US Patent 8125824 - Nanotube RAM (NRAM)

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/8125824.html

The nanotube electronics pioneer Nantero have a partnership with Lockheed Martin. This patent from Lockheed Martin appears as a variation of Nantero's technology for nanotube random access memory. Claim 1 reads:

1. A nanotube random access memory (NRAM) structure, comprising:

a first substrate;

a first gate electrode disposed in the first substrate;

a first nanotube fabric disposed on the first substrate, the first nanotube fabric having a channel region spaced apart from the first gate electrode by a first portion of the first substrate;

a first drain contact contacting the first nanotube fabric;

a second nanotube fabric disposed on the first substrate and adjacent the first nanotube fabric, the second nanotube fabric connected to the first nanotube fabric; and

a first source contact contacting the second nanotube fabric,

wherein the first nanotube fabric is a high-voltage fabric compared to the second nanotube fabric such that when a voltage is applied across the first nanotube fabric and the second nanotube fabric via the first drain contact and the first source contact, the second nanotube fabric is permitted to switch without switching the first nanotube fabric.

US Patent 8105414 - Lead free solder nanocomposite

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/8105414.html

For environmental reasons lead is being phased out of solder manufacture and being replaced by tin-based composites which require higher processing temperatures. This patent from Lockheed Martin teaches a metal nanoparticle composite solder allowing for lower processing temperatures. Claim 1 reads:

1. A composition, comprising:

metal nanoparticles, said metal nanoparticles comprising copper or aluminum nanocores,

wherein about 30-50% of the metal nanoparticles have a diameter of 20 nanometers or less but greater than zero, and the remaining 70-50% of the metal nanoparticles have a diameter greater than 20 nanometers.

US Patent 8080487 - Anti-ballistic nanotube fabric

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/8080487.html

Antiballistic fabrics such as Kevlar are useful for creating bulletproof armor but exposure to continuous heat can reduce their effectiveness. This patent from Lockheed Martin teaches using carbon nanotubes in bulletproof fabrics with improved thermal characteristics and lighter weight. Claim 1 reads:

1. An antiballistic fabric comprising:

at least one layer of fabric, wherein at least one layer of fabric comprises fibers, yarns or tow; and

nanotubes synthesized within interstices between the fibers of at least one layer of fabric and that are entangled with and anchored to the fibers,

wherein the nanotubes enhance the antiballistic properties of at least one layer of fabric and wherein the nanotubes synthesized within interstices between fibers form a Faraday cage.

US Patent 7758776 - Fused freeform nanotube composite

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7758776.html

This patent from Lockheed Martin has relatively early priority (Nov. 3, 2000) and includes some basic claims to composite structures formed from carbon nanotube fibers. Claim 1 reads:

1. A free form composite structure comprising:

a plurality of discrete nodal elements, each of the nodal elements comprising:

a matrix; and

a multiplicity of reinforcement elements formed of carbon nanotubes;

wherein the multiplicity of reinforcement elements are dispersed throughout the matrix; and

wherein the plurality of nodal elements are arranged and fused with respect to one another to form the free form composite structure.

US Patent 7667570 - Nanostructured combination key-lock

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7667570.html

This patent from Lockheed Martin proposes a new type of application for nanostructured materials as a replacement for magnetic strips used in key cards. Claim 1 reads:

1. A lock deactivating or activating mechanism comprising:

a sensor detecting a friction force pattern generated from sliding a first nanopatterned surface comprising a key past a second nanopatterned surface comprising a lock element,

said friction force pattern resulting from changes in distance between said first and second nanopatterned surfaces; and

a controller receiving output from said sensor and comparing same to stored values.

US Patent 7625475 - Microfluidic nanotube pump

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7625475.html

This patent from Lockheed Martin teaches that single walled carbon nanotubes can enhance the electrofluidic flow control found in microfluidic devices. Claim 1 reads:

1. A microfluidic pump comprising:

a housing comprising a first open end and a second open end;

a single walled nanotube, including two or more electric contacts, positioned within said housing, wherein the single walled nanotube is not part of a membrane;

an ionic fluid or alcohol contained within said housing; and

a voltage source directly connected to said two or more electric contacts on said single walled nanotube;

wherein upon application of a voltage to said two or more electric contacts on said single walled nanotube, a current flows through said single walled nanotube, thereby inducing a uni-directional, non-osmotic flow of said ionic fluid or alcohol in and around said nanotube and causing said ionic fluid to enter said housing via said first open end and exit said housing via said second open end.

US Patent 7372033 - Quantum dot color wheel filter

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7372033.html

Color filter wheels are a common component to many multi spectral imaging systems. This patent from Lockheed Martin teaches using quantum dots as the filtering component for such color wheels. Claim 1 reads:

1. A device for filtering radiation from a target region in multiple spectral bands, comprising:

a rotatable disk;

a number of optical quantum dot filters, wherein each of the number of optical quantum dot filters is positioned on the rotatable disk, and wherein each of the number of optical quantum dot filters positioned on the rotatable disk has a particular pass-through wavelength range.

US Patent 7354877 - Superconducting CNT Faraday Cage

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7354877.html

A Faraday cage is a conductive enclosure which protects electronics from external electromagnetic interference. This patent from Lockheed Martin teaches a Faraday Cage garment formed of superconducting carbon nanotubes. Claim 1 reads:

1. A garment made of fabric, wherein said fabric comprises: a first layer of yarns woven to form the fabric wherein said yarns comprise at least one carbon nanotube fiber and wherein said carbon nanotube fiber comprise single-walled carbon nanotubes and/or multi-walled carbon nanotubes; and at least one additional layer of yarns woven together, wherein said first layer comprises yarns of superconductive carbon nanotube fibers that form a Faraday cage and wherein said at least one additional layer of yarns woven together comprise insulating carbon nanotube fibers.