Patent ID: 7301802

Claim:
A circuit array, comprising: a plurality of cells arranged in an organization of words, each word having a plurality of bits; plurality of bit lines, a plurality of word lines, a plurality of reference lines, and a plurality of release lines, wherein the plurality of bit lines are arranged orthogonally relative to the plurality of word lines, and wherein each word line of the plurality of word lines, each bit line of the plurality of bit lines and each release line of the plurality of release lines are shared among at least a subset of cells of the plurality of cells; each cell of the plurality of cells being coupled to a bit line of the plurality of bit lines, a word line of the plurality of word lines, a reference line of the plurality of reference lines, and a release line of the plurality of release lines, the cell including a field effect transistor and a nanotube switching element, wherein the nanotube switching element includes a nanotube article positioned between a set electrode and a release electrode, the release electrode directly electrically connected to the release line coupled to the cell, and the set electrode directly coupled to the field effect transistor; each cell of the plurality of cells being selectable via activation of the bit and word lines coupled to the cell, the nanotube switching element being switchable between at least two physical positions in response to electrical state at the bit, word, reference, and release lines coupled to the cell, the nanotube switching element non-volatilely storing an information state of the cell via the physical position of the nanotube article.