Programmable crossbar signal processor with input/output tip interconnection

Abstract

A device including a nanowire crossbar array including a programmable material layer, at least one of input or output circuitry, and at least one array of input or output tips to provide an electrical connection between the nanowire crossbar array and the input or output circuitry.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a basic circuit configuration for one embodiment of the crossbar signal processing unit of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of an input selector circuit.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of an output selector circuit.

FIG. 4 a and FIG. 4b illustrate an example of a programming input and output circuit.

FIG. 5 illustrates data from a particular block of a data register.

FIG. 6 illustrates programming waveforms used to program a crossbar array.

FIGS. 7 a-7c illustrates basic circuit configurations for input circuits.

FIG. 7 d illustrates a basic circuit configuration for an output circuit.

FIG. 8 a illustrates a schematic circuit for a 3×3 crossbar array.

FIG. 8 b illustrates a schematic circuit for a 3×3 crossbar array lacking a rectification layer.

FIG. 8 c illustrates a schematic circuit for a 3×3 crossbar array including a rectification layer.

FIG. 8 d illustrates a cross-section of a crossbar array including a rectification layer.

FIG. 9 illustrates the complete behavior of the crossbar array in combination with the input and output circuits.

FIGS. 10 a and 10b illustrate waveforms obtainable when the crossbar processor is used as a waveform generator.

FIG. 11 a illustrates a first circuit configuration for a reprogrammable crossbar signal processing unit.

FIG. 11 b illustrates a cross-section of the reprogrammable crossbar array of FIG. 11a.

FIG. 12 a illustrates a second circuit configuration for a reprogrammable crossbar signal processing unit.

FIG. 12 b illustrates a cross-section of the reprogrammable crossbar array of FIG. 12a.

FIGS. 13 a and 13b illustrates current flows generated by input voltages applied to a reprogrammable crossbar array.

FIG. 13 c illustrates a schematic representation of a circuit formed by the reprogrammable crossbar processor.

FIGS. 14-16 illustrates modulation waveforms produced using the crossbar array processor.

FIGS. 17 and 18 illustrates implementations of the reprogrammable crossbar processor of FIGS. 11a and 11b in signal modulation.

FIG. 19 illustrates an implementation of the reprogrammable crossbar processor of FIGS. 12a and 12b in signal modulation.

FIG. 20 illustrates inputting of bit data block Aij and generation of corresponding bit data blocks !Aij, Aji, and !Aji.

FIG. 21 illustrates inputting of bit data block Bij and generation of corresponding bit data blocks !Bij, Bji, and !Bji.

FIGS. 22 a-22e illustrate comparison between the bit data blocks Aij, !Aij, Aji, !Aji and bit data blocks Bij, !Bij, Bji, !Bji using a crossbar processor.

FIGS. 23 a-23e illustrate a technique of pattern tracking using a crossbar processor.

FIG. 24 illustrates a technique of pattern matching using a crossbar processor.

FIGS. 25 a-25b illustrate using scanning probe tips connected to independently movable cantilevers in addressing crossbar intersection points within a crossbar array.

FIGS. 26 a-26b illustrate using scanning probe tips connected to a common support in addressing crossbar intersection points within a crossbar array.

FIGS. 27 a-27b illustrate a modification of the crossbar array structure.

Claims

1. A device comprising: a nanowire crossbar array including a programmable material layer;at least one of input or output circuitry; andat least one array of input or output tips to provide an electrical connection between the nanowire crossbar array and the input or output circuitry.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the tips are conductive tips of an array of atomic force microscopes.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the tips are tips of an array of scanning tunneling microscopes.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein each of the tips are integrally formed on a respective cantilever.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein a positioning control mechanism is provided for each of the respective cantilevers.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein each tip corresponds to a plurality of nanowires of the nanowire crossbar array.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the tips are provided on a common support.

8. The device of claim 7 including a positioning mechanism for the common support.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein different voltages are provided to adjacent tips in the at least one array of input or output tips.

10. A device comprising: a nanowire crossbar array including a programmable material layer;input circuitry;output circuitry;an array of input tips providing an electrical connection between the input circuitry and a first edge of the nanowire crossbar array; andan array of output tips providing an electrical connection between the output circuitry and a second edge of the nanowire crossbar array.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein the input and output tips are conductive tips of arrays of atomic force microscopes.

12. The device of claim 10 wherein the input and output tips are tips of arrays of scanning tunneling microscopes.

13. The device of claim 10 wherein each of the tips in the arrays are integrally formed on a respective cantilever.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein a positioning control mechanism is provided for each of the respective cantilevers.

15. The device of claim 10 wherein each tip in the arrays corresponds to a plurality of nanowires of the nanowire crossbar array.

16. The device of claim 10 wherein the tips of the arrays are provided on a common support.

17. The device of claim 16 including a positioning mechanism for the common support.

18. The device of claim 10 wherein different voltages are provided to adjacent tips in one of the arrays of input and output tips.