Abstract: Nanoelectromechanical systems are disclosed that utilize vertically grown or placed nanometer-scale beams. The beams may be configured and arranged for use in a variety of applications, such as batteries, generators, transistors, switching assemblies, and sensors. In some generator applications, nanometer-scale beams may be fixed to a base and grown to a desired height. The beams may produce an electric potential as the beams vibrate, and may provide the electric potential to an electrical contact located at a suitable height above the base. In other embodiments, vertical beams may be grown or placed on side-by-side traces, and an electrical connection may be formed between the side-by-side traces when beams on separate traces vibrate and contact one another.

Abstract: An automated fabrication system is provided that utilizes electromagnetism to manipulate and/or sense the location of raw materials on a platform. Tools located around said platform may be utilized to fabricate a predetermined structure out of the raw materials. Tags that can be electromagnetically manipulated and sensed may be placed on passive raw materials. Structures fabricated from such a system may be, for example, a roof truss. Additionally, the fabrication system may be mobilized by way of a truck such that structures may be built on-site.

Abstract: Nanoelectromechanical systems are disclosed that utilize vertically grown or placed nanometer-scale beams. The beams may be configured and arranged for use in a variety of applications, such as batteries, generators, transistors, switching assemblies, and sensors. In some generator applications, nanometer-scale beams may be fixed to a base and grown to a desired height. The beams may produce an electric potential as the beams vibrate, and may provide the electric potential to an electrical contact located at a suitable height above the base. In other embodiments, vertical beams may be grown or placed on side-by-side traces, and an electrical connection may be formed between the side-by-side traces when beams on separate traces vibrate and contact one another.

Abstract: Electromechanical systems utilizing suspended conducting nanometer-scale beams are provided and may be used in applications, such as, motors, generators, pumps, fans, compressors, propulsion systems, transmitters, receivers, heat engines, heat pumps, magnetic field sensors, kinetic energy storage devices and accelerometers. Such nanometer-scale beams may be provided as, for example, single molecules, single crystal filaments, or nanotubes. When suspended by both ends, these nanometer-scale beams may be caused to rotate about their line of suspension, similar to the motion of a jumprope (or a rotating whip), via electromagnetic or electrostatic forces. This motion may be used, for example, to accelerate molecules of a working substance in a preferred direction, generate electricity from the motion of a working substance molecules, or generate electromagnetic signals. Means of transmitting and controlling currents through these beams are also described.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide NEMS that utilize electrostatic and electromagnetic forces to operate. In one nanoelectrostatic embodiment, a nanometer-scale beam is suspended in an electric field. Electrically charged rails are placed around the beam. When a beam contacts a rail, the beam is forced to move through the electric field in a particular direction. In one nanoelectromagnetic embodiment, a nanometer-scale beam is suspended in a magnetic field. A rail is located in the vicinity of the beam and opposite charges are applied to the rail and beam. In this manner, a current may flow between the beam and rail when the beam and rail contact each other. This current may interact with the magnetic field to move the beam in a particular direction.

Abstract: Nanoelectromechanical systems utilizing nanometer-scale assemblies are provided that convert thermal energy into another form of energy that can be used to perform useful work at macroscopic level. Nanometer-scale beams are provided that reduce the velocity of working substance molecules that collide with this nanometer-scale beam by converting some of the kinetic energy of a colliding molecule into kinetic energy of the nanometer-scale beam. In embodiments that operate without a working substance, the thermal vibrations of the beam itself create the necessary beam motion. Automatic switches may be added to realize a regulator such that the nanometer-scale beams only deliver voltages that exceed a particular amount. The output energy of millions of these devices may be efficiently summed together.