Patent ID: 8031512

Claim:
An MV (multiple-valued) DRAM device for storing multiple value levels, the device comprising: one or more word lines; one or more bitlines; a DRAM cell connected to intersections of the word lines and the bitlines; a current source transistor having a source connected to a power supply voltage and a gate and a drain connected to the bitlines; an SET (single electron transistor) device having a gate connected to the bitlines and a source connected to the ground voltage; and a transistor connected between the bitlines and a drain of the SET device, wherein the gate of the transistor is connected to the ground voltage, and wherein the SET device comprises: the source and the drain formed on a semiconductor substrate; a metal island disposed between the source and the drain so as to form a tunnel junction between the source and the drain; and the gate disposed in the vicinity of the metal island so as to control electric current flowing through the metal island.