Intellectual Property Law

US Patent 7902089 - Manufacture of n-type nanotube

Posted on March 09, 2011
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7902089.htmlCarbon nanotubes tend to exhibit p-type semiconductive behavior due to adsorbed oxygen. This patent from Japanese researchers teaches a way to convert these nanotubes to n-type. Claim 1 reads:1. A method for manufacturing a channel for an n-type transistor, wherein the method comprises: forming a film of a nitrogenous compound directly on a nanotube-shaped structure exhibiting p-type semiconductive properties using a thermal CVD technique, at a temperature of said nanotube-shaped structure of 500° C...

US Patent 7901776 - Plasma deposited nanoporous chemical sensor

Posted on March 09, 2011
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7901776.htmlThis patent from 3M teaches a way to manufacture a nanoporous carbon used in chemical sensor and having more uniform pore size distribution than microporous activated carbon. Claim 1 reads:1. A microporous carbon material suitable for use as a sensor, comprising: a porous carbon skeleton having an average pore size from 0...

US Patent 7899301 - CNT antenna array

Posted on March 07, 2011
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7899301.htmlThis patent from inventor Robert Crowley has early priority (1997) and includes basic claims to nanotubes in antennas devices or otherwise used to modify electromagnetic energy. Claims 1 and 8 read:1. A nanotube device comprising: a substrate for supporting an aligned array of electromagnetic energy modifying nanotubes thereon; an array of electromagnetic energy modifying nanotubes on said substrate arranged for the receipt and modification of electromagnetic radiation...

US Patent 7898481 - CNT RF antenna

Posted on March 07, 2011
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7898481.htmlThis patent from Motorola teaches an antenna system which provides a greater number of frequency bands without requiring additional size by using carbon nanotubes. Claim 13 reads:13. An antenna comprising: an antenna element that comprises a medium and dispersion of elongated conductors in the medium; wherein the elongated conductors elements comprise carbon nanotubes and an array of cells holding said medium and electrodes disposed to apply fields to said array of cells...

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US Patent 7898156 - Piezoelectric nanowire electrical generator

Posted on March 03, 2011
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7898156.htmlThis patent is from Georgia Tech Research Corporation and teaches a small scale electrical generator formed from piezoelectric nanowires which may be useful to power biomedical implants. Claim 1 reads:1. A method of generating electricity, comprising the actions of: a...

US Patent 7898020 - Quantum dot semiconductor memory

Posted on March 03, 2011
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7898020.htmlThis patent teaches a floating gate memory design using metal and metal silicide quantum dots. Claim 1 reads:1. A semiconductor memory including a floating gate structure, comprising: a charge accumulation node including first quantum dots and accumulating electrons; and a control node including second quantum dots and performing injection of the electrons into and/or emission of the electrons from the charge accumulation node, wherein the charge accumulation node is composed of a material different from a material of the control node such that energy levels of the first quantum dots for the electrons are lower than energy levels of the second quantum dots for the electrons, the control node includes first and second control nodes, and the charge accumulation node is provided between the first control node and the second control node...

US Patent 7898005 - Nanofluidic transistor

Posted on March 02, 2011
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7898005.htmlThis patent has priority from 2002 and includes some basic claims for nanofluidic devices constructed from silica nanotubes useful for DNA detection. Claim 14 reads:14. A nanofluidic transistor, comprising: a fluidic source; a fluidic drain; an inorganic nanotube coupled in fluidic communication between said fluidic source and fluidic drain; and a gate electrode retained proximal said inorganic nanotube for controlling the flow of ions between source and drain regions in response to the voltage applied to said gate electrode...

US Patent 7897960 - Self-aligned nanotube FET

Posted on March 02, 2011
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7897960.htmlThis patent from IBM has relatively early priority (2002) and teaches a variation of vertical nanotube transistors. Claim 1 reads:1. A carbon-nanotube field effect transistor semiconductor device comprising: a vertical carbon-nanotube wrapped in a dielectric material exposing first and second ends of the vertical carbon-nanotube; a source formed at the first end of the vertical carbon-nanotube; a drain formed at the second end of the vertical carbon-nanotube; and a plurality of gate metal pillars formed adjacent to a stack comprising the source, the drain, the vertical carbon-nanotube, wherein the drain is at least partially disposed between the plurality of gate metal pillars.

US Patent 7897876 - CNT/graphene-enhanced electrical wire

Posted on March 02, 2011
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7897876.htmlA problem with using carbon nanotubes to form conductive wires is that the viscosity of CNT/polymer composites makes processing difficult. This patent from Boeing teaches coating instead of dispersing CNTs in a conductive wire to make processing easier...

US Patent 7897294 - Sintered nanomaterial catalyst

Posted on March 01, 2011
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7897294.htmlThis patent is from a company called QuantumSphere and teaches nanoscale nickel particles used as catalysts in fuel cells. Claim 1 reads:1. An electrode configured for use in electrochemical applications, the electrode consisting of a uniform mixture of catalytic nano-sized material sintered to form a solid compact...

US Patent 7897248 - Oriented nanofibers embedded in a polymer matrix

Posted on March 01, 2011
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7897248.htmlThis patent from Rice University has early priority going back to 1999 and includes some basic claims to CNT-polymer composites. Claim 1 reads:1. A composite comprising: a polymer matrix reinforced with carbon nanotubes, wherein the carbon nanotubes are dispersed in the polymer matrix; and wherein the carbon nanotubes are integrated into the polymer matrix; wherein the integration comprises alignment of the carbon nanotubes and formation of at least one type of linkage to at least a sidewall of the carbon nanotubes; wherein the at least one type of linkage is selected from the group consisting of between the carbon nanotubes and the polymer matrix, between the carbon nanotubes, and combinations thereof...

US Patent 7896990 - Burn rate nanotube modifier

Posted on March 01, 2011
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7896990.htmlThis patent is based on U.S. Naval research into using carbon nanotubes to create high energy explosives. Claim 1 reads:1. A process for producing a burn rate modifier, comprising: providing a chemical composition from an energetic material; forming nanotubular structures from said chemical composition, wherein said forming comprises composing at least one of said nanotubular structures from said energetic material where said energetic material is a melt processible energetic material; and, incorporating said nanotubular structures into an energetic composition for alignment of the nanotubular structures with a direction of an increased burn rate of the energetic composition...

US Patent 7893513 - Nanostructured optical rectenna

Posted on February 27, 2011
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7893513.htmlThis patent from Rice University teaches a fabrication method for rectennas based on nanostructured elements. Claim 1 reads:1. A nanoelectronic device, comprising: a first nanostructure, comprising: a nanotube having first and second opposing ends; a metallic nanoparticle attached to the first end; and an insulating nanoparticle attached to the second end...

US Patent 7893495 - Zinc oxide nanodisk FET

Posted on February 27, 2011
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7893495.htmlZinc oxide has been used as a channel material for thin film transistors but has low electron mobility. This patent teaches fabricating zinc oxide nanodisks which can improve the mobility. Claim 1 reads:1. A thin film transistor, comprising: a substrate; a gate electrode a source electrode and a drain electrode; a dielectric layer; and a semiconductor layer; wherein the semiconductor layer comprises zinc oxide nanodisks oriented with their c-axis perpendicular to the dielectric layer or the substrate; and wherein the zinc oxide nanodisks have a height of from about 1 nanometer to about 100 nanometers...

US Patent 7893492 - Nanowire mesh FET

Posted on February 27, 2011
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7893492.htmlMOSFET electronic designs are moving toward multi-gate and surrounding-gate designs to overcome short channel effects of planar transistors. This patent from IBM proposes a nanowire channel surrounding gate design with improved current carrying capability...

US Patent 7893348 - Vertically oriented Si nanowire array for a solar cell

Posted on February 24, 2011
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7893348.htmlThis patent from GE teaches growing an array of silicon nanowires on a substrate to form a doped layer of a p-i-n photovoltaic cell. Claim 1 reads:1. A photovoltaic device comprising: a) a plurality of crystalline Si nanowires grown directly on an electrically conductive substrate and disposed in a substantially vertical orientation on the substrate, the Si nanowires having a doping of a first type; b) a first conformal Si layer of amorphous intrinsic silicon disposed conformally on the plurality of crystalline Si nanowires, such that the first conformal Si layer effectively absorbs a majority of light impinging on the photovoltaic device; c) a second conformal amorphous Si layer disposed conformally on the first conformal Si layer, the second conformal amorphous Si layer having a doping of a second type, thereby providing for a charge separating junction; d) a conductive material layer disposed on the second conformal Si layer; and e) top and bottom contacts operable for connecting the device to an external circuit, wherein the bottom contact is in electrical contact with the plurality of nanowires and the top contact is in electrical contact with the second conformal Si layer...

US Patent 7893000 - Boron carbine ceramic with nanofibers

Posted on February 24, 2011
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7893000.htmlBoron carbide ceramics have high thermal resistance and corrosion resistance but suffer from brittleness. This patent teaches a way to incorporate carbon nanofibers into BC ceramics to remedy this problem. Claim 1 reads:1...

US Patent 7892817 - Magnetic nanoparticle biosensor

Posted on February 23, 2011
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7892817.htmlThis patent from Philips Electronics teaches using the detection of nanoparticle rotational movement to achieve 3D resolution imaging of molecules. Claim 1 reads:1. A sensor device for distinguishing a specific binding from a less specific binding between at least one polarizable or polarized nanoparticle label and a surface of another entity, the sensor device comprising: at least one electric or magnetic field generator for applying an electric or a magnetic field to a sample fluid containing polarized or polarizable nanoparticle labels; at least one magnetic sensor element; and a detector for detecting a parameter related to nanoparticle rotational or motional freedom while the nanoparticle labels are attached to the surface for distinguishing a specific binding from a less specific binding between said nanoparticle labels and the surface of the other entity, wherein the electric or magnetic field generator generates a rotating magnetic field...

US Patent 7892781 - Metal nanoparticle bioprobe

Posted on February 23, 2011
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7892781.htmlThis latest patent from Nanoprobes Inc. has priority going back to 2001 and includes some basic claims to nanoparticle biomarkers. Claim 1 reads:1. A composite probe, comprising: at least one directing agent for attaching the composite probe to a target in a test sample; at least one nanoparticle conjugated to the at least one directing agent, the at least one nanoparticle comprising a plurality of metal atoms; and an enzyme, chemically linked to the at least one directing agent, for reacting with an enzyme substrate after the composite probe is bound to the target...

US Patent 7892653 - Titanium alloy with carbon nanotubes

Posted on February 23, 2011
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7892653.htmlThis patent teaches a way to increase the strength and corrosion resistance of titanium alloys using carbon nanotubes. Claim 1 reads:1. A titanium alloy composite material comprising carbon nanotubes coated with a layer comprising an unreacted element and a carbide of the element, wherein the coated carbon nanotubes are dispersed in crystal grains of the titanium alloy...

US Patent 7892638 - Brightness enhancing nanoparticle film

Posted on February 22, 2011
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7892638.htmlThis patent from 3M is related to scratch resistant films used for liquid crystal displays. Claim 1 reads:1. A brightness enhancing film comprising: a brightness enhancing polymerized structure having a plurality of surface modified colloidal nanoparticles; further comprising a base layer optically coupled to the polymerized structure; wherein the base layer is useful as a polarizing material...

US Patent 7892610 - Applying aligned nanowires with a printhead

Posted on February 22, 2011
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7892610.htmlThis is the latest patent from Nanosys which covers a method of patterning aligned nanowires with a specialized printhead in order to create electronic and photovoltaic devices. Claim 2 reads:2. A method for transferring nanowires to a destination surface, comprising: providing at least one nanowire proximate to an electrode pair; generating an electric field with electrodes of the electrode pair to associate the at least one nanowire with the electrodes; aligning the electrode pair with a region of the destination surface; and depositing the at least one nanowire from the electrode pair to the region...

US Patent 7892596 - Nanoparticle coating process for fuel cell components

Posted on February 22, 2011
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7892596.htmlThis patent from GM discloses techniques for coating electrolyte polymers and nanoparticles on bipolar plates or membrane electrodes of fuel cells. Claim 1 reads:1. A process comprising: applying an aqueous solution comprising a polyelectrolyte polymer to the fuel cell component so that at least a portion of the polyelectrolyte polymer adheres to at least a portion of the component the polyelectrolyte polymer comprising first functional groups; submerging a fuel cell component in a bath comprising nanoparticles comprising second functional groups and a liquid phase comprising a nanoparticle dispersion agent; removing the fuel cell component from the bath so that a coating of nanoparticles adheres to the polyelectrolyte polymer adhered to the fuel cell component and wherein the first functional group and second functional group form an ionic bond; rinsing the fuel cell component to remove any nanoparticles not sufficiently adhered to the fuel cell component prior to drying the coating; and drying the coating...

US Patent 7890357 - Determining nanomaterial related risk

Posted on February 17, 2011
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7890357.htmlThis is another nanotechnology business method patent from Hartford Fire Insurance Company dealing with risk assessment used in underwriting an insurance policy. Claim 1 reads:1. A system for determining a level of risk posed by a nanomaterial to an entity, the system comprising: a memory; a computerized model stored on the memory; and a processor configured to: retrieve from memory data related to the nanomaterial, the retrieved data including data representative of the size, shape, stability, and tendency for aggregation of the nanomaterial; calculate, using the computerized model, an insurance nanomaterial risk score that is indicative of the level of health and environmental risk posed by the nanomaterial to the entity based on the retrieved data, wherein the insurance nanomaterial risk score is calculated based at least in part on a quantitative representation of the health and environmental risks posed by the nanomaterial based on the size, shape, stability, and tendency for aggregation of the nanomaterial indicated by the retrieved data; evaluate the insurability of the entity responsive at least in part to the calculated insurance nanomaterial risk score; and output the results of the evaluation process as an insurance evaluation of the entity...

US Patent 7889413 - Field generating nanoparticles doped in light valves

Posted on February 17, 2011
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7889413.htmlThis patent from the U.S. Air Force teaches using nanoparticles to construct a new type of optical switch. Claim 1 reads:1. A method for automatically activating an optical light valve, the method comprising: providing a photorefractive cell having a birefringent medium which is doped with nanoparticles; transmitting light through the photorefractive cell to create an electric field in the photorefractive cell such that the alignment state of the birefringent medium and nanoparticles is changed to thereby reduce the intensity of the light being transmitted therethrough, wherein the intensity of light is reduced by dispersing the light without an external power source...

US Patent 7888857 - LED with nanoparticle layer recesses

Posted on February 17, 2011
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7888857.htmlThis patent from Samsung teaches a way to increase the luminescence efficiency of quantum dot LEDs using a 3D surface topology. Claim 1 reads:1. A light emitting device comprising a substrate and a semiconductor nanoparticle layer, wherein the substrate is provided with a plurality of three-dimensional recesses and semiconductor nanoparticles are arranged on a surface of the plurality of three-dimensional recesses, and wherein the semiconductor nanoparticle layer comprises a plurality of three-dimensional recesses which correspond to the three-dimensional recesses of the substrate.

US Patent 7888753 - Nanowire FET sensor

Posted on February 16, 2011
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7888753.htmlThis patent from IBM (priority 7/31/2006) includes some broad claims to nanowire transistors used as molecular detection devices. Claim 1 reads:1. A detection device comprising: a source; a drain; a nanowire comprising a semiconductor material having a first end clamped to the source and a second end clamped to the drain and suspended freely therebetween; and a gate separated from the nanowire by a distance of up to about ten nanometers...

US Patent 7888169 - Organic transistor formed from nanoparticle ink

Posted on February 16, 2011
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7888169.htmlThis patent is from a company called OrganicID Inc. and teaches a bottom gate organic transistor formed with Ag nanoparticle ink for applications including displays, sensors, and RFID. Claim 1 reads:1. A method of manufacturing an organic transistor, comprising: providing a substrate; forming a gate electrode on the substrate; selectively forming nanoparticle ink on the gate electrode to form posts; selectively forming a dielectric material on the substrate; flash annealing the nanoparticle ink with an energy having wavelengths ranging from about 250 nm to about 1100 nm or higher, wherein the flash annealing comprises preventing energy having wavelengths from about 250 nm to about 350 nm from irradiating the nanoparticle ink, and wherein the flash annealing cures the nanoparticle ink and simultaneously forms vias in the dielectric layer above the posts; forming source/drain electrodes in electrical communication with the posts; and forming an organic semiconductor layer on the substrate...

US Patent 7887885 - Molecular resist removal with DPN

Posted on February 16, 2011
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7887885.htmlThis patent teaches a variation of Dip Pen Lithography® in which the scanning probe tip removes a portion of molecular resist during coating. Claim 1 reads:1. A method of nano lithography comprising: providing a substrate; coating at least a portion of the substrate with a resist; providing a tip with a drop of patterning compound on the tip; applying the tip to a portion of the substrate coated with the resist wherein a high normal force is formed between the tip and the substrate by the surface tension of the drop of patterning compound on the tip that forms a thin film of the patterning compound on the substrate in an area proximate the tip; and, moving the tip to remove resist from the substrate, whereupon the patterning compound attaches to the substrate from which the resist has been removed by the tip to form a pattern of the patterning compound on the substrate...

US Patent 7887720 - Polymer-nanocrystal composites for optoelectronics

Posted on February 15, 2011
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7887720.html This patent from the University of Pennsylvania and Louisiana Tech teaches quantum dot photodetectors having an external quantum efficiency greater than 1 for electric fields of about 7×105 V/cm. Claim 1 reads:1...

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