Thursday, May 28, 2009

US Patent 7539119 - Mem-resistor probe tip memory

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7539119.html

Millipede memory has been under development by IBM and others based on the use of large arrays of cantilevered tips which write data by a thermal heating of polymer. This patent from Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute modifies the millipede concept by using metal oxide materials having the resistance switching properties characteristic of memory resistors. Claim 1 reads:

1. A data storage apparatus comprising:

a substrate;

a lower electrode layer disposed on the substrate;

a metal oxide layer disposed on the lower electrode layer;

a probe tip disposed on the metal oxide layer opposite the lower electrode layer and for scanning a local region of the metal oxide layer in units of nanometer, wherein the probe tip applies a write voltage to the local region of the metal oxide layer so that the resistance of the local region is sharply changed until a resistive state of the local region is switched from a first state to a second state or measures current flowing through the local region according to the resistive state and reads data stored in the local region;

a driver for transferring the position of the probe tip to the local region of the metal oxide layer; and a controller for controlling the probe tip and the driver, wherein the driver includes: a substrate driver for transferring the substrate in at least units of nanometer; and

a probe tip driver for driving the probe tip.

Labels:

US Patent 7538474 - MEMS testing via phonon stimulation

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7538474.html

This patent from the National University of Singapore teaches a new reliability testing system for MEMS devices based on an acoustic sensing method which can be less invasive than previous methods. Claim 1 reads:

1. A system for Micro Electro Mechanical System (MEMS) device characterization, the system comprising:

a stimulator for stimulating the device to generate phonons in the device;

a detector for detecting the generated phonons; and

a converter for converting the phonons into a signal representative of displacement of a MEMS component of the device.

Labels:

US Patent 7538422 - Multilayer CNT IC cooler

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7538422.html

The use of carbon nanotubes for heat removal is being explored by a variety of semiconductor companies. One of the problems is that the distance of thermal conduction is limited by the attainable length of the nanotubes. This patent from Nanoconduction Inc. teaches a multilayer CNT structure to extend the allowable distance between an IC and a heat sink. Claim 1 reads:

1. A micro-cooler device structure comprising:

a heat sink body having a heat sink surface;

at least one integrated circuit chip having at least one integrated circuit chip surface; and

a multi-layer structure, each layer of said multilayer structure comprising a plurality of individually separated, rod-like nano-structures for transferring thermal energy from a surface of at least one integrated circuit chip to said heat sink surface, said plurality of individually separated, rod-like nano-structures being disposed between said heat sink surface and said surface of at least one integrated circuit chip;

wherein a thermally conductive material is disposed within interstitial voids between said plurality of individually separated, rod-like nano-structures, and wherein the rod-like nano-structures of each layer of said multilayer structure form a continuum between the layers of the multi-layer structure.

Labels:

US Patent 7538400 - Flexible nanotube sensor platform

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7538400.html

This patent from Nantero teaches an extension of their nanotube fabric electronics to form biosensors on flexible substrates. Claim 1 reads:

1. An electrical device, comprising:

a flexible substrate having a major surface and a second surface substantially non-parallel to said major surface;

a conductive article oriented disposed on said second surface of the substrate, said article comprising a non-woven fabric of nanotubes for providing a plurality of conductive pathways along the article; and

an electrode in electrical communication with at least a portion of the conductive article.

Labels:

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

US Patent 7537975 - CNT organic thin film transistor

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7537975.html

This patent from Samsung appears to include a broad claim for an insulated gate thin film field effect transistor formed with a mixture of carbon nanotubes and organic materials in the channel. Claim 1 reads:

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a substrate; and

a thin film transistor formed over the substrate,

the thin film transistor comprising a channel, a gate electrode, an insulating layer, a source, and a drain, the insulating layer being interposed between the channel and the gate electrode, wherein the channel comprises a mixture of carbon nanotubes and an organic semiconductor material, and wherein the carbon nanotubes are distributed substantially throughout the channel.

Labels:

US Patent 7537807 - Electrospray nanofiber deposition

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7537807.html

This patent from Cornell University teaches a new type of deposition technique for polymeric nanofibers using a microfluidic emitter tip. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method of forming nanofibers, the method comprising:

positioning a target substrate and counter electrode a desired distance from a microfluidic emitter having an emitter tip;

providing a polymer to the microfluidic emitter tip;

applying a potential between the microfluidic emitter tip and the target substrate to create nanofibers on the target substrate and;

creating lateral movement between the target substrate and the microfluidic emitter.

Labels:

US Patent 7535786 - Carbon nanohorn drug delivery

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7537786.html

Sumio Iijima of NEC published the basic paper on carbon nanotubes which launched research on these materials. Now it appears the interest is on a noe form of carbon nanomaterial called nanohorns. This patent includes some basic claims to using carbon nanohorns for drug delivery. Claim 1 reads:

1. A complex of drug and carbon nanohorns, which complex comprises a metal-containing anti-cancer drug being adsorbed onto or included in oxidized porous carbon nanohorns.

Labels:

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

US Patent 7537695 - Carbon nanofilament water filter

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7537695.html

This patent from PUR Water Purification Products, Inc. teaches using carbon nanomaterials for water filtration and purification which is currently being investigated in India (link). Claim 1 reads:

1. A filter for producing potable water comprising:

a housing including a water inlet and a water outlet; and

a filter material arranged within the housing comprising, activated carbon particles; and

a plurality of carbon nanofilaments disposed on the surface of the activated carbon particles, wherein the filter is operable to provide potable water by removing contaminants from a liquid water stream flowing from the water inlet to the water outlet of the housing, wherein the plurality of carbon nanofilaments are surface-grown on the surface of the activated carbon particles.

Labels:

US Patent 7537346 - Fluorescent nanoparticle display

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7537346.html

Quantum dot nanocrystal phosphors have been suggested to improve display efficiency as far back as 1994 (see US Patent 5,882,779). This patent from Superimaging, Inc. teaches using a dark substrate (such as a vehicle dashboard) in forming the display to improve contrast. Claim 1 reads:

1. An apparatus comprising light emitting material integrated into a substantially dark substrate, wherein:

the light emitting material is configured to emit visible light in response to absorption of ultraviolet light, wherein the light emitting material is fluorescent material;

the light emitting material comprises a plurality of light emitting particles; and each of the plurality of light emitting particles has a diameter less than about 500 nanometers.

Labels:

US Patent 7537012 - Blood flow control with magnetic nanoparticles

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7537012.html

This patent from Vasmo, Inc. teaches a way to block the flow of blood during a surgical procedure by magnetically controlling nanoparticles administered into blood vessels. Claim 1 reads:

1. A medical, surgical, or operating kit for occluding or controlling blood flow comprised of:

(a) magnetic microparticles, magnetic nanoparticles, or magnetic colloids which can be administered in the form of a dispersion or suspension into a blood vessel that flows through the vessel in the bloodstream, and

(b) an external magnetic field source which is adapted to be placed or held at the desired site near or above the path of the bloodstream to form a plug or blockade within said blood vessel that occludes or controls blood flow through the vessel.

Labels:

Friday, May 22, 2009

US Patent 7535462 - SWCNT touchscreen

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7535462.html

This patent from Kodak teaches a touchscreen interface based on single walled carbon nanotubes having high transparency, low surface electrical resistivity, flexibility, and robustness under repeated contacts. Claim 1 reads:

1. A touchscreen comprising:

touch side electrode and device side electrode

wherein each electrode comprises an insulating substrate and an exposed electrically conductive layer,

wherein said exposed electrically conductive layers are adjacent and separated by dielectric spacers,

wherein only one of the exposed electrically conductive layers comprises carbon nanotubes wherein said carbon nanotubes comprise single-wall carbon nanotubes and wherein said carbon nanotubes comprise covalently attached hydrophilic species.

Labels:

US Patent 7535070 - Nanoscale spin wave computer architecture

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7535070.html

This patent from the University of California system teaches spintronic based computing based on the crossbar switch architecture providing a degree of parallel computer processing which may be superior to conventional computation systems. Claim 1 reads:

1. A solid-state spin-wave computing device comprised of a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs, wherein said device is configured to simultaneously transmit data elements from each of said plurality of inputs to each of said plurality of outputs by using spin-waves of same or differing frequencies and wherein said solid-state spin-wave device is a nano-scale reconfigurable mesh.

Labels:

US Patent 7534999 - Quantum beam aided atomic force microscope

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7534999.html

The atomic force microscope is a fundamental tool to determine the shapes and profiles of nanostructures however it is limited in its ability to perform the chemical analysis of nanostructures. This patent from Japan Science and Technology Agency teaches a modification of the AFM in which irradiation of a sample is used prior to AFM imaging to provide chemical state analysis. Claim 1 reads:

1. A quantum beam aided atomic force microscopy, comprising the steps of:

irradiating atoms of a sample surface with quantum beams such as photons, electrons and charged particles having a given electron transition energy characteristic of element; and

detecting the change in interaction force between each of said atoms of said sample surface irradiated with said quantum beams and a distal end of a probe.

Labels:

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

US Patent 7534821 - Polymeric aerogel nanocomposite moisture barrier

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7534821.html

Laser printers and copiers are usually highly susceptible to environmental changes which can alter image quality. This patent from Xerox teaches how aerogel nanocomposites can be used as a coating to counteract such effects. Claim 1 reads:

1. A nanocomposite composition comprising:

one or more aerogel components, and one or more polymeric resin components;

wherein the nanocomposite composition is capable of absorbing water in an amount that is less than an amount that can be absorbed by the polymeric resin components, and wherein the one or more aerogel components comprise aerogel particles having an average particle size of less than about 500 Å.

Labels:

US Patent 7534648 - Thermally stable nanotube substrate material

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7534648.html

Based on Intel's patents thermal management of integrated circuits seems to be their most pressing issue requiring nanomaterials. This latest patent continues this trend teaching a high thermal conductivity and low thermal expansion IC substrate material formed by intersecting nanofibers or nanotubes combined with alumina or silica nanoparticles. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method of forming a composite material, comprising:

disposing at least a first arrangement including a plurality of approximately aligned nanofilaments and at least a second arrangement including a plurality of approximately aligned nanofilaments as at least one array at a surface of a substrate, the nanofilaments of the second arrangement being approximately perpendicular to and approximately coplanar with the nanofilaments of the first arrangement, at least one nanofilament of the second arrangement crossing over at least one nanofilament of the first arrangement;

dispersing a plurality of nanoparticles in a resin;

disposing the resin among arrangements of the array; and

curing the resin.

Labels:

US Patent 7534468 - Self organization of molecular nanostructures by mechanical perturbation

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7534468.html

Rotaxanes and catenanes are example of interlocking molecules which have been experimented with using electrical, thermal, or optical stimulation to produce a type of reconfigurable molecular memory. This patent from Scriba Nanotechnologie S.R.L. takes a different approach based on applying pressure via a stamp or tip structure which induces reconfiguration mechanically. Claim 1 reads:

1. A process for forming nanostructures comprising the step of:

applying on localised regions of a smooth thin film of rotaxanes or catenanes an external mechanical perturbation with preset magnitude thereby said film undergoes a collective morphological transformation and nanostructures are formed by self-organisation of said molecules, said nanostructures having preset number, size, interspacing and shape.

Labels:

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

US Patent 7534453 - Cerium oxide nanoparticles for enhanced brain cell survivability

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7534453.html

This patent from the University of Central Florida Research Foundation teaches that cerium oxide nanoparticles are useful to reduce damage from free radicals offering a potential treatment for stroke and traumatic brain injuries. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method for enhancing the survivability of living biological cells comprising:

selecting a plurality of living biological cells, wherein the cells are brain cells;

adding in-vitro, one single application of non agglomerated, ultra fine, engineered nanoparticles of cerium oxide of the size approximately 2 nm to approximately 10 nm wherein the nanoparticles contain a plurality of oxygen vacancies in a lattice structure and the oxygen vacancies support biological activity as free radical scavengers to cultures of the plurality of living brain cells; and

enhancing a lifespan of the living brain cell cultures when the cerium oxide particles function as a regenerative free radical scavenger wherein after one free radical scavenging event has occurred, the cerium oxide particles remain biologically available for more than one free radical scavenging event.

Labels:

US Patent 7534449 - High ligand loading density nanoparticles

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7534449.html

Ligands are substances useful to provide binding to particular receptors for drug delivery. This patent from Yale teaches using polymeric nanoparticles to provide a high ligand density for improved drug delivery. Claim 1 reads:

1. Polymeric microparticles or nanoparticles for delivery of a therapeutic, nutritional, diagnostic or prophylactic agent incorporated in a high density on or within the microparticles, the microparticles or nanoparticles comprising targeting ligands present in a density of between about 1,000 to 10,000,000 ligands per square micron of microparticle or nanoparticle surface area, wherein the ligands are inserted into or attached onto the surface of the polymeric microparticles or nanoparticles.

Labels:

US Patent 7533905 - Anti-counterfeiting nanostructure

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7533905.html

This patent from HP teaches a nanostructured mating arrangement designed to prevent the use of counterfeit inkjet print cartridges. Claim 1 reads:

1. An anti-counterfeiting system, comprising:

a first structure having a first plurality of three-dimensional nanostructures each having a height dimension less than a wavelength of visible light;

a second structure having a second plurality of three-dimensional nanostructures each having a height dimension less than a wavelength of visible light, the second plurality configured to couple with the first plurality; and

an alignment mechanism, operable to align the first structure to the second structure and establish proximate contact between the first and second pluralities of three-dimensional nanostructures;

wherein the first plurality of three-dimensional nanostructures encodes a first part of an authentication key, and wherein the second plurality of nanostructures encodes a second part of the authentication key, the authentication key including pre-determined elements and interaction modalities.

Labels:

Thursday, May 14, 2009

US Patent 7532386 - MEMS offset voltage modification

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7532386.html

This patent from Iridigm Display Corp. (acquired by Qualcomm) includes some very basic claims to a manufacturing process of MEMS devices including an offset voltage correction step. Claim 1 reads:

1. A process development method, comprising:

identifying at least one processing parameter for manufacturing a MEMS device that results in a non-zero offset voltage for the MEMS device; and

modifying the processing parameter to shift the non-zero offset voltage closer to zero.

Labels: ,

US Patent 7531892 - Superconducting boron nanostructures

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7531892.html

This patent from Yale teaches a method of forming a (relatively) high temperature superconductor material based on boron nanostructures which may have some future use in high current power transmission. Claim 1 reads:

1. A one-dimensional superconducting device comprising a boron nanostructure having a diameter of less than 50 nm and impregnated with an electron donor element, said boron nanostructure having a superconducting transition temperature of about 100 degrees K.

Labels:

US Patent 7531503 - Artificial tissue incorporating bioreleasing nanoparticles

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7531503.html

Tissue engineering involves the artificial replacement of biostructures such as bone and cartilage. This patent from Wake Forest University Health Sciences teaches a material applicable to tissue engineering incorporating nanoparticles to assist in the delivery of therapeutic compounds provided to counteract adverse immune responses. Claim 1 reads:

1. An electrospun matrix having a three-dimensional ultrastructure of interconnected fibers and pores to permit cell attachment and further comprising at least one nanoparticle incorporated within the matrix, wherein the nanoparticle is coupled to a therapeutic agent and the therapeutic agent is releasable from the nanoparticle by application of radiation.

Labels:

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

US Patent 7531472 - Silicon nanofiber

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7531472.html

This patent from a company called Visionarts in Japan teaches a manufacturing method for a silicon nanofiber structure based on silicon microcrystal grain growth. Claim 1 reads:

1. A nanofiber comprised of numerous nanowires, comprising silicon which is oriented and is bundled in a same direction as said nanowires, provided with a space between nanowires, such that the nanofiber has a stem shaped cross-sectional configuration.

Labels:

US Patent 7531277 - Self-erasing photoreceptor containing electroluminescent nanoparticles

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7531277.html

In xerography processes a photoreceptor is a necessary component in forming images to be printed. this patent from Xerox takes advantage of the electrical conductivity and optical transparency of carbon nanotube material to achieve improved photoreceptors provided with self erasing. Claim 1 reads:

1. An electrophotographic photoreceptor comprising:

a conductive layer comprising a plurality of electroluminescent nanomaterials, wherein the plurality of electroluminescent nanomaterials comprises a plurality of carbon nanotubes;

a first contact electrically connected to a first edge of the conductive layer and an electrical ground;

a second contact electrically connected to a second edge of the conductive layer and D.C. power supply; and

a photosensitive layer disposed over the conductive layer, wherein the photosensitive layer comprises a charge generation material and a charge transport material.

Labels:

US Patent 7531155 - Silicon powder to nanoparticle conversion

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7531155.html

This patent from Applied Nanotech teaches a high yield silicon nanoparticle production method based on ultrasonic agitation. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method of making silicon nanoparticles comprising:

a) providing porous silicon powder; and

b) ultrasonically agitating said powder in a solvent to break up porous outermost layers of silicon particles comprising said powder to provide for a dispersion of silicon nanoparticles in said solvent.

Labels:

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

US Patent 7531149 - Metal oxide nanoparticle size control

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7531149.html

In order to produce predictable behavior from nanostructured materials it is often important to have well regulated distributions of sizes and/or shapes. This patent from the University of Arkansas teaches a method of achieving uniformity for metal oxide nanoparticle fabrication. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method of making nanometer-scale metal oxide particles, comprising:

a. combining a metal fatty acid salt, a fatty acid, and a hydrocarbon solvent to form an admixture thereof; and

b. heating the admixture to a temperature of at least 300° C. until the metal oxide particles are formed.

Labels:

US Patent 7531114 - CNT ionic liquid gel

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7531114.html

This patent from Japan Science and Technology Agency teaches a new carbon nanotube composite structure providing reduced damage to carbon nanotube bundles during processing. Claim 1 reads:

1. A gel composition formed by a method which comprises pulverizing carbon nanotubes by applying a shearing force to a mixture consisting of carbon nanotubes and an ionic liquid, wherein the ionic liquid is a salt which assumes a molten state at or very near room temperature.

Labels:

US Patent 7531068 - Silicon nanodot film deposition

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7531068.html

Erbium is known to be a useful semiconductor dopant for optical amplifiers and lasers. This patent from the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (S.Korea) teaches using Erbium doping to produce an enhanced quantum dot light emission device. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method for manufacturing a silicon nanodot film for light emission, comprising:

(a) placing a substrate on a stage within a chamber; and

(b) depositing a matrix thin film in the form of nanodots on said substrate by introducing a reaction gas into said chamber and generating plasma, while doping said deposited matrix thin film with a light emitting material by sputtering said light emitting material into said chamber.

Labels:

US Patent 7530940 - Nanoparticle enhanced radiation therapy

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7530940.html

This patent from a company called NanoProbes appears fundamental to the treatment of tumors using metallic (e.g. gold) nanoparticles. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method of enhancing the effects of radiation directed to a tissue or a population of cells in an animal comprising:

administering an amount of metal nanoparticles to said animal and subsequently irradiating the animal with radiation directed to said tissue or said population of cells,

wherein said radiation is in a form selected from the group consisting of x-rays, microbeam arrays of x-rays, radioisotopes, electrons, protons, ion beams, and neutrons,

wherein said metal nanoparticles are administered to said animal in an amount to achieve a concentration in said tissue or said population of cells in the animal of at least about 0.1% metal by weight.

However, one patent which appears to have been overlooked during the Examination is US 6,530,944 from Rice University the abstract of which reads:

This invention is generally in the field of improved methods for the localized delivery of heat and the localized imaging of biological materials. The delivery may be in vitro or in vivo and is useful for the localized treatment of cancer, inflammation or other disorders involving overproliferation of tissue. The method is also useful for diagnostic imaging. The method involves localized induction of hyperthermia in a cell or tissue by delivering nanoparticles to said cell or tissue and exposing the nanoparticles to an excitation source under conditions wherein they emit heat.

Labels:

Monday, May 11, 2009

US Patent 7528060 - E-beam induced growth of branched nanostructures

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7528060.html

This patent from the University of Puerto Rico teaches a new methodology for forming branched silicon nanostructures which may provide enhanced surface/volume ratios for higher efficiency sensors. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method of growing branched nanostructures comprising the steps of:

providing a porous substrate;

directing an electron beam at the porous substrate; and

growing a branched nanostructure from the porous substrate as a consequence of directing said electron beam at the porous substrate.

Labels:

Tuesday, May 05, 2009

US Patent 7530032 - Nanowire crossbar logic implemented with tunneling resistors

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7530032.html

This patent from HPLabs teaches various implementations of logic circuitry (AND, OR, XOR, XNOR) based on nanowire crossbars which could eventually be competitive with CMOS logic as Moore's law declines. Claim 1 reads:

1. A crossbar that implements an AND logic gate, the crossbar comprising:

a nanowire crossbar with two or more layers of approximately parallel nanowires;

a number of configurable, tunneling resistor junctions that each interconnects a nanowire in a first layer of approximately parallel nanowires with a nanowire in a second layer of approximately parallel nanowires, wherein the tunneling resistors have current-to-voltage inversion symmetry;

two nanowires in the first layer that each receive an electrical signal that represents an input logical value; a nanowire in the first layer that receives a pull-up voltage; and

a nanowire in the second layer interconnected to the nanowires in the first layer, the nanowire in the second layer carries an electrical signal representing an AND logic gate output logic value.

Labels:

US Patent 7529437 - Quantum dot photonic computer architecture

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7529437.html

Quantum dots may form the basis of future nanooptoelectronics but are subject to defects that can hinder operation. This patent from HPLabs teaches a switching architecture providing defect tolerant quantum dot computing. Claim 1 reads:

1. A node of a quantum-dot-based, quantum computer architecture, the node comprising:

a first photonic device supported by a substrate;

quantum dots optically coupled to the first photonic device, wherein the quantum dots are located on the top surface of the first photonic device; and

a switch supported by the substrate and located between the first photonic device and a bus waveguide, wherein the switch controls transmission of electromagnetic waves between the bus waveguide and the first photonic device so that the electromagnetic waves can be selectively coupled into and out of the quantum dots.

Labels:

US Patent 7528947 - Nanocrystal functionalized probes

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7528947.html

Near-field optical microscopes are important to high-resolution optical imaging and data storage. This patent from Yissum Research Development Company teaches achieving further enhanced resolution by forming fluorescent nanocrystals on the tip of a NFOM. Claim 1 reads:

1. A tip device having at least a portion thereof comprising a substrate layer functionalized by nanoparticles comprising nanocrystals which are bound to a surface of said substrate, the nanocrystals acting as active media capable of interacting with a predetermined sample to form with the sample a donor-acceptor or acceptor-donor pair, said interaction of the tip with the sample modifying light emission of the sample by transferring or accepting energy to or from the sample.

Labels:

US Patent 7528437 - CNT EEPROM

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7528437.html

This patent from Nantero teaches integrating their nanotube ribbon switch architecture with field effect transistors to form EEPROM memory cells. Claim 1 reads:

1. An electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) cell, comprising:

a cell selection transistor comprising a gate, a source, a drain, and a channel between the source and the drain; and

a storage cell for storing the informational state of the EEPROM cell, wherein the storage cell includes a gate, a source, a drain, a channel between the source and the drain, and a nanotube switch capable of at least two states, wherein one of the source and the drain of the cell selection transistor electrically contacts one of the source and the drain of the storage cell, and wherein the state of the nanotube switch represents the informational state of the EEPROM cell, wherein the storage cell is writable and readable via said selection transistor with write times and read times being within an order of magnitude of each other.

Labels:

Friday, May 01, 2009

US Patent 7525833 - Nanowire shift register

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7525833.html

HP Labs has gradually been developing nanowire crossbar electronics over the past ten years offering a nanoscale alternative to purely the CMOS based architectures which dominate electronic design. This latest patent teaches using this type of architecture to construct a shift register. Claim 1 reads:

1. A nanoscale shift register comprising:

a first set of nanowires interconnected through a first set of latches to a first latch-control signal line; and

a second set of nanowires interconnected through a second set of latches to a second latch-control signal line, the nanowires of the first set of nanowires and the nanowires of the second set of nanowires arranged in a sequence that includes a first nanowire, a last nanowire, and a subsequence of internal nanowires between the first nanowire and the last nanowire, each internal nanowire of the second set of nanowires interconnected through a gate of a first set of gates controlled by a first gate signal line to a preceding nanowire of the first set of nanowires and interconnected through a gate of a second set of gates controlled by a second gate signal line to a next nanowire of the first set of nanowires.

Labels:

US Patent 7525149 - Graded tunnel dielectric nanocrystal memory cell

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7525149.html

This patent from Micron Technology teaches a new nanocrystal charge trapping memory cell using a graded SiC-GeC-SiC composition as a tunnel dielectric offering improved scalability characteristics over other memory cell structures found in flash and SONOS designs. Claim 1 reads:

1. A memory cell comprising:

a substrate having a plurality of implanted regions;

a tunnel dielectric formed over the substrate, the tunnel dielectric comprising a graded composite of silicon carbide and germanium carbide; and

a charge blocking layer formed over the tunnel dielectric, the charge blocking layer having a charge trapping layer comprised of nano-crystals.

Labels:

US Patent 7524746 - High refractive index semiconductor nanocrystal material

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7524746.html

In order to increase the light extraction efficiency for LED lighting this patent from Evident Technologies teaches a semiconductor nanocrystal material used as an LED encapsulent formed with a high refractive index to minimize scattering and absorption. Claim 1 reads:

1. A high-refractive index material comprising at least one semiconductor nanocrystal composition incorporated in a matrix material, wherein the high-refractive index material has a refractive index greater than 1.5, and wherein the semiconductor nanocrystal composition comprises: (1) a semiconductor nanocrystal core comprising a II-VI, III-V, or IV-VI semiconductor material, the semiconductor nanocrystal core having an outer surface; and (2) a metal layer grown on the outer surface of the semiconductor nanocrystal core, the metal layer having an outer surface.

Labels:

US Patent 7524543 - Durable optics with surface modified nanoparticles

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7524543.html

This patent from 3M is issuing based on a series of continuations going back to 2003 and includes some basic claims to optical films incorporating nanoparticles which provides more durability to brightness enhancing films.

1. An optical film comprising:

a microstructured surface comprised of a polymerized composition comprising a resin and a plurality of surface modified colloidal nanoparticles wherein the surface modified colloidal nanoparticle comprise a combination of surface treatment agents.

Labels:

US Patent 7524534 - Reactive dip pen nanolithography

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7524534.html

This patent from Nanoink teaches a dip pen nanolithography method including the provision of a chemical reaction between a compound coated on the tip and another compound on a substrate. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method of nanolithography comprising:

providing a substrate on which a first patterning compound has been applied;

providing a scanning probe microscope tip;

coating the tip with a second patterning compound; and

using the coated tip to apply the second patterning compound to the first patterning compound on the substrate via a transport medium so as to produce a desired pattern of the second patterning compound, wherein the second patterning compound reacts or combines with the first patterning compound.

Labels: