A novel application of resonant tunneling devices in high performance digital circuits

Resonant tunneling devices have been used in various digital circuit applications to improve packing density, circuit speed, as well as power consumption. In this paper, we describe a new class of applications of using those quantum tunneling devices in digital circuit design. More specifically, we have developed a strategy to use RTDs in conjunction with CMOS logic circuits that leads to new circuits that have elevated noise immunity. The proposed method utilizes RTD's negative differential resistance property and the fact that they have very high speed index. We have shown through simulation that the proposed circuits have increased noise immunity yet they retain all the advantages of CMOS dynamic circuits. The benefit of the proposed circuits is still evident using currently available silicon-based RTD's with a relatively small peak-to-valley current ratio.