US Patent 7362605 - Nanoelectromechanical memory cell

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7362605.html

Nantero and a few other companies have explored using nanostructures in mechanical memory cells. Typically these systems use the nanostructure to operate as a mechanical switch but this patent from Ambient Systems examines using nanomechanical structures such as carbon nanotubes to facilitate charge storage as performed in more conventional electronic memory designs. Claim 1 reads:

1. A system comprising:

a base;

a nanometer-scale beam coupled to said base having a first portion that is free-to-move; and

a first charge containment layer coupled to said base in the proximity of said first free-moving portion, wherein said charge containment layer is operable to receive, and store, a first charge profile without moving said nanometer-scale beam and said nanometer-scale beam is not operable to physically touch said first charge containment layer.

US Patent 7262515 - Molecular perpetual motion machine

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7262515.html

While I'm not certain whether this patent represents enabled technology or not, it certainly sounds like something that is not exactly in agreement with the second law of thermodynamics. Basically the patent teaches using impacts of molecules of a gas on nanoscopic paddles to simultaneously cool a gas formed from the molecules and convert the mechanical energy from the paddle gained by the impact into a more useful form. However, this would seem to be equivalent to transforming a random form of energy (such as heat) to a more ordered form of energy (such as stored chemical energy) which is not exactly explainable by modern thermodynamics (as far as I know). The claims were not questioned under the utility or enablement requirements of patentability during prosecution though. In any case, claim 1 reads:

1. A system immersed in a working substance having a plurality of molecules, said system comprising: a base member; a source of heat for heating said working substance; and a plurality of nanometer scale assemblies that convert energy from one form to another coupled to said base member, each of said nanometer scale assemblies comprising: a molecular impact mass that reduces the velocity of said molecules that impact said impact mass, wherein said impact mass is restrained to move within a predetermined range of distance and the movement of said impact mass in one direction is limited.

US Patent 7196450 - Nanoscale peristaltic pump

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7196450.html

Peristaltic pumps are used to transport fluid using a series of rollers that mechanically displace fluid through a path. This patent from Ambient Systems takes the concept of peristaltic pumping to the nanoscale level by providing an array of electrically movable nanowires each of which emulate the motion of a jumprope to mechanically guide molecules along a path. Claim 1 reads:

1. An assembly immersed in a working substance having a plurality of molecules comprising: a base member; a first nanometer-scale beam fixed to said base member, wherein a portion of said first beam is free-to-move and said first beam has a first electric charge; and a charge member placed in the proximity of said first beam, wherein said charge member has a second electric charge, said first and second electric charges interact to provide motion of said free-moving portion, and said motion changes the average velocity of at least a few of said plurality of molecules along a desired direction; a second nanometer-scale beam fixed to said base member, wherein said second beam has a second portion that is free-to-move; and a channel having an input opening and an output opening, wherein said first and second beams are located in said channel between said input and output openings, wherein said desired direction is along a line from said input opening to said output opening.