US5170238A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Switching element with organic insulative region
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1989-02-22
•
Granted: 1992-12-08
•
Expires: 2009-02-22
Abstract
Abstract A switching element is disclosed which comprises an element comprising two electrodes and an organic insulative region interposed between said two electrodes. The element has a memory property and is capable of being switched between different resistance states upon the application of a predetermined voltage. The switching element also comprises a photosensitive region which has an electrical property which is changed by irradiation of light. The photosensitive region is arranged to change a magnitude of voltage applied to the element. The switching device also comprises a means for applying a biasing voltage to the element and the photosensitive region. This biasing voltage is of such a magnitude as to initiate one of the resistance states in said element, having the memory property when light is irradiated on the photosensitive region.
Inventors
- 👤 Kunihiro Sakai
- 👤 Haruki Kawada
- 👤 Horoshi Matsuda
- 👤 Kiyoshi Takimoto
- 👤 Hisaaki Kawade
- 👤 Yuko Morikawa
- 👤 Ken Eguchi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 18:52
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K17/00; H03K17/51; H03K17/78; H10; H10F; H10F30/00; H10F77/00; H10F77/20; H10K; H10K30/00; H10K30/451; H10K85/00; H10K85/701; H10K30/50; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/50; Y02E10/549
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
A switching device comprising: (a) an element comprising two electrodes and an organic insulative region interposed between said two electrodes, said element having a memory property and being capable of being switched between different resistance states upon application of a predetermined voltage; (b) a photosensitive region having an electrical property which is changed by irradiation of light, said photosensitive region being arranged to change a magnitude of voltage applied to said element; and (c) means for applying a biasing voltage to said element and said photosensitive region, said biasing voltage being of such a magnitude as to initiate one of said resistance states in said element having the memory property when light is irradiated on the photosensitive region.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
118 words
A switching device comprising: (a) an element comprising two electrodes and an organic insulative region interposed between said two electrodes, said element having a memory property and being capable of being switched between different resistance states upon application of a predetermined voltage; (b) a photosensitive region having an electrical property which is changed by irradiation of light, said photosensitive region being arranged to change a magnitude of voltage applied to said element; and (c) means for applying a biasing voltage to said element and said photosensitive region, said biasing voltage being of such a magnitude as to initiate one of said resistance states in said element having the memory property when light is irradiated on the photosensitive region.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A switching device according to claim 1, wherein the conductivity of said photosensitive region is changed by irradiation of light.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A switching device according to claim 1, wherein an electromotive force is produced by irradiation of light in said photosensitive region.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A switching device according to claim 1, wherein said insulative region is composed of organic thin films and has a laminar structure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
A switching device according to claim 4, wherein said laminar structure comprises an LB film.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A switching device according to claim 4, wherein a thickness of each of said organic thin film is 5 to 500Å.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A switching device according to claim 1, wherein a material composing said insulative region is selected from a group consisting of a compound having π electron levels, a polymer compound and a fatty acid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
A switching device according to claim 1, wherein said photosensitive region contains amorphous silicon.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
A switching device according to claim 1, wherein one of said electrodes is transparent.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A switching device according to claim 1, wherein said photosensitive region contains material selected from the group comprising Si, Ge, PbS and CdS.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
A switching device according to claim 1, wherein one of said electrodes is semitransparent.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
132 words
A switching device comprising: (a) a first element comprising two electrodes and an organic insulative region interposed therebetween, said first element having a memory property and being capable of being switched between different resistance states upon application of a predetermined voltage; (b) a second element comprising two electrodes and a photosensitive region interposed therebetween, said photosensitive region having an electrical property which is changed by irradiation of light, said second element being arranged to change a magnitude of voltage applied to said first element; and (c) means for applying a biasing voltage to said first element and said photosensitive region, said biasing voltage being of such a magnitude as to initiate one of said resistance states in said first element having the memory property when light is irradiated on said photosensitive region.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
132 words
A switching device comprising: (a) a first element comprising two electrodes and an organic insulative region interposed therebetween, said first element having a memory property and being capable of being switched between different resistance states upon application of a predetermined voltage; (b) a second element comprising two electrodes and a photosensitive region interposed therebetween, said photosensitive region having an electrical property which is changed by irradiation of light, said second element being arranged to change a magnitude of voltage applied to said first element; and (c) means for applying a biasing voltage to said first element and said photosensitive region, said biasing voltage being of such a magnitude as to initiate one of said resistance states in said first element having the memory property when light is irradiated on said photosensitive region.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A switching device according to claim 8, wherein said region is composed of organic thin films and has a laminar structure.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
A switching device according to claim 9, wherein said laminar structure comprises an LB film.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
A switching device according to claim 13, wherein a thickness of each of said organic thin films is 5 to 500Å.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
A switching device according to claim 12, wherein a conductivity of said photosensitive region is changed by irradiation of light.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
A switching device according to claim 12, wherein an electromotive force is produced by irradiation of light in said photosensitive region.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
A switching device according to claim 12, wherein a material constituting said insulative region is selected from the group consisting of a compound having pi electron levels, a polymer compound and a fatty acid.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
A switching device according to claim 8, wherein said photosensitive region contains amorphous silicon.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
A switching device according to claim 12, and wherein said photosensitive region contains material selected from the group comprising Si, Ge, PbS and CdS.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
134 words
A switching method comprising the steps of: (1) providing a switching device comprising: (a) a switching element comprising two electrodes and an organic insulative region interposed between the electrodes, the element having a memory property and being capable of being reversibly switched between different resistant states upon application of a predetermined voltage, and (b) a photosensitive region having an electrical property which is changed by irradiation of light, wherein the photosensitive region is arranged to change a magnitude of voltage applied to the element; (2) applying a biasing voltage to the switching element, wherein the biasing voltage is of such a magnitude as to initiate one of said resistance states in the switching element having the memory property when light is irradiated on the photosensitive region; and (3) irradiating light on the photosensitive region.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
134 words
A switching method comprising the steps of: (1) providing a switching device comprising: (a) a switching element comprising two electrodes and an organic insulative region interposed between the electrodes, the element having a memory property and being capable of being reversibly switched between different resistant states upon application of a predetermined voltage, and (b) a photosensitive region having an electrical property which is changed by irradiation of light, wherein the photosensitive region is arranged to change a magnitude of voltage applied to the element; (2) applying a biasing voltage to the switching element, wherein the biasing voltage is of such a magnitude as to initiate one of said resistance states in the switching element having the memory property when light is irradiated on the photosensitive region; and (3) irradiating light on the photosensitive region.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3833894A
Cited
US4876585A
Cited
US4731756A
Cited
EP0244835A2
Cited
EP0268370A2
Cited
EP0272937A2
Cited
US4969025A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-12-08 | 1996-06-08 | 1996-12-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-12-08 | 2000-06-08 | 2000-12-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-12-08 | 2004-06-08 | 2004-12-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |