Abstract: An electrochemically-activated optical switch is provided, comprising a molecular system configured between a pair of electrodes. The molecular system includes a moiety that is oxidizable or reducible in the presence of an electric current.

Abstract: Bistable molecules are provided with at least one photosensitive functional group. As thus constituted, the bistable molecules are photopatternable, thereby allowing fabrication of micrometer-scale and nanometer-scale circuits in discrete areas without relying on a top conductor as a mask. The bistable molecules may comprise molecules that undergo redox reactions, such as rotaxanes and catenanes, or may comprise molecules that undergo an electric-field-induced band gap change that causes the molecules, or a portion thereof, to rotate, bend, twist, or otherwise change from a substantially fully conjugated state to a less conjugated state. The change in states in the latter case results in a change in electrical conductivity.

Abstract: An optical sensor is provided, comprising (a) a silicon nanowire of finite length having an electrical contact pad at each end thereof; and (b) a plurality of self-assembled molecules on a surface of the silicon nanowire, the molecules serving to modulate electrical conductivity of the silicon nanowire by either a reversible change in dipole moment of the molecules or by a reversible molecule-assisted electron/energy transfer from the molecules onto the silicon nanowire. Further, a method of making the optical sensor is provided. The concept of molecular self-assembly is applied in attaching functional molecules onto silicon nanowire surfaces, and the requirement of molecule modification (hydroxy group in molecules) is minimal from the point view of synthetic difficulty and compatibility. Self-assembly will produce well-ordered ultra-thin films with strong chemical bonding on a surface that cannot be easily achieved by other conventional methods.

Abstract: A molecular system is provided for nanometer-scale reversible electronic and optical switches, specifically, electric field-activated molecular switches that have an electric field induced band gap change that occurs via a molecular conformation change or a tautomerization. Changing of extended conjugation via chemical bonding change to change the band gap is accomplished by providing the molecular system with one rotating portion (rotor) and two or more stationary portions (stators), between which the rotor is attached. The molecular system of the present invention has three branches (first, second, and third branches) with one end of each branch connected to a junction unit to form a “Y” configuration. The first and second branches are on one side of the junction unit and the third branch is on the opposite side of the junction unit.

Abstract: Molecular systems are provided for electric field activated switches, such as optical switches. The molecular system has an electric field induced band gap change that occurs via one of the following mechanisms: (1) molecular conformation change; (2) change of extended conjugation via chemical bonding change to change the band gap; or (3) molecular folding or stretching. Nanometer-scale reversible optical switches are thus provided that can be assembled easily to make a variety of optical devices, including optical displays.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for document content publishing, distribution, and display, including a method of doing business. An electronic display includes at least one reusable imaging stratum forming a pixel array of a bi-modal molecular colorant. Preferably, the molecules have bistable orientations. The imaging stratum having a viewing surface and a back surface. Adjacent said back surface is a background stratum. An addressing device is mounted for selectively switching colorant molecules of the imaging stratum between a transparent orientation and a color-exhibiting orientation. The present invention is adaptable to reflective light, back lit, and projection implementations.

Abstract: An electrochemically-activated optical switch is provided, comprising a molecular system configured between a pair of electrodes. The molecular system includes a moiety that is oxidizable or reducible in the presence of an electric current.

Abstract: An electrochromic molecular colorant and a plurality of uses as an erasably writeable medium. Multitudinous types of substrates, such as paper, are adaptable for receiving a coating of the colorant. Electrical fringe field or through fields are used to transform targeted pixel molecules between a first, high color state and transparent state, providing information content having resolution and viewability at least equal to hard copy document print. The scope of the invention includes both the liquid coating and the combination of coating on substrate.

Abstract: A molecular light valve controlled color display. The display is formed through a layer of such molecules between a crossbar array of transparent electrodes, the crossbar intersections forming addressable pixels. A rapid sequencing of primary colors is controlled by molecular light valves congruent with display pixels. Native display resolution for a full gamut of colors is maintained for each pixel via a temporally distributed color pixel scheme. Both still and motion images can be displayed. Molecular valves, or switches, transition between two optically distinct states, e.g., transparent and black.

Abstract: A molecular system is provided for electric field activated switches, such as a crossed-wire device or a pair of electrodes to which the molecular system is linked by linking moieties. The crossed-wire device comprises a pair of crossed wires that form a junction where one wire crosses another at an angle other than zero degrees and at least one connector species connecting the pair of crossed wires in the junction. The connector species comprises the molecular system, which has an electric field induced band gap change, and thus a change in its electrical conductivity, that occurs via one a molecular conformation change, based on a rotor/stator construction of the molecular system, involving a rotating portion (rotor) connected between to stationary portions (stators). Nanometer-scale reversible electronic switches are thus provided that can be assembled easily to make cross-bar circuits, which provide memory, logic, and communication functions.

Abstract: An electronic writing instrument for rewritable electronic writing surfaces. A self-powered, untethered, pencil-like instrument uses a perpendicular fringe field for changing the orientation of pixels composed of bistable, bichromal colorant elements. An appendix hereto describes bistable, bichromal, molecular colorant.

Abstract: A molecular system is provided for electric field activated switches, such as optical switches. The molecular system has an electric field induced band gap change that occurs via a molecular conformation change, based on a rotor/stator construction of the molecular system, involving a rotating portion (rotor) connected between two stationary portions (stators). Nanometer-scale reversible optical switches are thus provided that can be assembled easily to make a variety of optical devices, including optical displays.

Abstract: Ceramic pigment-based, chemically-modified porous coatings can be used for enhancing image permanence of ink-jet image printing. Specifically, a porous coated media sheet, comprising a media substrate, having a porous coating coated thereon comprising a modified ceramic pigment including a fixer group and a stabilizer group, each covalently attached to the ceramic pigment is disclosed. Additionally, a method and system for preparing permanent ink-jet images is also provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating a position information signal for the head of a hard disk drive. The disk has a track which contains a plurality of servo bursts that allow the head to be centered with the centerline of the track. The servo bursts are first sensed and an upper and a lower threshold values, based on the values of servo bursts, are generated. A position error signal based on the upper and lower threshold and the values of the servo bursts are generated and stored in a memory device.

Abstract: A molecular system is provided for electric field activated switches, such as optical switches. The molecular system has an electric field induced band gap change that occurs via a molecular conformation change, based on a rotor/stator construction of the molecular system, involving a rotating portion (rotor) connected between two stationary portions (stators). Nanometer-scale reversible optical switches are thus provided that can be assembled easily to make a variety of optical devices, including optical displays.

Abstract: A molecular system is provided for electric field activated switches, such as a crossed-wire device or a pair of electrodes to which the molecular system is linked by linking moieties. The crossed-wire device comprises a pair of crossed wires that form a junction where one wire crosses another at an angle other than zero degrees and at least one connector species connecting the pair of crossed wires in the junction. The connector species comprises the molecular system, which has an electric field induced band gap change, and thus a change in its electrical conductivity, that occurs via one a molecular conformation change, based on a rotor/stator construction of the molecular system, involving a rotating portion (rotor) connected between to stationary portions (stators). Nanometer-scale reversible electronic switches are thus provided that can be assembled easily to make cross-bar circuits, which provide memory, logic, and communication functions.

Abstract: A laser printing system for imaging using plain paper, rewritable media, or both. The rewritable media employs a molecular colorant. The rewritable media is brought into contact with an electrical charge deposited on the surface of a photoconductor drum or belt. Field generated cause the molecules of the colorant to change state to develop the desired text or print image.

Abstract: A molecular light valve mechanism is used for imaging on an adjacent pixel-patterned construct. An electrical fringe field or through field is used to transform targeted pixels by switching light valve molecules between a first non-transparent state and transparent state, providing information content on the adjacent pixel-patterned imaging layer.

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 electronic devices can be used to produce crossbar switch arrays, logic devices, memory devices, and communication and signal routing devices. The construction of molecular electronic devices is achieved on a length scale than can range from micrometers to nanometers via a straightforward and inexpensive chemical assembly procedure. The molecular switchable devices in the cross-bar geometry are configurable while the conformational change is controlled by intramolecular forces that are stronger than hydrogen bonding.

Abstract: Bistable molecules are provided with at least one photosensitive functional group. As thus constituted, the bistable molecules are photopatternable, thereby allowing fabrication of micrometer-scale and nanometer-scale circuits in discrete areas without relying on a top conductor as a mask. The bistable molecules may comprise molecules that undergo redox reactions, such as rotaxanes and catenanes, or may comprise molecules that undergo an electric-field-induced band gap change that causes the molecules, or a portion thereof, to rotate, bend, twist, or otherwise change from a substantially fully conjugated state to a less conjugated state. The change in states in the latter case results in a change in electrical conductivity.