A non-volatile memory device

Abstract: A non-volatile memory device which includes a recording medium, a heating means for heating the recording medium, a reading means for reading the information stored in the recording medium, and the recording medium containing a liquid crystal compound.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention: The present invention relates to a non-volatile memory device adapted for use in a computer, a memory card, a word processor, and the like. More particularly, the present invention relates to a non-volatile memory device having a large, highly-dense capacity and is capable of electrical writing and reading information. 2. Description of the Prior Art: As non-volatile memory devices, the following four devices are well known and widely used: (1) magnetic tapes; (2) magnetic disks; (3) IC non-volatile memory such as EPROM and EEPROM; and (4) optical magnetic disks. Each of these memory devices will be more particularly described: (1) Magnetic tapes: This is a typical data replaceable non-volatile memory device, and is in wide use for audio tapes and video tapes because of its inexpensive price. In addition, because of its large capacity, it is used for back-up memory in a computer. The disadvantages of the magnetic tape are that the function it can perform is only the writing and reading of information and the access time is long in writing and reading. (2) Magnetic disks: Magnetic disks are in wide use as an external memory device for computers and word processors. Magnetic disks include floppy disks which are handy and inexpensive, and hard disks which have a large storage capacity but are difficult to handle and are expensive. The advantages are that high speed random access is possible, and writing and reading are readily practicable. A 3.5 inch floppy disk has a storage capacity of about 1 megabytes (M bytes), and a 3.5 inch hard disk has a capacity of about 40 M bytes. However, the capacity and density cannot be increased further. (3) EPROM and EEPROM: Each is a typical example of IC non-volatile memory devices which allow the ready replacement of data and highly dense storage. There are two types; an EPROM in which the writing is electrically effected, and erasing is effected by ultraviolet irradiation, and an EEPROM in which the writing and erasing are electrically effected. Advantageously, this type of IC non-volatile memory device has a small and lightweight size, has a short access time, and is energy-saving. Referring to Figure 9 , the writing and erasing under the EEPROM system will be described: Information is recorded by applying voltage between a drain area 6 and a control gate 2 and injecting a carrier into a floating gate 4 . The recorded information is erased by applying voltage between the source area 8 and the control gate 2 , and removing the carrier under the Fowler-Nordheim (N-F) Tunneling phenomenon. The recorded information is read by judging the ON or OFF by a threshold voltage of a reversal voltage. Since the carrier is injected and removed through a gate oxide layer 5 , the quality and thickness of the layer affect the quality of EEPROM. For example, an EEPROM having a storage capacity of 1 Mega bit (M bit) has a gate oxide layer having a thickness of 20 nm. It is difficult to produce layers to such a narrow thickness, thereby decreasing the yield of production. As a result, the production cost is increased. A chip normally has sides of 7 to 10 mm in length, and in order to increase the storage capacity, the area of a chip is increased but this reduces the production yield. As a result, the production cost is increased. Because of these disadvantages, the storage capacity of an EEPROM cannot be increased beyond a certain limit. In recent years, the average storage capacity of EEPROMs is in the range of 1 to 4 M bits, which is smaller than that of magnetic disks and optical magnetic disks. (4) Optical magnetic disks: This is a typical example of a non-volatile large capacity data replaceable optical disk. Referring to Figure 10 , this type of disk utilizes a laser beam 20 so as to record data, and the advantage is that since the data is recorded through a transparent glass substrate 12 in a non-contact state, dust present on a recording surface 23 is not likely to prevent the recording of data. Since the laser beam is not focused on the substrate 22 , and has a larger diameter of about a few hundreds of microns, the presence of dust will not seriously affect the recording of data. Optical-elctromagnetic disks have a relatively large storage capacity because the focused laser beam 20 records and reproduces, and therefore, a highly dense recording is achieved. For example, a 3.5 inch disk has a storage capacity of about 120 M bytes. One of the disadvantages is that a rotary device is required for rotating the laser generator, the magnet, and the disk for writing and reading the information, thereby requiring a relatively large peripheral device and increasing the production cost. For an ideal type of non-volatile memory device, the following requirements (a) to (d) must be satisfied: (a) A large, dense storage capacity can be achieved; (b) Anti-shock, anti-vibration can be ensured; (c) The size can be compact and simple, and the price must be inexpensive; and (d) A high speed reading and writing are achievable. The known memory devices listed (a) to (d) above do not satisfy all these requirements. GB-2 188 809 on which the preambles of claims 1 and 2 are based discloses a non-volatile memory device, comprising a memory medium formed of an electro-conductive polymer liquid crystal heating means for heating the memory medium and thus changing a phase of the memory medium and read-out means for reading the data written into the memory medium by electrically detecting a change in a property of the memory medium. Heating the liquid crystal causes the electrical conductivity of the liquid crystal to change. US-A-3 836 243 discloses a liquid crystal cell in which information can be written into the cell by selectively heating the liquid crystal. When the liquid crystal cools the scattering centres form in the heated areas which consequently become opaque. "Optical computing and processing" 1991, Vol 1 No 1, pages 13-21 discloses the use of liquid crystal polymers as memory media. The present intention provides a non-volatile memory device, comprising: a memory medium formed of an electro-conductive polymer liquid crystal including liquid crystal components connected to a polymer chain; heating means for heating the memory medium and thus changing a phase of the memory medium; and read-out means for reading the data written into the memory medium by electrically detecting a property of the memory medium; wherein the heating means comprise a pair of electrode layers and a heat generating layer provided between the electrode layers; said heat generating layer being thermally coupled to said memory medium and the device further comprises write means for writing data into the memory medium, the write means including a counter electrode for on a side of the memory medium opposite to said one electrode applying a writing voltage to the memory medium while it is cooling, thereby changing the property of the memory medium. The present invention also provides a memory device as specified above in which the read-out means optically detects a phase transition in the memory medium. Preferred features of the invention are set out in claims 3 to 8. Thus, the invention described herein makes possible the objective of providing a memory device which has a large memory capacity, is capable of holding information over a long period of time with great stability, and is capable of easy and economical production because of the simplified structure. This invention may be better understood and its numerous objects and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying drawings as follows:- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the front surface of the memory device according to present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the recorder of the memory device of Figure 1 ; Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view showing temperature distribution around a heat generating zone; Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view showing the chemical structure of an electro-conductive polymer liquid crystal; Figures 5A and 5B are diagrammatic comparative views showing orderly and disorderly states of the mesogen section and electric charge carrier complexes of an electro-conductive polymer liquid crystal, respectively; Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view showing an electro-conductive polymer liquid crystal having the mesogen section and electric charge carrier complexes both arranged in order; Figures 7A and 7B are diagrammatic comparative views showing an electro-conductive polymer liquid crystal on an enlarged scale in which the mesogen section and electric charge carrier complexes are arranged in order and in disorder, respectively; Figure 8 is an equivalent circuit of a memory cell in the memory device according to the present invention; Figure 9 is a view showing the structure of a known EEPROM; and Figure 10 is a view showing the structure of a known optical magnetic disk. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to Figure 1 , the exemplary memory device includes an input/output signal control 31 which has two functions of (1) sending an input signal after processing it to a recorder 34 (written information), and (2) sending a signal read out by the recorder 34 to another device. All the signals in the memory device are controlled by a logic controller 32 . A driver circuit 33 allows a current to flow so as to supply an electric signal to the recorder 34 in response to the logic controller 32 . The recorder 34 stores signals from the logic controller 32 as recorded information. Referring to Figure 2 , the structure of the recorder 34 will be described: The recorder 34 includes a heat generating layer 44 for use in writing information and erasing the recorded information and a silicon substrate 55 having two kinds of electrodes for enabling a current to pass through the heat generating layer 44 and a glass substrate 52 having a liquid crystal 53 as memory medium confined between the silicon substrate 55 and the glass substrate 52 . The glass substrate 52 is provided with counter electrodes 51 in parallel on which an aligning layer 56 is formed. The silicon substrate 55 is covered with a field insulating layer 57 on which the two kinds of electrodes are formed with the heat generating layer 44 sandwiched therebetween. A lower electrode 42 is located on the insulating layer 57 , and an upper electrode 41 is located on the lower electrode 42 with the heat generating layer 44 sandwiched therebetween. The field insulating layer 57 covers the silicon substrate 55 so as to prevent the driving current from leaking through between the upper electrode 41 and the lower electrode 42 . The upper electrode 41 , the lower electrode 42 and the heat generating layer 44 constitute a heating means; hereinafter they will be generally referred to as "heating means". A plurality of heating means are arranged at equal intervals perpendicular to the counter electrodes 51 on the glass substrate 52 . Reading and writing are effected in the areas of liquid crystal where the heating means and the counter electrodes 51 overlap each other; hereinafter these ares will be referred to as "memory cells". The use of the heating means is likely to cause detrimental crosstalk due to heat, and therefore, it is necessary to eliminate the occurrence of thermal crosstalk. The upper electrodes 41 and lower electrodes 42 are arranged in parallel with each other with the heat generating layers 44 sandwiched therebetween. The application of voltage generates heat along the heat generating layer 44 but the adjacent electrodes are electrically disconnected, so that no crosstalk occurs therebetween in the direction perpendicular to the electrodes. Crosstalk in the horizontal direction to the disposition of the electrodes provides no problem because the heat generating layers 44 are heated at the same time as when information is written. The adjacent heating means are separated by an insulating material 58 which prevents heat from being transferred from one memory cell to the next, which otherwise would cause crosstalk. Figure 3 shows the distribution of temperatures in the heating section. The decline of isotherms 10 shows that the temperatures of the liquid crystal 53 drop as the distance becomes far from the heating section. The memory cells to be heated cause no thermal crosstalk between the adjacent memory cells in the direction perpendicular to the orientation of the heating means. The memory cells adjacent to each other in the direction of orientation of the heating means are equally heated, so that no thermal crosstalk occurs in this direction. In the illustrated embodiment the upper electrodes 41 and the lower electrodes 42 are arranged in the same direction but it is possible to arrange them perpendicular to each other without causing crosstalk, in which case it is necessary to remove the unnecessary parts, for example, by narrowing the widths of either of the electrodes 41 and 42 or both located between the heating means. Aligning layers 56 are formed on the upper electrodes 41 and the heat generating layers 44 , and the liquid crystal 53 keep in contact with the aligning layer 56 . The recorder 34 will be fabricated in the following manner: A p-type monosilicon wafer (6 inches)(100) was used for the silicon substrate 55 having impurities added to control resistivity values. The silicon substrate 55 was covered with a field insulating layer 57 to a thickness of 800 nm. The field insulating layer is made of Si 3 N 4 or SiO 2 . Then, a tungsten layer is formed to a thickness of 1.2 µm by a vacuum CVD method. The tungsten layer was subjected to photolithographic treatment and dry etching so as to remove unnecessary portions and form the lower electrodes 42 in pattern. Then, another insulating layer 57' was formed on the field insulating layer 57 with Si 3 N 4 or SiO 2 which covers the lower electrode 42 . Then, holes were made in the insulating layer 57' by removing a portion corresponding to the top surface of the lower electrodes 42 against the upper electrode 41 by photolithographic and dry etching methods. Polysilicon was placed in the holes by a vacuum CVD method, wherein the polysilicon had a resistivity of about 1,000 Ωcm and a thickness of about 1.0 µm. In this way, the heat generating layers 44 were formed. Polysilicon can be doped with impurities such as boron and phosphor with the result of decreased resisting values, due to which the heat generating layer 44 is likely to fail to reach a predetermined temperature when it is heated. Special attention must be paid to the purity of the materials to which the vacuum CVD method is applied and to the cleanliness of the equipment. Highly pure monosilane gas can be used as a material for polysilicon, with the application of a vacuum CVD method to form the heat generating layers 44 , but various other processes using other silicon compounds are possible if they are heat-proof and have a required resisting value. Then, the unnecessary portions of the lower electrodes 42 , except for the heat generating layers 44 , are removed by a photolithographic method and dry etching. Following which, a tungsten layer having a thickness of about 1.0 µm is formed by a vacuum CVD method, and this tungsten layer is patterned by a photolithographic method and dry etching so as to form the upper electrode 41 . Tungsten can enhance the heat-proof property of the electrodes 41 and 42 , but any other suitable substance can be selectively used if they have the same favorable effects. The processing methods are not limited to photolithographic and dry etching but any other process can be selected if it is effective for producing layers to an equal thickness. Then, polyimide is applied to the openings between the adjacent heating means to form polyimide layers 57' which are then polished on their surface. In this way insulating layers 58 are formed. Polyimide has a relatively low thermal diffusibility for which reason it is effective for fabricating the insulating layers 58 . The surface of the upper electrodes 41 and that of the insulating layers 58 are flush with each other. The surfaces of the upper electrodes 41 and the insulating layers 58 are coated with polyimide by spinning. After the polyimide coat is heated so as to effect polymerization, unnecessary portions are removed, and the polyimide layer is rubbed. In this way the aligning layer 56 is formed. By this process, necessary portions of the upper electrodes 41 , the lower electrodes 42 , the heat generating layers 44 , and the insulating layers 57' remain, thereby reducing the possibilty of causing thermal crosstalk. Tungsten, polysilicon, Si 3 N 4 , SiO 2 have a large thermal diffusibility so that if unnecessary portions are removed, the transfer of heat between adjacent memory cells is minimized. After the glass substrate 52 toward the counter electrode is cut to a suitable size, it is covered with a transparent electo-conductive layer consisting of ITO (indium tin oxide) multi-layers by sputtering. Unnecessary portions of the ITO layer are removed by a photolithographic method and etching and the counter electrodes 51 are arranged. The spaces between the counter electrodes 51 and the thickness thereof are determined so as to secure the optimum conditions for writing and reading of information. The counter electrodes 51 are covered with polyimide by a spin coating method, and the polyimide coat is polymerized by heat. Then unnecessary portions are removed, and the coat is treated by rubbing so as to form the aligning layer 56 . The silicon substrate 55 and the glass substrate 52 are arranged face-to-face with the respective electrodes facing each other, and the periphery of the recorder 34 is sealed. Then, acrylic type polymeric nematic liquid crystal (Ti =106°C, degree of polymerization: 150) having cyanobiphenyl with mesogen-radicals is filled between the silicon substrate 55 and the glass substrate 52. An a.c. voltage of 100 V (500 Hz) is applied to the nematic liquid crystal, and it is gradually cooled from the isotropic phase so as to produce a homeotropic structure. After the finished silicon substrate 55 is subjected to dicing and bonding, the memory device is contained within a container. Since the recorder 34 is made of monosilicon substrate 55 , peripheral IC circuits can be accommodated within the memory device so as to control the input and output of information, thereby reducing and simplifying the structure with the result of decreased production costs. The peripheral circuit can be made of material other than an IC circuit if it can be mounted on the monosilicon substrate 55. As shown in Figure 4 , the liquid crystal can be an electro-conductive polymer liquid crystal which has polymer main chains P , a mesogen radicals (in the liquid crystal portion) A , electro-conductivity donor radicals B , and spacers S . The mesogen radical A is connected to the polymer main chain P through the spacer S . The main chain portion is a polymer such as acryl-base polymer, a silicon-base polymer, or a methacryl-base polymer. This polymer is effective in fixing the ends of the mesogen radical A and the electro-conductivity donor radical and affects phase transition temperatures and response speeds. The mesogen radical A is a crystal liquid compound such as azome-thine-base, azoxy-base and biphenyl-base compound. The mesogen radicals are aligning from the isotropic phase in accordance with the amplitude of an applied voltage when it is cooled, and the electro-conductivity donor radicals B are forced to be arranged in order. The electro-conductivity donor radicals B are electric charge carrier complexes, and only when they are arranged in order, an electric current is allowed to flow in the direction of the arrangement so that information can be stored. Each spacer S is a methylene complex which determines the freedom of the mesogen, and the molecular length thereof affects the response speed and other characteristics of the memory device. Care must be taken in designing molecular arrangement so that the mesogen radicals and electro-conductivity donor radicals B can be easily aligning. The spacers S can be omitted. Referring to Figure 5A , the mesogen radicals A are arranged in order, which forces the electro-conductivity donor radicals B to orientate themselves. As a result, an electric current flows in the direction of the arrows (or the reverse direction) through the electric charge carrier complexes, thereby achieving the electro-conductivity. Figure 5B shows a state where the mesogen radicals A are present in disorder. Therefore the electro-conductivity donor radicals B are also in disorder, thereby obtaining no current flow and remaining highly resistant. Electro-conductive polymer having such characteristics is filled between the silicon substrate 55 and the glass substrate 52, and the conductivity condition and the non-conductivity condition can be switched from one to the other by controlling the current flowing between the upper electrode 41 and the lower electrode 42 , and the writing voltage across the upper electrode 41 and the counter electrode 51 . Referring to Figures 7A, 7B and 8 , how to effect the writing and reading will be described in detail: The electro-conductive polymer liquid crystal filled between the substrates 55 and 52 is heated to the extent that the isotropic state is reached, and quickly cooled while the information writing voltage is applied. As a result, the mesogen radicals A become aligned. The electro-conductivity donor radicals B are forced to orientate in accordance with the orientation of the mesogen radicals A . The charge is ready to move through the electric charge carrier complexes, which means that the complexes become electrically conductive. Figure 6 shows that the liquid crystal becomes electrically conductive. When a negative inducing anisotropic liquid crystal is used as the mesogen radicals A , the mesogen radicals A exhibit homogeneous orientation. Likewise, the electro-conductivity donor radicals B exhibit homogeneous orientation. If the electric charge carrier complexes overlap each other, the conductivity occurs in the overlapping direction. Figure 6 shows that the counter electrode 51 and the upper electrode 41 become conductive. If the liquid crystal at the isotropic state is cooled without applying the writing voltage thereto, the mesogen radicals A remain in disorder, thereby keeping the electric charge carrier in disorder. Thus the liquid crystal 53 does not become electrically conductive but remains resistant. Figures 7A and 7B show that the liquid crystal 53 become highly resistant. In Figure 7A the polymer main chain P , the mesogen radicals A and the electro-conductivity donor radicals B are present in disorder. In Figure 7B the polymer main chain P is in order but the mesogen radicals A are in disorder, thereby resulting in the disorder of the electric charge carrier complexes. Thus, no electric current is allowed to flow. The upper electrodes 41 and the counter electrodes 51 are in a resistant state. The states shown in Figure 7A or 7B depend upon the heating temperatures, the aligning treatment of the substrates, and the nature of the liquid crystal 53 . In order to increase the response speed, the state of Figure 7B is preferable. The above-mentioned electrically conductive state or the high resistant state is determined by applying an a.c. or d.c. voltage between the upper electrodes 41 and the counter electrodes 51 and detecting the impedance or conductivity of the liquid crystal 53 . The writing, replacing and reading of information are conducted as follows: Writing and Replacing of Information The information input from outside is stored in a buffer memory in the input/output signal controller 31 , and after being appropriately processed, it is written in the recorder 34 . The writing is effected by heating the liquid crystal 53 through the application of voltage to the heat generating layer 44 present between the upper electrodes 41 and the lower electrodes 42 on the silicon substrate 55 . When the liquid crystal 53 becomes isometric, the application of voltage is suspended while the writing voltage is applied between the upper electrode 41 and the counter electrode 51 so as to allow the liquid crystal 53 to cool. In this way the liquid crystal 53 becomes electrically conductive. At this stage, the liquid crystal 53 has a resistivity ρ of 10 6 to 10 8 Ωcm. Alternatively, after the liquid crystal 53 becomes isometric, the liquid crystal 53 is cooled without applying an information writing voltage thereto. Thus, the liquid crystal 53 becomes highly resistant, and has a resistivity of 10 12 to 10 13 Ωcm. The conductive state and non-conductive state are replaceable from one to the other. The information writing position in relation to the memory cells in the recorder 34 can be optionally selected, thereby making random access practicable. Reading of Information An a.c. or d.c. voltage is applied between the upper electrodes 41 on the silicon substrate 55 and the counter electrodes 51 , and the conductivity or impedance of the liquid crystal 53 is measured. More specifically, the liquid crystal 53 has different resistivities when the mesogen radicals A are present in disorder with the result of the elecro-conductivity donor radicals B being in disorder, and the mesogen radicals A are aligned in order still with the electro-conductivity donor radicals B being in disorder. This difference in conductivity is utilized to read information. It is possible to make either of the conductive state or the non-conductivity state into the "on" state. In the illustrated embodiment, the conductive polymer liquid crystal 53 was prepared by using electric-charge carrier complexes for the electro-conductivity donor radicals B . Such conductive polymer liquid crystal 53 is disclosed in Japanese laid-Open Patent Publication No. 59-59705. Instead of the polymer liquid crystal 53 using electric charge carrier complexes for the eletro-conductive donor radicals B , any other liquid crystal compounds can be used if the electro-conductivity of the liquid crystals are varied in accordance with changes in the orientation and phase transition. For example, a polymer using the conjugating property of main chains present in polyacethylene or the like or an organic conductive polymer using a complex of such polymer and metal. By using such a conductive aligning layer, the on/off ratio (i.e. the S/N ratio) of a reading signal can be increased for the reason below, thereby securing precise read-out, and reducing the amplification factor of an amplifier provided in the input/output signal controller 31 . Referring to Figure 8 , the on/off ratio of a reading signal when the memory cell is on or off will be described: In the equivalent circuit shown in Figure 8 the circuit has an a.c. voltage source 100 for applying a reading voltage between the counter electrode 51 and the upper electrode 41 , wherein C 1 shows an electrostatic capacities C 1 of an aligning layer 56 toward the counter electrode 51 , C 2 shows an electrostatic capacitance of the electro-conductive polymer liquid crystal 53 , and C 3 shows an electrostatic capacitance of the aligning layer 56 toward the upper electrode 41 . Likewise, R 1 shows a resistance of an aligning layer 56 toward the counter electrode 51 , R 2 shows a resistance of the electro-conductive polymer liquid crystal 53 , and R 3 shows a resistance of the aligning layer 56 toward the upper electrode 41 . It is represented that the area of the memory cell is S , the thickness of the polyimide (dielectric) layer 56 is t , the thickness of the electro-conductive polymer liquid crystal layer is L , the specific dielectric constant of the polyimide layer and of the electro-conductive polymer liquid crystal 53 is es , the resistivity of the polyimide layer and of the electro-conductive polymer liquid crystal 53 is p . Then, suppose that the following figures have been given: S = 2 µm x 2 µm = 4 x 10 -12 m 2 t = 0.02 µm = 2 x 10 -8 m L = 1.0 µm = 1 x 10 -6 m es of the polyimide layer = 3.3 es of the liquid crystal = 5.0 p of the polyimide layer = 10 16 Ω·cm p of the liquid crystal at the "off" state = 10 12 Ω·cm p of the liquid crystal at the "on" state = 10 6 Ω·cm Electrostatic capacitance Ci (i = 1, 2 and 3) are expressed by the following equation: Ci = e0·es·S/t where e0 is the specific dielectric constant having a value of 8.9 x 10 -12 . By putting the above figures in the equation (1), C1 = C3 = 5.9 x 10 -15 [F] and C2 = 1.8 x 10 -16 [F]. Capacitive reactance RC1 , RC2 and RC3 of the aligning layer 56 toward the counter electrode 51 , the electro-conductive polymer liquid crystal 53 and the aligning layer 56 toward the upper electrode 41 , respectively, are expressed by the following equation: RCi = 1/(2πfCi) where f is the frequency of the reading voltage applied by the source 100 between the counter electrode 51 and the upper electrode 41 . In the illustrated embodiment, the reading voltage is an a.c. voltage 60 Hz. By putting the values of C1 , C2 , and C3 in the equation (2), RC1, RC2 and RC3 are calculated as 5.0 x 10 11 Ω, 1.5 x 10 13 Ω, and 5.0 x 10 11 Ω. Resistance Ri is expressed by the following equation (3): Ri = p · L/S By putting the figures referred to above in the equation (3), R1 and R3 are 5.0 x 10 17 Ω, and R OFF2 is 2.5 x 10 15 Ω (at the"off" state), and R ON2 is 2.5 x 10 9 Ω (at the "on" state). Thus, on the basis of the calculations referred to above, the resistances of the memory cell when it is at the "off" and "on" state are calculated by the equations (4) and (5): R OFF = R1·RC1/(R1 + RC1) + R OFF2 ·RC2/(R OFF2 + RC2) + R3·RC3/(R3 + RC3) = 1.6 x 10 13 Ω R ON = R1·RC1/(R1 + RC1) + R ON2 ·RC2/(R ON2 + RC 2 ) + R3·RC3/ (R 3 + RC3) = 1.0 x 10 12 Ω From the equations (4) and (5) the resistance ratio (1/conductivity), that is: R OFF /R ON = 16 It will be understood from the equation (6) that the ratio between the resistances of the memory cell at the "off" and "on" states can be amplified, with the result that the OFF/ON ration of the reading voltage is amplified. This enhances the reading precision. When the aligning layer 56 is made of an electro-conductive material, a larger OFF/ON ratio will be achieved. As a result, the reading precision can be more enhanced. More specifically, a small amount of carbon is added to the polyimide of which the aligning layer is made so as to produce an aligning layer having a resistivity p of 10 3 Ωcm. From the equation (3) R1 = R3 = 5 x 10 4 Ω. Then, from the equations (4) and (5), R OFF and R ON = 1.5 x 10 13 Ω and 1.25 x 10 5 Ω. Therefore, the resistivity OFF/ON ratio is 1.2 x 10 8 . In this way, the OFF/ON ratio of a reading signal can be more enhanced. In a mono-domain structure the liquid crystal 53 is transparent, but in a poly-domain the liquid crystal 53 becomes opaque because of light scattering. It is possible to read information by irradiating light and detecting the reflection upon the liquid crystal 53 . This method requires optical detecting means but a signal processing means is also included. Therefore, as a whole this falls within the category of electrical information reading methods. According to the present invention, the following advantages arise: (1) No rotary or moving mechanism is required because of the omission of optical magnetic disks or magnetic disks, thereby reducing the size, simplifying the structure, and decreasing the production cost of the memory device; (2) The stored information can be held over a long period of time with stability and with no likelihood of being damaged owing to dust, vibration, and shock because of the omission of complicated, delicate mechanisms such as a laser pick-up or a head; (3) Because of the simplified structure of the recorder as compared with a non-volatile memory device using an IC non-volatile memory, a large memory area can be achieved; (4) Regardless of the heat generation, electric crosstalk is prevented from occurring between adjacent electrodes, which makes it possible to shorten the pitches between the memory cells. Various other modifications will be apparent to and can be readily made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the claims. Accordingly, it is not intended that the scope of the claims appended hereto be limited to the description as set forth herein.

Claims: A non-volatile memory device, comprising: a memory medium (53) formed of an electro-conductive polymer liquid crystal; heating means (41, 42, 44) for heating the memory medium and thus changing a phase of the memory medium; and read-out means for reading the data written into the memory medium by electrically detecting a property of the memory medium; characterised in that the polymer liquid crystal includes liquid crystal components (A) connected to a polymer chain; in that the heating means comprise a pair of electrode layers (41, 42) and a heat generating layer (44) provided between the electrode layers, the heat generating layer being thermally coupled to the memory medium; and in that the device further comprises write means for writing data into the memory medium, the write means including a counter electrode (51) disposed on a side of the memory medium opposite to said one electrode (41) for applying a writing voltage to the memory medium while it is cooling, thereby changing the property of the memory medium. A non-volatile memory device, comprising: a memory medium (53) formed of an electro conductive polymer liquid crystal; heating means (41, 42, 44) for heating the memory medium and thus changing a phase of the memory medium; and read-out means for reading the data written into the memory medium; characterised in that the polymer liquid crystal includes liquid crystal components (A) connected to a polymer chain; in that the heating means comprise a pair of electrode layers (41, 42) and a heat generating layer (44) provided between the electrode layers , the heat generating layer being thermally coupled to the memory medium; in that the read-out means optically detects a phase transition of the memory medium; and in that the device further comprises write means for writing data into the memory medium, the write means including a counter electrode (51) disposed on a side of the memory medium opposite to said one electrode (41) for applying a writing voltage to the memory medium while it is cooling, thereby changing the phase of the memory medium. A non-volatile memory device according to claim 1 or 2, and further comprising a first substrate (52) and a second substrate (55), wherein the memory medium is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate; wherein the pair of electrode layers include strip-like lower electrodes (42 ) provided on the second substrate (55) arranged in parallel and insulated from one another, and strip-like upper electrodes (41) arranged in parallel and insulated from one another, the upper electrodes being perpendicular to the lower electrodes, and wherein the heat generating layer (44) is sandwiched between the lower electrodes and the upper electrodes. A non-volatile memory device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a first substrate (52) and a second substrate (55), wherein the memory medium is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein the pair of electrode layers (41, 42) include strip-like lower electrodes (42) provided on the second substrate arranged in parallel and insulated from one another, and strip-like upper electrodes (41), each upper electrode overlapping a respective lower electrode (42), wherein the heating layer (44) is sandwiched between the lower electrodes and the upper electrodes, wherein the first substrate (52) has counter electrodes (51) thereon which are arranged parallel with and insulated from one another, and are arranged perpendicular to the upper electrodes. A non-volatile memory device according to claim 4, wherein the second substrate (55) is a silicon substrate. A non-volatile memory device according to claim 5, wherein the silicon substrate has a field insulating film (57) provided on a surface thereof, the surface having the lower electrode (42) thereon. A non-volatile memory device according to claim 5, wherein the heat generating layer (44) is divided into stripes so as to be sandwiched only between each lower electrode and the upper electrode overlapping the lower electrode, and an insulating film (58) formed of a material having a low thermal diffusivity is provided between adjacent assemblies each formed of each lower electrode, the upper electrode overlapping the lower electrode and a strip of the heat generating layer interposed between the lower electrode and the upper electrode. A non-volatile memory device according to claim 7, wherein side surfaces of the lower electrodes in a width direction are covered with an insulating film (57') formed of a material having a low thermal diffusivity.

Inventors: ISHII YUTAKA, YAMAMOTO YOSHITAKA, ISHII, YUTAKA, YAMAMOTO, YOSHITAKA
Applicants: SHARP KK, SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1992
Main classification: G11C11
IPC codes: G11C11, G02F1, G11C13