ELECTRO-OPTICAL UNIT, ELECTRO-OPTICAL DEVICE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING AN ELECTRO-OPTICAL DEVICE

摘要

An electro-unit (1) is provided comprising a photodiode (2), a light-emitting diode (3) and a programmable resistive memory element (4). The electro-optical unit further has first (12), second (13) and third (14) control terminals, wherein the photodiode (2) and the programmable resistive element (4) are coupled in series between the first (12) and third (14) control terminals and M wherein the light emitting diode (3) and the programmable resistive element (4) are coupled between the second (13) and third (14) control terminals. One electrode (2a/2c) of the light-emitting diode, one electrode (3a) of the photodiode and a terminal (4a) of the programmable resistive memory element are connected in common at a node (5). After resetting the programmable resistive memory element to a conducting state/non-conducting state by the application of a reset voltage of a first polarity to the first terminal (12), a programming voltage of opposite polarity to the reset voltage is applied to said first control terminal (12). The degree to which the programmable resistive memory element then changes to a non-conductive state/conductive state in response to the programming voltage is dependent upon the intensity of radiation which is also received by the photodiode (2). In addition there is provided an electro-optical device comprising a plurality of electro-optical units (1) having their first (12), second (13) and third (14) control terminals coupled to respective first, second and third common control lines.

主权项

1. Electro-optical unit comprising a photodiode, a light-emitting diode each having a first and a second electrode and a programmable resistive memory element having a first and a second terminal, the electro-optical unit further having a first, a second and a third control terminal wherein the photodiode and the programmable resistive memory element are coupled in series between the first control terminal and the third control terminal and wherein the light-emitting diode and the programmable resistive memory element are coupled in series between the second control terminal and the third control terminal, characterized in that the electro-optical unit includes a common node in which one of said first and second electrode of the photodiode, one of said first and second electrode of the light-emitting diode and one of said first and second terminal of the programmable resistive memory element are commonly connected, and in that the programmable resistive memory element is programmable in a conducting state by application of a first voltage between said first and second control terminal of the electro-optical unit and is programmable in a non-conducting state by application of a second voltage between said first and second control terminal of the electro-optical unit.