US Patent 7915709 - Vertical nanowire bipolar junction transistor

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7915709.html

So far most of the proposed transistor designs that use nanowires or nanotubes have been based on a field effect transistor design. However, for analog and high-frequency applications bipolar junction transistors are often preferred. This patent from NXP B.V. discloses an example of a nanowire bipolar transistor. Claim 1 reads:

1. A semiconductor device comprising

a semiconductor body with a bipolar transistor comprising an emitter region, a base region and a collector region of, respectively, a first conductivity type, a second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type, and the first conductivity type, characterized in that one of the emitter or collector regions comprises a nanowire the base region is formed at the surface of the semiconductor body by means of a layer-shaped region the other one of the emitter or collector regions is formed in the semiconductor body below the base region and the emitter or collector region comprising the nanowire is provided on the surface of the semiconductor body in such a manner that the longitudinal axis thereof extends perpendicularly to the surface of the semiconductor body.

US Patent 7915637 - Nanotube mem-resistor

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7915637.html

This latest patent from Nantero includes some basic claims toward a 2-terminal memory resistor formed from composite nanoparticle and carbon nanotube materials. Claim 1 reads:

1. A two-terminal switching device comprising:

a first electrode;

a second electrode; and

a switching composite article disposed between and in constant electrical communication with each of said first electrode and said second electrode of said two terminal switching device, wherein said composite article comprises a first volume of nanotubes and a second volume of nanoscopic particles in a predefined ratio relative to said first volume of nanotubes.

US Patent 7915598 - Electroacoustic CNT sensor

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7915598.html

Photoacoustic spectrometers are useful to detect absorption characteristics of materials. This patent from Tsinghua University and Hon Hai Precision teaches a way that carbon nanotubes can be used to improve sound intensity in photoacoustic transducers. Claim 1 reads:

1. An electromagnetic signal measuring device, the electromagnetic signal measuring device comprising:

a carbon nanotube structure, a sound-electro converting device located near the carbon nanotube structure; and

a measuring device, connected to the sound-electro converting device, configured to measure a signal output from the sound-electro converting device.

US Patent 7915539 - Carbon nanotube electric part

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7915539.html

This patent is from Fuji Xerox and includes some relatively broad claims for using carbon nanotubes in forming an electrical component. The priority date for this patent is Feb. 24, 2003. Two nanotube related patents which may interfere with this patent appear to be US 6918284 from the U.S. Navy (priority April 25, 2003) and US 6979244 from Canon. Claim 1 reads:

1. An electric part comprising:

a nonconductive base matrix member;

a carbon nanotube group that is sealed within the nonconductive base matrix member, and wherein the carbon nanotube group includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes, the plurality of carbon nanotubes are electrically connected to each other and are in physical contact with each other, in which substantially only an end portion of a carbon nanotube contained in the plurality of carbon nanotubes is exposed from one surface of the nonconductive base matrix member; and

an electrode that is connected to a side surface of at least one carbon nanotube included in the carbon nanotube group.

US Patent 7915151 - Flow alignment of nanowires

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7915151.html

This is another basic nanowire patent from Charles Lieber's group at Harvard University which has priority going back to 2000 and teaching an alignment method for semiconductor nanowires useful to form nanoscale transistors and sensors. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method of assembling one or more nanoscale elongated structures on a surface, the method comprising acts of:

(A) flowing a liquid that comprises the one or more nanoscale elongated structures onto the surface which nanoscale elongated structures have at least one portion having a smallest dimension of less than 500 nm; and

(B) aligning the one or more nanoscale elongated structures on the surface to form an array of the nanoscale elongated structures;

(C) conditioning the surface with one or more functionalities that attract the one or more nanoscale elongated structures to particular positions on the surface,

wherein act (B) comprises attracting the one or more nanoscale elongated structures to the particular positions using the one or more functionalities.

US Patent 7914912 - Actively switchable nanostructured adhesive

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7914912.html

This patent from the University of California system teaches a way to replicated the adhesive characteristics of Gecko toes using coated nanofiber structures. Claim 1 reads:

1. A fabricated microstructure, comprising:

a substrate;

a set of electrodes or a wire disposed on the substrate; and

a nano-fiber attached to the substrate, wherein the nano-fiber is differentially coated with an electroactive polymer, magnetostrictive material, paramagnetic, or ferromagnetic material to leave a portion of the nano-fiber coated with the electroactive polymer, magnetostrictive material, paramagnetic, or ferromagnetic material and another portion of the nano-fiber uncoated, wherein the nano-fiber is electrically isolated from said set of electrodes or wire, the nano-fiber configured to move between a first state and a second state in response to an electric field applied by the set of electrodes or magnetic field applied by the wire, wherein the nano-fiber is straight in the first state and curved in the second state, wherein, when the nano-fiber is in the first state and in contact with a contact surface, the nano-fiber does not adhere to the contact surface, and wherein, when the nano-fiber is in the second state and in contact with the contact surface, the nano-fiber adheres to the contact surface.

US Patent 7914850 - Drip drop deposition of nanostructures

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7914850.html

This patent proposes a methodology of forming zinc oxide or carbon nanostructures on a variety of different substrates in a short time based on the Leidenfrost effect. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method for producing nanostructures on a substrate comprising:

dripping drops of a solution of nanostructure forming material in water onto said substrate,

wherein the temperature of the substrate is above a temperature at which a drop of the solution is initially suspended on a vapor cushion when applied via dripping onto the substrate, and

forming nanostructures when the drops evaporate.

US Patent 7914588 - Synthesis of fluorescent metal nanoclusters

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7914588.html

This patent is from Los Alamos National Security teaches a method of preparing biomolecule taggants based on metal nanoparticles. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method for preparing fluorescent nanoclusters, comprising:

mixing an aqueous solution of a dendrimer template and a metal precursor in a dark environment at a temperature of 4 degrees Celsius that is cold enough to prevent the substantial formation of non-fluorescent metal nanoclusters and nanoparticles but allow the formation of a complex between the dendrimer template and metal from the metal precursor, whereby a complex forms between the template and metal from the metal precursor; and

increasing the temperature, whereby the complex is reduced and fluorescent metal nanoclusters are produced.

US Patent 7914158 - Anti-fog and nanostructured optical element

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7914158.html

This patent teaches a way to reduce fogging and reflection in optical elements using a plasma etching process to create a nanostructured surface. Claim 1 reads:

1. An optical component comprising:

an optical element;

a fog reducing polymer layer; and

a reflection reducing nanostructure formed at a surface of the fog reducing polymer layer,

wherein the nanostructure extends from the surface of the fog reducing polymer layer to a depth of 50 nm or more into the fog reducing polymer layer.

US Patent 7913541 - Aminocarbon nanotubes for CO2 detection

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7913541.html

Carbon dioxide detection is important to monitoring air quality and in agricultural applications but CO2 molecules have low reactivity making them difficult to sense. This patent is from Honeywell International and teaches an improved CO2 sensor using functionalized carbon nanotubes in an acoustic wave device. Claim 1 reads: 

1. A carbon dioxide sensor comprising:

an acoustic wave device including a sensing layer deposited onto a surface of a piezoelectric quartz,

said sensing layer comprised of a matrix nanocomposite containing aminocarbon nanotubes having amino groups that reversibly react with carbon dioxide to form carbamates,

wherein said matrix nanocomposite comprises a polymer and at least one of single walled or multi-walled nanotubes present in said matrix nanocomposite between 5 and 15 percent.

US Patent 7911336 - Nanosensor container monitoring

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7911336.html

This patent deals with the problem of detecting explosives or biotech threats from cargo containers by using resonating nanosensors. Claim 1 reads:

1. A detection system for an enclosed container, comprising:

many nanosensors for detecting materials harmful to human beings within an enclosed container and transmitting a corresponding resonance frequency; and

at least one detection device which detects a condition of the nanosensors and outputs a signal responsive thereto.

US Patent 7911009 - Nanowire sensor

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7911009.html

This patent from Charles Lieber's group at Harvard has relatively early priority (12/11/2001) and includes some basic claims to semiconductor nanowires used in chemical sensors. Claim 1 reads:

1. An article, comprising:

a semiconductor nanowire and a polymer material deposited on the semiconductor nanowire, wherein the polymer material is capable of recognizing an analyte in a sample.

US Patent 7910915 - Light emitting nanowires in a resonant cavity

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7910915.html

This patent from HP includes some basic claims to light emitting semiconductor nanowires grown in a resonant cavity. Claim 1 reads:

1. A device comprising:

a resonant cavity configured to resonate at least one wavelength of electromagnetic radiation within a range extending from about 300 nanometers to about 2,000 nanometers; and

a nanowire disposed within the resonant cavity, the nanowire comprising an active longitudinal segment comprising an active material, the active longitudinal segment being selectively disposed at a predetermined location within the resonant cavity, the active material being capable of emitting electromagnetic radiation at the at least one wavelength.

US Patent 7910650 - Conductive thermosets with dispersed CNTs

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7910650.html

Thermosets are a form of polymer which have high strength but can be difficult to mix with additives. This patent is from Hyperion Catalysis and teaches an extrusion method which may facilitate dispersion of nanotubes in thermosets to form high strength conductive polymers. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method of preparing a conductive thermoset precursor comprising:

providing a first thermoset precursor having a viscosity greater than 15 poise, and

dispersing carbon nanotubes in said first thermoset precursor by extrusion to form a conductive thermoset precursor,

wherein said carbon nanotubes have a diameter less than 1 micron.

US Patent 7910492 - Nanowhisker PN junctions

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7910492.html

This patent is from QuNano AB and includes some fundamental claims to manufacturing light emitting devices based on III-V semiconductor nanowhiskers. Claim 3 reads:

3. A method of making a device comprising:

providing a substrate;

forming a nanowhisker standing upright from the substrate; and

forming a coaxial layer around at least a portion of the nanowhisker,

wherein the coaxial layer has a thickness greater than 200 nm, the nanowhisker comprises a III-V semiconductor and the coaxial layer comprises a III-V semiconductor.

US Patent 7908908 - Identifying biointeractive nanostructures

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7908908.html

This patent from the University of Florida Research Foundation proposes a method of rapid screening and isolation of nanostructures that exhibit unique properties in biological systems. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method of screening for biointeractive nanostructures comprising:

providing a plurality of nanostructure candidates on a substrate; and

interacting said nanostructure candidates with a SPM probe comprising a cantilever unit that comprises a lever portion and a probe portion provided at a free end of said lever portion, said probe portion comprising one or more living cells adhered thereto;

wherein a nanostructure candidate exhibiting adhesion to said probe is identified as a biointeractive nanostructure.

US Patent 7907809 - Ultra-low refractive index nanoparticle films

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7907809.html

This patent from the University of Missouri includes some basic claims to a transparent nanoporous films useful to bioassays and optical applications. Claim 1 reads:

1. A nanoporous film comprising:

organosilica nanoparticles having a particle size from about 2 to about 5 nm and having a mean particle size of less than about 25 nanometers and a mean pore size of less than 10 nanometers;

wherein the film has a surface area of at least 500 m2/g and a porosity of at least about 50% by volume.

US Patent 7906803 - Nanowire capacitor

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7906803.html

This patent from Canon teaches a way to combine a capacitor and a transistor on a single nanowire which may be critical to future miniaturization of DRAM memory cells. Claim 1 reads:

1. A capacitor, comprising:

a first electrode comprised of an electroconductive nano-wire;

a dielectric layer partly covering the peripheral face of the first electrode; and a second electrode covering the peripheral face of the dielectric layer, wherein the dielectric layer is divided into at least two portions covering the first electrode, the second electrode covers the at least two portions of the dielectric layer, and the first electrode is bared between the divided portions, and wherein the bared portion of the first electrode is in a middle portion of the capacitor.

US Patent 7906380 - Manufacture of nanowire electronics

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7906380.html

This patent from Canon includes a broad claim to trimming the electrical characteristics of nanowire thin film transistors during manufacture. The claim reads:

1. A method of manufacturing an electric device assembly in which a plurality of electric devices each having a plurality of nanowires are arranged, the method comprising:

fabricating the plurality of electric devices by using the plurality of nanowires;

measuring a characteristic value of each fabricated electric device; and

conducting trimming on an electric device, among the plurality of electric devices, whose characteristic value is measured to be outside of a desired range by subjecting at least one of the plurality of nanowires, corresponding to that electric device, to a treatment selected from a group that includes heat treatment, oxidation, hydrogenation, plasma treatment, and ion implantation, thereby changing electric characteristics of the at least one of the plurality of nanowires, wherein the characteristic value of the electric device subjected to the trimming is set within the desired range by the trimming to reduce characteristic fluctuations among the plurality of electric devices.

US Patent 7906354 - Light emitting nanowire device

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7906354.html

Over the past several years a few different designs have been proposed to use vertical semiconductor nanowire arrays to form LEDs and facilitate the use of inexpensive substrates such as glass for the LEDs. This patent from Eastman Kodak teaches one alternative suggested to provide easier electrical contacts for the nanowires. Claim 1 reads:

14. An integrated light emitting nanowire device comprising:

(a) a plurality of spaced light emitting semiconductor nanowires each having top and bottom surfaces;

(b) dielectric material disposed between the spaced light emitting semiconductor nanowires;

(c) a first electrode in direct contact with the top surface of the nanowires;

(d) a conductive connection layer in contact with the first electrode;

(e) a second electrode in direct contact with the bottom surface of the nanowires;

(f) a device substrate in contact with the conductive connection layer; and

(g) either the first or second electrode is transparent to permit light to be transmitted through the transparent electrode.

US Patent 7906223 - Permeable nanoparticle reflector

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7906223.html

This patent from 3M teaches a type of optical indicator used in chemical and bio-sensing which uses metallic nanoparticles. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method for forming an optically-responsive multilayer reflective article, which method comprises

applying a dilute solution or suspension of metallic nanoparticles to an optically-responsive detection layer and

allowing the solution or suspension to dry to form a semicontinuous liquid- or vapor-permeable light-reflective layer that has the nanoparticles contacting each other in a stacked arrangement and that will permit a liquid or vapor analyte to pass through the light-reflective layer to cause an optically-responsive change in the detection layer in the presence of the analyte.

US Patent 7906208 - CNT composite fibers

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7906208.html

Carbon nanotubes can be transformed into fibers and ribbons by a spinning process but such a process is made difficult when additives are included. This patent teaches a method in which colloidal particles are used to fabricate carbon nanotube ribbons and fibers more easily. Claim 1 reads:

1. Composite fibers comprising:

a polymer matrix, carbon nanotubes, and at least one of metal or metal oxide colloidal particles intimately and evenly mixed with the carbon nanotubes,

wherein the carbon nanotubes and the colloidal particles are aggregated to form ribbons or fibers and are evenly dispersed within the polymer matrix and throughout the whole body of the composite fibers.

US Patent 7906095 - Method of growing CNTs

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7906095.html

This patent is from Fujitsu and is based on the finding that long and straight carbon nanotubes with uniform diameter can be manufactured by quickly increasing temperature during CVD growth. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method of growing a carbon nanotube, comprising:

adhering catalytic particles to an upper surface of a substrate;

introducing a raw gas containing carbon atoms in a chamber at below 400° C.;

after introducing the raw gas, starting raising a substrate temperature at a speed of 500° C./minute or faster in the chamber with the raw gas previously introduced therein.

US Patent 7906043 - Electrically conductive optically transparent CNT composites

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7906043.html

This patent from NASA has priority going back to 2001 and includes some basic claims for producing nanotube composites used as transparent electrodes. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method for producing a polymer/carbon nanotube nanocomposite containing a dispersion of nanotubes in a continuous polymer matrix, comprising synthesis of a polymer in the presence of pre-dispersed non-functionalized nanotubes with simultaneous sonication throughout the synthesis.

US Patent 7905992 - Submerged surface with conductive nanoparticles

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7905992.html

This patent from Brunswick Corporation teaches that carbon nanotubes are useful as a coating of marine vessels to avoid growth of organisms on the vessels. Claim 1 reads:

1. An object having a surface that is submergible, comprising:

a support structure; and

a layer disposed on said support structure, said layer having a surface which is disposable in contact with water when said object is submerged, said layer comprising a binder and a plurality of electrically conductive nanoparticles suspended within said binder, wherein said plurality of electrically conductive nanoparticles comprises a plurality of carbon ferrules.

US Patent 7905013 - IrOx nanowire neural sensor

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7905013.html

Visual prosthesis are experimental devices designed to help restore functional vision to the blind. The electrode material for such a device has to possess biocompatibility and provide high current density in a small area. This patent from Sharp teaches using iridium oxide nanowires as the electrode material. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method for forming an iridium oxide (IrOx) nanowire neural sensor array, the method comprising:

providing a substrate;

forming a conductive layer overlying the substrate;

forming a dielectric layer overlying the conductive layer;

selectively wet etching the dielectric layer;

forming contact holes in the dielectric layer and exposing regions of the conductive layer; and,

growing iridium oxide IrOx nanowire neural interfaces from the exposed regions of the conductive layer.

US Patent 7902867 - Mem-resistor crossbar neural interface

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7902867.html

This patent includes some basic claims to memory resistors used in a neural interface. Claim 1 reads:

1. A device including:

an array of electrodes configured for attachment in or on the human head;

current threshold detection circuitry; and

a programmable crossbar signal processor having reconfigurable resistance states,

wherein the programmable crossbar signal processor interconnects the array of electrodes and the current threshold detection circuitry.

US Patent 7902736 - Gated nanorod field emitter

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7902736.html

This patent from GE teaches a variation of field emission devices based on metallic nanorods. Claim 1 reads:

1. A gated nanorod field emission device comprising:

a) a substrate;

b) a dielectric layer residing on the substrate;

c) a gate metal layer residing on top of the dielectric layer;

d) microcavities in the dielectric and gate metal layers;

e) nanoporous anodized aluminum oxide posts residing on the substrate within the microcavities; and

f) nanorod field emitters in the nanoporous anodized aluminum oxide posts.

US Patent 7902586 - Horizontal gap mem-resistor

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7902586.html

Numerous nanoscale memory resistors have been proposed over the past decade such as HP's memristor. Most of these designs are based on vertical memory cell architecture in which the memory material is sandwiched between two electrodes. This patent teaches an alternative design based on laterally separate electrodes. Claim 1 reads:

1. A non-volatile memory device, comprising:

an insulating substrate;

a first electrode provided on the insulating substrate;

a second electrode provided on the insulating substrate;

a gap set between the first electrode and the second electrode; and

controller configured to change a bias voltage applied to the first electrode and the second electrode, to change a distance G of the gap set between the first electrode and the second electrode in a range of 0-50 nm wherein the bias voltage is a voltage in a transition region, and the bias voltage is changed to a voltage at a region other than the transition region, wherein the distance G is changed with resistance between the first and the second electrodes, to set a first resistance value or a second resistance value which is larger than the first resistance value, and to maintain the first resistance value or the second resistance value which is larger than the first resistance value.

US Patent 7902541 - Strained nanowire FET

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7902541.html

Strained silicon is used in transistor design to improve mobility and switching speed. This patent from IBM includes some basic claims to strained nanowires used in transistor channels. Claim 1 reads:

1. A semiconductor structure comprising:

a semiconductor nanowire adjoined to a first semiconductor pad and a second semiconductor pad, wherein a middle portion of said semiconductor nanowire is longitudinally strained;

a gate dielectric surrounding said longitudinally strained middle portion of said semiconductor nanowire;

a dielectric material layer embedding said first and second semiconductor pads, wherein said dielectric material layer is substantially stress-free;

at least one source-side contact via embedded in said dielectric material layer and contacting said first semiconductor pad; and

at least one drain-side contact via embedded in said dielectric material layer and contacting said second semiconductor pad.

US Patent 7902540 - Fast p-i-n nanowire photodetector

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7902540.html

This patent from IBM teaches nanowire photodetectors as a replacement for lateral trench detectors which can simplify manufacturing. Claim 1 reads:

1. A p-i-n photodetector comprising:

an array of semiconductor nanowires having a first conductivity type dopant present within an entirety of each of the semiconductor nanowires, the array of semiconductor nanowires disposed vertically on a surface of an underlying semiconductor substrate of said first conductivity type;

an intrinsic semiconductor material located on said surface of said semiconductor substrate and directly on a top surface and sidewall surfaces of each semiconductor nanowire of said array; and

a semiconductor material of a second conductivity type located directly on a surface of said intrinsic semiconductor material, wherein said second conductivity type is different from said first conductivity type, and said array of semiconductor nanowires having the first conductivity type and the semiconductor material of the second conductivity type provide p-type and n-type elements of the p-i-n photodetector and the intrinsic semiconductor material separates the p-type and n-type elements of the p-i-n photodetector, and wherein a portion of said semiconductor material of said second conductivity is spaced apart from the surface of the underlying semiconductor substrate by a portion of said intrinsic semiconductor material that is located on said surface of said underlying semiconductor substrate.

US Patent 7902089 - Manufacture of n-type nanotube

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7902089.html

Carbon nanotubes tend to exhibit p-type semiconductive behavior due to adsorbed oxygen. This patent from Japanese researchers teaches a way to convert these nanotubes to n-type. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method for manufacturing a channel for an n-type transistor, wherein the method comprises:

forming a film of a nitrogenous compound directly on a nanotube-shaped structure exhibiting p-type semiconductive properties using a thermal CVD technique, at a temperature of said nanotube-shaped structure of 500° C. or higher and 1600° C. or lower; and

changing a nanotube-shaped structure exhibiting p-type semiconductive properties to said nanotube-shaped structure exhibiting n-type semiconductive properties.

US Patent 7901776 - Plasma deposited nanoporous chemical sensor

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7901776.html

This patent from 3M teaches a way to manufacture a nanoporous carbon used in chemical sensor and having more uniform pore size distribution than microporous activated carbon. Claim 1 reads:

1. A microporous carbon material suitable for use as a sensor, comprising:

a porous carbon skeleton having an average pore size from 0.1 to 10 nanometers and being substantially free of pores greater than 1 micrometer;

wherein the porous carbon skeleton has an effective coefficient of extinction of less than 0.5, and wherein the refractive index of the microporous carbon material changes in the presence of an adsorbed analyte.

US Patent 7901730 - Nanoporous proton conducting electrolyte

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7901730.html

This patent is from Johnson Research & Development and teaches a fuel cell proton conducting electrolyte capable of operate at a temperature range of 200-600 C in which polymer based electrolytes such as Nafion would be destroyed. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method of manufacturing a proton only conducting electrolyte comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a nanoporous supporting substrate;

(b) filling the nanopores of the nanoporous supporting substrate with a filler material; and

(c) depositing a proton only conducting ceramic layer upon the filled nanoporous supporting substrate.

US Patent 7900855 - Method for producing fullerene

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7900855.html

This patent is from a company called ABsize Inc. and teaches a method to improve the dispersion stability of C60 without chemical compounds. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method for producing fullerene suspension comprising:

irradiating fullerene particles in water with pulse laser to crush the fullerene particles into the nanoparticles,

wherein the pulse laser is irradiated at excitation light intensity of 30 to 50 mJ/cm2.

US Patent 7900690 - Moving carbon nanotube heat sink

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7900690.html

A variety of different strategies have been patented by Intel and other companies for using carbon nanotubes to cool integrated circuits. Most of these designs are based on static heat sinks. In contrast this patent from Saudi researchers teaches a circulating belt structure having nanotubes for enhancing thermal convection and conduction. Claim 1 reads:

1. A moving carbon nanotube heat sink for cooling an electronic device, the moving carbon nanotube heat sink comprising:

a belt configured for heat transfer and having a bottom outer surface and a top outer surface;

a plurality of carbon nanotubes, the carbon nanotubes being disposed within the belt, an axial orientation of each of the nanotubes extending laterally across a width of the belt;

the plurality of carbon nanotubes forming a structure of nanotubes that extends from proximate the bottom surface of the belt to proximate the top surface of the belt;

a C channel disposed on a heat emanating surface of the electronic device, the belt being slidably disposed therein, to thereby cause mechanical and thermal contact between a portion of the belt outer surfaces and the heat emanating surface of the electronic device; and

means for moving the belt relative to the heat emanating surface of the electronic device so as to continuously bring different portions of the heat transfer belt in slipping contact with the heat emanating surface of the electronic device.

US Patent 7899301 - CNT antenna array

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7899301.html

This patent from inventor Robert Crowley has early priority (1997) and includes basic claims to nanotubes in antennas devices or otherwise used to modify electromagnetic energy. Claims 1 and 8 read:

1. A nanotube device comprising:

a substrate for supporting an aligned array of electromagnetic energy modifying nanotubes thereon;

an array of electromagnetic energy modifying nanotubes on said substrate arranged for the receipt and modification of electromagnetic radiation.


8. A first nanotube arranged to receive and modify electromagnetic energy applied thereto.

US Patent 7898481 - CNT RF antenna

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7898481.html

This patent from Motorola teaches an antenna system which provides a greater number of frequency bands without requiring additional size by using carbon nanotubes. Claim 13 reads:

13. An antenna comprising:

an antenna element that comprises a medium and dispersion of elongated conductors in the medium;

wherein the elongated conductors elements comprise carbon nanotubes and an array of cells holding said medium and electrodes disposed to apply fields to said array of cells.

US Patent 7898156 - Piezoelectric nanowire electrical generator

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7898156.html

This patent is from Georgia Tech Research Corporation and teaches a small scale electrical generator formed from piezoelectric nanowires which may be useful to power biomedical implants. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method of generating electricity, comprising the actions of:

a. growing a plurality of living cells on an array of piezoelectric nanowires so that the cells engage the piezoelectric nanowires; and

b. extracting induced static potentials from at least one of the piezoelectric nanowires when at least one of the cells deforms the at least one of the piezoelectric nanowires.

US Patent 7898020 - Quantum dot semiconductor memory

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7898020.html

This patent teaches a floating gate memory design using metal and metal silicide quantum dots. Claim 1 reads:

1. A semiconductor memory including a floating gate structure, comprising:

a charge accumulation node including first quantum dots and accumulating electrons; and

a control node including second quantum dots and performing injection of the electrons into and/or emission of the electrons from the charge accumulation node,

wherein the charge accumulation node is composed of a material different from a material of the control node such that energy levels of the first quantum dots for the electrons are lower than energy levels of the second quantum dots for the electrons, the control node includes first and second control nodes, and the charge accumulation node is provided between the first control node and the second control node.

US Patent 7898005 - Nanofluidic transistor

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7898005.html

This patent has priority from 2002 and includes some basic claims for nanofluidic devices constructed from silica nanotubes useful for DNA detection. Claim 14 reads:

14. A nanofluidic transistor, comprising:

a fluidic source;

a fluidic drain;

an inorganic nanotube coupled in fluidic communication between said fluidic source and fluidic drain; and

a gate electrode retained proximal said inorganic nanotube for controlling the flow of ions between source and drain regions in response to the voltage applied to said gate electrode.

US Patent 7897960 - Self-aligned nanotube FET

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7897960.html

This patent from IBM has relatively early priority (2002) and teaches a variation of vertical nanotube transistors. Claim 1 reads:

1. A carbon-nanotube field effect transistor semiconductor device comprising:

a vertical carbon-nanotube wrapped in a dielectric material exposing first and second ends of the vertical carbon-nanotube;

a source formed at the first end of the vertical carbon-nanotube;

a drain formed at the second end of the vertical carbon-nanotube; and

a plurality of gate metal pillars formed adjacent to a stack comprising the source, the drain, the vertical carbon-nanotube, wherein the drain is at least partially disposed between the plurality of gate metal pillars.

US Patent 7897876 - CNT/graphene-enhanced electrical wire

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7897876.html

A problem with using carbon nanotubes to form conductive wires is that the viscosity of CNT/polymer composites makes processing difficult. This patent from Boeing teaches coating instead of dispersing CNTs in a conductive wire to make processing easier. Claim 1 reads:

1. A conductor comprising:

an aramid fiber; and

at least one layer attached about said aramid fiber, said at least one layer comprising at least one of aligned carbon nanotubes and graphene platelets.

US Patent 7897294 - Sintered nanomaterial catalyst

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7897294.html

This patent is from a company called QuantumSphere and teaches nanoscale nickel particles used as catalysts in fuel cells. Claim 1 reads:

1. An electrode configured for use in electrochemical applications, the electrode consisting of a uniform mixture of catalytic nano-sized material sintered to form a solid compact.

US Patent 7897248 - Oriented nanofibers embedded in a polymer matrix

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7897248.html

This patent from Rice University has early priority going back to 1999 and includes some basic claims to CNT-polymer composites. Claim 1 reads:

1. A composite comprising:

a polymer matrix reinforced with carbon nanotubes, wherein the carbon nanotubes are dispersed in the polymer matrix; and

 wherein the carbon nanotubes are integrated into the polymer matrix;

wherein the integration comprises alignment of the carbon nanotubes and formation of at least one type of linkage to at least a sidewall of the carbon nanotubes;

wherein the at least one type of linkage is selected from the group consisting of between the carbon nanotubes and the polymer matrix, between the carbon nanotubes, and combinations thereof.

US Patent 7896990 - Burn rate nanotube modifier

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7896990.html

This patent is based on U.S. Naval research into using carbon nanotubes to create high energy explosives. Claim 1 reads:

1. A process for producing a burn rate modifier, comprising:

providing a chemical composition from an energetic material;

forming nanotubular structures from said chemical composition, wherein said forming comprises composing at least one of said nanotubular structures from said energetic material where said energetic material is a melt processible energetic material; and,

incorporating said nanotubular structures into an energetic composition for alignment of the nanotubular structures with a direction of an increased burn rate of the energetic composition.