A METHOD OF OPERATING A MULTI-TERMINAL ELECTRONIC DEVICE

摘要

A method of operating a multi-terminal electronic device. The device includes an active material in electrical communication with three or more electrical terminals. The active material is able to undergo a transformation from-one-state-to-another state, where the two states differ in resistance. The method includes the step of providing energy between one pair of terminals of the device, where the provided energy effects a change in the state of the active material adjacent to one or more other terminals of the device. In one embodiment, energy is applied between a first terminal and a second terminal of a three-terminal device and the state of the active material adjacent to the third terminal is altered. In one embodiment, energy is applied in the form of electrical energy and the active material is a phase change material that undergoes a transformation from one structural state to another structural state. The two structural states may include different volume fractions of a crystalline phase and an amorphous phase.