Resonant tunneling diodes for multi-valued digital applications

Abstract

Resonant tunneling diodes (RTD) have unique folding V-I characteristics, which lend themselves to multi-valued applications, The negative differential resistance of RTDs renders the operating points self-latching and stable. Any positive resistance in series with an RTD can give rise to hysteresis, especially at high frequencies, The hysteresis effect limits the operation of some multi-valued circuits, but can be utilized to produce some useful functions in other applications. In most applications, the input connection and the output connection are sequentially clocked to achieve isolation. An RTD can achieve higher operating frequency operation than conventional devices, and the maximum operating frequency is often limited by the dynamic hysteresis effect.<>