Patent ID: 7715229

Claim:
A memory device comprising: at least one memory unit comprising a substrate supporting mobile charge carriers, insulative features formed on the substrate surface to define first and second substrate areas on either side of the insulative features, the first and second substrate areas being connected by an elongate channel defined by the insulative features, the memory unit being switchable between a first state in which the channel provides a first conductance between the first and second areas at a predetermined potential difference between said first and second areas, and a second state in which the channel provides a second, different conductance between the first and second areas at the predetermined potential difference; a write circuit arranged to apply a first potential difference across the first and second areas of said memory unit, for changing the memory unit to the first state, and a second, different potential difference for changing the memory unit to the second state; and a read circuit arranged to apply the predetermined potential difference across the first and second areas of said memory unit, for reading the state of the memory unit.