Intellectual Property Law

US Patent 7692249 - Self-assembled CNTFET

Posted on April 12, 2010
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7692249.htmlThis patent from Intel (priority 1/24/2004) includes some basic claims covering carbon nanotube transistors formed using chemical self-assembly. Claim 1 reads:1. A transistor comprising:a source region;a drain region;a plurality of nanotubes extending between said source and drain regions, said nanotubes having functionalized ends with attached functional groups, wherein said nanotubes have opposed first functionalized ends coupled to said source region and second functionalized ends coupled to said drain region, said first functionalized ends attracted to said source region and not said drain region; anda gate electrode over said nanotubes...

US Patent 7692218 - CNT ChemFet

Posted on April 11, 2010
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7692218.htmlThis patent is based on basic research from Rice University and appears to be basic to using carbon nanotubes as the channel for CHEMFET biosensors. Claim 1 reads:1. A field effect transistor comprising:a source;a drain;a gate;a dielectric layer that coats the gate; andat least one carbon nanotube disposed at least partially in said dielectric layer, said at least one carbon nanotube having a portion which is functionalized with at least one indicator molecule that is exposed from the dielectric layer, the at least one carbon nanotube being on the gate for transmitting charge from the at least one indicator molecule to the gate...

US Patent 7692215 - Microscale to nanoscale electronic interface

Posted on April 11, 2010
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7692215.htmlHPLabs has attracted much attention recently based on the development of a new nanoscale circuit element called a memristor having potential applications in non-volatile memory and programmable logic. However, perhaps an equally important development from HPLabs is the development of nanoscale interfaces allowing further scaling than conventional semiconductor manufacturing would allow...

US Patent 7691533 - Electrode with conductive polymer covered CNTs

Posted on April 11, 2010
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7691533.htmlThis patent from TDK Corporation teaches a way to increase the energy density of fuel cells for hybrid vehicles by using electrodes including a film of carbon nanotubes covered with conductive polymer. Claim 1 reads:1...

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US Patent 7691168 - Charged nanofiber filter

Posted on April 11, 2010
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7691168.htmlThis patent from 3M teaches using polymer nanofibers to form a more efficient air filter. Claim 1 reads:1. Charged multilayer media that comprises:a) a hydrocharged fibrous filtration layer that contains a plurality of intertwined nanofibers that have a length of about 12 to about 300 mm, andb) a porous roll-to-roll processable support layer...

US Patent 7689367 - Atomic modeling using Blacklight Theory

Posted on April 05, 2010
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7689367.htmlBlacklight Power is a somewhat controversial company which has developed energy technology based on a new physic model attempting to explain experimental results related to cold fusion research. This type of application usually raises some 35 USC 101 questions at the USPTO and the prosecution history appears fairly interesting including numerous letters from U...

US Patent 7688570 - Nanotube enhanced silicon capacitor

Posted on April 04, 2010
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7688570.htmlDynamic random access memory (DRAM) is a form of semiconductor memory which uses capacitor structures to store data. However, the scaling of DRAM reduces the capacitance values making it difficult to provide reliable storage...

US Patent 7687841 - Offset gate CNTFET

Posted on April 04, 2010
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7687841.htmlThis patent from Micron Technologies addresses the problem of leakage current between the drain and source of carbon nanotube field effect transistors by placing the gate electrode at an asymmetric position...

US Patent 7687801 - CNT dopant material

Posted on April 04, 2010
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7687801.htmlThis patent teaches dopants for carbon nanotube transistors enabling better control of the gate threshold voltage. Claim 1 reads:1. A semiconductor device comprising, as the device,a semiconductor material that is obtained by depositing, on a carbon nanotube, a donor with a smaller ionization potential than an intrinsic work function of the carbon nanotube or an acceptor with a larger electron affinity than the intrinsic work function of the carbon nanotube, wherein the ionization potential of the donor in vacuum is 6...

US Patent 7687431 - TiO2 nanotube

Posted on March 31, 2010
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7687431.htmlTitanium dioxide has a variety of uses in pigments, photocatalysts, solar cells, and memristors. This patent from Nippon Oil teaches the fabrication of a nanotube form of TiO2 which may improve the responsiveness of the material to external stimulus...

US Patent 7687160 - Magnetic storage with CNT material

Posted on March 31, 2010
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7687160.htmlThis patent teaches iron particles encapsulated in carbon nanotubes forming an ultrahigh resolution magnetic storage device. Claim 1 reads:1. A magnetic storage medium, comprising:a substrate; anda data layer on top of said substrate, said data layer comprising:a plurality of magnetic nanoparticles contained within a carbon nanotube; anda plurality of said carbon nanotubes encapsulated in a matrix.

US Patent 7687705 - Multi-layer thermoelectric device including nanocrystals

Posted on March 31, 2010
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7687705.htmlMicroelectronic cooling devices will become more important as circuit densities continue to increase using stacked architectures. This patent from Alabama A&M University Institute teaches a periodic multilayer structure in which semiconductor nanocrystals are used to improve the thermal conversion efficiency...

US Patent 7683359 - Nanosilicon/Lithium battery

Posted on March 29, 2010
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7683359.htmlThis patent covers a variation of lithium ion batteries developed by Nexeon Ltd. using nanostructured silicon as the anode. Claim 1 reads:1. An energy storage device comprising:an anode comprising an array of sub-micron structures comprising silicon, on a substrate;a cathode comprising lithium; anda lithium-based electrolyte, arranged to form a battery.

US Patent 7683303 - Nanoscale volumetric imaging

Posted on March 29, 2010
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7683303.htmlThis patent from SRI International teaches the use of nanowire arrays in fabricating a 3D image capture device. Claim 1 reads:1. A method of making a nanoscale imaging device comprising the steps of:a) depositing a plurality of nanoscale devices on a pre-selected form of transmissive material;b) assembling an addressable array of said nanoscale devices on said transmissive material; andc) establishing electrical connectivity between said addressable array to a logic device...

US Patent 7682973 - Buffer layer in CNT growth

Posted on March 29, 2010
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7682973.htmlWhen growing arrays of carbon nanotubes catalyst particles are often used as a basis for carbon to be precipitated in a tube shape. However, at high temperatures agglomeration of the catalytic particles can hinder the control of the size and density of nanotube growth...

US Patent 7682970 - Laser ablation nanopatterning

Posted on March 28, 2010
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7682970.htmlThis patent from the University of California teaches a maskless fabrication method for organic field effect transistors having

US Patent 7682750 - CNT/nanoparticle Li ion battery

Posted on March 28, 2010
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7682750.htmlA variety of approaches have been suggested to use carbon materials as anodes to achieve high efficiency lithium ion batteries. This patent from Hon-Hai Precision teaches a variation using multiwalled carbon nanotubes as the anode and Li based nanoparticles as the cathode...

US Patent 7682659 - Suspended carbon MEMS

Posted on March 28, 2010
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7682659.htmlMEMS devices are most often formed with silicon materials but for some applications carbon is more desirable to establish biocompatiblity. This patent from the University of California teaches a method for forming carbon MEMS of different shapes...

US Patent 7682652 - Nanoparticle circuit line formation

Posted on March 25, 2010
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7682652.htmlInkjet processes are being examined to develop additive patterning of nanomaterials but can suffer from weak bonding power between the base substrate and the nanomaterials. This patent from Samsung teaches a solution to this problem using an alkali surface treatment...

US Patent 7682591 - Selective area nanopartcle positioning

Posted on March 25, 2010
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7682591.htmlThis patent from IBM teaches a way to pattern nanoparticles used for the catalytic growth of nanowires or nanotubes. The method is based on deposition into substrate recesses and wiper removal of excess nanoparticles outside of the recesses...

US Patent 7682590 - CNT dispersed polar organic solvent

Posted on March 25, 2010
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7682590.htmlThis patent includes basic claims to using polyvinylpyrrolidone to establish more effective dispersion of nanotubes in a solvent. Claim 1 reads:1. A non-aqueous carbon nanotube dispersion liquid consisting of a carbon nanotube, an amide-based polar organic solvent, and a polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)...

US Patent 7682523 - CNT security ink

Posted on March 24, 2010
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7682523.htmlThis patent from Rice University teaches an anti-counterfeiting ink using carbon nanotubes as a key ingredient. Claim 1 reads:1. A fluorescent ink, comprising:a solvent;a surfactant; andcarbon nanotubes suspended in the solvent;wherein the carbon nanotubes are dispersed in the solvent;wherein the carbon nanotubes are fluorescent and have diameters of less than about 3 nm; andwherein the carbon nanotubes have a visible excitation and an emission following the visible excitation; andwherein the fluorescent ink is suitable for deposition on a surface...

US Patent 7682265 - Adaptive golf ball using magnetic nanoparticles

Posted on March 24, 2010
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7682265.htmlThis patent teaches an interesting design for a liquid core golf ball offering some advantages when used with a magnetic golf club head or when interacting with the Earth's magnetic field during flight. Claim 1 reads:1...

US Patent 7681301 - Silicon nanostructure RFID antenna

Posted on March 24, 2010
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7681301.htmlThis patent teaches a laser ablation method to generate microscopic spikes on the surface of bulk silicon used for an RFID antenna. Claim 1 reads:1. A method of producing a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) antenna as an integral part of an RFID integrated circuit using silicon as antenna material thereby enabling the antenna and an RFID integrated circuit to be manufactured as one piece, said method comprising:providing commercially produced bulk sheets of silicon wafer base material (silicon wafers);femtosecond laser ablating, with a sharply focused pulse, the silicon wafers to create three dimensional nano structures out of the silicon base material;designing an antenna as a complex resonant antenna at a macro level and reducing it, through a process of de-magnification or photographically, to a nano sized image which perfectly replicates design features of a macro level template directional antenna on a master stencil mask and, still further, forming this master stencil mask on the reverse side of silicon wafers treated with femtosecond laser ablation;manufacturing said femtosecond laser ablated silicon wafers so that they are manufactured into radio frequency identification antennas...

US Patent 7678841 - Fullerene film with increased gas transmission

Posted on March 22, 2010
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7678841.htmlMeat is usually packaged in a low-oxygen atmosphere to extend shelf-life. However, the low-oxygen atmosphere creates a discoloration of red meat which can be displeasing when on display at supermarkets. Thus it is useful to form the food packaging with sufficient oxygen permeability so that the meat is not discolored when it reaches the supermarket...

US Patent 7678707 - Fabrication of CNT diode

Posted on March 22, 2010
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7678707.htmlThis patent is based on U.S. Naval research and teaches using barium fluoride to establish a diode junction between metallic nanotubes and a semiconductor substrate. Claim 1 reads:1. A method of producing a nanoShockley diode, the method comprising:locally modifying electrical conductive properties of a semiconducting carbon nanotube so the properties are similar to electrical conductive properties of graphite,wherein the locally modifying electrical conductive properties comprises exposing the carbon nanotube to a vapor from a family II salt...

US Patent 7680243 - X-Ray measurement of nanoparticles

Posted on March 22, 2010
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7680243.htmlThis patent from Jordan Valley Semiconductors teaches a new X-ray spectroscopy method for analysing nanostructures. Claim 1 reads:1. A method for analyzing a sample, comprising:directing one or more beams of X-rays from at least one radiation source to impinge on an area of a surface of the sample on which a layer of nano-particles of a selected element has been formed, including a beam that is incident on the surface at a grazing angle;detecting, using at least one detector, an intensity of X-ray fluorescence emitted from the area in a spectral line that is characteristic of the selected element responsively to the one or more beams;detecting, using the at least one detector, an angular spectrum of the X-rays that are scattered from the area responsively to the beam that is incident on the surface at the grazing angle; andcharacterizing a distribution of the nano-particles on the surface based on the intensity of the X-ray fluorescence and the angular spectrum of the scattered X-rays.

US Patent 7679946 - Memristor arrays with tunnel junctions

Posted on March 22, 2010
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7679946.htmlMemristors (i.e. memory resistors) are nanoscale resistance switches offering a new form of non-volatile memory. One issue with memristor arrays is leakage current "sneak paths" which reduce the efficiency of operation...

US Patent 7679364 - CNT material for high gain MRI

Posted on March 22, 2010
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7679364.htmlThis patent from Tursiop Technologies teaches a system using the high electrical conductivity of carbon nanotubes to enhance the efficiency of magnetic field production in MRIs. Claim 1 reads:1. A magnetic resonance imaging system having an enhanced signal-to-noise ratio, the system comprising:a magnet system for providing a static magnetic field; andat least one RF receiving coil assembly, the RF receiving coil assembly including:at least one RF receiving coil constructed at least partly from an electrical conducting element consisting essentially of layered carbon nanotube material; andRF receiving circuitry having a maximized quality factor.

US Patent 7678672 - CNT fabricated from crystallography oriented catalyst

Posted on March 18, 2010
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7678672.htmlUsually the growth of carbon nanotubes from catalyst material results in nanotube arrays which are either disordered or oriented in a vertical direction with respect to a substrate. This patent from Northrop Grumman teaches a method which generates horizontally oriented nanotube arrays by controlling the crystalline orientation of the catalyst...

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