Abstract: An assembly for monitoring an environment includes a RFID tag and a sensing unit. The sensing unit is configured to be activated by a RF signal received by the RFID tag and to sense information regarding an environment.

Abstract: A multi-tiered network for gathering detected condition information includes a first tier having first tier nodes and a second tier having a second tier node. The second tier node is operable to receive detected condition information from at least one of the first tier nodes in a substantially autonomous manner. In addition, the second tier node is operable to at least one of store, process, and transmit the detected condition information. The network also includes a third tier having a third tier node configured to receive the detected condition information and to at least one of store and process the detected condition information.

Abstract: A photonic interconnect method avoids high capacitance electric interconnects by using optical signals to communicate data between devices. The method can provide massively parallel information output by mapping logical addresses to frequency bands, so that modulation of a selected frequency band can encode information for a specific location corresponding to the logical address. Wavelength-specific directional couplers, modulators, and detectors, which can be fabricated at defects in a photonic bandgap crystal, can be employed for the photonic interconnect method. The interconnect method can be used for both classical and quantum information processing.

Abstract: A photonic interconnect system avoids high capacitance electric interconnects by using optical signals to communicate data between devices. The system can provide massively parallel information output by mapping logical addresses to frequency bands, so that modulation of a selected frequency band can encode information for a specific location corresponding to the logical address. Wavelength-specific directional couplers, modulators, and detectors for the photonic interconnect system can be efficiently fabricated at defects in a photonic bandgap crystal. The interconnect system can be used for both classical and quantum information processing.

Abstract: A photonic interconnect system avoids high capacitance electric interconnects by using optical signals to communicate data between devices. The system can provide massively parallel information output by mapping logical addresses to frequency bands, so that modulation of a selected frequency band can encode information for a specific location corresponding to the logical address. The system comprises a first device containing a plurality of locations that are separately accessible and a plurality of optical decoders respectively associated with the locations; a second device that generates a logical address identifying a selected one of the locations in the first device; a converter capable of activating each of a plurality of components of an optical signal; and an optical path from the converter to each of the locations. The system can be used for both classical and quantum information processing.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to crossbar array designs that interfaces wires to address wires, despite misalignments between electrical components and wires. In one embodiment, a nanoscale device may be composed of a first layer of two or more wires and a second layer of two or more address wires that overlays the first layer. The nanoscale device may also include an intermediate layer positioned between the first layer and the second layer. Two or more redundant electrical component patterns may be fabricated within the intermediate layer so that one or more of the electrical component patterns is aligned with the first and second layers.

Abstract: An embodiment of an integrated circuit comprises active components in more than one active layer. A first conductor in one active layer is operative to produce a static electric field that controls a first active element in an adjacent active layer.

Abstract: A radiation-emitting device includes a nanowire that is structurally and electrically coupled to a first electrode and a second electrode. The nanowire includes a double-heterostructure semiconductor device configured to emit electromagnetic radiation when a voltage is applied between the electrodes. A device includes a nanowire having an active longitudinal segment selectively disposed at a predetermined location within a resonant cavity that is configured to resonate at least one wavelength of electromagnetic radiation emitted by the segment within a range extending from about 300 nanometers to about 2,000 nanometers. Active nanoparticles are precisely positioned in resonant cavities by growing segments of nanowires at known growth rates for selected amounts of time.

Abstract: A switching device includes at least one bottom electrode and at least one top electrode. The top electrode crosses the bottom electrode at a non-zero angle, thereby forming a junction. A metal oxide layer is established on at least one of the bottom electrode or the top electrode. A molecular layer including a monolayer of organic molecules and a source of water molecules is established in the junction. Upon introduction of a forward bias, the molecular layer facilitates a redox reaction between the electrodes, thereby reducing a tunneling gap between the electrodes.

Abstract: Techniques for rich color image processing are disclosed. The techniques include using an array of tunable optical filter elements to define pixels of an image. The tunable optical filter elements are tuned over a range of optical frequencies to control the color filtering of the individual pixels. Exemplary embodiments for image capture and projection are illustrated.

Abstract: Reconfigurable logic devices and methods of programming the devices are disclosed. The logic device includes a look-up table (LUT) and at least one storage element configured for sampling LUT output signals. The LUT comprises a plurality of input signals, an array of programmable impedance devices operably coupled to the input signals, and the LUT output signals. Each programmable impedance device in the array includes a first electrode operably coupled to one of the input signal, a second electrode disposed to form a junction wherein the second electrode at least partially overlaps the first electrode, and a programmable material disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The programmable material operably couples the first electrode and the second electrode such that each programmable impedance device exhibits a non-volatile programmable impedance. The array may be configured as a one-dimensional or two-dimensional array.

Abstract: A sensor includes traps that are adjacent to a waveguide and capable of holding a contaminant for an interaction with an evanescent field surrounding the waveguide. When held in a trap, a particle of the contaminant, which may be an atom, a molecule, a virus, or a microbe, scatters light from the waveguide, and the scattered light can be measured to detect the presence or concentration of the contaminant. Holding of the particles permits sensing of the contaminant in a gas where movement of the particles might otherwise be too fast to permit measurement of the interaction with the evanescent field. The waveguide, a lighting system for the waveguide, a photosensor, and a communications interface can all be fabricated on a semiconductor die to permit fabrication of an autonomous nanosensor capable of suspension in the air or a gas being sensed.

Abstract: A control layer for use in a junction of a nanoscale electronic switching device is disclosed. The control layer includes a material that is chemically compatible with a connecting layer and at least one electrode in the nanoscale switching device. The control layer is adapted to control at least one of electrochemical reaction paths, electrophysical reaction paths, and combinations thereof during operation of the device.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is an array of nanoscale latches interconnected by a nanowire bus to form a latch array. Each nanoscale latch in the nanoscale-latch array serves as a nanoscale register, and is driven by a nanoscale control line. Primitive operations for the latch array can be defined as sequences of one or more inputs to one or more of the nanowire data bus and nanoscale control lines. In various latch-array embodiments of the present invention, information can be transferred from one nanoscale latch to another nanoscale latch in a controlled fashion, and sequences of information-transfer operations can be devised to implement arbitrary Boolean logic operations and operators, including NOT, AND, OR, XOR, NOR, NAND, and other such Boolean logic operators and operations, as well as input and output functions.

Abstract: A multi-tiered network for gathering detected condition information includes a first tier having first tier nodes and a second tier having a second tier node. The second tier node is operable to receive detected condition information from at least one of the first tier nodes in a substantially autonomous manner. In addition, the second tier node is operable to at least one of store, process, and transmit the detected condition information. The network also includes a third tier having a third tier node configured to receive the detected condition information and to at least one of store and process the detected condition information.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to crossbar array designs that interfaces wires to address wires, despite misalignments between electrical components and wires. In one embodiment, a nanoscale device may be composed of a first layer of two or more wires and a second layer of two or more address wires that overlays the first layer. The nanoscale device may also include an intermediate layer positioned between the first layer and the second layer. Two or more redundant electrical component patterns may be fabricated within the intermediate layer so that one or more of the electrical component patterns is aligned with the first and second layers.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising an integrated circuit having a plurality of devices each having device characteristics, and a waveguide structure coupled to the integrated circuit, wherein photons provided to the waveguide structure are directed to one or more devices of the plurality of devices and can alter the device characteristics of the device or devices.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a nanoscale shift register that can be used, in certain nanoscale and mixed-scale logic circuits, to distribute an input signal to individual nanowires of the logic circuit. In a described embodiment, the nanoscale shift register includes two series of nanoscale latches, each series controlled by common latch-control signals. Internal latches of each series of latches are alternatively interconnected with a previous latch of the other series and a next latch of the other series by two series of gates, each controlled by a gate signal line.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a molecular device is provided that can act as a finite state machine, such as a logic device or a memory device. The molecular device includes operating molecules having two or more rotors. Each rotor has an electric dipole moment and multiple discrete rotor configurational states. A rotor can be any suitable and effective group that has an electric dipole moment and multiple discrete rotor configurational states. An individual rotor configurational state can be substantially or completely independent of the rotor configurational states of other rotors. The rotor configurational states can be binary. The molecular configurational state of a multi-stable molecule of a device can be ascertained by measuring conductance.

Abstract: A NERS-active structure includes a deformable, active nanoparticle support structure for supporting a first nanoparticle and a second nanoparticle that is disposed proximate the first nanoparticle. The nanoparticles each comprise a NERS-active material. The deformable, active nanoparticle support structure is configured to vary the distance between the first nanoparticle and the second nanoparticle while performing NERS. Various active nanoparticle support structures are disclosed. A NERS system includes such a NERS-active structure, a radiation source for generating radiation scatterable by an analyte located proximate the NERS-active structure, and a radiation detector for detecting Raman scattered radiation scattered by the analyte.