US Patent 7212026 - Quantum cellular automata with nanodomains

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7212026.html

Conventional logic systems are based on the flow and storage of electron charge. Quantum Cellular Automata is an alternative logic system capable of producing logical operations which conventionally operate by determining the discrete state of particles arranged in cells via an electrostatic or magnetic interaction with particles in neighboring cells. This patent from Intel uses "nano-domains" in which the logic state is represented by electron spin or orbital state of the nano-domains.

1. A logic device comprising: a collection of unit cells with significant quantum exchange interaction between the constituents of the cells, the unit cells being composed of nano-domains of lattice cells within a single crystal comprising the thin film, the logical state of the said device being represented by the spin state or orbital state of said unit cells.