US Patent 7944011 - Optically controlled CNT electrical switch

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7944011.html

This patent is from STMicroelectronics and teaches a system integrating optical and electronic circuitry using a carbon nanotube switch. Claim 1 reads:

1. An electrical-switch system, comprising:

an optically controlled electrical-switch device comprising, a first current-conduction terminal, a second current-conduction terminal, and at least one carbon nanotube connected between the first and second current-conduction terminals;

an electromagnetic radiation generating device for generating and directing electromagnetic radiations onto each carbon nanotube; and

a polarization varying device for varying a polarization of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the electromagnetic radiation generating device to control the electrical conductivity of each carbon nanotube.