Patents by Inventor James R. Heath

James R. Heath 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: 7169696
    Abstract: A system and method for selecting nanometer-scaled devices. The method includes a plurality of semiconductor wires. Two adjacent semiconductor wires of the plurality of semiconductor wires are associated with a separation smaller than or equal to 100 nm. Additionally, the system includes a plurality of address lines. Each of the plurality of address lines includes a gate region and an inactive region and intersects the plurality of semiconductor wires at a plurality of intersections. The plurality of intersections includes a first intersection and second intersection. The first intersection is associated with the gate region, and the second intersection is associated with the inactive region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: James R. Heath, Yi Luo, Rob Beckman
  • Patent number: 7161168
    Abstract: Fabrication of metallic or non-metallic wires with nanometer widths and nanometer separation distances without the use of lithography. Wires are created in a two-step process involving forming the wires at the desired dimensions and transferring them to a planar substrate. The dimensions and separation of the wires are determined by the thicknesses of alternating layers of different materials that are in the form of a superlattice. Wires are created by evaporating the desired material onto the superlattice that has been selectively etched to provide height contrast between layers. The wires thus formed upon one set of superlattice layers are then transferred to a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: James R. Heath, Pierre M. Petroff, Nicholas A. Melosh
  • Patent number: 6979639
    Abstract: Methods for making electronic devices where a molecular monolayer or multilayer is sandwiched between top and bottom electrodes at electrode intersections. The molecular layer has an electrical characteristic such as bistable switching. A layer of electrically conductive material is used to protect the molecular layer during formation of the top electrode pattern. The electrically conductive material remains sandwiched between the top and bottom electrodes at the electrode intersections in the final electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignees: California Institute of Technology, Hewlett-Packard Development Co., L.P.
    Inventors: James R. Heath, Charles P. Collier, Yi Luo, Erica DeIonno, Patricia A. Beck
  • Patent number: 6903366
    Abstract: A route to the fabrication of electronic devices is provided, in which the devices consist of two crossed wires sandwiching an electrically addressable molecular species. The approach is extremely simple and inexpensive to implement, and scales from wire dimensions of several micrometers down to nanometer-scale dimensions. The device of the present invention can be used to produce crossbar switch arrays, logic devices, memory devices, and communication and signal routing devices. The present invention enables construction of molecular electronic devices on a length scale than can range from micrometers to nanometers via a straightforward and inexpensive chemical assembly procedure. The device is either partially or completely chemically assembled, and the key to the scaling is that the location of the devices on the substrate are defined once the devices have been assembled, not prior to assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: James R. Heath, R. Stanley Williams, Philip J. Kuekes
  • Patent number: 6846682
    Abstract: A route to the fabrication of electronic devices is provided, in which the devices consist of two crossed wires sandwiching an electrically addressable molecular species. The approach is extremely simple and inexpensive to implement, and scales from wire dimensions of several micrometers down to nanometer-scale dimensions. The device of the present invention can be used to produce crossbar switch arrays, logic devices, memory devices, and communication and signal routing devices. The present invention enables construction of molecular electronic devices on a length scale than can range from micrometers to nanometers via a straightforward and inexpensive chemical assembly procedure. The device is either partially or completely chemically assembled, and the key to the scaling is that the location of the devices on the substrate are defined once the devices have been assembled, not prior to assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: James R. Heath, R. Stanley Williams, Philip J. Kuekes
  • Publication number: 20040175595
    Abstract: Methods for making electronic devices where a molecular monolayer or multilayer is sandwiched between top and bottom electrodes at electrode intersections. The molecular layer has an electrical characteristic such as bistable switching. A layer of electrically conductive material is used to protect the molecular layer during formation of the top electrode pattern. The electrically conductive material remains sandwiched between the top and bottom electrodes at the electrode intersections in the final electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2004
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Applicant: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: James R. Heath, Charles P. Collier, Yi Luo, Erica DeIonno, Patricia A. Beck
  • Patent number: 6756296
    Abstract: Methods for making electronic devices where a molecular monolayer or multilayer is sandwiched between top and bottom electrodes at electrode intersections. The molecular layer has an electrical characteristic such as bistable switching. A layer of electrically conductive material is used to protect the molecular layer during formation of the top electrode pattern. The electrically conductive material remains sandwiched between the top and bottom electrodes at the electrode intersections in the final electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: James R. Heath, Charles P. Collier, Yi Luo, Erica DeIonno, Patricia A. Beck
  • Publication number: 20040120854
    Abstract: A semi-conductor wafer-based device that is used to suspend biological materials, such as lipid bilayers or single cells, for chemical, electrical and/or optical examination. The wafer has a t least one pore that extends therethrough. The pore is of sufficient size to suspend a lipid bilayer or a cell therein. The surface of the pore is coated with an insulating film to provide an insulating surface to which the lipid bilayer/cell is attached when the lipid bilayer/cell is suspended within the pore. The divice is used to measure the physical properties (e.g., voltage gating) of cells and lipid bilayers that contain biomolecules such as transmembrane proteins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2004
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Inventors: James R Heath, Rigo Pantoja, Francisco Bezanilla, Daniel M Sigg
  • Publication number: 20040093575
    Abstract: A route to the fabrication of electronic devices is provided, in which the devices consist of two crossed wires sandwiching an electrically addressable molecular species. The approach is extremely simple and inexpensive to implement, and scales from wire dimensions of several micrometers down to nanometer-scale dimensions. The device of the present invention can be used to produce crossbar switch arrays, logic devices, memory devices, and communication and signal routing devices. The present invention enables construction of molecular electronic devices on a length scale than can range from micrometers to nanometers via a straightforward and inexpensive chemical assembly procedure. The device is either partially or completely chemically assembled, and the key to the scaling is that the location of the devices on the substrate are defined once the devices have been assembled, not prior to assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Inventors: James R. Heath, R. Stanley Williams, Philip J. Kuekes
  • Publication number: 20030108728
    Abstract: Methods for making electronic devices where a molecular monolayer or multilayer is sandwiched between top and bottom electrodes at electrode intersections. The molecular layer has an electrical characteristic such as bistable switching. A layer of electrically conductive material is used to protect the molecular layer during formation of the top electrode pattern. The electrically conductive material remains sandwiched between the top and bottom electrodes at the electrode intersections in the final electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: James R. Heath, Charles P. Collier, Yi Luo, Erica Deionno, Patricia A. Beck
  • Patent number: 6459095
    Abstract: A route to the fabrication of electronic devices is provided, in which the devices consist of two crossed wires sandwiching an electrically addressable molecular species. The approach is extremely simple and inexpensive to implement, and scales from wire dimensions of several micrometers down to nanometer-scale dimensions. The device of the present invention can be used to produce crossbar switch arrays, logic devices, memory devices, and communication and signal routing devices. The present invention enables construction of molecular electronic devices on a length scale than can range from micrometers to nanometers via a straightforward and inexpensive chemical assembly procedure. The device is either partially or completely chemically assembled, and the key to the scaling is that the location of the devices on the substrate are defined once the devices have been assembled, not prior to assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: James R. Heath, R. Stanley Williams, Philip J. Kuekes
  • Publication number: 20010054709
    Abstract: A route to the fabrication of electronic devices is provided, in which the devices consist of two crossed wires sandwiching an electrically addressable molecular species. The approach is extremely simple and inexpensive to implement, and scales from wire dimensions of several micrometers down to nanometer-scale dimensions. The device of the present invention can be used to produce crossbar switch arrays, logic devices, memory devices, and communication and signal routing devices. The present invention enables construction of molecular electronic devices on a length scale than can range from micrometers to nanometers via a straightforward and inexpensive chemical assembly procedure. The device is either partially or completely chemically assembled, and the key to the scaling is that the location of the devices on the substrate are defined once the devices have been assembled, not prior to assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2001
    Publication date: December 27, 2001
    Inventors: James R. Heath, R. Stanley Williams, Philip J. Kuekes
  • Patent number: 6314019
    Abstract: A molecular-wire crossbar interconnect for signal routing and communications between a first level and a second level in a molecular-wire crossbar is provided. The molecular wire crossbar comprises a two-dimensional array of a plurality of nanometer-scale switches. Each switch is reconfigurable and self-assembling and comprises a pair of crossed wires which form a junction where one wire crosses another and at least one connector species connecting the pair of crossed wires in the junction. The connector species comprises a bi-stable molecule. Each level comprises at least one group of switches and each group of switches comprises at least one switch, with each group in the first level connected to all other groups in the second level in an all-to-all configuration to provide a scalable, defect-tolerant, fat-tree networking scheme. The primary advantage is ease of fabrication, because an active switch is formed any time two wires cross.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Philip J. Kuekes, R. Stanley Williams, James R. Heath
  • Patent number: 6159620
    Abstract: A single-electron solid state electronic device is characterized by organically functionalized nanometer size metal and metal alloy nanocrystal active elements. The electronic behavior of the device is distinguished by single electron charging phenomena, displaying characteristic Coulomb Blockade and Coulomb Staircase signatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: James R. Heath, Daniel V. Leff, Gil Markovich
  • Patent number: 6128214
    Abstract: A molecular wire crossbar memory (MWCM) system is provided. The MWCM comprises a two-dimensional array of a plurality of nanometer-scale devices, each device comprising a junction formed by a pair of crossed wires where one wire crosses another and at least one connector species connecting the pair of crossed wires in the junction. The connector species comprises a bi-stable molecular switch. The junction forms either a resistor or a diode or an asymmetric non-linear resistor. The junction has a state that is capable of being altered by application of a first voltage and sensed by application of a second, non-destructive voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard
    Inventors: Philip J. Kuekes, R. Stanley Williams, James R. Heath
  • Patent number: 6103868
    Abstract: Organically functionalized metal nanoparticles are produced by mixing a metal precursor with an organic surface passivant and reacting the resulting mixture with a reducing agent to generate free metal while binding the passivant to the surface of the free metal to produce organically functionalized metal particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: James R. Heath, Daniel V. Leff