Patents Assigned to Nanochip, Inc.
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Publication number: 20080316897Abstract: A method of forming a passivation layer over a ferroelectric layer of a ferroelectric media comprises introducing the ferroelectric layer to a plasma comprising one of oxygen, oxygen-helium, and oxygen-nitrogen-helium, etching a surface of the ferroelectric layer, forming one of a substantially oxygen enriched layer and a substantially hydroxyl enriched layer at the surface of the ferroelectric layer, introducing the ferroelectric layer to an environment comprising substantially nitrogen, and maintaining the ferroelectric layer within the environment so that nitrogen enriches the substantially oxygen enriched layer to form a passivation layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2007Publication date: December 25, 2008Applicant: NANOCHIP, INC.Inventors: Byong Man KIM, Donald Edward ADAMS, Brett Eldon HUFF, Yevgeny V. ANOIKIN, Robert N. STARK
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Patent number: 7463573Abstract: Systems in accordance with the present invention can include a tip contactable with a media, the media including a substrate and a plurality of cells disposed over the substrate, one or more of the cells being electrically isolated from the other of the cells by a material having insulating properties. One or more of the plurality of cells can include a phase change material. The media is either grounded or electrically connected with a voltage source such that when the tip is placed in contact with the media and a voltage is applied to the tip, a current is drawn through the cell over which the tip is arranged. The current is drawn through the isolated cell at least a portion of the phase change material within the cell beneath the tip is heated to a sufficient temperature such that the material become amorphous in structure. The current is then removed from the phase change material, which is quickly cooled to form an amorphous domain having a resistance representing a “1” (or a “0”).Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2005Date of Patent: December 9, 2008Assignee: Nanochip, Inc.Inventors: Zhaohui Fan, Nickolai Belov
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Publication number: 20080232228Abstract: A system for storing information comprises a media including a ferroelectric layer, a tip arrangeable in electrically communicative proximity to the media, and circuitry to detect a polarization signal having a radio frequency. The polarization signal corresponds to changes in polarization of domains of the ferroelectric layer at a relative velocity of movement between the tip and the media, wherein a domain of polarization of the ferroelectric layer is information.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2007Publication date: September 25, 2008Applicant: NANOCHIP, INC.Inventors: Donald Edward Adams, Robert N. Stark
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Publication number: 20080233672Abstract: A method to fabricate a device including a micro-electro-mechanical system structure and a monolithic integrated circuit comprises using a first wafer as a first substrate, fabricating the micro-electro-mechanical system structure on the first substrate, and forming a first oxide layer over the micro-electro-mechanical system structure. The method further comprises using a second wafer as a second substrate, fabricating the monolithic integrated circuit on the second substrate, and forming a second oxide layer over the monolithic integrated circuit. The first wafer and the second wafer are arranged so that the first oxide layer opposes the second oxide layer. The micro-electro-mechanical system structure is aligned with the monolithic integrated circuit, the first oxide layer is contacted with the second oxide layer; and bonded with the second oxide layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2007Publication date: September 25, 2008Applicant: NANOCHIP, INC.Inventor: John Heck
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Patent number: 7414953Abstract: A data storage device comprises a media including a memory layer within which are formable domains associated with information, and a conductive layer disposed over the memory layer, the conductive layer having anisotropically increased electrical conductivity in a thickness direction. A conductive tip contactable with the conductive layer is adapted to form domains within the memory layer and one of the conductive tip and the media is movable to access the memory layer.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2007Date of Patent: August 19, 2008Assignee: Nanochip, Inc.Inventors: Thomas F. Rust, Robert N. Stark, Thomas L. Noggle, Daniel F. Cribbs
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Publication number: 20080174918Abstract: An embodiment of a system for storing information in accordance with the present invention comprises a media including a barrier layer, an isolation layer and a trapping layer disposed between the barrier layer and the isolation layer; and a tip adapted to inject a charge through the barrier layer and into the trapping layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2007Publication date: July 24, 2008Applicant: Nanochip, Inc.Inventor: Byong Man Kim
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Publication number: 20080175033Abstract: A method of recording information on a media including a ferroelectric recording layer comprises writing the information by forming one or more domains within the ferroelectric recording layer, the one or more domains having a spontaneous polarization, and arranging the one or more domains in a pattern that improves a stability of the one or more domains.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2007Publication date: July 24, 2008Applicant: NANOCHIP, INC.Inventors: Li-Peng Wang, Donald Edward Adams, Qing Ma
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Publication number: 20080165568Abstract: A device in accordance with embodiments of the present invention comprises a contact probe for high density data storage reading, writing, erasing, or rewriting. In one embodiment, the contact probe can include a silicon core having a conductive coating. Contact probes in accordance with the present invention can be applied to a phase change media, for example, to form an indicia in the phase change media by changing the electrical resistivity of a portion of the phase change media.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2007Publication date: July 10, 2008Applicant: NANOCHIP, INC.Inventor: Thomas F. Rust
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Devices and methods of detecting movement between media and probe tip in a probe data storage system
Patent number: 7391707Abstract: A memory apparatus comprises a media, a tip adapted to write information to and read information from said media, a media movement mechanism attached to said media and configured to move said media in response to media control signals, and a capacitive sensor configured to detect an amount of relative movement of said media and said tip in at least an x-axis direction. The capacitive sensor includes a fixed comb having fingers protruding in an x-axis direction, a moving comb connected having fingers protruding in an x-axis direction, and an electrical path connected to said fixed comb and an electrical path connected to said moving comb. The relative movement in at least the x-axis direction is determined at least in part on a change in capacitance between said fixed and moving combs of said capacitive sensor.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2007Date of Patent: June 24, 2008Assignee: Nanochip, Inc.Inventors: Thomas F. Rust, legal representative, Thomas F. Rust, Joanne P. Culver -
Patent number: 7379412Abstract: Methods in accordance with the present invention can be applied, in an embodiment, to a media comprising a phase change material to alter a resolved portion of the phase change material to have a resistance different from a resistance of the bulk material. A tip having a substantially larger radius of curvature than the resolved portion can be employed by applying such methods. A substantially anisotropic columnar material can focus a current applied between the tip and the media so that the portion is narrower in width than the radius of curvature. Such highly resolved portions form bits in the media. Other objects, aspects and advantages of the invention can be obtained from reviewing the figures, specification and claims. This description is not intended to be a complete description of, or limit the scope of, the invention.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2004Date of Patent: May 27, 2008Assignee: Nanochip, Inc.Inventors: Thomas F. Rust, Robert N. Stark, Thomas L. Noggle, Daniel F. Cribbs
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Patent number: 7367119Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with the present invention can include a tip contactable with a media. In an embodiment, the tip comprises a substantially hollow structure formed of a metal. The tip can be formed by depositing a first metal layer over silicon thereby defining a cantilever structure, depositing a second metal layer at least partially over the first metal layer, and at least partially over a cone structure of the silicon to define the tip structure. The silicon can then be removed from beneath the cantilever and from within the deposited second metal layer by etching, thereby leaving a low-mass metal tip associated with a metal cantilever. An alternative embodiment, the silicon can be removed from beneath the cantilever by etching, but endpointed such that at least a portion of the cone structure remains beneath the second metal layer. The silicon/metal tip can have good wear characteristics and a slightly higher mass.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2005Date of Patent: May 6, 2008Assignee: Nanochip, Inc.Inventor: Nickolai Belov
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Publication number: 20080074984Abstract: A memory device for a probe storage system comprises a media die including a frame and a media platform movably coupled with the frame, a tip die connected with the frame such that the tip die is generally parallel to the media platform, the tip die including a plurality of tip groups, wherein a tip group includes a number of tips, a set of electrical traces connected between the media platform and the frame, a number of electrical traces of the set of electrical traces corresponding to the number of tips. The set of electrical traces is selectably associable with one of the tip groups so that the tips of the associated tip group are in electrical communication with the media die.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2007Publication date: March 27, 2008Applicant: NANOCHIP, INC.Inventor: Donald Edward Adams
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Publication number: 20080074792Abstract: A system for storing information comprises a media die including a frame and a media platform movably coupled with the frame, a media associated with the media platform, one or more capacitive sensors including an electrode fixedly connected with the media platform, and a tip platform including a tip, the tip platform positioned relative to the media platform such that the tip is arrangeable in communicative proximity to the media. The system further comprises circuitry to provide motion signals to urge the media platform relative to the tip platform, the circuitry including a coarse tracking loop, wherein the coarse tracking loop includes a trajectory generator and a primary control loop to adjust a trajectory generated by the trajectory generator based on a measurement from the one or more capacitive sensors.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2007Publication date: March 27, 2008Applicant: NANOCHIP, INC.Inventors: Robert Stark, Donald Adams
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Patent number: 7336524Abstract: A device in accordance with embodiments of the present invention comprises a contact probe for high density data storage reading, writing, erasing, or rewriting. In one embodiment, the contact probe can include a silicon core having a conductive coating. Contact probes in accordance with the present invention can be applied to a phase change media, for example, to form an indicia in the phase change media by changing the electrical resistivity of a portion of the phase change media.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2005Date of Patent: February 26, 2008Assignee: Nanochip, Inc.Inventor: Thomas F. Rust
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Publication number: 20080023885Abstract: An embodiment of a method for forming a nano-imprint lithography template having very high feature counts includes exposing a sub-template using electron beam lithography, the sub-template including a fraction of the template, transferring a first pattern from the sub-template to the template using nano-imprinting lithography, repositioning the sub-template, and transferring a second pattern from the sub-template to the template using nano-imprinting lithography, wherein the template includes the first pattern and the second pattern.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2006Publication date: January 31, 2008Applicant: NANOCHIP, INC.Inventor: Yevgeny Vasilievich Anoikin
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Publication number: 20080001075Abstract: An embodiment of a probe storage device in accordance with the present invention can include a media frame, a media stage including a media, a suspension arrangement moveably connecting the media stage with the media frame, the suspension arrangement including a suspension, and a tip stage having a tip extending therefrom, the tip stage being arranged so that the media is accessible to the tip. The suspension can comprise a foot fixedly connected with the media frame, a knee, a first flexure connected between the foot and the knee so that the knee is moveable relative to the foot, and a second flexure connected between the media stage and the knee so that the media stage is moveable relative to the knee.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2006Publication date: January 3, 2008Applicant: NANOCHIP, INC.Inventors: Peter David Ascanio, Nickolai Belov
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Publication number: 20070290282Abstract: An embodiment of a micro-mover in accordance with the present invention can include a movable plate hermetically sealed between a top cap wafer and a bottom cap wafer. A magnet disposed on one or both of the cap wafers. The movable plate can include current paths disposed within a magnetic field generated by the magnet, and coaxially with a surface of the movable plate. When current is applied to the current paths, the movable plate is urged some distance within a gap between the movable plate and a stationary portion disposed co-planar with the movable plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2006Publication date: December 20, 2007Applicant: NANOCHIP, INC.Inventors: Nickolai Belov, Peter David Ascanio, Donald Edward Adams
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Publication number: 20070291623Abstract: An embodiment of a probe storage device in accordance with the present invention can include an electrostatic actuator for controlling the z-position of a cantilever having a contact probe tip extending therefrom. The electrostatic actuator can comprise two electrodes: the cantilever and a conductive portion in overlapping proximity to the cantilever. By controlling the z-position of the cantilever, the contact probe tip can be selectively engaged and disengaged from a surface of a memory media, thereby allowing the contact probe to selectively read from and/or write to the memory media.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2006Publication date: December 20, 2007Applicant: NANOCHIP, INC.Inventors: Nickolai Belov, Zebulah Nathan Rapp
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Patent number: 7309630Abstract: Systems in accordance with the present invention can include a tip contactable with a media, the media including a substrate and a plurality of cells disposed over the substrate, one or more of the cells being electrically isolated from the other of the cells by a material having insulating properties. One or more of the plurality of cells can include a phase change material. The media is either grounded or electrically connected with a voltage source such that when the tip is placed in contact with the media and a voltage is applied to the tip, a current is drawn through the cell over which the tip is arranged. The current is drawn through the isolated cell at least a portion of the phase change material within the cell beneath the tip is heated to a sufficient temperature such that the material become amorphous in structure. The current is then removed from the phase change material, which is quickly cooled to form an amorphous domain having a resistance representing a “1” (or a “0”).Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2005Date of Patent: December 18, 2007Assignee: Nanochip, Inc.Inventors: Zhaohui Fan, Nickolai Belov
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Patent number: 7301887Abstract: Methods in accordance with the present invention can be applied, in an embodiment, to a media comprising a phase change material to alter a resolved portion of the phase change material to have a resistance different from a resistance of the bulk material. A tip having a substantially larger radius of curvature than the resolved portion can be employed by applying such methods. A substantially anisotropic columnar material can focus a current applied between the tip and the media so that the portion is narrower in width than the radius of curvature. Such highly resolved portions form bits in the media. Other objects, aspects and advantages of the invention can be obtained from reviewing the figures, specification and claims. This description is not intended to be a complete description of, or limit the scope of, the invention.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2004Date of Patent: November 27, 2007Assignee: Nanochip, Inc.Inventors: Thomas F. Rust, Robert N. Stark, Thomas L. Noggle, Daniel F. Cribbs