Patents by Inventor Claude L. Bertin

Claude L. Bertin 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: 7710157
    Abstract: Boolean logic circuits comprising nanotube-based switching elements with multiple controls. The Boolean logic circuits include input and output terminals and a network of nanotube switching elements electrically disposed between said at least one input terminal and said output terminal. Each switching element includes an input node, an output node, and a nanotube channel element having at least one electrically conductive nanotube. A control structure is disposed in relation to the nanotube channel element to controllably form and unform an electrically conductive channel along the nanotube channel element. At least one nanotube switching element non-volatilely retains an informational state and at least one nanotube switching elements volatilely retains an informational state. The network of nanotube switching elements effectuates a Boolean function transformation of Boolean signals on said at least one input terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Nantero, Inc.
    Inventors: Claude L. Bertin, Thomas Rueckes, Brent M. Segal
  • Publication number: 20100078723
    Abstract: Field programmable device (FPD) chips with large logic capacity and field programmability that are in-circuit programmable are described. FPDs use small versatile nonvolatile nanotube switches that enable efficient architectures for dense low power and high performance chip implementations and are compatible with low cost CMOS technologies and simple to integrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: NANTERO, INC.
    Inventors: Claude L. BERTIN, Rinn CLEAVELIN, Thomas RUECKES
  • Publication number: 20100079165
    Abstract: Field programmable device (FPD) chips with large logic capacity and field programmability that are in-circuit programmable are described. FPDs use small versatile nonvolatile nanotube switches that enable efficient architectures for dense low power and high performance chip implementations and are compatible with low cost CMOS technologies and simple to integrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Inventors: Claude L. Bertin, Brent M. Segal
  • Publication number: 20100075467
    Abstract: Non-volatile field effect devices and circuits using same. A non-volatile field effect device includes a source, drain and gate with a field-modulatable channel between the source and drain. Each of the source, drain, and gate have a corresponding terminal. An electromechanically-deflectable, nanotube switching element is electrically positioned between one of the source, drain and gate and its corresponding terminal. The others of the source, drain and gate are directly connected to their corresponding terminals. The nanotube switching element is electromechanically-deflectable in response to electrical stimulation at two control terminals to create one of a non-volatile open and non-volatile closed electrical communication state between the one of the source, drain and gate and its corresponding terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Inventors: Claude L. BERTIN, Thomas RUECKES, John E. BERG
  • Publication number: 20100073031
    Abstract: Boolean logic circuits comprising nanotube-based switching elements with multiple controls. The Boolean logic circuits include input and output terminals and a network of nanotube switching elements electrically disposed between said at least one input terminal and said output terminal. Each switching element includes an input node, an output node, and a nanotube channel element having at least one electrically conductive nanotube. A control structure is disposed in relation to the nanotube channel element to controllably form and unform an electrically conductive channel along the nanotube channel element. At least one nanotube switching element non-volatilely retains an informational state and at least one nanotube switching elements volatilely retains an informational state. The network of nanotube switching elements effectuates a Boolean function transformation of Boolean signals on said at least one input terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Inventors: Claude L. Bertin, Thomas Rueckes, Brent M. Segal
  • Publication number: 20100072459
    Abstract: Field programmable device (FPD) chips with large logic capacity and field programmability that are in-circuit programmable are described. FPDs use small versatile nonvolatile nanotube switches that enable efficient architectures for dense low power and high performance chip implementations and are compatible with low cost CMOS technologies and simple to integrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: NANTERO, INC.
    Inventors: Claude L. BERTIN, Thomas RUECKES, H. M. MANNING
  • Publication number: 20100072042
    Abstract: Under one aspect, a covered nanotube switch includes: (a) a nanotube element including an unaligned plurality of nanotubes, the nanotube element having a top surface, a bottom surface, and side surfaces; (b) first and second terminals in contact with the nanotube element, wherein the first terminal is disposed on and substantially covers the entire top surface of the nanotube element, and wherein the second terminal contacts at least a portion of the bottom surface of the nanotube element; and (c) control circuitry capable of applying electrical stimulus to the first and second terminals. The nanotube element can switch between a plurality of electronic states in response to a corresponding plurality of electrical stimuli applied by the control circuitry to the first and second terminals. For each different electronic state, the nanotube element provides an electrical pathway of different resistance between the first and second terminals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Inventors: Claude L. Bertin, X. M. H. Huang, Thomas Rueckes, Ramesh Sivarajan
  • Publication number: 20100072957
    Abstract: Nanotube based logic driver circuits. These include pull-up driver circuits, push-pull driver circuits, tristate driver circuits, among others. Under one embodiment, an off-chip driver circuit includes a differential input having first and second signal links, each coupled to a respective one of two differential, on-chip signals. At least one output link is connectable to an off-chip impedance load, and at least one switching element has an input node, an output node, a nanotube channel element, and a control structure disposed in relation to the nanotube channel element to controllably form and unform an electrically conductive channel between said input node and said output node. The input node is coupled to a reference signal and the control structure is coupled to the first and second signal links. The output node is coupled to the output link, and the channel element is sized to carry sufficient current to drive said off-chip impedance load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Inventor: Claude L. Bertin
  • Publication number: 20100038625
    Abstract: Field programmable device (FPD) chips with large logic capacity and field programmability that are in-circuit programmable are described. FPDs use small versatile nonvolatile nanotube switches that enable efficient architectures for dense low power and high performance chip implementations and are compatible with low cost CMOS technologies and simple to integrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: NANTERO, INC.
    Inventor: Claude L. BERTIN
  • Publication number: 20100039138
    Abstract: Field programmable device (FPD) chips with large logic capacity and field programmability that are in-circuit programmable are described. FPDs use small versatile nonvolatile nanotube switches that enable efficient architectures for dense low power and high performance chip implementations and are compatible with low cost CMOS technologies and simple to integrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: NANTERO, INC.
    Inventor: Claude L. BERTIN
  • Patent number: 7663911
    Abstract: Nanotube-based switching elements and logic circuits. Under one embodiment of the invention, a switching element includes an input node, an output node, a nanotube channel element having at least one electrically conductive nanotube, and a control electrode. The control electrode is disposed in relation to the nanotube channel element to controllably form an electrically conductive channel between the input node and the output node. The channel at least includes said nanotube channel element. The output node is constructed and arranged so that channel formation is substantially unaffected by the electrical state of the output node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Nantero, Inc.
    Inventors: Claude L. Bertin, Thomas Rueckes, Brent M. Segal
  • Publication number: 20100025659
    Abstract: Under one aspect, a field effect device includes a gate, a source, and a drain, with a conductive channel between the source and the drain; and a nanotube switch having a corresponding control terminal, said nanotube switch being positioned to control electrical conduction through said conductive channel. Under another aspect, a field effect device includes a gate having a corresponding gate terminal; a source having a corresponding source terminal; a drain having a corresponding drain terminal; a control terminal; and a nanotube switching element positioned between one of the gate, source, and drain and its corresponding terminal and switchable, in response to electrical stimuli at the control terminal and at least one of the gate, source, and drain terminals, between a first non-volatile state that enables current flow between the source and the drain and a second non-volatile state that disables current flow between the source and the drain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: Nantero, Inc.
    Inventors: CLAUDE L. BERTIN, THOMAS RUECKES, BRENT M. SEGAL, BERNHARD VOGELI, DARREN K. BROCK, VENKATACHALAM C. JAIPRAKASH
  • Publication number: 20100022045
    Abstract: Sensor platforms and methods of making them are described. A platform having a non-horizontally oriented sensor element comprising one or more nanostructures such as nanotubes is described. Under certain embodiments, a sensor element has or is made to have an affinity for an analyte. Under certain embodiments, such a sensor element comprises one or more pristine nanotubes. Under certain embodiments, the sensor element comprises derivatized or functionalized nanotubes. Under certain embodiments, a sensor is made by providing a support structure; providing one or more nanotubes on the structure to provide material for a sensor element; and providing circuitry to electrically sense the sensor element's electrical characterization. Under certain embodiments, the sensor element comprises pre-derivatized or pre-functionalized nanotubes. Under other embodiments, sensor material is derivatized or functionalized after provision on the structure or after patterning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: Nantero, Inc.
    Inventors: BRENT M. SEGAL, THOMAS RUECKES, BERNHARD VOGELI, DARREN K. BROCK, VENKATACHALAM C. JAIPRAKASH, CLAUDE L. BERTIN
  • Patent number: 7652337
    Abstract: Nanotube-based switching elements and logic circuits. Under one aspect, a switching element includes an input node; an output node; a nanotube channel element comprising a ribbon of nanotube fabric; and a control electrode disposed in relation to the nanotube channel element to form an electrically conductive channel between the input node and the output node, wherein the electrically conductive channel at least includes the nanotube channel element. Under another aspect, a switching element includes an input node; an output node; a nanotube channel element comprising at least one electrically conductive nanotube, the nanotube being clamped at both ends by a clamping structure; and a control electrode disposed in relation to the nanotube channel element to form an electrically conductive channel between the input node and the output node, wherein the electrically conductive channel at least includes the nanotube channel element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Nantero, Inc.
    Inventors: Claude L. Bertin, Thomas Rueckes, Brent M. Segal
  • Patent number: 7652342
    Abstract: Nanotube transfer devices controllably form a nanotube-based electrically conductive channel between a first node and a second node under the control of a control structure. A control structure induces a nanotube channel element to deflect so as to form and unform the conductive channel between the nodes. The nanotube channel element is not in permanent electrical contact with either the first node or the second node. The nanotube channel element may have a floating potential in certain states of the device. Each output node may be connected to an arbitrary network of electrical components. The nanotube transfer device may be volatile or non-volatile. In preferred embodiments, the nanotube transfer device is a three-terminal device or a four-terminal device. Electrical circuits are provided that ensure proper switching of nanotube transfer devices interconnected with arbitrary circuits. The circuits may overdrive the control structure to induce the desired state of channel formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Nantero, Inc.
    Inventor: Claude L. Bertin
  • Publication number: 20100012925
    Abstract: Hybrid carbon nanotube FET (CNFET), static ram (SRAM) and method of making same. A static ram memory cell has two cross-coupled semiconductor-type field effect transistors (FETs) and two nanotube FETs (NTFETs), each having a channel region made of at least one semiconductive nanotube, a first NTFET connected to the drain or source of the first semiconductor-type FET and the second NTFET connected to the drain or source of the second semiconductor-type FET.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: NANTERO, INC.
    Inventors: Claude L. BERTIN, Mitchell MEINHOLD, Steven L. KONSEK, Thomas RUECKES, Frank GUO
  • Patent number: 7649769
    Abstract: Circuit arrays having cells with combinations of transistors and nanotube switches. Under one embodiment, cells are arranged as pairs with the nanotube switching elements of the pair being cross coupled so that the set electrode of one nanotube switching element is coupled to the release electrode of the other and the release electrode of the one nanotube switching element being coupled to the set electrode of the other. The nanotube articles are coupled to the reference line, and the source of one field effect transistor of a pair is coupled to the set electrode to one of the two nanotube switching elements and the source of the other field effect transistor of the pair is coupled to the release electrode to the one of the two nanotube switching elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Nantero, Inc.
    Inventors: Claude L. Bertin, Thomas Rueckes, Brent M. Segal, Frank Guo
  • Publication number: 20100005645
    Abstract: Random access memory including nanotube switching elements. A memory cell includes first and second nanotube switching elements and an electronic memory. Each nanotube switching element includes conductive terminals, a nanotube article and control circuitry capable of controllably form and unform an electrically conductive channel between the conductive terminals. The electronic memory is a volatile storage device capable of storing a logic state in response to electrical stimulus. In certain embodiment the electronic memory has cross-coupled first and second inverters in electrical communication with the first and second nanotube switching elements. The cell can operate as a normal electronic memory, or can operate in a shadow memory or store mode (e.g., when power is interrupted) to transfer the electronic memory state to the nanotube switching elements. The device may later be operated in a recall mode where the state of the nanotube switching elements may be transferred to the electronic memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Inventors: Claude L. Bertin, Thomas Rueckes, Brent M. Segal
  • Publication number: 20100001267
    Abstract: NRAM arrays with nanotube blocks, traces and planes, and methods of making the same are disclosed. In some embodiments, a nanotube memory array includes a nanotube fabric layer disposed in electrical communication with first and second conductor layers. A memory operation circuit including a circuit for generating and applying a select signal on first and second conductor layers to induce a change in the resistance of the nanotube fabric layer between the first and second conductor layers is provided. At least two adjacent memory cells are formed in at least two selected cross sections of the nanotube fabric and conductor layers such that each memory cell is uniquely addressable and programmable. For each cell, a change in resistance corresponds to a change in an informational state of the memory cell. Some embodiments include bit lines, word lines, and reference lines. In some embodiments, 6F2 memory cell density is achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Applicant: NANTERO, INC.
    Inventors: H.M. MANNING, Thomas RUECKES, Claude L. BERTIN, Jonathan W. WARD, Garo DERDERIAN
  • Publication number: 20090315011
    Abstract: Nanotube device structures and methods of fabrication. A method of making a nanotube switching element includes forming a first structure having at a first output electrode; forming second structure having a second output electrode; forming a conductive article having at least one nanotube, the article having first and second ends; positioning the conductive article between said first and second structures such that the first structure clamps the first and second ends of the article to the second structure, and such that the first and second output electrodes are opposite each other with the article positioned therebetween; providing at least one signal electrode in electrical communication with the conductive article; and providing at least one control electrode in spaced relation to the conductive article such that the control electrode may control the conductive article to form a conductive pathway between the signal electrode and the first output electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Inventors: Claude L. BERTIN, Thomas RUECKES, Brent M. SEGAL