nanotube heat emitters are disclosed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.