Patents by Inventor Stefan Harrer

Stefan Harrer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9422154
    Abstract: Nanofluidic passages such as nanochannels and nanopores are closed or opened in a controlled manner through the use of a feedback system. An oxide layer is grown or removed within a passage in the presence of an electrolyte until the passage reaches selected dimensions or is closed. The change in dimensions of the nanofluidic passage is measured during fabrication. The ionic current level through the passage can be used to determine passage dimensions. Fluid flow through an array of fluidic elements can be controlled by selective oxidation of fluidic passages between elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stefan Harrer, Stephen M. Rossnagel, Philip S. Waggoner
  • Publication number: 20160180362
    Abstract: In an approach for monitoring media consumption, a processor receives data from a media collection device, wherein the data comprises at least information generated by at least one media broadcasting device of one or more media broadcasts. A processor compares the data to previously stored signatures, wherein the previously stored signatures are each associated with a respective media broadcast. A processor identifies the one or more media broadcasts using the data and the previously stored signatures. A processor compiles the identified one or more media broadcasts with a set of previously stored media broadcasts associated with the media collection device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Michael S. Brown, Stefan Harrer, Laurence J. Plant
  • Publication number: 20160139105
    Abstract: A nanodevice includes a reservoir filled with conductive fluid and a membrane separating the reservoir. A nanopore is formed through the membrane having electrode layers separated by insulating layers. A certain electrode layer has a first type of organic coating and a pair of electrode layers has a second type. The first type of organic coating forms a motion control transient bond to a molecule in the nanopore for motion control, and the second type forms first and second transient bonds to different bonding sites of a base of the molecule. When a voltage is applied to the pair of electrode layers a tunneling current is generated by the base in the nanopore, and the tunneling current travels via the first and second transient bonds formed to be measured as a current signature for distinguishing the base. The motion control transient bond is stronger than first and second transient bonds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventors: Ali Afzali-Ardakani, Stefan Harrer, Binquan Luan, Hongbo Peng, Stephen M. Rossnagel, Ajay K. Royyuru, Gustavo A. Stolovitzky, Philip S. Waggoner
  • Patent number: 9309590
    Abstract: A method for making multiple single molecule receptors in a nanopore structure includes depositing a first material and a second material by a physical vapor deposition (PVD) technique onto different selected interior surfaces of a nanochannel and functionalizing a surface of the first material, the second material, or both the first and second materials with a chemical compound having at least two functional groups. The first and second materials can be the same or different and form patches having diameters of about 1 to about 100 nanometers (nm). Also disclosed are embodiments of a nanopore structure including multiple single molecule receptors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Julia Baldauf, Stefan Harrer, Christine Schieber
  • Patent number: 9303310
    Abstract: A method for making multiple single molecule receptors in a nanopore structure includes depositing a first material and a second material by a physical vapor deposition (PVD) technique onto different selected interior surfaces of a nanochannel and functionalizing a surface of the first material, the second material, or both the first and second materials with a chemical compound having at least two functional groups. The first and second materials can be the same or different and form patches having diameters of about 1 to about 100 nanometers (nm). Also disclosed are embodiments of a nanopore structure including multiple single molecule receptors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Julia Baldauf, Stefan Harrer, Christine Schieber
  • Patent number: 9297062
    Abstract: A method for making a single molecule receptor in a nanopore structure includes depositing a material by a physical vapor deposition (PVD) technique onto a selected interior surface of a nanochannel and functionalizing a surface of the material with a chemical compound having at least two functional groups. The material forms a patch having a diameter of about 3 to about 10,000 nanometers (nm). Also disclosed are embodiments of a nanopore structure including a single molecule receptor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Julia Baldauf, Stefan Harrer, Christine Schieber
  • Patent number: 9285339
    Abstract: A nanodevice includes a reservoir filled with conductive fluid and a membrane separating the reservoir. A nanopore is formed through the membrane having electrode layers separated by insulating layers. A certain electrode layer has a first type of organic coating and a pair of electrode layers has a second type. The first type of organic coating forms a motion control transient bond to a molecule in the nanopore for motion control, and the second type forms first and second transient bonds to different bonding sites of a base of the molecule. When a voltage is applied to the pair of electrode layers a tunneling current is generated by the base in the nanopore, and the tunneling current travels via the first and second transient bonds formed to be measured as a current signature for distinguishing the base. The motion control transient bond is stronger than first and second transient bonds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ali Afzali-Ardakani, Stefan Harrer, Binquan Luan, Hongbo Peng, Stephen M. Rossnagel, Ajay K. Royyuru, Gustavo A. Stolovitzky, Philip S. Waggoner
  • Patent number: 9255321
    Abstract: A method for making a single molecule receptor in a nanopore structure includes depositing a material by a physical vapor deposition (PVD) technique onto a selected interior surface of a nanochannel and functionalizing a surface of the material with a chemical compound having at least two functional groups. The material forms a patch having a diameter of about 3 to about 10,000 nanometers (nm). Also disclosed are embodiments of a nanopore structure including a single molecule receptor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Julia Baldauf, Stefan Harrer, Christine Schieber
  • Publication number: 20150377830
    Abstract: Translocation events are sensed using composite nanopore assemblies including nanopores formed in graphene sheets. Single molecule detection and characterization and multi-molecule characterization and identification are provided using such assemblies. Multiple electrodes associated with nanofluidic sensors facilitate detection of ionic current through a nanopore as well as tunneling currents. Current signals of individual molecules are estimated from the combination of an ionic current signal through the nanopore and tunneling current signals obtained at specific locations within the nanopore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Inventors: Julia S. Baldauf, Matthew Downton, Natalie Gunn, Stefan Harrer, Sridhar Kannam, Christine Schieber, John M. Wagner
  • Publication number: 20150225838
    Abstract: A method for making a single molecule receptor in a nanopore structure includes depositing a material by a physical vapor deposition (PVD) technique onto a selected interior surface of a nanochannel and functionalizing a surface of the material with a chemical compound having at least two functional groups. The material forms a patch having a diameter of about 3 to about 10,000 nanometers (nm). Also disclosed are embodiments of a nanopore structure including a single molecule receptor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Inventors: Julia Baldauf, Stefan Harrer, Christine Schieber
  • Publication number: 20150209779
    Abstract: A micro-droplet fluidic cell includes a membrane structure having a nanopore, a hydrophobic material disposed onto a portion of the membrane structure, and an analyte solution traversing the membrane structure and forming a micro-droplet on a first surface of the membrane structure. Also disclosed are methods for fast ionic current detection using the micro-droplet fluidic cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Applicant: International business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Stefan Harrer, Young H. Kwark, Stanislav Polonsky
  • Publication number: 20150160159
    Abstract: A nanodevice includes a reservoir filled with conductive fluid and a membrane separating the reservoir. A nanopore is formed through the membrane having electrode layers separated by insulating layers. A certain electrode layer has a first type of organic coating and a pair of electrode layers has a second type. The first type of organic coating forms a motion control transient bond to a molecule in the nanopore for motion control, and the second type forms first and second transient bonds to different bonding sites of a base of the molecule. When a voltage is applied to the pair of electrode layers a tunneling current is generated by the base in the nanopore, and the tunneling current travels via the first and second transient bonds formed to be measured as a current signature for distinguishing the base. The motion control transient bond is stronger than first and second transient bonds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Inventors: Ali Afzali-Ardakani, Stefan Harrer, Binquan Luan, Hongbo Peng, Stephen M. Rossnagel, Ajay K. Royyuru, Gustavo A. Stolovitzky, Philip S. Waggoner
  • Publication number: 20150104587
    Abstract: A method for making multiple single molecule receptors in a nanopore structure includes depositing a first material and a second material by a physical vapor deposition (PVD) technique onto different selected interior surfaces of a nanochannel and functionalizing a surface of the first material, the second material, or both the first and second materials with a chemical compound having at least two functional groups. The first and second materials can be the same or different and form patches having diameters of about 1 to about 100 nanometers (nm). Also disclosed are embodiments of a nanopore structure including multiple single molecule receptors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Julia Baldauf, Stefan Harrer, Christine Schieber
  • Publication number: 20150104353
    Abstract: A method for making a single molecule receptor in a nanopore structure includes depositing a material by a physical vapor deposition (PVD) technique onto a selected interior surface of a nanochannel and functionalizing a surface of the material with a chemical compound having at least two functional groups. The material forms a patch having a diameter of about 3 to about 10,000 nanometers (nm). Also disclosed are embodiments of a nanopore structure including a single molecule receptor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Julia Baldauf, Stefan Harrer, Christine Schieber
  • Publication number: 20150104586
    Abstract: A method for making a single molecule receptor in a nanopore structure includes depositing a material by a physical vapor deposition (PVD) technique onto a selected interior surface of a nanochannel and functionalizing a surface of the material with a chemical compound having at least two functional groups. The material forms a patch having a diameter of about 3 to about 10,000 nanometers (nm). Also disclosed are embodiments of a nanopore structure including a single molecule receptor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Julia Baldauf, Stefan Harrer, Christine Schieber
  • Publication number: 20150104354
    Abstract: A method for making multiple single molecule receptors in a nanopore structure includes depositing a first material and a second material by a physical vapor deposition (PVD) technique onto different selected interior surfaces of a nanochannel and functionalizing a surface of the first material, the second material, or both the first and second materials with a chemical compound having at least two functional groups. The first and second materials can be the same or different and form patches having diameters of about 1 to about 100 nanometers (nm). Also disclosed are embodiments of a nanopore structure including multiple single molecule receptors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Julia Baldauf, Stefan Harrer, Christine Schieber
  • Patent number: 8986524
    Abstract: A nanodevice includes a reservoir filled with conductive fluid and a membrane separating the reservoir. A nanopore is formed through the membrane having electrode layers separated by insulating layers. A certain electrode layer has a first type of organic coating and a pair of electrode layers has a second type. The first type of organic coating forms a motion control transient bond to a molecule in the nanopore for motion control, and the second type forms first and second transient bonds to different bonding sites of a base of the molecule. When a voltage is applied to the pair of electrode layers a tunneling current is generated by the base in the nanopore, and the tunneling current travels via the first and second transient bonds formed to be measured as a current signature for distinguishing the base. The motion control transient bond is stronger than first and second transient bonds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ali Afzali-Ardakani, Stefan Harrer, Binquan Luan, Hongbo Peng, Stephen M. Rossnagel, Ajay K. Royyuru, Gustavo A. Stolovitzky, Philip S. Waggoner
  • Publication number: 20150068902
    Abstract: The present invention provides a nano-fluidic field effective device. The device includes a channel having a first side and a second side, a first set of electrodes adjacent to the first side, a second set of electrodes adjacent to the second side, a control unit for applying electric potentials to the electrodes and a fluid within the channel containing a charge molecule. The first set of electrodes is disposed such that application of electric potentials produces a spatially varying electric field that confines a charged molecule within a predetermined area of said channel. The second set of electrodes is disposed such that application of electric potentials relative to the electric potentials applied to the first set of electrodes creates an electric field that confines the charged molecule to an area away from the second side of the channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Ali Afzali-Ardakani, Stefan Harrer, Binquan Luan, Glenn J. Martyna, Dennis M. Newns, Hongbo Peng, Stanislav Polonsky, Stephen Rossnagel, Gustavo Stolovitzky
  • Patent number: 8940148
    Abstract: The present invention provides a nano-fluidic field effective device. The device includes a channel having a first side and a second side, a first set of electrodes adjacent to the first side, a second set of electrodes adjacent to the second side, a control unit for applying electric potentials to the electrodes and a fluid within the channel containing a charge molecule. The first set of electrodes is disposed such that application of electric potentials produces a spatially varying electric field that confines a charged molecule within a predetermined area of said channel. The second set of electrodes is disposed such that application of electric potentials relative to the electric potentials applied to the first set of electrodes creates an electric field that confines the charged molecule to an area away from the second side of the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ali Afzali-Ardakani, Stefan Harrer, Binquan Luan, Glenn J. Martyna, Dennis M. Newns, Hongbo Peng, Stanislav Polonsky, Stephen Rossnagel, Gustavo Stolovitzky
  • Patent number: 8835362
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided for utilizing a nanodevice to distinguish molecules with different structure. The molecules translocate through or across a nanochannel filled with a electrolyte solution. An electrical signal through the nanochannel is measured for every translocation event. Inner surfaces of the nanochannel include a functional layer, which is a coating to functionalize the nanochannel, in which the functional layer is configured to interact with predetermined ones of the molecules during translocation events. It is determined that a combination of at least two different molecules is formed based on predetermined ones of the molecules interacting with the functional layer to change the electrical signal and/or change a translocation time for the translocation event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation, The University of Melbourne, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health
    Inventors: Matthew Downtown, Natalie Gunn, Stefan Harrer, Priscilla Rogers, John Wagner, Ross Bathgate, Daniel James Scott, Stan Skafidas