Avalanche memory triode and logic circuits

Abstract

A semiconductor controlled avalanche triode operableat microwave frequencies is turned on by a narrow pulse, and remains conducting due to the positive feedback effect of returning carriers in the base region until turned off by an opposite polarity narrow pulse. Applications include a fast switch, a memory device, and various logic circuits such as logic gates and shift registers. The memory and logic devices are fast, require low power, available in npn or pnp configurations, are simple with one triode per memory, and can be made of silicon so as to be integrable.