Patent ID: 7839710

Claim:
A nano-electro-mechanical memory cell, comprising: at least one electrode within a nano-electro-mechanical memory cell; a mechanical beam having a portion configured for deflection toward at least one said electrode, said deflection arising in response to electrostatic force applied between said beam and at least one said electrode; and means for determining a data state for said nano-electro-mechanical memory cell in response to the positioning of said portion of said mechanical beam; wherein two positions of said mechanical beam define two data states; wherein said two positions comprise a non-deflected state and a deflected state, or two deflected states in different directions; wherein said memory cell is adapted for overcoming a spring restoring force of said mechanical beam in a deflected state in response to a holding force; wherein said holding force comprises: an electrostatic force created between said at least one electrode and said mechanical beam, or created from electrostatic force between a buried charge layer and said mechanical beam, or a combination of electrostatic force from at least one electrode and at least one buried charge layer; or stiction forces created from the interface between said mechanical beam in a deflected state and a contact surface; or a combination of electrostatic forces and stiction forces.