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Nonvolatile memory (NVM) devices based on storage layers, p-n junctions and transistors, such as FLASH, suffer from poor retention at high temperature, high voltage writing, and wear out while cycling. This paper presents the structure, operation, and modeling of a nanoelectromechanical NVM based on the switching of a free electrode between two stable states. This electrode, called the shuttle, has no mechanical anchors and commutes between two positions. It is guided inside an insulator pod. Adhesion forces between the shuttle and fixed electrodes serve to hold the shuttle in stable positions. Smooth metal layers give strong Van der Waals stiction between two surfaces in contact. Memory detection is obtained by probing the conductance between two fixed contacts; the shuttle serves as a switchable open/short electrode. Electromechanical contacts have an ideally large resistance ratio between on and off levels. At microscale, gravity is found to be negligible compared with adhesion forces, which motivates the anchorless design for high-temperature data storage. The model proposed is based on charge induction over the surface of metal electrodes and is validated by finite-element method. Kinematic equations and energy transfers of the shuttle device are explored. Due to its unique anchorless design, the scalability of the anchorless shuttle memory is found to be excellent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This letter investigates junctionless nanowire field-effect transistor (NWFET) (JL-NWFET) parameters such as piezoresistance and low-frequency noise (LFN) with respect to channel doping and gate bias. The JL-NWFET is piezoresistive, and its gauge factor (GF ) is increased from 24 to 47 by reducing the channel doping ten times from \6.7 \times \10^19 to \6.7 \times \10^18\ \cm^-3. Significant variations of GF and LFN are observed when the JL-NWFET is operated from subthreshold to on-state regime, and resolution (minimum detectable strain) is improved four times compared to inversion-mode NWFET. The simple fabrication and superior resolution formulate JL-NWFET as a promising sensing element for miniaturized nanoelectromechanical sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This letter explains a nanoelectromechanical (NEM) nonvolatile memory (NVM) architecture employing an anchor-free electrode (shuttle) structure. The proposed NEM device utilizes adhesion forces to achieve bistable mechanical states for nonvolatile data storage. The anchor-free electrode facilitates better scalability compared to conventional anchored NEM devices, which is desirable for circuit applications. The structure is electrostatically actuated and has low operating voltage. A novel memory cell consisting of the proposed NEM memory device and two MOS transistors (1NEM-2T) is proposed for array implementation. The scalability analysis of the proposed NEM NVM array is also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various logic functions can be implemented by appropriately biasing a single seesaw relay. The seesaw relay can also be configured as a bistable latch so that a memory cell can be implemented with one relay and one access transistor. Measurements of seesaw relay switching speed are well matched to lumped-parameter modeling results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previously reported electrostatically actuated four-terminal (4T) relays suffer from a relatively weak body bias effect and undesirable influence of source/drain bias voltages on gate switching voltages. In this letter, an improved 4T relay design is demonstrated to resolve these issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A dual-ended ("seesaw") relay design is proposed for ultralow-power digital logic applications. Fabricated seesaw relays demonstrate a perfectly complementary switching behavior that is symmetric about VDD/2, with extremely steep switching behavior (< 0.1 mV/dec) and low ON-state resistance (< 1 kΩ). The perfectly complementary and symmetric operation provides for maximum operating voltage margin and minimal crowbar current, as evidenced by an abrupt inverter voltage transfer characteristic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]