US Patent 7955483 - CNT glucose sensor

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7955483.html

This patent from Honeywell teaches how carbon nanotubes can be useful for the diagnosis of diabetes. Claim 1 reads:


1. A micro-sized biosensor comprising:

a micro-sized substrate;

two or more conductive platforms, in contact with the substrate;

a plurality of carbon nanotubes, in contact with the platforms and bridging the platforms sufficient to form a layer;

a bonding layer, non-continuously positioned on the layer of carbon nanotubes; and

a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) in contact with the bonding layer, the SAM comprising groups of the formula —R—X wherein R is an organic linking moiety containing a fluorophore and X is a binding moiety that, upon interaction with an analyte, gives rise to both a detectable light signal and alters the conductive properties of the plurality of carbon nanotubes, conductive platforms or both in an aqueous environment.

US Patent 7926193 - Nanowire magnetic sensor

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7926193.html

This patent from Honeywell teaches a way to use magnetic nanowires to construct a precise directional compass for use in areas where GPS is not possible. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method for fabricating a nanowire magnetic sensor, comprising:

forming a plurality of magneto-resistive (MR) nanowires on a flexible substrate,

wherein said plurality of MR nanowires are positioned to create an array of MR nanosensors, and

wherein each of said MR nanosensors in said array comprises a set of said plurality of MR nanowires, wherein said MR nanowires in said sets are each aligned in the same position for one direction; and

connecting said array MR nanosensors into at least one Wheatstone bridge configuration.

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 7786440 - Nanowire multispectral imaging array

http://ip.com/patent/US7786440

Infrared imaging devices are used in applications such as fire detection, machine overheating, and weapon detection. This patent from Honeywell teaches a way to implement these imaging devices with thermoelectric nanowires allowing higher spatial resolution and higher reading speed. Claim 1 reads:

1. A multispectral imaging array system, comprising:

a substrate;

a plurality of antennas located with respect to one another on said substrate, such that a plurality of respective gaps is formed between each antenna among said plurality of antennas;

at least one nanowire located in at least one gap on said substrate among said plurality of respective gaps, wherein said at least one nanowire is in communication with said plurality of antennas and said substrate; and

a plurality of local packages covering each of said plurality of respective gaps provided to protect said at least one nanowire located in said at least one gap and to provide a low ambient pressure.

US Patent 7727776 - Nanoparticles with 3D nanopore structure

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7727786.html

Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy is one of the more popular applications of metallic nanoparticles for high sensitivity environmental sensing. This patent from Honeywell teaches a variation of SERS using nanoporous nanoparticles. Claim 1 reads:

1. A nanoparticle detection system comprising:

at least one nanoparticle selected from the group consisting of silver, gold and copper, the nanoparticle having 3D intrinsic nanopore structures; and

a self assembly monolayer shell of organic molecules situated around the nanoparticle,

wherein the molecules are SERS reporters; and wherein the nanoparticle provides an enhanced surface for Raman scattering (SERS).

US Patent 7642463 - Silver nanowire transparent conductor

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7642463.html

This patent from Honeywell teaches a new type of transparent conductor based on silver nanowire coatings for use in displays and solar cells. Claim 1 reads:

1. A transparent conductor comprising:

a substrate; and

a transparent conductive coating disposed overlying the substrate,

wherein the transparent conductive coating comprises a plurality of silver nanowires, at least a portion of which has a silver oxide complex formed on or within surfaces thereof.

US Patent 7502106 - Nanoparticle enhanced breathalyzer

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7502106.html

This patent from Honeywell teaches how nanoparticles can be used to enhance the operation of breath analysis devices such as those used to determine blood alcohol content. Claim 1 reads:

1. A sample analyzer comprising:

a chamber having a first end, a second end, a first input and a second input;

a light source situated at the first end; and

a detector situated at the first end; and wherein:

the first input is for an injection of nanoparticles;

the second input is for an insertion of a sample having molecules; and

the nanoparticles are for attachment of the molecules, the nanoparticles becoming aerosolized nanoparticles and providing a floating surface for surface enhanced Raman scattering by molecules attached to the aerosolized nanoparticles.

US Patent 7373819 - MEMS humidity sensor

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7373819.html

For proper operation of fuel cells the humidity should be monitored to determine the rate of supplying feed gases. This patent from Honeywell teaches a MEMS based humidity monitor which may allow for miniaturization of fuel cell technology. Claim 1 reads:

1. A humidity sensing apparatus, comprising:

a substrate; and

a MEMS structure supported by said substrate, wherein said MEMS structure comprises a humidity-sensitive material in association with a mechanical movable member such that when said humidity-sensitive material changes with humidity, said MEMS structure moves said mechanical movable member, thereby providing an indication of humidity based on a stress within said MEMS structure.

US Patent 7370530 - 3-axis MEMS package

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7370530.html

One of the most active applications of MEMS devices is in the area of inertial sensors such as gyroscopes and accelerometers. In some application more than one axis of motion needs to be monitored in which case multiple MEMS sensors may be required. This patent from Honeywell teaches a housing structure designed to minimize the size of such multi-dimensional inertial sensors. Claim 1 reads:

1. A package, comprising:

a packaging structure having a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and a third sidewall, joined to define an interior cavity, the packaging structure further having a planar top member coupled to a first end portion of the respective sidewalls and a bottom lid coupled to an opposite end portion of the respective sidewalls, the planar top member distally located from the bottom lid, the respective sidewalls, top member, and bottom lid cooperating to enclose the interior cavity;

a first MEMs device mounted within the interior cavity and on an inner wall surface on the first sidewall;

a second MEMs device mounted within the interior cavity and on an inner wall surface of the second sidewall; and

a third MEMs device mounted within the interior cavity and on an inner wall surface of the third sidewall.

US Patent 7298014 - MEMS noise reduction using viscoeleastic polymer

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7298014.html

Some micromechanical applications can be very sensitive to noise or vibration. This patent from Honeywell teaches using visco-elastic polymer coatings for MEMS devices which can absorb such noise or vibrations and avoid help error. Claim 1 reads:

1. A component, comprising: a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device positioned within an enclosure; and one or more layers of a visco-elastic polymer situated around at least part of an outer surface of the enclosure, said visco-elastic polymer configured to convert acoustic energy and vibration energy into heat.

US Patent 7276285 - HfN substrate for CNT growth

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7276285.html

Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is a popular technique used to mass produce arrays of carbon nanotubes. However, it can be difficult to integrate the fabrication of the nanotubes with fabrication of electrical wiring used to form a useful device from the nanotubes. This patent from Honeywell International teaches a hafnium nitride based substrate which facilitates the fabrication of both the nanotube arrays and the conductive wiring in a common substrate. Claim 1 reads:

1. A structure comprising: a substrate; an oxide layer on the substrate; an HfN layer on the oxide layer; a passivation layer on the HfN layer, having at least one via through the passivation layer to the HfN; and a catalyst island formed on the at least one via connected to the HfN layer, wherein the catalyst island is formed by exposing catalytic material to a temperature sufficient to form a ball having a diameter and a thickness, wherein the diameter is similar to the thickness.

US Patent 7247290 - Coagulation spun SWNT fiber

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7247290.html

In order to use single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) in a composite product not only do problems related to the SWNT manufacture have to be minimized but problems related to post-processing such as sorting, orienting and otherwise processing the manufactured SWNTs need to be resolved. This patent from Honeywell teaches a particular post-processing method resulting in a SWNT spun structure with improved alignment and less swelling than prior art methods. Claim 1 reads:

1. A coagulation spun structure comprising single-wall carbon nanotubes containing no binding agent or carbonaceous impurities, the structure swelling by less than about 10% in diameter when immersed in water and being produced by forming a uniform suspension in liquid of single-wall carbon nanotubes made from carbon monoxide at a pressure of at least 10 atmospheres, coagulation spinning the suspension to form the structure, submitting the structure to tension, and annealing the structure under a state of tension.

US Patent 7230432 - Nanotube sensor with heat controlled gas removal

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7230432.html

This patent from Honeywell teaches the use of a fairly clever construction for reusing nanotube gas sensors using heat controlled removal of gas after sensing. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method for sensing a gas/liquid, comprising: obtaining a structure having first and second terminals connected to the ends of a nanotube, respectively; exposing the nanotube to a gas/liquid; measuring a current-voltage characteristic of the nanotube; reviewing the current-voltage characteristic to obtain possible information about the gas/liquid; and heating the nanotube to desorb the gas/liquid from the nanotube.

US Patent 7210337 - MEMS leak detector

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7210337.html

One of the largest markets for MEMS is motion sensors which utilize the resonant response of a proof mass to detect movement. However, the pressure of the environment in which the MEMS device is encapsulated can alter the resonant response. This patent from Honeywell seeks to detect leaks in a MEMS package to detect pressure changes having unwanted effects on the sensors operation.

1. A method for detecting a leak in a MEMS sensor package, wherein the MEMS sensor package includes a sensor cavity that encloses a MEMS sensor, wherein the MEMS sensor includes a mechanical oscillating element with a Quality (Q) value, the method comprising: measuring a first Q value of the MEMS sensor at a first time; applying a pressure differential between the sensor cavity and the exterior of the MEMS sensor package; and measuring a second Q value of the MEMS sensor at a second time, wherein the second time is later than the first time.