Patents by Inventor William E. Ford

William E. Ford 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).

  • Publication number: 20090178559
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of solubilizing carbon nanotubes, to carbon nanotubes produced thereby and to uses of said carbon nanotubes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: Sony Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: William E. FORD, Jurina Wessels, Akio Yasuda
  • Patent number: 7531157
    Abstract: A method of solubilizing carbon nanotubes. Carbon nanotubes, and urea are mixed together and then heated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: William E. Ford, Jurina Wessels, Akio Yasuda
  • Publication number: 20080280110
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of activating a silicon surface for subsequent patterning of molecules onto said surface, and to patterns produced by this method, and further to uses of said pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Applicant: SONY INTERNATIONAL (EUROPE)
    Inventors: Jurina Wessels, William E. Ford, Akio Yasuda
  • Patent number: 7427477
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of activating a silicon surface for subsequent patterning of molecules onto said surface, and to patterns produced by this method, and further to uses of said pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Jurina Wessels, William E. Ford, Akio Yasuda
  • Patent number: 7276172
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing a nanowire crossbar structure, comprising: (a) providing a substrate; (b) depositing thereon a composite structure comprising a nucleic acid-block copolymer having equidistant nucleic acid-catalyst binding sites and at least one catalyst nanoparticle functionalized to bind specifically to nucleic acid segments of the copolymer; (c) applying a directed gas flow and/or an alternating electric field onto the composite structure; and (d) applying chemical vapor deposition techniques, a use of such a structure and a structure obtainable by such a method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Jurina Wessels, William E. Ford, Akio Yasuda
  • Patent number: 7211439
    Abstract: The invention relates to a nanoparticle film comprising a nanoparticle network formed of nanoparticles interlinked by linker molecules. The linker molecules have at least two linker units that can bind to the surface of the nanoparticles. By introducing selectivity-enhancing units in the linker molecule, the selectivity of the nanoparticle film towards target analytes can be enhanced. A fine-tuning of the selectivity can be achieved by including a fine-tuning unit in the vicinity of the selectivity-enhancing unit. The nanoparticle film can be used to produce chemical sensors which are selective and stable in their performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Tobias Vossmeyer, Isabelle Besnard, Jurina Wessels, William E. Ford, Akio Yasuda
  • Patent number: 6888150
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for defect and conductivity engineering of an individual part in a conducting nanoscaled structure by generating heat-induced migration, melting, sputtering and/or evaporation of conductive material of the nanoscaled structure by directing a focussed electron beam on this individual part of the structure to be engineered. The invention further relates to the use of a secondary electron microscope having a filter for detecting back scattered electrons for such a method and a respective secondary electron microscope having such a filter for detecting back scattered electrons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Sony International (Europe) GmbH
    Inventors: Oliver Harnack, Jurina Wessels, William E. Ford, Akio Yasuda
  • Patent number: 6884587
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the metallization of nucleic acids, comprising providing tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphine-Au (THP-Au) particles or derivatives thereof, binding said THP-Au particles to a nucleic acid to produce a metal nanoparticle-nucleic acid composite, and treatment of the metal nanoparticle-nucleic acid composite with an electroless plating solution. The invention further relates to a metallized nucleic acid obtainable according to such a method and a nanowire including a method for the manufacture of a nanowire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Sony International (Europe) GmbH
    Inventors: William E. Ford, Jurina Wessels, Oliver Harnack, Akio Yasuda
  • Patent number: 6811980
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for immobilization of nucleic acid molecules on a substrate, wherein the substrate is treated with atomic oxygen plasma prior to immobilizing the nucleic acid molecules thereon. The invention is further related to immobilized nucleic acid molecules and uses thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Sony International (Europe) GmbH
    Inventors: William E. Ford, Jurina Wessels, Oliver Harnack
  • Publication number: 20040028812
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing a nanowire crossbar structure, comprising: (a) providing a substrate; (b) depositing thereon a composite structure comprising a nucleic acid-block copolymer having equidistant nucleic acid-catalyst binding sites and at least one catalyst nanoparticle functionalized to bind specifically to nucleic acid segments of the copolymer; (c) applying a directed gas flow and/or an alternating electric field onto the composite structure; and (d) applying chemical vapor deposition techniques, a use of such a structure and a structure obtainable by such a method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventors: Jurina Wessels, William E. Ford, Akio Yasuda
  • Publication number: 20040023287
    Abstract: The present invention is related to a method of attaching hydrophilic species to hydrophilic macromolecules and immobilizing the hydrophilic macromolecules on a hydrophobic surface, to a nano-assembly and to uses of the nano-assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Inventors: Oliver Harnack, William E. Ford, Jurina Wessels, Akio Yasuda
  • Publication number: 20030178580
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for defect and conductivity engineering of an individual part in a conducting nanoscaled structure by generating heat-induced migration, melting, sputtering and/or evaporation of conductive material of the nanoscaled structure by directing a focussed electron beam on this individual part of the structure to be engineered. The invention further relates to the use of a secondary electron microscope having a filter for detecting back scattered electrons for such a method and a respective secondary electron microscope having such a filter for detecting back scattered electrons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2002
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventors: Oliver Harnack, Jurina Wessels, William E. Ford, Akio Yasuda
  • Publication number: 20030027195
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the metallisation of nucleic acids, comprising providing tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphine-Au (THP-Au) particles or derivatives thereof, binding said THP-Au particles to a nucleic acid to produce a metal nanoparticle-nucleic acid composite, and treatment of the metal nanoparticle-nucleic acid composite with an electroless plating solution. The invention further relates to a metallized nucleic acid obtainable according to such a method and a nanowire including a method for the manufacture of a nanowire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Inventors: William E. Ford, Jurina Wessels, Oliver Harnack, Akio Yasuda
  • Publication number: 20020132361
    Abstract: The invention relates to a nanoparticle film comprising a nanoparticle network formed of nanoparticles interlinked by linker molecules. The linker molecules have at least two linker units that can bind to the surface of the nanoparticles. By introducing selectivity-enhancing units in the linker molecule, the selectivity of the nanoparticle film towards target analytes can be enhanced. A fine-tuning of the selectivity can be achieved by including a fine-tuning unit in the vicinity of the selectivity-enhancing unit. The nanoparticle film can be used to produce chemical sensors which are selective and stable in their performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Publication date: September 19, 2002
    Inventors: Tobias Vossmeyer, Isabelle Besnard, Jurina Wessels, William E. Ford, Akio Yasuda
  • Publication number: 20020091245
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for immobilization of nucleic acid molecules on a substrate, wherein the substrate is treated with atomic oxygen plasma prior to immobilizing the nucleic acid molecules thereon. The invention is further related to immobilized nucleic acid molecules and uses thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2001
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Inventors: William E. Ford, Jurina Wessels, Oliver Harnack