Nanowire Crossbar Implementations of logic Gates using configurable, tunneling resistor junctions

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to nanowire crossbars that use configurable, tunneling resistor junctions to electronically implement logic gates. In one embodiment of the present invention, a method for implementing a logic gate comprises: providing a first layer of approximately parallel nanowires; interconnecting the first layer of approximately parallel nanowires with a second layer of approximately parallel nanowires through configurable, tunneling resistor junctions; selecting nanowires from among the first and second layer of nanowires to carry input and output electrical signals representing logical values; applying electrical signals representing input logical values to the input nanowires; and detecting an electrical signal representing an output logical value on the output nanowires.

1 . A method for implementing a logic gate, the method comprising:
 providing a first layer of approximately parallel nanowires;   interconnecting the first layer of approximately parallel nanowires with a second layer of approximately parallel nanowires through configurable, tunneling resistor junctions;   selecting nanowires from among the first and second layer of nanowires to carry input and output electrical signals representing logical values;   applying electrical signals representing input logical values to the input nanowires; and   detecting an electrical signal representing an output logical value on the output nanowires.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising selecting nanowires from among the first layer of nanowires that carry pull-up voltages. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising selecting nanowires from among the second layer of nanowires that carry pull-down voltages. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the electrical signals further comprises voltage signals. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the electrical signals further comprises current signals. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the electrical signals are weak or strong electrical signals.