Information transfer method, information transfer apparatus, and its driving method

An information transfer method comprises connecting a plurality of MIM devices comprising a monomolecular film of an organic compound or built-up films thereof as the insulating layer and having the switching memory function, and transferring the information on the side nearer to the oscillation source of the information every second bit or every second line or every second picture face successively to the side farther from the oscillation source. An information transfer apparatus comprises using an array or a plurality of arrays of circuits with devices having rectifiability connected in series with the rectifying directions being aligned, connecting one terminal of a two-terminal circuit having an MIM device having switching memory function to each connecting point A, connecting the other terminal of every odd number to provide a second terminal, and having a voltage application means capable of taking a disconnected state relative to the connecting point A.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to an information transfer method of an image 
information in, for example, still video, etc., an information transfer 
apparatus, and its driving method. 
Also, the present invention pertains to an information transfer apparatus 
to be applied to, for example, a still video apparatus, a copying machine, 
etc. 
Related Background Art 
In the prior art, a MIM device (switching LB-MIM device) having a switching 
memory function with an LB film (Langmuir-Blodgett's film) as the 
insulation film has been proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open 
No. 63-96956. 
About how the devices by use of such LB film can be specifically 
incorporated into the system in order to surpass the group of apparatus 
related to electronics techniques which have been developed with inorganic 
semiconductors as the center in the prior art, the study is still at the 
stage when just begun. 
As an example, there may be only mentioned the fact that great memory 
ability can be exhibited by making an access of an organic thin film 
having switching memory function by an STM apparatus as proposed in 
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 63-161553. 
One of the specific features of such organic thin film is that a large area 
can be prepared more uniformly as compared with inorganic semiconductors, 
but even if a thin film with a large area can be formed and may 
potentially have a great memory capability, without an appropriate access 
means, no practically great memory ability can be exhibited. 
As an example conceivable as the access means, there may be mentioned an 
example in which matrix circuits are assembled and the respective 
intersecting points of the matrix are used as memory. 
However, in such case, the memory capacity obtained is only about square of 
the number of wirings from outside. 
On the other hand, there has been proposed the charge transfer system known 
as the bucket brigade device (abbreviated as BBD) in which charging and 
discharging of a capacitor are performed every other bit, in Sangster, F. 
J., Philips Tech. Review 31 97-110 (1970). 
However, in such information transfer system (method), when the power 
voltage is made an OFF state, the capacitor discharges the charges with 
time, whereby there has been involved that no information can be stored 
for a long time within the BBD. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an 
information transfer method, an information transfer device and a driving 
method thereof which can store information semi-permanently even if placed 
under OFF state which has cancelled the problems as described above. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide an information 
transfer apparatus of a new type which can draw out potentially great 
memory capacity based on large area of organic thin film, having high 
capacity as well as high reliability and yet is excellent in bulk 
productivity with small number of wirings from outside. 
The above objects can be accomplished by the present invention as specified 
below. 
In the first place, there is provided an information transfer method, which 
comprises connecting a plurality of MIM devices comprising a monomolecular 
film of an organic compound or built-up films thereof as the insulating 
layer and having the switching memory function, and transferring the 
information on the side nearer to the oscillation source of the 
information every second bit or every second line or every second picture 
face successively to the side farther from the oscillation source. 
Secondly, there is provided an information transferring method, which 
comprises transferring an information in an electrical circuit having a 
devices and b devices which are MIM devices comprising a monomolecular 
film of an organic compound or built-up films thereof as the insulating 
layer and having the switching memory function arrayed alternately in a 
row or in a plurality of rows, wherein the memory in the b devices is 
erased to effect information transmission from the a devices positioned 
immediately before said b device to said b device, and subsequently the 
memory in the a device is erased to effect information transmission from 
the b device positioned immediately before said a device to said a device. 
Thirdly, there is provided an information transfer apparatus comprising 
using an array or a plurality of arrays of circuits with devices having 
rectifiability connected in series with the rectifying directions being 
aligned, connecting one terminal of a two-terminal circuit having an MIM 
device having switching memory function to each connecting point A, 
connecting the other therminal of every odd number to provide a second 
terminal, and having a voltage application means capable of taking a 
disconnected state relative to said connecting point A. 
Fourthly, there is provided a method for driving an information transfer 
apparatus according to the second or the third invention, which comprises, 
as the first period, applying a voltage for making the MIM device of the 
information transfer address under the first state simultaneously with 
holding the information of the MIM device of the information transfer 
source and, as the second period, a voltage for information transfer is 
applied. 
Fifthly, there is provided an information transfer apparatus comprising an 
MIM device comprising a monomolecular film of an organic compound or a 
built-up film thereof as the insulating film, a circuit having a device of 
which electrical resistance varied depending on the input information 
connected and a voltage application means. 
Sixthly, there is provided an information transfer apparatus, comprising an 
MIM device comprising a monomolecular film of an organic compound or 
built-up films thereof as the insulating film and having the switching 
memory function at each connecting point of a circuit with devices having 
rectifiability connected with their rectifying directions aligned, a 
circuit with a device of which electrical resistance varies depending on 
the input information arranged on one end thereof and a resistor on the 
other end, respectively, and a voltage application means. 
Seventhly, there is provided an information transfer apparatus comprising 
an MIM device comprising a monomolecular film of an organic compound or 
built-up films thereof as the insulating layer and having switching memory 
function, a circuit having a device of which electrical resistance varies 
with temperature connected thereto and a voltage application means. 
Eighthly, there is provided an information transfer apparatus, comprising 
an MIM device comprising a monomolecular film of an organic compound or 
built-up films thereof as the insulating film and having the switching 
memory function arranged at each connecting point of a circuit with 
devices having rectifiability connected with their rectifying directions 
aligned, a circuit with a device of which electrical resistance varies 
with temperature arranged on one end thereof and a resistor on the other 
end, respectively, and a voltage application means. 
Ninthly, there is provided an information transfer apparatus comprising an 
MIM device comprising a monomolecular film of an organic compound or 
built-up films thereof as the insulating layer and having switching memory 
function, a circuit having a photoconductive device connected thereto and 
a voltage application means. 
Tenthly, there is provided an information transfer apparatus, comprising an 
MIM device comprising a monomolecular film of an organic compound or 
built-up films thereof as the insulating film and having the switching 
memory function arranged at each connecting point of a circuit with 
devices having rectifiability connected with their rectifying directions 
aligned, a circuit with a photoconductive arranged on one end thereof and 
a resistor on the other end, respectively, and a voltage application 
means. 
Eleventhly, there is provided an information transfer apparatus, comprising 
an MIM device comprising a monomolecular film of an organic compound or 
built-up films thereof as the insulating film and having the switching 
memory function arranged at each connecting point of a circuit with 
devices having rectifiability connected with their rectifying directions 
aligned, a circuit with a photoconductive arranged on one end thereof and 
a resistor on the other end, respectively, a voltage application means, an 
information holding member having an image information, a movement amount 
detecting device for detecting the movement amount of said information 
holding member, a linear light source and an optical system for inputting 
the image information into the photoconductive device by reflecting the 
light from said linear light source. 
Twelfthly, there is provided an information transfer apparatus, comprising 
a monomolecular film of an organic compound or built-up films thereof as 
the insulating layer and having switching memory function, a circuit 
having a device of which electrical resistance varies with humidity 
connected thereto and a voltage application means. 
Thirteenthly, there is provided an information transfer apparatus, 
comprising an MIM device comprising a monomolecular film of an organic 
compound or built-up films thereof as the insulating film and having the 
switching memory function arranged at each connecting point of a circuit 
with devices having rectifiability connected with their rectifying 
directions aligned, a circuit with a device of which electrical resistance 
varies with humidity arranged on one end thereof and a resistor on the 
other end, respectively, and a voltage application means.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
More specifically, according to the present invention, by use of an MIM 
device having switching memory function with a monomolecular film of an 
organic compound or built-up films thereof as the insulation layer 
(switching LB-MIM device), the information in the front is successively 
transfer memorized at every other bit or every other line or every other 
picture face, successively, to the rear, whereby the information is 
adapted to be stored semi-permanently within the switching LB-MIM device 
even if the power source voltage may be made to an OFF state. 
Further, according to the present invention, by applying a voltage on a 
circuit connected in series with an MIM device having switching memory 
function (switching LB-MIM device) as described above and a device of 
which electrical resistance varies depending on the input information, the 
input information can be transferred to the switching LB-MIM device to be 
memorized therein, and the memorized information will be stored 
semi-permanently even if the power voltage may be made to an OFF state. 
The input information as mentioned in the present invention refers to 
temperature, humidity, light, etc. 
The switching memory function as mentioned in the present invention refers 
to the function of enabling reversibly transition (switching) to the low 
resistance state and the high resistance state and yet capable of holding 
(memorizing) the respective states even when application of the voltage 
may be stopped by applying a voltage exceeding the threshold value capable 
of transitioning the state exhibiting two or more electroconductivities 
different from each other under the state where a thin film such as an 
organic monomolecular film, built-up films thereof, etc. is arranged 
between a pair of electrodes. 
In such present invention, applicable organic compounds may include organic 
materials having a group having .pi.-electron conjugation system which 
system is suitable for the present invention, and examples of the 
structure of the dye having the .pi.-electron conjugation system may 
include dyes having porphyrin skelton such as phthalocyanine, 
tetraphenyl-porphyrin, etc., azulene type dyes having squarylium group and 
croconicmethine group as the linking chain and dyes analogous to cyanine 
type having 2 nitrogens containing heterocyclic rings such as quinoline, 
benzothiazole, benzooxazole bonded through squarylium group and 
croconicmethine group, or fused polycyclic aromatic compounds such as 
cyanine dyes, anthracene and pyrene, etc., and linear compounds comprising 
polymers of aromatic and heterocyclic compounds and polymers of 
diacetylene groups, further derivatives of tetracynoquinodimethane or 
tetrathiafluvalene and analogues thereof and charge transfer complexes 
thereof, and further metal complex compounds such as ferrocene, 
trisbipyridine luthenium complexes, etc. 
As the polymeric material suitable for the present invention, for example, 
there may be included biological polymers of addition polymers such as 
polyacrylic acid derivatives, etc., condensed polymers such as polyimide, 
etc., ring-opened polymers such as nylon, etc. 
Concerning formation of the above insulation layer, although specifically 
the vapor deposition method, the cluster ion beam method, etc. can be 
applied, the Langmuir-Blodgett's (LB) method may be extremely suitably 
employed for controllability, easiness and reproducibility. 
According to the LB method, a monomolecular film of an organic compound 
having hydrophobic sites and hydrophilic sites in one molecule or built-up 
films thereof can be formed easily on a substrate, and also a uniform, 
homogeneous organic ultra-thin film having a thickness of molecular order 
and over a large area can be stably supplied. 
The LB method is a method for forming a monomolecular film or built-up 
films thereof by utilizing the fact that when in a molecule with a 
structure having hydrophilic sites and hydrophobic sites, when the balance 
between the two (amphiphilic balance) is adequately maintained, the 
molecule will become a layer of monomolecular film with the hydrophilic 
groups directed downwardly. 
As the group for constituting the hydrophobic sites, there may be included 
various hydrophobic groups generally and widely known in the art such as 
saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbon groups or fused polycyclic aromatic 
groups and chain polycyclic phenyl groups, etc. These will constitute the 
hydrophobic sites individually or as a combination of a plurality thereof. 
On the other hand, as the most representative of the constituents of 
hydrophobic sites, there may be included hydrophilic groups such as 
carboxyl group, ester group, acid amide group, imide group, hydroxyl 
group, further amino groups (primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary). 
An organic molecule having these hydrophobic groups and hydrophilic groups 
in combination with good balance can form a monomolecular film on the 
water surface, and can be an extremely suitable material for the present 
invention. 
The switching memory characteristic of the compounds having these 
.pi.-electron conjugation systems can be observed even with a film 
thickness of some 10 nm or less, but the thickness should be preferably 
made 5 to 300 .ANG. from film forming property, uniformity, etc. 
As the electrode material constituting the MIM device, it is preferably 
formed of noble metals such as Au, Pt, Pd, etc. which will not form 
insulating oxides on the electrodes (generally electrodes deposited on the 
support substrate) on which monomolecular film or built-up films thereof 
are formed, or electroconductive oxides such as ITO, etc. 
Referring now to Examples, the present invention is described in detail. 
EXAMPLE 1 
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing best the specific features of the information 
transfer method which is the present invention, particularly an 
information transfer method in an electrical circuit with a devices and b 
devices which are switching LB-MIM devices of the same kind being 
juxtaposed in a row in the order of ... ababab ... (or a plurality of 
rows), characterized in that: 
(1) first, the memory of a b device is erased, 
(2) an information is transferred from an a device to the adjoining rear b 
device, 
(3) subsequently, the memory in the a device is erased, and 
(4) an information is transferred from the b device to the adjoining rear a 
device. 
Here, as the a device and the b device, as shown in FIG. 6, 11, a switching 
LB-MIM device having a constitution of (upper electrode) 16/SOAZ 
(squarylium type dye) layer LB film 15/Au (lower electrode) 16 were 
employed. 
Such MIM device was prepared as described below. 
First, on a glass substrate 17 (#7059 produced by Corning) subjected to the 
hydrophobic treatment by leaving it to stand in the saturated vapor of 
hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) one day and night was deposited Cr as the 
subbing layer to a thickness of 500 .ANG. by the vacuum vapor deposition 
method, further vapor deposited Au (film thickness 1000 .ANG.) by the same 
method to form a stripe-shaped subbing electrode 16 to a width of 1 mm. By 
use of such substrate as the carrier, monomolecular films of 
squarylium-bis-6-octylazulene (SOAZ) were built up by the LB method. The 
method for building up films is described in detail below. 
A solution of SOAZ dissolved at a concentration of 0.2 mg/ml in chloroform 
was spread onto an aqueous phase with a water temperature of 20.degree. C. 
to form a monomolecular film on the water surface. Having awaited 
evaporation of the solvent, the surface pressure of the monomolecular film 
was enhanced to 20 mN/m, and further the above substrate was dipped in the 
direction transversing the water surface gently at a speed of 10 mm/min., 
and subsequently drawn up gently at 5 mm/min. to build up two layers of 
Y-type monomolecular films. Then, this was repeated to build up 12 layers, 
thus forming an insulating layer (LB film) 15. 
Next, on such film surface is vacuum vapor deposited a stripe-shaped A1 
(film thickness 1500 .ANG.) with a width of 1 mm so as to be crossed at 
right angle, while maintaining the substrate temperature at room 
temperature or lower, to form an upper electrode 16. 
FIG. 2 shows the switching memory characteristics (I-V characteristics) of 
this device. Switching LB-MIM devices generally take three states with 
different electroconductivities of OFF state [OFF (B) state], MID state 
[OFF (A) state] and ON state, but here, the specific feature resides in 
use of the switching memory function between the OFF (B) state and the OFF 
(A) state. Of course, the present invention is not limited to this, but, 
for example, the switching memory function between OFF (B) state and ON 
state may be also employed. 
As shown in FIG. 2, such MIM device 11 has switching memory characteristics 
having OFF (A) state and OFF (B) state and, particularly around 2 V of 
application voltage, OFF (A) state (state "1") is a resistance value of 
K.OMEGA. order and OFF (B) state (state "0") that of M.OMEGA. order. 
Switching from the state "1" to the state "0" is effected by application of 
rectangular pulses of 5 V or higher, and the switching from the state "0" 
to the state "1" by application of rectangular pulses of about 3 V. 
In FIG. 1, information transfer from the a device to the b device is 
effected particularly by switching so that the b device may become also 
the OFF (A) state if the a device is OFF (A) state, and the b device may 
become also the OFF (B) state if the a device is OFF (B) state. 
EXAMPLE 2 
FIG. 3A is a diagram showing an example of the information transfer 
apparatus which is the present invention, and it is an information 
transfer apparatus by use of an array (or a plurality of arrays) of a 
circuit with devices 51 to 56 having rectifiability connected in series, 
characterized in that one terminal of the two-terminal circuit having the 
switching LB-MIM devices 61 to 66 is connected to each connecting point A, 
and that the other device at the odd number is connected to provide a 
first terminal 1 and that at the even number is connected to provide a 
second terminal 2, and that the apparatus has a voltage application means 
capable of taking the disconnected state relative to the above connecting 
point A. 
In FIG. 3A, 4 is a switch enabling the disconnected state, and here 
particularly a photocoupler switch was employed, but, for example, a 
conventional electromagnetic system relay may be also employed. 3 is the 
terminal for applying a voltage on the connecting point A. 
Now, in FIG. 3A, when voltages having polarities different from each other 
are applied on the first terminal I and the second terminal 2, due to the 
function of the device having rectifiability, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, 
the portion applied with the voltage of the opposite direction to 
rectifiability becomes severed state, and only the portion applied with 
the voltage of the same direction as rectifiability is connected. That is, 
a circuit comprising a pair of each two of the switching LB-MIM devices of 
(+)switching LB-MIM device/device having rectifiability/(-) switching 
LB-MIM device is formed, and the information is transferred from the front 
device of said pair to the rear device. However, for the information to be 
correctly transferred, prior to information transfer, it becomes necessary 
to make the switching LB-MIM device of the information transfer address 
OFF state (the first state or OFF (B) state) and at the same time hold the 
information of the switching LB-MIM device of the information transfer 
source by use of the voltage application means capable of taking the 
disconnected states comprising 3 and 4 and the first terminal 1 and the 
second terminal 2. 
FIGS. 5A-5D are diagrams for illustration of the calculation function and 
the information transfer function when a voltage was applied on the a 
devices and the b devices having the characteristics shown in FIG. 2 
connected in series, 5A showing a circuit diagram, 5B a truth table, 5C a 
chart showing that when a voltage is applied on a circuit having devices 
of OFF (A) state [state "1"] and OFF (B) state [state "0"] connected in 
series, most of the voltage is applied to the OFF (B) state, 5D a chart 
that when a voltage is applied on a circuit having devices of OFF (B) 
state [state "0"] and OFF (B) state [state "0"], only half voltage (V/2) 
of the applied voltage (V) is applied on the respective devices. 
For switching the characteristics shown in FIG. 2 from the OFF (A) state to 
the OFF (B) state, the application voltage may be abruptly blocked by 
application of a voltage of about 5 V or higher, while on the contrary 
switching from the OFF (B) state to the OFF (A) state effected by 
application of a voltage of about 3 V. 
Therefore, by application of pulses with a peak voltage of about 3 V, it 
becomes possible to carry out the calculation processing having the a+b 
(OR) function as shown in FIG. 5B. Hence, by using the b device side as 
constantly reset to the OFF (B) state [state "0"], the information of the 
a device can be transferred to the b device. 
EXAMPLE 3 
FIG. 3B is a diagram showing an example of the driving method of the 
information transfer device of the present invention. 
As shown in the diagram, the method as the specific features in that it has 
the first period 71 and the second period 72, and in the first period, the 
switching LB-MIM device of the information transfer address is made the 
off-state (the first state of the OFF (B) state) and at the same time the 
voltage for holding the information in the switching LB-MIM device of the 
information transfer source is applied, while in the second period, the 
voltage for information transfer is applied. 
Particularly, here, the apparatus is characterized by using the switching 
memory function between the OFF (B) state and the OFF (A) state of the 
switching LB-MIM device. FIG. 3B is a time chart of the voltage waveforms 
during application of the voltages V1, V2, V3 respectively on the 
terminals 1, 2, 3, with 1H=80 msec, 1F=2H being the repetition (1 cycle) 
units, and by applying repeatedly waveforms corresponding to 1F, the 
information within the information transfer apparatus shown in FIG. 3A 
will be gradually transferred. 
Here, particularly the peak voltages of V1 and V2 in the first period were 
made .+-.4V and .-+.4V, and the peak voltage of V3 was made-4V. On the 
other hand, the peak voltages of V1 and V2 in the second period were made 
.+-.1.8V and .-+.1.8V, and V3 floating by disconnection with the switch 4. 
Particularly, as the diodes 51 to 56, a silicon diode with a holding 
voltage of 0.7 V in the normal direction was employed. Therefore, in the 
first period within the initial 1H period, the voltage (V.sub.3 -V.sub.1) 
applied on the devices 61, 62, 63 become 0 V, whereby the informations are 
held, while the voltage (V.sub.3 -V.sub.1) applied on the devices 62, 64, 
66 become 8 (=4+4) V, whereby resetting to the OFF (B) state is effected 
due to stand-up in shape of pulses. In the second period within the 
initial 1H period, the circuit state as shown in FIG. 4A is formed, and on 
the devices 62, 64, 65, if 61, 63, 66 of the information transfer sources 
are in an OFF (A) state, pulse voltages having a peak voltage of about 
V1+V2-V.sub.F =3.1 V are applied, whereby 62, 64, 65 become also OFF (A) 
state. On the contrary, if 61, 63, 66 of the information transfer sources 
are in an OFF (B) state, triangular waves having a peak voltage of about 
(V1+V2-V.sub.F)/2.perspectiveto.1.5 V are applied, whereby OFF (B) state 
remains as such because the value is lower than the switching threshold 
value. Thus, information is transferred and memorized between 
61.fwdarw.62, 63.fwdarw.64, 65.fwdarw.66. 
Similarly in the next 1H, information between 62.fwdarw.63, 64.fwdarw.65 
are transfer memorized, and subsequently transfer and memory of 
information were successively performed by repeated pulses. 
EXAMPLE 4 
FIG. 6 is a schematic constitutional view showing another embodiment of the 
information transfer device of the present invention, wherein 11 is the 
MIM device (switching LB-MIM device) used in Example 1, 12 a device of 
which electrical resistance varies with temperature, and 13 is a voltage 
application means. 
Here, as the device 12, particularly a CTR-type temperature sensitive 
semiconductor utilizing a weakly reducible atmosphere sintered product of 
a VBaP mixture oxide was employed. 
The device 2 of which electrical resistance varies with temperature 
exhibited a low resistance value of about 50.OMEGA. under the high 
temperature state (state "1") with a temperature of 100.degree. C., and 
had a high resistance value of about 1 M.OMEGA. under the low temperature 
state (state "0") with a temperature of 0.degree. C. 
Therefore, in FIG. 6, under the state of the switching LB-MIM device 1 rest 
at the OFF (B) state, by applying driving pulses with a pulse width of 1 
sec., a peak voltage of 3 V by use of a voltage application means 13, when 
the device 12 is under the high temperature state (state "1"), most of the 
application voltage is applied on the MIM device 11, whereby such MIM 
device 11 can be made OFF (A) state (state "1"), while when the device 12 
is under the low temperature state (state "0"), the application voltage is 
divided by resistance to be applied on the MIM device 11, whereby such MIM 
device 11 can be held as such under the OFF (B) state (state "0"). 
Thus, the temperature information possessed by the device 112 of which 
resistance varies with temperature could be transfer memorized to the 
switching LB-MIM device 11. 
EXAMPLE 5 
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another example of the present invention. In 
the present example, the information transfer apparatus is characterized 
by using a circuit B in which switching LB-MIM devices 32 to 37 are 
arranged at the respective connecting points A of the circuit with the 
diode devices 21 to 27 connected in series with the rectifying directions 
aligned from the front top to the rear tail, the device 31 of which 
resistance varies with temperature is arranged at the front top of the 
above circuit and the resistor 38 arranged at the rear tail of the above 
circuit. 
By use of such circuit B, the temperature information detected by the 
device 31 is transferred successively in the rectifying direction of the 
diodes to be memorized, and by monitoring the voltage at both terminals of 
the resistor at the rear tails, it has become possible to read the 
information transfer memorized. In the following, a detailed description 
is made. 
In FIG. 7, 41 and 42 are voltage application means V1 and V2 primarily for 
information transfer, 43 is voltage application means V.sub.3 primarily 
making the device which becomes the information transfer address among 32 
to 37 OFF (B) state (state "0"), and 44 a relay switch for switching the 
voltage application means 43 into a disconnected state relative to the 
connecting point A during information transfer. 
In such apparatus, by applying repeatedly a voltage characterized by having 
the first period 71 and the second period 72, different polarities at V1 
and V2 from each other and the absolute values V1, V2, V3 of the first 
interval voltage being equal to each other, as the power sources V.sub.1, 
V.sub.2, V.sub.3 in FIG. 7 as shown in FIG. 8, transfer recording of 
information is effected. Here, particularly the resistance of the device 
31 under low temperature state, the resistance of the switching LB-MIM 
devices 21 to 27 under OFF (B) state, and the resistance of the resistor 
at the circuit terminal are all equal on the M.OMEGA. order, and as the 
diodes 21 to 27, silicone diodes were employed, and as the maintained 
voltage V.sub.F in the normal direction, 0.7 V, while in the opposite 
direction, one with sufficiently higher resistance than M.OMEGA. were 
employed. 
At this time, when the peak voltage in the first section is made .+-.4V, 
and the switch 44 connected state, there is realized the state that every 
another of the diodes 21 to 27 is applied with a voltage of V.sub.1 
-V.sub.2 =+8 V, while no voltage is applied on other devices. In this 
case, the switching LB-MIM device applied with a voltage of +8 V is reset 
to the OFF (B) state, to be ready as the information transfer address. On 
the other hand, the device applied with no voltage continues to hold the 
information to become the information transfer source. 
Next, by making the peak voltages of V.sub.1, V.sub.2 in the second section 
.+-.1.9 V, and V3 disconnected state by use of the relay switch 44, a 
circuit of high independency is formed between the LB-MIM device of the 
information transfer source, the diodes in the normal direction and the 
LB-MIM device of the information address (or resistor at terminal), 
whereby a voltage of 3.1 (=3.8-0.7)V excluding the maintained voltage 
V.sub.F (=0.7 V) is applied on the series circuit of LB-MIM and therefore 
information and recording (excluding resistor at terminal) are effected 
according to the same principle as in Example 4. Accordingly, by applying 
repeatedly the waveform as described above while varying alternately the 
polarities of V.sub.1 and V.sub.2, the temperature information detected at 
the device 31 at the tip head portion can be transfer recorded 
successively toward the rear, and also can be taken out by use of the 
resistance binder at terminal. However, here 1H comprising the first 
period and the second period was made 3 sec. 
EXAMPLE 6 
FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention. 
It is the same as the apparatus shown in FIG. 6 except that a 
photoconductive device 12 was employed as the device of which electrical 
resistance varies depending on the input electrical information. 
As the photoconductive device 12, one utilizing the photoconductive effect 
of CdS, and having the resistance in a dark state when no light is 
irradiated (dark resistance) of about 1 M.OMEGA., and the resistance for 
the light resistance when light is irradiated (light resistance) of about 
1 K.OMEGA. was employed. 
At this time, in FIG. 9, under the state where the switching LB-MIM device 
11 is reset to OFF (B) state, by applying rectangular pulses with a pulse 
width of 1 sec., a peak voltage 3 V from the voltage application means 13, 
when the photoconductive device 12 is under light state (state "1"), most 
of the application voltage is applied on the MIM device 1, whereby the MIM 
device 11 can be made OFF (A) state (state "1"), while when the 
photoconductive device 12 is under dark state (state "0"), the application 
voltage is resistance divided (or capacitance divided) before applied on 
the MIM device 11, whereby the MIM device 11 can be held as such under the 
OFF (B) state (state "0"). 
Thus, the information concerning presence or absence of photoirradiation 
possessed by the photoconductive device 12 could be transfer memorized 
into the switching LB-MIM device. 
EXAMPLE 7 
In Example 5, except for using the photoconductive device in Example 6 in 
place of the device 31 of which resistance varies with temperature, the 
apparatus constitution was made the same as in Example 5. 
By use of such circuit B, by transferring and memorizing successively the 
information under light state and dark state detected by the 
photoconductive device 31 toward the rectifying direction and at the same 
time monitoring the voltages at both terminals of the resistor 38, the 
information transfer memorized could be read. 
EXAMPLE 8 
FIG. 10 is an example of the present invention, and is characterized by 
using a plurality of the circuits B described in Example 7. 
Here, particularly by arranging the photoconductive devices in a line, an 
information transfer apparatus having multi-functions of line sensor, line 
shift register, interface for external reading, etc. is realized. 
Of course, the present invention is limited by line arrangement, but, for 
example, by constituting a plurality of circuits B having photoconductive 
devices arranged in planar shape in bulk shape or bundle type, an 
information apparatus provided with all of area sensor, area shift 
register, interface for external reading is realized. 
EXAMPLE 9 
FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing an example of the present invention. 
This example is an information transfer apparatus comprising a movement 
amount detection device 83, a linear light source 86 and an optical system 
which inputs light reflected against said linear light source 86 into a 
photoconductive device. 
By moving the present apparatus on a paper surface 81 having an image 
information and performing information transfer operation corresponding to 
1H described in detail in Example 5 relative to the appropriate movement 
amount detected by the movement amount detecting apparatus 83, the image 
information on the paper surface 81 is successively transfer memorized, 
and the image information can be read out, if necessary. 
Here, to describe in detail about such apparatus, in FIG. 11, 100 consists 
of a plurality of circuits B having the photoconductive devices described 
in Example 8 in a line, and here the specific feature resides in that the 
disconnecting switch for the power source V3 is formed particularly by use 
of Thin Film Transistor (TFT), and opening and closing of the TFT portion 
is controlled by the power source V4. 91 is a Cds thin film sandwiched by 
the metal electrodes 92,93, and photoconductive devices are constituted of 
91 to 93, and arranged in a line in the direction vertical to the paper 
surface to form an optical line sensor. 
105 is an LB film similar to the LB film 15 shown in Example 6, and 
sandwiched between the metal electrodes 106, thus constituting a plurality 
of switching LB-MIM devices. 
94 is a carbon resistance for information reading by use of 95 and 96 as 
the electrodes, 97, 98 are terminals for reading connected thereto, and 
similar terminals are formed in a line vertically to the paper surface. On 
the other hand, 87 is a reflection plate for the linear light source 86, 
which is a part of the optical system by irradiating a light source on the 
paper surface following the incident light pathway 88 and inputting the 
reflected light corresponding to the shade of the paper surface into the 
line sensor portion comprising 91 to 93. 
For the movement amount detection device 83, one having a rotatory portion 
and detecting the movement amount on the paper surface by rotation of said 
rotatory portion was employed. 
82 is a rotatory member for realizing smooth movement on the paper surface. 
85 is a control apparatus, and as shown by the dotted line, corresponding 
to the movement amount read by 83, the voltages of V1-V4 are controlled to 
perform control for transferring and memorizing the image on the paper 
surface 81 effectively into the information transfer apparatus 100. 
EXAMPLE 10 
FIG. 12 shows the apparatus according to another embodiment of the present 
invention. 
Except for using a device of which electrical resistance varies with 
humidity as the device which varies depending on the inputted information, 
it is the same as the apparatus shown in FIG. 6 (Example 4). 
Here, as the device 12, particularly, there was employed one obtained by 
placing powder of .alpha.-Fe.sub.2 CO.sub.3 added with 13 mol % of K.sub.2 
CO.sub.3 in a crucible of high purity alumina, calcining it at 
1300.degree. C. for 2 hours, forming the calcined powder made to have size 
of 1 .mu.m or less into paste with addition of an organic binder, which 
was then coated on an alumina substrate 19 provided with a comb-shaped 
electrode 18. 
The device 12 of which electrical resistance varies with humidity exhibits 
a low resistance value of about 1K.OMEGA. at a high humidity state with a 
humidity of 50% (state "1"), and a high resistance value of about 1 
M.OMEGA. at a low resistance state with a humidity of 10% (state "0"). 
Therefore, in FIG. 12, by applying a driving pulse with a pulse width of 1 
sec., a peak voltage of 3 V by use of a voltage application means 13 under 
the state where switching LB-MIM device 11 is reset at OFF (B) state 
(state "0"), when the device 12 is under the high humidity state (state 
"1"), most of the applied voltage is applied on the MIM device 11, whereby 
such MIM device can be made OFF (A) state (state "1"), while when the 
device 12 is under low humidity state (state "0"), the applied voltage is 
resistance divided to be applied on the MIM device 11, whereby such MIM 
device 11 can be held as such under the OFF (B) state (state "0"). 
Thus, the humidity information possessed by the device 12 of which 
resistance varies with humidity could be transfer memoried to the 
switching LB-MIM device 11. 
Example 11 
in Example 5, except for using the device of which resistance varies with 
humidity in Example 10 in place of the device of which resistance varies 
with temperature, the apparatus constitution was made the same as in 
Example 5. 
By use of such circuit B, the humidity information detected by the device 
31 could be successively transferred and memoried in the rectifying 
direction and at the same time the information transferred monitored could 
be read by monitoring the voltage at the both terminals of the rear 
resistor 38. 
As described above, according to the present invention, even if the power 
source voltage may be made OFF state, it has become possible to store 
information semi-permanently within the switching LB-MIM device, whereby 
the state stored can be again transferred as desired by making against the 
power source ON state. 
As described above, according to the information transfer apparatus of the 
present invention, by transferring input information in the device of 
which resistance varies with input information such as temperature, light, 
humidity, etc. to the switching LB-MIM device to be memoried therein, an 
information transfer apparatus in which information can be stored 
semi-permanently even if the power source voltage may be made OFF state 
can be realized.