Apparatus, storage device, switch and methods, which include microstructures extending from a support

摘要

An apparatus has a support and a plurality of bendable and conductive microstructures extending from the support. Two adjacent microstructures of the plurality of microstructures define a detectable first state if they are not bent such that end portions thereof, which are distal with respect to the support, do not touch each other, and the two adjacent microstructures of the plurality of microstructures define a detectable second state if they are bent such that the end portions thereof, which are distal with respect to the support, touch each other and are fixed to each other.

主权项

1. An apparatus comprising:
a support; and a plurality of bendable and conductive microstructures extending from the support, wherein two adjacent microstructures of the plurality of microstructures define a detectable first state if they are not bent such that end portions thereof, which are distal with respect to the support, do not touch each other, and wherein the two adjacent microstructures of the plurality of microstructures define a detectable second state if they are bent such that the end portions thereof touch each other and are fixed to each other, and wherein respective groups of x+1 microstructures of the plurality of microstructures form x-bit cells of a memory device, which are capable of storing x bits, wherein x is a natural number and wherein an x-bit value stored in a corresponding bit cell depends on which of adjacent microstructures of the respective group are in the first state and which of the adjacent microstructures of the respective group are in the second state.