Switch device, method for operating switch device and method for manufacturing switch device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022199343-A1
Application number	US-202117455595-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 18, 2021
Priority date	Dec 18, 2020
Publication date	Jun 23, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A switch device includes a phase change switch and a memory for storing a target state of the phase change switch. A controller determines a phase state of the phase change switch, and, if the state of the phase change switch does not correspond to the target state, controls a heater of the phase change switch to change the state of the phase changes switch to the target state.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A device, comprising:
a phase change switch including a phase change material and a heater, a memory configured to store a target state for the phase change switch, and a controller configured to determine a state of the phase change switch, to compare the determined state with the target state, and to control the heater of the phase change switch to change the state of the phase change switch to the target state if the state of the phase change switch does not correspond to the target state.

2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the memory comprises a phase change memory including a further phase change material.

3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein, to determine the state of the phase change switch, the controller is configured to apply one of a voltage and a current to the phase change material of the phase change switch and to measure the other one of a voltage and a current in response to the applying.

4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is coupled to the phase change switch via at least one radio frequency decoupling element.

5 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the radio frequency decoupling element comprises an inductor.

6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to perform the determining and the comparing continuously during operation of the device.

7 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to perform the determining and the comparing upon startup of the device.

8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the phase change switch is a radio frequency switch configured to switch radio frequency signals.

9 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the phase change switch is coupled with a further phase change switch in a single pole multi throw configuration.

10 . A method, comprising:
determining a state of a phase change switch including a phase change material and a heater, comparing the determined state to a stored target state, and changing the state of the phase change switch to the target state in case the determined state does not correspond to the target state.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the determining the state comprises applying one of a voltage and a current to the phase change material, and measuring the other of a voltage and a current in response to the applying.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the method is performed continuously during operation of a device including the phase change switch.

13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the method is performed at startup of a device including the phase change switch.

14 . A method, comprising:
providing a phase change switch including a phase change material and a heater; providing a phase change memory including a further phase change material concurrently with the phase change switch; determining a state of the phase change switch; comparing the determined state with a target state; and controlling the heater of the phase change switch to change the state of the phase change switch to the target state if the state of the phase change switch does not correspond to the target state.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein determining the state of the phase change switch, comparing the determined state with the target state, and controlling the heater of the phase change switch to change the state of the phase change switch to the target state if the state of the phase change switch does not correspond the target state are performed by a controller.

Assignees

• Infineon Technologies Ag

Inventors

• Taddiken Hans
• Heiss Dominik
• Kadow Christoph

Classifications

• G11C13/0004

  comprising amorphous/crystalline phase transition cells · CPC title

• H03K17/51 Primary

  characterised by the components used (H03K17/04 - H03K17/30, H03K17/94 take precedence) · CPC title

• H03K17/24 Primary

  Storing the actual state when the supply voltage fails · CPC title

• H03K17/18

  Modifications for indicating state of switch · CPC title

• H01H37/02 Primary

  Details · CPC title