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Title: Mechanical memory

Abstract

A first-in-first-out (FIFO) microelectromechanical memory apparatus (also termed a mechanical memory) is disclosed. The mechanical memory utilizes a plurality of memory cells, with each memory cell having a beam which can be bowed in either of two directions of curvature to indicate two different logic states for that memory cell. The memory cells can be arranged around a wheel which operates as a clocking actuator to serially shift data from one memory cell to the next. The mechanical memory can be formed using conventional surface micromachining, and can be formed as either a nonvolatile memory or as a volatile memory.

Inventors:
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1]
  1. Albuquerque, NM
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
908435
Patent Number(s):
7046539
Application Number:
10/979,419
Assignee:
Sandia Corporation (Albuquerque, NM)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
G - PHYSICS G11 - INFORMATION STORAGE G11C - STATIC STORES
DOE Contract Number:  
AC04-94AL85000
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
42 ENGINEERING

Citation Formats

Gilkey, Jeffrey C, Duesterhaus, Michelle A, Peter, Frank J, Renn, Rosemarie A, and Baker, Michael S. Mechanical memory. United States: N. p., 2006. Web.
Gilkey, Jeffrey C, Duesterhaus, Michelle A, Peter, Frank J, Renn, Rosemarie A, & Baker, Michael S. Mechanical memory. United States.
Gilkey, Jeffrey C, Duesterhaus, Michelle A, Peter, Frank J, Renn, Rosemarie A, and Baker, Michael S. Tue . "Mechanical memory". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/908435.
@article{osti_908435,
title = {Mechanical memory},
author = {Gilkey, Jeffrey C and Duesterhaus, Michelle A and Peter, Frank J and Renn, Rosemarie A and Baker, Michael S},
abstractNote = {A first-in-first-out (FIFO) microelectromechanical memory apparatus (also termed a mechanical memory) is disclosed. The mechanical memory utilizes a plurality of memory cells, with each memory cell having a beam which can be bowed in either of two directions of curvature to indicate two different logic states for that memory cell. The memory cells can be arranged around a wheel which operates as a clocking actuator to serially shift data from one memory cell to the next. The mechanical memory can be formed using conventional surface micromachining, and can be formed as either a nonvolatile memory or as a volatile memory.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue May 16 00:00:00 EDT 2006},
month = {Tue May 16 00:00:00 EDT 2006}
}

Works referenced in this record:

Two types of mechanical reversible logic
journal, April 1993


On a micro-electro-mechanical nonvolatile memory cell
journal, January 1990