Compact universal logic gates realized using quantization of current in nanodevices

Abstract

This paper proposes novel universal logic gates using the current quantizationcharacteristics of nanodevices. In nanodevices like the electron waveguide (EW) andsingle-electron (SE) turnstile, the channel current is a staircase quantized function of itscontrol voltage. We use this unique characteristic to compactly realize Boolean functions.First we present the concept of the periodic-threshold threshold logic gate (PTTG),and we build a compact PTTG using EW and SE turnstiles. We show that anarbitrary three-input Boolean function can be realized with a single PTTG, andan arbitrary four-input Boolean function can be realized by using two PTTGs.We then use one PTTG to build a universal programmable two-input logic gatewhich can be used to realize all two-input Boolean functions. We also build aprogrammable three-input logic gate by using one PTTG. Compared with linearthreshold logic gates, with the PTTG one can build digital circuits more compactly.The proposed PTTGs are promising for future smart nanoscale digital systemuse.