US Patent 7875480 - Growing nanowire sensors

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7875480.html

This patent from HP includes some basic claims to growing horizontally oriented nanowires arrays in a substrate for use as nanoscale sensors. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method of making a sensor, comprising:

substantially laterally growing at least one nanowire having at least two segments between two electrodes, whereby a junction or connection is formed between the at least two segments; and

establishing a sensing material adjacent to the junction or connection, and adjacent to at least a portion of each of the at least two segments, wherein the sensing material has at least two states.