An inverter logic circuit includes a bipolar junction transistor and a zener diode. The zener diode is connected between the base of the bipolar junction transistor and ground (or other reference voltage). The zener diode is reverse biased such that a leakage current through the zener diode allows for sufficient current through the emitter-base terminals of the bipolar junction transistor when a voltage is applied across the emitter and base terminals of the bipolar junction transistor to turn the transistor ON in the absence of an external signal to the base. As such the bipolar junction transistor functions as a normally ON bipolar junction transistor.

A digital circuit includes at least one quantum wire resonant tunneling transistor that includes an emitter terminal, a base terminal, a collector terminal, an emitter region in connection with the emitter terminal, a base region in connection with the base terminal, a collector region in connection with the collector terminal, an emitter barrier region between the emitter region and the base region, and a collector barrier region between the collector region and the base region. At least one of the emitter region, the base region, and the collector region includes a plurality of metal quantum wires.

A digital circuit includes at least one quantum wire resonant tunneling transistor that includes an emitter terminal, a base terminal, a collector terminal, an emitter region in connection with the emitter terminal, a base region in connection with the base terminal, a collector region in connection with the collector terminal, an emitter barrier region between the emitter region and the base region, and a collector barrier region between the collector region and the base region. At least one of the emitter region, the base region, and the collector region includes a plurality of metal quantum wires.

A ternary logic element including a transistor and a switching element. The transistor includes a channel layer including silicon, an input electrode, an output electrode, and a control electrode. The switching element includes an emitter, a base extending from the emitter, and a collector extending from the base. When a first control voltage is applied to the control electrode, the ternary logic element outputs a first voltage, and when a second control voltage different from the first control voltage is applied to the control electrode, the ternary logic element outputs a second voltage different from the first voltage, and when a third control voltage different from the first control voltage and the second control voltage is applied to the control electrode, the ternary logic element outputs a third voltage different from the first voltage and the second voltage.

In one embodiment, a Light Emitting Diode (LED) driving device for driving a plurality of LEDs has a switching matrix utilizing a plurality of one of a turn off thyristors or turn off triacs coupled to the plurality of LEDs. A controller is coupled to the switching matrix responsive to a voltage of a rectified AC halfwave, wherein combinations of the plurality of LEDs are altered to ensure a maximum operating voltage of the plurality of LEDs is not exceeded. A current limiting device is coupled to the combinations of the plurality of LED to regulate current. In a second embodiment an offline charge pump utilizes a switching matrix to recombine capacitors in accordance with the voltage on the AC half wave and then in accordance with a desired output voltage to feed a load, such that said recombinations occur at a frequency much higher than the frequency of the AC rectified half wave such that charge is pumped from the input at one voltage to the output at another voltage through the AC halfwave while providing a constant output voltage to the load.

A novel clock level-shifter to reduce duty-cycle distortion across wide input-output voltage operating range is disclosed. In some implementations, a level shifter includes an input stage coupled to a first power supply to receive an input signal, an output stage coupled to a second power supply to generate an output signal, and a first switch coupled directly between the output stage and the second power supply, wherein the input signal turns on or off the first switch. In some implementations, the first switch has a gate, a source, and a drain, the source being coupled to the second power supply, the drain being coupled to the output stage, and the gate being driven directly by the input signal.

A ternary logic element including a transistor and a switching element. The transistor includes a channel layer including silicon, an input electrode, an output electrode, and a control electrode. The switching element includes an emitter, a base extending from the emitter, and a collector extending from the base. When a first control voltage is applied to the control electrode, the ternary logic element outputs a first voltage, and when a second control voltage different from the first control voltage is applied to the control electrode, the ternary logic element outputs a second voltage different from the first voltage, and when a third control voltage different from the first control voltage and the second control voltage is applied to the control electrode, the ternary logic element outputs a third voltage different from the first voltage and the second voltage.

A logic gate and a cascaded logic family is described that uses the unique ambipolar behavior, e.g., of carbon nanotubes. A complementary VT-drop ambipolar carbon nanotube logic can provide a decrease in device count compared to previous ambipolar carbon nanotube field effect transistor logic structures, enabling power and/or speed improvements.

A logic gate and a cascaded logic family is described that uses the unique ambipolar behavior, e.g., of carbon nanotubes. A complementary VT-drop ambipolar carbon nanotube logic can provide a decrease in device count compared to previous ambipolar carbon nanotube field effect transistor logic structures, enabling power and/or speed improvements.

In one embodiment, a Light Emitting Diode (LED) driving device for driving a plurality of LEDs has a switching matrix utilizing a plurality of one of a turn off thyristors or turn off triacs coupled to the plurality of LEDs. A controller is coupled to the switching matrix responsive to a voltage of a rectified AC halfwave, wherein combinations of the plurality of LEDs are altered to ensure a maximum operating voltage of the plurality of LEDs is not exceeded. A current limiting device is coupled to the combinations of the plurality of LED to regulate current. In a second embodiment an offline charge pump utilizes a switching matrix to recombine capacitors in accordance with the voltage on the AC half wave and then in accordance with a desired output voltage to feed a load, such that said recombinations occur at a frequency much higher than the frequency of the AC rectified half wave such that charge is pumped from the input at one voltage to the output at another voltage through the AC halfwave while providing a constant output voltage to the load.