US Patent 7569880 - Nanotube switch FET

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7569880.html

This appears to be yet another basic patent to carbon nanotube electronics issued to the innovative company Nantero. This patent covers a field effect transistor using a mechanical nanotube switch as a control element which may form the basis of a higher stability, lower leakage non-volatile memory cell. Claim 1 reads:

1. A field effect device, comprising:

a gate, a source, and a drain, with a conductive channel between the source and the drain; and

a nanotube switch having a corresponding control terminal, said nanotube switch being positioned to control electrical conduction through said conductive channel.