Circuit arrays having cells with combinations of transistors and nanotube
switches. Under one embodiment, a circuit array includes a plurality of
cells arranged in an organization of words, each word having a plurality
of bits. Each cell is responsive to a bit line, word line, reference
line, and release line. Bit lines are arranged orthogonally relative to
word lines and each word line and bit line are shared among a plurality
of cells. Each cell is selectable via the activation of the bit line and
word line. Each cell includes a field effect transistor coupled to a
nanotube switching element. The nanotube switching element is switchable
to at least two physical positions at least in part in response to
electrical stimulation via the reference line and release line.
Information state of the cell is non-volatilely stored via the respective
physical position of the nanotube switching element. Under another
embodiment, a circuit array includes a plurality of cells arranged in an
organization of words, each word having a plurality of bits. Each cell is
responsive to a bit line, word line, and reference line. Each word line
and bit line are shared among a plurality of cells. Each cell is
selectable via the activation of the bit line and word line. Each cell
includes a field effect transistor and a nanotube switching element. Each
nanotube switching element includes a nanotube article positioned between
a set electrode and a release electrode. The set electrode may be
electrically stimulated to electro-statically attract the nanotube
article into contact with the set electrode and the release electrode may
be electrically stimulated to electro-statically attract the nanotube
article out of contact with the set electrode. Information state of the
cell is non-volatilely stored via the respective physical position of the
nanotube switching element. Cells are arranged as pairs with the nanotube
switching elements of the pair being cross coupled so that the set
electrode of one nanotube switching element is coupled to the release
electrode of the other and the release electrode of the one nanotube
switching element being coupled to the set electrode of the other. The
nanotube articles are coupled to the reference line, and the source of
one field effect transistor of a pair is coupled to the set electrode to
one of the two nanotube switching elements and the source of the other
field effect transistor of the pair is coupled to the release electrode
to the one of the two nanotube switching elements.