Tuesday, June 30, 2009

US Patent 7552636 - Nanomechanical gyroscope

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7552636.html

This patent from UT-Battelle teaches a gyroscope formed with dimensions small enough to be influenced by quantum phase interference effects. Claim 1 reads:

1. A nanomechanical (NEMS) gyroscope, comprising:

an integrated circuit substrate;

a pair of spaced apart contact pads disposed on said substrate, and

a movable nanoscale element forming at least a portion of a first electrically conductive path electrically coupling said contact pads, wherein said movable element experiences movement comprising rotation, changes in rotation, or oscillation upon said gyroscope experiencing angular velocity or angular acceleration, said movement inducing phase changes in current flow through said movable element.

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