Abstract: In a ferroelectric or electret volumetric memory device with a memory material provided in sandwich between first and second electrode layers (2;4) with stripe-like electrodes forming word lines (2) and bit lines (4) of a matrix-addressable memory array (M), memory cells are defined in volumes of memory material in between two crossing word lines (2) and bit lines (4) and a plurality of memory arrays are provided in a stacked arrangement. A stack (S) of memory arrays (M) is formed by two or more ribbon-like structures (R), which are folded and/or braided into each other. Each ribbon-like structure (R) comprises a flexible substrate (3) of non-conducting material and the electrode layers (2;4) provided on each surface of the substrate and comprising the parallel strip-like electrodes extending along the ribbon-like structure (R).

Abstract: A method for generating electrically conducting and/or semiconducting structures in three dimensions in a matrix that includes two or more materials in spatially separated material structures is disclosed. An electric field is applied to the separate material structure and the field is modulated spatially according to a protocol. The protocol represents a predetermined pattern of electrically conducting and/or semiconducting structures that are generated in the material structure in response to the field. The matrix composed by the material structures includes structures of this kind in three dimensions.

Abstract: In a non-volatile memory device (10) comprising an electrically polarizable dielectric memory material (11) with ferroelectric or electret properties and capable of exhibiting hysteresis and remanence, wherein the memory material (11) comprises one or more polymers, at least one of these polymers is a deuterated polymer.

Abstract: In a scalable data processing apparatus, particularly a data storage apparatus, one or more thin-film devices which form a substantially planar layer comprise a plurality of sublayers of thin film. Two or more thin-film devices are provided as an integrated stack of the substantially planar layers which form the thin-film devices, such that the apparatus thereby forms a stacked configuration. Each thin-film device comprises one or more memory areas which form matrix addressable memories and additionally circuit areas which form electronic thin-film circuitry for controlling, driving and addressing memory cells in one or more memories. Each memory device has an interface to every other thin-film device in the apparatus, said interfaces being realized with communication and signal lines as well as supporting circuitry for processing extending vertically through dedicated interface areas in the thin-film device.

Abstract: In a memory and/or data processing device having at least two stacked layers which are supported by a substrate or forming a sandwich self-supporting structure, wherein the layers comprise memory and/or processing circuitry with mutual connections between the layers and/or to circuitry in the substrate, the layers are mutually arranged such that contiguous layers form a staggered structure on at least one edge of the device and at least one electrical edge conductor is provided passing over the edge on one layer and down one step at a time, enabling the connection to an electrical conductor in any of the following layers in the stack. A method for manufacturing a device of this kind comprises steps for adding said layers successively, one layer at a time such that the layers form a staggered structure and for providing one or more layers with at least one electrical contacting pad for linking to one or more interlayer edge connectors.

Abstract: In a ferroelectric data processing device for processing and/or storage of data with passive or electrical addressing a data-carrying medium is used in the form of a thin film (1) of ferroelectric material which by an applied electric field is polarized to determined polarization states or switched between these and is provided as a continuous layer in or adjacent toelectrode structures in the form of a matrix. A logic element (4) is formed at the intersection between an x electrode (2) and a y electrode (3) of the electrode matrix. The logic element (4) is addressed by applying to the electrodes (2, 3) a voltage greater than the coercivity field of the ferroelectric material.

Abstract: In a method for determining a logic state of a memory cell in a data storage device, wherein the cell stores data in the form of an electrical polarization state in a capacitor containing a polarizable material, a time-dependent small-signal voltage is applied over the capacitor, and at least one component of a generated small-signal current response is recorded. This component shall have either a linear or non-linear relationship to the small-signal voltage, such that logic state can be determined by temporal correlation between the small-signal voltage and a recorded component.

Abstract: In a method for preparing ultra-thin films of carbon-containing materials, particularly thin films of polymer materials. Films with a thickness of 0.5 &mgr;m or less are formed by deposition of the materials from a liquid phase onto a solid surface. The deposition takes place in an enclosure where the materials also are subjected to a post-deposition processing. The total humidity content in the enclosure shall be maintained at a level corresponding to a relative humidity of less than 50% in a volume of air equal to the volume of enclosure by excluding and/or removing water arid water vapor from the materials and/or the atmosphere in the enclosure.

Abstract: A method for generating electrically conducting and/or semiconducting structures in three dimensions in a matrix that includes two or more materials in spatially separated material structures is disclosed. An electric field is applied to the separate material structure and the field is modulated spatially according to a protocol. The protocol represents a predetermined pattern of electrically conducting and/or semiconducting structures that are generated in the material structure in response to the field. The matrix composed by the material structures includes structures of this kind in three dimensions. A method for global erasing is also disclosed, wherein an electric field is applied to the matrix until the materials in the matrix, in their entirety, arrive in a non-conducting state in response to the field.

Abstract: A device for providing addressability in an apparatus including one or more volume elements which together with the device form part of a matrix in the apparatus. The device establishes an electrical connection to specific cells by electrodes in the matrix and thereby defining a cell in the volume element. The device includes at least three sets of plural strip-like electrodes, the strip-like electrodes of each set being provided in substantially parallel relationship to each other in a two-dimensional and planar layer forming an additional part of the matrix. A set of strip-like electrodes in one layer is oriented at an angle to the projected angle of orientation of the electrode sets in proximal neighboring layers onto this one layer, such that the sets of strip-like electrodes in proximal neighboring layers exhibit a mutual non-orthogonal relationship.

Abstract: Electrically conducting and/or semiconducting structures are generated in three dimensions in a composite matrix including two or more materials provided in spatially separate and homogenous material structures. Materials undergo specific physical and/or chemical changes causing transition from electrically non-conducing to electrically conducting and semiconducting state. The material structures are radiated with a given intensity or frequency characteristic adapted to the specific response of the material. Spatially modulating the radiation according to a protocol representing a pattern of electrically conducing and semiconducting structures in the relevant material structures generates the two dimensional electrically conducting and semiconducting structures in the material structure. The composite matrix is provided with electrically conducting and semiconducting structures in three dimensions. Spectral ranges of the radiation include gamma, x-ray, ultraviolet, visible light, inferred, and microwave.

Abstract: In a method of driving a passive matrix display or memory array of cells comprising an electrically polarizable material exhibiting hysteresis, in particular a ferroelectric material, wherein the polarization state of individual cells can be switched by application of electric potentials or voltages to word and bit lines in the matrix or array, a potential on selected word and bit lines is controlled to approach or coincide with one of n predefined potential levels and the potentials on all word and bit lines are controlled in time according to a protocol such that word lines are sequentially latched to potentials selected among nWORD potentials, while the bit lines are either latched sequentially to potentials selected among nBIT potentials, or during a certain period of a timing sequence given by the protocol connected to circuitry for detecting charges flowing between a bit line or bit lines and cells connecting thereto.

Abstract: A read-only memory is made electrically addressable over a passive conductor matrix, wherein the volume between intersection of two conductors (2; 4) in the matrix defines a memory cell (5). Data are stored as impedance values in the memory cells. The memory cells (5) comprise either an isolating material (6) which provides high impedance or one or more inorganic or organic semiconductors (9), preferably with an anisotropic conducting property. The semiconductor material (9) forms a diode junction at the interface to a metallic conductor (2; 4) in the matrix. By suitable arrangement of respectively the isolating material (6) and semiconductor material (9) in the memory cells these may be given a determined impedance value which may be read electrically and corresponds to logical values in a binary or multi-valued code. One or more read-only memories (ROM) may be provided on a semiconductor substrate (1) which also comprises driver and control circuits (13), to accomplish a read-only memory device.

Abstract: In a multilayer logic device or processor device with a plurality of individually matrix-addressable stacked thin layers of an active material, the active material in each layer is provided between a first electrode set and a second electrode set wherein the electrodes in the first set realize the columns and the electrodes in the second set the rows in an orthogonal array. The intersections between the electrodes in the array define logic cells in the layer of active material, and the stacked layers of active material are provided on a common supporting substrate. A separation layer with determined electrical or thermal properties is provided between each layer of active material.

Abstract: In a ferroelectric data processing device for processing and/or storage of data with passive or electrical addressing a data-carrying medium is used in the form of a thin film (1) of ferroelectric material which by an applied electric field is polarized to determined polarization states or switched between these and is provided as a continuous layer in or adjacent to electrode structures in the form of a matrix. A logic element (4) is formed at the intersection between an x electrode (2) and a y electrode (3) of the electrode matrix. The logic element (4) is addressed by applying to the electrodes (2, 3) a voltage greater than the coercivity field of the ferroelectric material.

Abstract: In a method for performing read and write operations in a passive matrix-addressed memory array of memory cells comprising an electrically polarizable material exhibiting polarization remanence, in particular an electret or ferroelectric material, wherein a logical value stored in a memory cell is represented by an actual polarization state in the memory cell, a degree of polarization in the polarizable material is limited during each read and write cycle to a value defined by a circuit device controlling the read and write operations, with said value ranging from zero to an upper limit corresponding to saturation of the polarization and consistent with predetermined criterta for a reliable detection of a logic state of a memory cell.

Abstract: In a means for providing addressability in an apparatus comprising one or more volume elements which together with said means form part of a matrix in the apparatus and wherein a volume element comprises one or more cells with a data storage or processing functionality, said means establishes an electrical connection to specific cells by means of electrodes in the matrix and thereby defining a cell in the volume element. Said means comprises at least three sets of plural strip-like electrodes, the strip-like electrodes of each set being provided in substantially parallel relationship to each other in a two-dimensional and planar layer forming an additional part of the matrix. A set of strip-like electrodes in one layer is oriented at an angle to the projected angle of orientation of the electrode sets in proximal neighboring layers onto this one layer, such that the sets of strip-like electrodes in proximal neighboring layers exhibit a mutual non-orthogonal relationship.

Abstract: In a multilayer logic device or processor device with a plurality of individually matrix-addressable stacked thin layers of an active material, the active material in each layer is provided between a first electrode set and a second electrode set wherein the electrodes in the first set realize the columns and the electrodes in the second set the rows in an orthogonal array. The intersections between the electrodes in the array define logic cells in the layer of active material, and the stacked layers of active material are provided on a common supporting substrate. A separation layer with determined electrical or thermal properties is provided between each layer of active material.

Abstract: A read-only memory is made electrically addressable over a passive conductor matrix, wherein at least a portion of the volume between intersection of two conductors (2;4) in the matrix defines a memory cell (5) in the read-only memory. Data are stored as impedance values in the memory cells. The memory cells (5) comprise either an isolating material (6) which provides high impedance or one or more inorganic or organic semiconductors (9), preferably with an anisotropic conducting property. The semiconductor material (9) forms a diode junction at the interface to a metallic conductor (2;4) in the matrix. By suitable arrangement of respectively the isolating material (6) and semiconductor material (9) in the memory cells these may be given a determined impedance value which may be read electrically and corresponds to logical values in a binary or multi-valued code.

Abstract: In a multistable optical logic element with a light-sensitive organic material (1) which undergoes a photocycle with several physical states by irradiation with light, and wherein a physical state is assigned a logical value which can be changed by addressing the element optically, the element initially before the addressing is in a metastable state generated in advance. A multistable optical logic element has been made proximity-addressable by providing at least a color light source (2) for optical addressing and at least one color-sensitive optical detector (5) adjacent to the light-sensitive material. In a method for preparing of the light-sensitive material (1) a desired initial metastable state is generated in the photocycle and assigned a determined logical value for the element.