Abstract: Systems in accordance with the present invention can include a tip contactable with a media, the media including a substrate and a plurality of cells disposed over the substrate, one or more of the cells being electrically isolated from the other of the cells by a material having insulating properties. One or more of the plurality of cells can include a phase change material. The media is either grounded or electrically connected with a voltage source such that when the tip is placed in contact with the media and a voltage is applied to the tip, a current is drawn through the cell over which the tip is arranged. The current is drawn through the isolated cell at least a portion of the phase change material within the cell beneath the tip is heated to a sufficient temperature such that the material become amorphous in structure. The current is then removed from the phase change material, which is quickly cooled to form an amorphous domain having a resistance representing a “1” (or a “0”).

Abstract: Systems in accordance with the present invention can include a tip contactable with a media, the media including a substrate and a plurality of cells disposed over the substrate, one or more of the cells being electrically isolated from the other of the cells by a material having insulating properties. One or more of the plurality of cells can include a phase change material. The media is either grounded or electrically connected with a voltage source such that when the tip is placed in contact with the media and a voltage is applied to the tip, a current is drawn through the cell over which the tip is arranged. The current is drawn through the isolated cell at least a portion of the phase change material within the cell beneath the tip is heated to a sufficient temperature such that the material become amorphous in structure. The current is then removed from the phase change material, which is quickly cooled to form an amorphous domain having a resistance representing a “1” (or a “0”).

Abstract: Systems in accordance with the present invention can include a tip contactable with a media, the media including a phase change material in an embodiment (or polarity-dependent memory material or other memory material in other embodiments) disposed between a substrate and an overcoat. The overcoat is a co-deposited film having a conductive portion and a substantially non-conductive portion, the co-deposited film conducting current more efficiently through the overcoat than across the overcoat. The overcoat substantially directs the current so that a portion of the phase change material directly beneath the tip is heated to a sufficient temperature such that the structure of the material become disordered. The current is then removed from the phase change material, which is quickly cooled to form an domain having a resistivity larger than the crystalline bulk structure.

Abstract: Systems in accordance with the present invention can include a tip contactable with a media, the media including a substrate and a plurality of cells disposed over the substrate, one or more of the cells being electrically isolated from the other of the cells by a material having insulating properties. One or more of the plurality of cells can include a phase change material. The media is either grounded or electrically connected with a voltage source such that when the tip is placed in contact with the media and a voltage is applied to the tip, a current is drawn through the cell over which the tip is arranged. The current is drawn through the isolated cell at least a portion of the phase change material within the cell beneath the tip is heated to a sufficient temperature such that the material become amorphous in structure. The current is then removed from the phase change material, which is quickly cooled to form an amorphous domain having a resistance representing a “1” (or a “0”).

Abstract: Systems in accordance with the present invention can include a tip contactable with a media, the media including a substrate and a plurality of cells disposed over the substrate, one or more of the cells being electrically isolated from the other of the cells by a material having insulating properties. One or more of the plurality of cells can include a phase change material. The media is either grounded or electrically connected with a voltage source such that when the tip is placed in contact with the media and a voltage is applied to the tip, a current is drawn through the cell over which the tip is arranged. The current is drawn through the isolated cell at least a portion of the phase change material within the cell beneath the tip is heated to a sufficient temperature such that the material become amorphous in structure. The current is then removed from the phase change material, which is quickly cooled to form an amorphous domain having a resistance representing a “1” (or a “0”).

Abstract: Systems in accordance with the present invention can include a tip contactable with a media, the media including a substrate, a conductive under-layer disposed over the substrate, and a polarity dependent memory switching media disposed over the under-layer. In an embodiment, the polarity dependent memory switching media is continuous and the media either grounded or electrically connected with a voltage source such that when the tip is placed in contact with the media and a forward voltage is applied to the tip, causing the polarity dependent memory switching media to form an Ag dendritic structure bridging the tip and the under-layer. The bridging causes a reduction in resistance corresponding to a “1” or a “0.” In an alternative embodiment, an insulating material can be disposed over the substrate such that a plurality of cells is formed, at least one of the cells including the polarity dependent memory switching media.