US Patent 7286210 - Carbon nanotube optical sensor with wavelength tuning

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7286210.html

This patent discloses an interesting method of tuning carbon nanotube optical sensors to particular wavelengths by using mechanical pressure or electrical charge. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method for causing a semiconducting carbon nanotube material to act as a passive sensor of a physical quantity, the method comprising: (a) controlling the semiconducting carbon nanotube material in accordance with the physical quantity to cause a change to an optical absorption or reflection characteristic of the semiconducting carbon nanotube material which depends on light wavelength but not on light amplitude; (b) applying light to the semiconducting carbon nanotube material; (c) receiving the light which has been applied to the semiconducting carbon nanotube material; (d) determining the change to the optical absorption or reflection characteristic from the light receive in step (c); and (e) determining the physical quantity from the change determined in step (d).

US Patent 7272511 - DNA memory with carbon nanotube addressing

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7272511.html

This patent from STMicroelectronics proposes a molecular memory using hybridization of DNA based using carbon nanotube addressing. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method for manufacturing a molecular memory device, comprising: forming an array of first nanoelectrodes on a substrate of insulating material; forming on said substrate a plurality of carbon nanotubes; functionalizing said nanotubes so that they are suitable for making contacts with DNA strands; contacting said first nanoelectrodes to first ends of the DNA strands; contacting said nanotubes to second ends of the DNA strands; hybridizing or not hybridizing said DNA strands to store desired data in the DNA strands.

US Patent 7272010 - Heat dissipation using carbon nanotube circuit board

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7272010.html

This patent from Advanced Micro Devices presents some basic claims to carbon nanotubes used for thermal dissipation. Apparently the point of novelty is that the nanotubes are dispersed in a binding matrix rather than bundled together. Claim 1 reads:

1. A circuit board, comprising: a substrate including a source material interspersed and in physical contact with a first plurality of unbundled carbon nanotubes; and at least one conductor coupled to the substrate.

US Patent 7269052 - Nanotube ribbon addressing element

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7269052.html

Nantero continues to receive basic patents for the use of carbon nanotubes in electronics. This patent (with priority going back to 2001) focuses on a nanotube ribbon used as an addressing element. Claim 13 is representative.

13. An addressing trace to carry an electrical signal, the trace comprising a nanotube ribbon.

US Patent 7268423 - Carbon nanotubes for rewiring plate

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7268423.html

When connecting a semiconductor chip to a circuit board differing thermal expansion effects can cause mechanical problems. In order to overcome this difficulty a rewiring plate is often used as a buffer. This patent from Infineon teaches the incorporation of carbon nanotubes in such rewiring plates to increase connection density. Claim 1 reads:

1. A rewiring plate for components with a dense connection grid, the rewiring plate comprising: a base body having passages and including silicone; and a plurality of carbon nanotubes positioned within the passages, a lower end of the passages opening out into contact connection surfaces, wherein the carbon nanotubes form an electrically conductive connection from the contact connection surfaces to a front surface of the base body.

US Patent 7268077 - Carbon nanotube reinforced metallic layer

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7268077.html

This patent from Intel (filed Dec. 2, 2005) teaches a method of using carbon nanotubes to reinforce electrical interconnections. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method, comprising: providing a plurality of carbon nanotubes adjacent to a surface of an interconnect structure; and disposing a metallic layer adjacent to the surface of the interconnect structure, the carbon nanotubes being substantially included within and in direct contact with the metallic layer.

However, some prior art may have been overlooked such as (for example):

a) US patent application 2003/0068432 teaching "an interconnected film 32 of single-walled carbon nanotubes on the substrate grown from the catalyzed reaction of the methane. Two metal electrodes 33 and 34 are formed over the substrate 30 using, for example, evaporation with a shadow mask" (see paragraph [0034]) or

b) Zhang et al. "Metal coating on suspended carbon nanotubes and its implication to metal–tube interaction" published in Chemical Physics Letters in 2000

US Patent 7265174 - Highly transparent halogen containing polymer matrix for CNTs

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7265174.html

This patent from Clemson University teaches carbon nanotube/polymer composites with improved optical transparency. Claim 1 reads:

1. A composition, comprising: carbon nanotubes; and a halogen containing polymer; wherein the composition is optically transparent and electrically; and the composition exhibits an optical transmission greater than 80%.

US Patent 7262991 - Nanotube/nanocrystal non-volatile memory

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7262991.html

Carbon nanotubes and various metal nanocrystals have both been suggested and implemented in experimental electronic designs. This patent from Intel uses both nanomaterials to achieve an improved high density flash memory. Claim 1 reads:

1. An apparatus comprising: a substrate; a dielectric over the substrate; a carbon nanotube in the dielectric to form a nanotube channel; a source electrode and drain electrode on respective sides of the nanotube channel; metal nanocrystals adjacent to the nanotube channel and between the source electrode and the drain electrode to form an array of discrete floating gates adjacent the carbon nanotube; a tunnel oxide separating the nanocrystals and the carbon nanotube; a gate electrode over the nanocrystals; and a control oxide separating the gate and the nanocrystals.

US Patent 7261871 - CNT fabrication using transition metal complexed alkyne

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7261871.html

Chemical vapor deposition is a favored method of manufacturing carbon nanotubes in sizable quantities and typically involves flowing a carbon containing gas at high temperatures over a catalyst containing substrate. This patent from the University of California proposes heating transition metals with alkynes (hydrocarbons having at least one triple bond between two carbons) as an alternative method with a lower temperature range than CVD methods.

1. A method of preparing carbon nanotubes, comprising heating a precursor comprising a transition metal complexed alkyne in a sealed vessel to temperatures between 400.degree. C. and 800.degree. C.

US Patent 7259903 - Optical switching using carbon nanotube array

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7259903.html

Joseph Crowley from Ambit Corp. was early to recognize the benefits of carbon nanotubes in optical and antenna applications and has several basic patents in these areas. This is one of a series of patents to Ambit Corp. with priority to 1997 and appears to be fairly basic to the use of carbon nanotubes in optical switching. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method of using a carbon nanotube assembly, comprising: growing a signal responsive array of nanotubes on a substrate; receiving an electromagnetic signal by said array of nanotubes grown on said substrate; biasing at least one of said nanotubes in said array of nanotubes, with a further signal; and switching said electromagnetic signal received by said carbon nanotubes relative to said array of nanotubes on said substrate.

US Patent 7259344 - CNT sorting using light

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7259344.html

This patent from Intel focuses on sorting between metallic and semiconducting single walled nanotubes in a fluidic flow path using optical traps created by a laser beam. Such sorting was generally known to the art but this patent provides for multiple chances of selected nanotubes to be captured by the optical trap. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method, comprising sorting carbon nanotubes (CNTs) within a fluidic flow for a targeted subset of said CNTs, said sorting comprising attracting at least a portion of said CNTs within said fluidic flow in a direction of increasing intensity of an electric field component of substantially stationary beam of light, said electric field component having a frequency that is less than one or more resonant frequencies of said CNTs within said portion; and attracting a second portion of said CNTs in a direction of increasing intensity of an electric field component of a substantially stationary second beam of light, said electric field component of said second beam of light having a frequency that is less than one or more resonant frequencies of said CNTs within said second portion, said second portion from those of said CNTs within said fluidic flow that were repelled in a direction of decreasing intensity of said electric field component of said beam of light.

US Patent 7256394 - CNT ion source for mass spectroscopy

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7256394.html

This patent from Agilient Technologies teaches the use of uniformly distributed carbon nanotubes in an improved ion source for mass spectroscopy.

9. An ion source for use in ionizing a sample, comprising: (a) a laser; and (b) a surface for holding the sample, the surface comprising a uniformly distributed carbon nanotube material.

Agilient also has a related patent using nanowires (explicitly excluding CNTs)
http://tinytechip.blogspot.com/search?q=7078683

US Patent 7253442 - Uncapped CNT thermal interface

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7253442.html

This patent teaches improvements in the use of carbon nanotubes for thermal interfaces by removing the end caps of parallel carbon nanotubes embedded in a matrix. Claim 1 reads:

1. A thermal interface structure comprising: a macromolecular material; and a plurality of carbon nanotubes embedded in the macromolecular material; wherein the thermal interface structure has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface; and each carbon nanotube is open at opposite ends thereof, and extends from the first surface to the second surface.

US Patent 7252884 - Porous carbon with carbon nanotube dispersion

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7252884.html

This patent from NASA deals with an improved hydrogen storage material with more uniform porosity and improved strength by dispersing carbon nanotubes into a porous carbon matrix. Claim 1 reads:

1. A three-dimensional structure comprising solid carbon having carbon nanotubes (CNTs) dispersed therein, said solid carbon with said CNTs dispersed therein being formed about three-dimensionally ordered spherical voids arranged in an opal-like lattice, said solid carbon being generated by carbonization of a carbon yield material having said CNTs dispersed therein.

US Patent 7250366 - Fabrication of metallized CNT bundle

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7250366.html

This patent from Intel teaches the fabrication of metallized carbon nanotube bundles of regulated length and diameter useful to form conductors. Claims 1 and 16 are representative:

1. A method comprising: forming an opening in a layer on a conductive layer of a substrate; forming a catalyst in the opening; fabricating a carbon nanotube bundle on the catalyst; removing material from the carbon nanotube bundle; and forming a metallization on the carbon nanotube bundle to form a metallized carbon nanotube bundle including the metallization and the catalyst.

16. A method comprising: flowing a solution including a metallized carbon nanotube bundle on a substrate including a trench to place the metallized carbon nanotube bundle into the trench; and forming a connection between the metallized carbon nanotube bundle and a via plug in the trench.

US Patent 7250147 - Diazonium derivatized carbon nanotubes

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7250147.html

The inventors of this patent are fairly well known names in molecular electronics (including James Tour) and include a fairly broad claim to using diazonium in derivitization. One indication that this could be an important patent is that wikipedia has a page discussing diazonium derivitized carbon nanotubes-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diazonium
Claim 1 reads:

1. A method comprising: (a) selecting a plurality of carbon nanotubes; and (b) reacting the plurality of carbon nanotubes with a diazonium specie to form derivatized carbon nanotubes, wherein the diazonium specie is formed in situ.

US Patent 7247980 - CNT/Diamond electron emitter paste

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7247980.html

Carbon nanotubes are very efficient electron emitters with emission occurring at fields of about 1 V/micron to produce current densities over 1 A/cm2. However, when mixed with paste to form a film the efficiency is decreased. This patent focused on an optimized emitter paste using carbon nanotubes, diamond and other components. Claim 1 reads:

1. An emitter paste composition of a field emission cell, comprising 2 wt % to 20 wt % of a carbon nanotube, a binder, glass frit, a dispersing agent, an organic solvent, and 0.1 wt % to 20 wt % of diamond, based on a weight thereof.

US Patent 7247897 - Integrated CNT/phase change memory

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7247897.html

Certain phase change materials capable of changing between amorphous and crystalline states based on electrical or thermal stimulation are currently being explored for applications in memory devices. This patent from Samsung teaches using a carbon nanotube as a connection wire to phase change film to increase the density of such memory devices. Claim 1 reads:

1. A semiconductor device, comprising: a substrate; a first electrode formed on the substrate; a porous active layer formed on a surface of the electrode; an insulating layer, which is formed on the porous active layer, having a contact hole therethrough to expose a portion of the porous active layer; a carbon nanotube, which is grown on the porous active layer in the contact hole and forms a conductive line as a pathway for electron migration; and a memory thin film on the insulating layer and electrically connected to the carbon nanotube, wherein the memory thin film is made of a phase-change material.

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 7244374 - Carbon nanotube/metal composite

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7244374.html

Metal/carbon nanotube composite material is useful in a variety of applications including improved heat sinks. This patent from Fuji Xerox teaches using cross-linking of functional groups bonded on the carbon nanotube sidewalls to reduce discontinuity of conduction paths and approve the effectiveness of these materials. Claim 1 reads:

1. A composite comprising a carbon nanotube structure and a metal-containing material that are mixed together, wherein the carbon nanotube structure has a network structure constructed by mutually cross-linking functional groups bonded along the lengths of plural carbon nanotubes through chemical bonding of the functional groups together.