Patent ID: 7764529

Claim:
A non-volatile electrical data storage device comprising a card-like memory unit and a read/write unit ( 11 ) provided as physically separate units, wherein the memory unit comprises a layer of a memory material ( 4 ) capable of attaining at least two distinct physical states and/or being set to either thereof or switched therebetween upon applying an electric field across the memory material ( 4 ), wherein said at least two distinct physical states are characterized by an impedance value or a polarization value, wherein the electric field is applied at specific positions and with a specific direction so as to define a memory cell with a determined extension in a volume of the memory material at the specific position for storing a datum given by a logical value as assigned to the distinct physical state set in the memory cell by the applied electric field, wherein the logical value can be detected and read by applying a potential difference across the memory cell, wherein the memory unit comprises a global layer ( 4 ) of memory material, wherein the memory unit comprises a common bottom electrode ( 2 ) interfacing and contacting the memory layer ( 4 ), wherein the read/write unit ( 11 ) is a moveable unit, for instance a hand-held apparatus, comprising a set of contact means ( 9 ) provided in a geometrical arrangement of pattern such that on applying the read/write unit to the memory unit in an initial write operation to a virgin memory layer ( 4 ), memory cells forming bit spots are generated therein in a geometrical arrangement or pattern in exact correspondence with that of the contact means ( 9 ) in the read/write unit ( 11 ) and wherein the data storage device is characterized in that the memory unit comprises a common top electrode ( 5 ) interfacing and contacting the memory layer ( 4 ), the top electrode ( 5 ) being made of an anisotropic conducting material whereby an established stationary contact between the top electrode ( 5 ) and the set of contact means ( 9 ) of the read/write unit ( 11 ) in an initial write operation to a virgin memory layer in the memory unit generates memory cells in the memory layer ( 4 ) at a spot position where the contact means ( 9 ) contacts the memory layer ( 4 ), such that the memory cells become disposed therein in the same geometrical arrangement or pattern as that of the contact means ( 9 ) in the read/write unit ( 11 ), and that the top electrode ( 5 ) is anisotropic conducting such that by applying a potential difference over the memory layer, the geometrical extension of a memory cell defined in this manner in an initial write operation will be limited by the extension of the individual contact means ( 9 ).