Cascadable microelectromechanical resonator logic gate

Abstract

Micro/nano-electromechanical resonator-based logic elements have emerged recently as an attractive potential alternative to semiconductor electronics. The next step for this technology platform to make it into practical applications and to build complex computing operations beyond the fundamental logic gates is to develop cascadable logic units. Such units should produce outputs that can be used as inputs for the next logic units. Despite the recent developments in electromechanical computing, this requirement has remained elusive. Here, we demonstrate for the first time a conceptual framework for cascadable logic units. Cascadability is experimentally demonstrated through two case studies; one by cascading two OR logic gates. The other case is the universal NOR logic gate realized by cascading an OR and a NOT gate. The logic operations are performed by on-demand activation and deactivation of the second mode of vibration of a clamped-clamped microbeam resonator. We show that the demonstrated approach significantly lowers the complexity and number of microresonator-based logic functions compared to the CMOS-based counterparts, which improves energy efficiency. This can potentially lead toward the realization of a novel technology platform for an alternative computing paradigm.

A Compact Adder and Reprogrammable Logic Gate Using Micro-Electromechanical Resonators With Partial Electrodes

“…3). We are currently investigating design strategies, such as resistive termination between logic stages [18], to minimize the need for extra signal conditioning blocks.…”

Modeling and Simulation of A MEMS Resonator Based Reprogrammable Logic Gate Using Partial Electrodes

“…Therefore, a circuit is required to rectify the output signal and amplify it to prepare it for the next stage. Rectification can be eliminated by unifying the input and output signal types [8]. The amount of required amplification can be minimized by using termination resistors with values close to the motional resistance of the resonator as discussed in [8].…”

“…One of the interesting aspects of micro-resonator based logic gates is that they are reprogrammable, which means that the same device can be used to perform different functions. For example, a reprogrammable gate that can perform OR and XOR functions was implemented by choosing the vibration mode of the resonator [7,8]. Other ways have been explored to achieve reprogrammability such as tuning the resonance frequency by modulating the stiffness of a resonator beam using direct current flowing through the beam.…”

“…That will create more reliable devices with repeatable characteristics and paves the way for building more complicated systems. In particular, building multi-stage resonator-based circuits is a challenging task as interface circuitry between different resonators is required [8]. These circuits may include amplifiers, buffers, feedthrough signal cancellation circuits, AC to DC converters…etc.…”

Parallel Logics Using Multimode Excitation of a Single MEMS Resonator

“…However, the difference between the input and output frequencies complicates the possibility of cascading multiple devices to perform complex logic functions. Recently, the potential for cascading multiple logic elements has been demonstrated by operating different resonators at the same frequency and using the AC signal to represent the logic inputs [14]. Multiple logic gates are demonstrated by selectively activating and deactivating different modes of vibrations of a piezoelectric circular membrane [15].…”