US4945257A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electrically settable resistance device
Assignee: Maxdem Inc
•
Filing: 1988-11-18
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Granted: 1990-07-31
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Expires: 2008-11-18
Abstract
Abstract A device provides an electrically settable resistance and comprises first and second electrodes. Each electrode comprises a redox active material. The device further comprises means defining an environment for each electrode such that the average redox state of the electrodes, taken together, remains substantially constant. The environment-defining means includes an electrolyte between the electrodes. The device further comprises a pair of terminals electrically connected to the first electrode at spaced-apart locations, the electrically settable resistance being defined between the pair of terminals and being a function of the oxidation state of the first electrode. The device further comprises means, including a terminal electrically connected to the second electrode, for defining a control circuit path, including the first and second electrodes and the electrolyte, to enable a control current flowing through the control circuit path to change the oxidation state of the first electrode so that control current flowing in one direction sets the resistance to a lower value and control current flowing in the opposite direction sets the resistance to a higher value.
Inventors
- 👤 Matthew L. Marrocco, III
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 21:32
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11C; G11C13/00; G11C13/0002; G11C13/0009; B; B82; B82Y; B82Y10/00; H; H01; H01C; H01C10/00; H01C10/02; H01C10/025; H01G; H01G11/00; H01G11/02; H01G11/08; H01G11/10; H01G11/54; H01G11/56; H01G11/74; H01G11/76; G11C2213/00; G11C2213/30; G11C2213/34; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/13
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
A device for providing an electrically settable resistance which comprises: first and second electrodes, each comprising a redox active material; an electrolyte between the electrodes; a pair of terminals electrically connected to the first electrode at spaced-apart locations, the electrically settable resistance being defined between the pair of terminals, and being a function of the oxidation state of the first electrode; and means, including a terminal electrically connected to the second electrode, for defining a control circuit path, including the first and second electrodes and the electrolyte, to enable a control current flowing through the control circuit path to change the oxidation state of the first electrode so that control current flowing in one direction sets the resistance of the first electrode to a lower value and control current flowing in the opposite direction sets the resistance of the first electrode to a higher value.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
145 words
A device for providing an electrically settable resistance which comprises: first and second electrodes, each comprising a redox active material; an electrolyte between the electrodes; a pair of terminals electrically connected to the first electrode at spaced-apart locations, the electrically settable resistance being defined between the pair of terminals, and being a function of the oxidation state of the first electrode; and means, including a terminal electrically connected to the second electrode, for defining a control circuit path, including the first and second electrodes and the electrolyte, to enable a control current flowing through the control circuit path to change the oxidation state of the first electrode so that control current flowing in one direction sets the resistance of the first electrode to a lower value and control current flowing in the opposite direction sets the resistance of the first electrode to a higher value.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A device according to claim 1 including means defining an environment for the first and second electrodes such that the redox active material of each such electrode is reversible, and wherein the environment includes the electrolyte.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein the redox active materials of both the first and second electrodes and the electrolyte are in the solid state.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein the redox active material of both the first and second electrodes in its reduced state is a metal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device according to claim 2 wherein the terminal electrically connected to the second electrode is a metal conductor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device according to claim 5 wherein the metal conductor consists essentially of inert metal and is in contact with the second electrode and thereby forms part of the environment-defining means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device according to claim 5 wherein the metal conductor is electrically connected to the second electrode through a layer of material having a non-linear resistance.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device according to claim 7 wherein the layer of material comprises a ruthenium-containing polymer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device according to claim 7 wherein the layer of material comprises a silicon dioxide tunnel barrier.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein the redox active material of at least one of the electrodes comprises the hydrogen/hydrogen ion redox couple.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein the redox active material of at least one of the electrodes in either the fully-oxidized or fully-reduced state is a gas or a liquid.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
180 words
A thin film structure comprising: a substrate supporting a multiplicity of cells, each cell providing an individually electrically settable resistance; each cell including: a deposit of redox active material defining a first electrode; a deposit of redox active material defining a second electrode; and a deposit of material defining an electrolyte between the first and second electrodes; the substrate further supporting a multiplicity of conductors arranged in a pattern to communicate electrically with each cell such that at each cell two of the conductors are electrically connected to the first electrode at spaced-apart locations, the electrically settable resistance of the cell being defined between the two conductors, and such that another of the conductors is electrically connected to the second electrode to provide for defining a control circuit path, including the first and second electrodes and the electrolyte, to enable a control current path flowing through the control circuit path in one direction to set the resistance of the cell to a lower value or, in the opposite direction, to set the resistance of the cell to a higher value.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
180 words
A thin film structure comprising: a substrate supporting a multiplicity of cells, each cell providing an individually electrically settable resistance; each cell including: a deposit of redox active material defining a first electrode; a deposit of redox active material defining a second electrode; and a deposit of material defining an electrolyte between the first and second electrodes; the substrate further supporting a multiplicity of conductors arranged in a pattern to communicate electrically with each cell such that at each cell two of the conductors are electrically connected to the first electrode at spaced-apart locations, the electrically settable resistance of the cell being defined between the two conductors, and such that another of the conductors is electrically connected to the second electrode to provide for defining a control circuit path, including the first and second electrodes and the electrolyte, to enable a control current path flowing through the control circuit path in one direction to set the resistance of the cell to a lower value or, in the opposite direction, to set the resistance of the cell to a higher value.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device according to claim 12 wherein the redox active materials of both the first and second electrodes and the electrolyte are in the solid state.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device according to claim 12 wherein the redox active material of both the first and second electrodes in its reduced state is a metal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device according to claim 12 wherein the conductor electrically connected to the second electrode is a metal conductor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device according to claim 15 wherein the metal conductor is electrically connected to the second electrode through a layer of material having a non-linear resistance.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device according to claim 16 wherein the layer of material comprises a ruthenium-containing polymer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device according to claim 16 wherein the layer of material comprises the silicon dioxide tunnel barrier.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device according to claim 12 wherein the redox active material of the first electrode comprises the hydrogen/hydrogen ion redox couple.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device according to claim 12 wherein the redox active material of the first electrode in either the fully-oxidized or fully-reduced state is a gas or a liquid.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
66 words
An electronic neural network comprising: a set of amplifiers: multi-cell means embodied in thin film structure for interconnecting the amplifiers to establish strengths of connection between the amplifiers; the multi-cell means defining a network of electrically settable resistances, each of which is formed by a redox active material and has a resistance value that is a function of the oxidation state of the redox active material.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
66 words
An electronic neural network comprising: a set of amplifiers: multi-cell means embodied in thin film structure for interconnecting the amplifiers to establish strengths of connection between the amplifiers; the multi-cell means defining a network of electrically settable resistances, each of which is formed by a redox active material and has a resistance value that is a function of the oxidation state of the redox active material.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
An electronic neural network according to claim 21 in which the multi-cell means interconnects the amplifiers to form a Hopfield ENN.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
An electronic neural network according to claim 21 in which the multi-cell means interconnects the amplifiers to form a layered neural network.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
162 words
A device for providing an electrically settable resistance which comprises: first and second electrodes, each comprising a redox active material; means defining an environment for each electrode such that the average redox state of the electrodes, taken together, remains substantially constant; the environment-defining means including an electrolyte between the electrodes; a pair of terminals electrically connected to the first electrode at spaced-apart locations, the electrically settable resistance being defined between the pair of terminals and being a function of the oxidation state of the first electrode; and means, including a terminal electrically connected to the second electrode, for defining a control circuit path, including the first and second electrodes and the electrolyte, to enable a control current flowing through the control circuit path to change the oxidation state of the first electrode so that control current flowing in one direction sets the resistance to a lower value and control current flowing in the opposite direction sets the resistance to a higher value.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
162 words
A device for providing an electrically settable resistance which comprises: first and second electrodes, each comprising a redox active material; means defining an environment for each electrode such that the average redox state of the electrodes, taken together, remains substantially constant; the environment-defining means including an electrolyte between the electrodes; a pair of terminals electrically connected to the first electrode at spaced-apart locations, the electrically settable resistance being defined between the pair of terminals and being a function of the oxidation state of the first electrode; and means, including a terminal electrically connected to the second electrode, for defining a control circuit path, including the first and second electrodes and the electrolyte, to enable a control current flowing through the control circuit path to change the oxidation state of the first electrode so that control current flowing in one direction sets the resistance to a lower value and control current flowing in the opposite direction sets the resistance to a higher value.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device according to claim 24 wherein the redox active materials of both the first and second electrodes and the electrolyte are in the solid state.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device according to claim 24 wherein the redox active material of both the first and second electrodes in its reduced state is a metal.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device according to claim 24 wherein the terminal electrically connected to the second electrode is a metal conductor.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device according to claim 27 wherein the metal conductor consists essentially of inert metal and is in contact with the second electrode and thereby forms part of the environment-defining means.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device according to claim 27 wherein the metal conductor is electrically connected to the second electrode through a layer of material having a non-linear resistance.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device according to claim 29 wherein the layer of material comprises a ruthenium-containing polymer.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device according to claim 29 wherein the layer of material comprises a silicon dioxide tunnel barrier.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
147 words
An electrochemical memory device which comprises: first and second electrodes, each comprising a redox active material; an electrolyte between the electrodes; a pair of terminals electrically connected to the first electrode at spaced-apart locations, an electrically settable resistance being defined between the pair of terminals and being a function of the oxidation state of the first electrode; and means, including a terminal electrically connected to the second electrode, for defining a control circuit path, including the first and second electrodes and the electrolyte, to enable a control current flowing through the control circuit path to change the oxidation state of the first electrode so that control current flowing in one direction sets the resistance to a lower value and control current flowing in the opposite direction sets the resistance to a higher value, the set resistance defining the state of the memory device and the stored information.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
147 words
An electrochemical memory device which comprises: first and second electrodes, each comprising a redox active material; an electrolyte between the electrodes; a pair of terminals electrically connected to the first electrode at spaced-apart locations, an electrically settable resistance being defined between the pair of terminals and being a function of the oxidation state of the first electrode; and means, including a terminal electrically connected to the second electrode, for defining a control circuit path, including the first and second electrodes and the electrolyte, to enable a control current flowing through the control circuit path to change the oxidation state of the first electrode so that control current flowing in one direction sets the resistance to a lower value and control current flowing in the opposite direction sets the resistance to a higher value, the set resistance defining the state of the memory device and the stored information.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-07-30 | 1994-01-29 | 1994-07-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-07-30 | 1998-01-29 | 1998-07-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-07-30 | 2002-01-29 | 2002-07-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |