Computing apparatus comprising a programmable resistor

Claim 1

Electronic computing apparatus comprising (a) a multiplicity of amplifier means, each one of the amplifier means having at least one input terminal and at least one output terminal; (b) means for electrically connecting the output terminal of any given amplifier means A j to the input terminal of at least one other amplifier means A i , the electrical connection having a predetermined resistance; (c) means for applying an electrical signal at least to the input terminal of one of the amplifier means; and (d) means that are responsive to the output signal of at least one of the amplifier means; characterized in that (e) the means of (b) comprise a programmable resistor body consisting substantially of a material having a state of relatively high resistivity and having a first and second major surface, a portion S i of the first surface being associated with A i and a portion S j of the second surface being associated with A j , associated with the programmable resistor body is a resistance R ij between S i and S j , the value of R ij being changeable from a relatively high value associated with the state of relatively high resistivity to a lower value by application of a "write" voltage between S i and S j , and the value of R ij being furthermore changeable from the lower value to a higher value by application of an "erase" voltage between S i and S j ; and (f) the apparatus further comprises means for applying the "write" voltage and the "erase" voltage between S i and S j , such that a predetermined resistance R ij can be formed between S i and S j , and such that the electrical connection of predetermined resistance between the input terminal of A i and the output terminal of A j is established.