Devices Having Flexible Or Movable Element Patents (Class 977/724)
  • Patent number: 8901247
    Abstract: This disclosure discloses novel responsive polymers that comprise a rod segment and (or) a coil segment. This disclosure also discloses nanomaterial-polymer composite comprising the responsive polymers that are covalently linked with nanomaterials. Also disclosed are polymeric transducer materials and sensor systems that comprise the nanomaterial-polymer composite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Jennifer Lu, Shuhuai Xiang
  • Patent number: 8895105
    Abstract: A method of growing carbon nanomaterials on a substrate wherein the substrate is exposed to an oxidizing gas; a seed material is deposited on the substrate to form a receptor for a catalyst on the surface of said substrate; a catalyst is deposited on the seed material by exposing the receptor on the surface of the substrate to a vapor of the catalyst; and substrate is subjected to chemical vapor deposition in a carbon containing gas to grow carbon nanomaterial on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: University of Dayton
    Inventors: Khalid Lafdi, Lingchuan Li, Matthew C. Boehle, Alexandre Lagounov
  • Patent number: 8857275
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, device, and method provide the ability to measure forces a cell exerts on its surroundings. A platform is suspended across an opening using support legs. The platform is able to move horizontally in a plane of the opening. A piezoresistive strain sensor is integrated into the platform and measures strain induced in the support legs when the platform moves horizontally thereby measuring displacement of the platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Blake Waters Axelrod, Paula Popescu, Michael L. Roukes
  • Patent number: 8835191
    Abstract: Methods for sensing a mechanical stress and methods of making stress sensor integrated circuits. The sensing methods include transferring the mechanical stress from the object to one or more nanowires in a stress sensor or stress sensor circuit and permitting the nanowires to change in length in response to the mechanical stress. An electrical characteristic of the stress sensor or stress sensor circuit, which has a variation correlated with changes in the magnitude of the mechanical stress, is measured and then assessed to determine the stress magnitude. The manufacture methods include electrically connecting nanowire field effect transistors having, as channel regions, one or more nanowires of either a different crystalline orientation or a different body width for the individual nanowires so that an offset output voltage results when mechanical strain is applied to the nanowires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Andres Bryant, Oki Gunawan, Shih-Hsien Lo, Jeffrey W. Sleight
  • Patent number: 8724113
    Abstract: A method for forming a nanostructure penetrating a layer and the device made thereof is disclosed. In one aspect, the device has a substrate, a layer present thereon, and a nanostructure penetrating the layer. The nanostructure defines a nanoscale passageway through which a molecule to be analyzed can pass through. The nanostructure has, in cross-sectional view, a substantially triangular shape. This shape is particularly achieved by growth of an epitaxial layer having crystal facets defining tilted sidewalls of the nanostructure. It is highly suitably for use for optical characterization of molecular structure, particularly with surface plasmon enhanced transmission spectroscopy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignees: IMEC, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
    Inventors: Kai Cheng, Pol Van Dorpe, Liesbet Lagae, Gustaaf Borghs, Chang Chen
  • Patent number: 8703073
    Abstract: A lithographically structured device has an actuation layer and a control layer operatively connected to the actuation layer. The actuation layer includes a stress layer and a neutral layer that is constructed of materials and with a structure such that it stores torsional energy upon being constructed. The control layer is constructed to maintain the actuation layer substantially in a first configuration in a local environmental condition and is responsive to a change in the local environmental condition such that it permits a release of stored torsional energy to cause a change in a structural configuration of the lithographically structured device to a second configuration, the control layer thereby providing a trigger mechanism. The lithographically structured device has a maximum dimension that is less than about 10 mm when it is in the second configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: David Hugo Gracias, Timothy Gar-Ming Leong
  • Patent number: 8613287
    Abstract: An apparatus for preventing stiction of a three-dimensional MEMS (microelectromechanical system) microstructure, the apparatus including: a substrate; and a plurality of micro projections formed on a top surface of the substrate with a predetermined height in such a way that a cleaning solution flowing out from the microstructure disposed thereabove is discharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Chang Han Je, Myung Lae Lee, Sung Hae Jung, Gunn Hwang, Chang Auck Choi
  • Patent number: 8614492
    Abstract: Stress sensors and stress sensor integrated circuits using one or more nanowire field effect transistors as stress-sensitive elements, as well as design structures for a stress sensor integrated circuit embodied in a machine readable medium for designing, manufacturing, or testing an integrated circuit, and related methods thereof. The stress sensors and stress sensor integrated circuits include one or more pairs of gate-all-around field effect transistors, which include one or more nanowires as a channel region. The nanowires of each of the field effect transistors are configured to change in length in response to a mechanical stress transferred from an object. A voltage output difference from the field effect transistors indicates the magnitude of the transferred mechanical stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Andres Bryant, Oki Gunawan, Shih-Hsien Lo, Jeffrey W Sleight
  • Patent number: 8502279
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices are formed with a nano-electro-mechanical system (NEMS) logic or memory on a bulk substrate. Embodiments include forming source/drain regions directly on a bulk substrate, forming a fin connecting the source/drain regions, forming two gates, one on each side of the fin, the two gates being insulated from the bulk substrate, and forming a substrate gate in the bulk substrate. The fin is separated from each of the two gates and the substrate gate with an air gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Singapore Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Eng Huat Toh, Elgin Quek, Chung Foong Tan
  • Patent number: 8501923
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to methods and composition for generating nanoscale devices, systems, and enzyme factories based upon a nucleic acid nanostructure the can be designed to have a predetermined structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventor: Paul W. K. Rothemund
  • Patent number: 8476005
    Abstract: A method of screening one or more cells is described; the method includes: (i) providing one or more cells to a nanoelectromechanical system (NEMS) force sensor; (ii) applying at least one reagent to the one or more cells; and (iii) observing a response of the one or more cells to the reagent with the force sensor, thereby screening the one or more cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Blake W. Axelrod, Michael L. Roukes, Jessica L. Arlett
  • Patent number: 8394625
    Abstract: This invention generally relates to an integrated ‘lab-on-a-Pipette’™ which will provide sample-to-answer single cell genetic diagnosis for preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) and other forms of single cell analysis (SCA). SCA is a quickly growing field with substantial impact in prenatal testing, cancer biopsies, diabetes, stem cell research, and our overall understanding of heterogeneity in biology. However, single cell genetic analysis is challenging, inaccurate, and in many cases impossible, due to the small amount of sample (5 pg), and difficulties in handling small sample volumes (50-100 pL). The ‘lab-on-a-pipette’ device integrates a microaspiration tip with microfluidic analysis components to conduct in-situ, real-time single cell genetic diagnosis in a single device. The microaspiration tip extracts and encapsulate a cell into an ultra-low volume plug (˜300 pL).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Inventors: Angelo Gaitas, Amar Basu
  • Publication number: 20130052568
    Abstract: A resist pattern forming method includes: in the following order, (1) a step of forming a film on a substrate by using a positive resist composition; (2) a step of exposing the film; and (4) a step of performing development by using an alkali developer after the exposing, wherein the positive resist composition contains (A) a polymer compound having a repeating unit represented by the following formula (I) as defined in the specification, a thickness of the film formed in the step (1) is from 15 to 40 nm, and an alkali component concentration in the alkali developer is from 0.5 to 1.1 mass %.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toru TSUCHIHASHI, Michihiro SHIBATA
  • Patent number: 8310320
    Abstract: A nano-resonator device comprising at least one fixed element and at least one mobile element with respect to the fixed element, first electromagnetic means, integrated or fixed on the fixed element, and second electromagnetic means, integrated or fixed on the mobile element, to generate an oscillating movement of the mobile element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Laurent Duraffourg, Philippe Andreucci, Lise Bilhaut, Bernard Viala
  • Publication number: 20120078999
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a transformable body configured to be elastically stretchable between at least a first configuration and a second configuration, a user input device, a user input device configured to receive user input signal, a communication interface configured to provide a wireless link for the apparatus and a flexible interconnection between at least two components within the transformable body. The apparatus may perform determining of user information based on the user input signal, transmitting at least part of the user information over the wireless link to a remote processing unit, receiving feedback information from the remote processing unit and presenting the feedback information to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: NOKIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Piers Andrew, Teppo Tapani Jokinen, Lotta Maaria Partanen, Antti Salo, Jarkko Tapio Saunamäki, Qifeng Yan, Matti Kosonen
  • Patent number: 8143149
    Abstract: An efficient and low-cost method is intended for forming a flexible nanostructured material suitable for use as an active element of a photovoltaic panel. The method consists of evaporating a colloidal solution, which contains nanoparticles of various sizes and/or masses, from a flat surface of a rotating body on which the solution forms a thin and easily vaporizable layer, and simultaneously releasing the nanoparticles from the solution for their free flight through a gaseous medium toward the flexible substrate. As a result, the particles of different sizes and/or types of material are deposited onto the flexible substrate in a predetermined sequence that corresponds to the magnitude of resistance experienced by the nanoparticles during their free flight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Inventor: Boris Gilman
  • Publication number: 20120049984
    Abstract: A filter includes: a container; at least one barrier, an input device and an output device. The at least one barrier divide the space of the container into at least two resonant cavities. Each resonant cavity has a harmonic oscillator disposed therein. The harmonic oscillators includes a supporter and a carbon nanotube structure disposed on a surface of the supporter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicants: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: WEN-HUA CHEN, ZHENG-HE FENG, PING-YANG CHUANG
  • Patent number: 8080183
    Abstract: A nanoscale sensing device from different types of nanoparticles (NPs) and nanowires (NWs) connected by molecular springs. The distance between the nanoscale colloids reversibly changes depending on conditions or analyte concentration and can be evaluated by fluorescence measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Ohio University
    Inventors: Nicholas Kotov, Joebeom Lee, Alexander Govorov
  • Patent number: 8058321
    Abstract: Fibered particles combine microscale spheroid particles and nanoscale fibers in an integrated body. Fibered particles may be combined with a matrix precursor to form syntactic foams incorporating both particles and fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Trelleborg Offshore Boston, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Gladysz, Kipp B Carlisle, Daniel Mendoza
  • Patent number: 8044750
    Abstract: A nano-resonator including a beam having a composite structure may include a silicon carbide beam and/or a metal conductor. The metal conductor may be vapor-deposited on the silicon carbide beam. The metal conductor may have a density lower than a density of the silicon carbide beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seong Chan Jun, Sun Il Kim, Chan Wook Baik
  • Patent number: 8039834
    Abstract: A semiconducting device includes a substrate, a piezoelectric wire, a structure, a first electrode and a second electrode. The piezoelectric wire has a first end and an opposite second end and is disposed on the substrate. The structure causes the piezoelectric wire to bend in a predetermined manner between the first end and the second end so that the piezoelectric wire enters a first semiconducting state. The first electrode is coupled to the first end and the second electrode is coupled to the second end so that when the piezoelectric wire is in the first semiconducting state, an electrical characteristic will be exhibited between the first electrode and the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Zhong L. Wang, Xudong Wang, Jinhui Song, Jun Zhou, Jr-Hau He
  • Patent number: 8033091
    Abstract: A monolithic micro or nano electromechanical transducer device includes a pair of substrates (20, 25) respectively mounting one or more elongate electrical conductors (40) and resilient solid state hinge means (30, 32) integral with and linking the substrates to relatively locate the substrates so that respective elongate electrical conductors (40) of the substrates are opposed at a spacing that permits a detectable quantum tunnelling current between the conductors when a suitable electrical potential difference is applied across the conductors. The solid state hinge means permits relative parallel translation of the substrates transverse to the elongate electrical conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Quantum Precision Instruments Asia PTE Ltd.
    Inventors: Marek Michalewicz, Zygmunt Rymuza
  • Patent number: 8003982
    Abstract: An electric power generator includes a first conductive layer, a plurality of semiconducting piezoelectric nanostructures, a second conductive layer and a plurality of conductive nanostructures. The first conductive layer has a first surface from which the semiconducting piezoelectric nanostructures extend. The second conductive layer has a second surface and is parallel to the first conductive layer so that the second surface faces the first surface of the first conductive layer. The conductive nanostructures depend downwardly therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Zhong L. Wang, Sheng Xu
  • Patent number: 7998431
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a substrate having a surface with a volume-tunable-material on the surface and fluid-support-structures over the surface and partially embedded in the volume-tunable-material. Each of said fluid-support-structures has at least one dimension of about 1 millimeter or less, and the fluid-support-structures are moveable in response to a volume transition of the volume-tunable-material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventors: Joanna Aizenberg, Paul Robert Kolodner, Thomas Nikita Krupenkin, Oleksandr Sydorenko, Joseph Ashley Taylor
  • Patent number: 7982296
    Abstract: The invention provides methods and devices for fabricating printable semiconductor elements and assembling printable semiconductor elements onto substrate surfaces. Methods, devices and device components of the present invention are capable of generating a wide range of flexible electronic and optoelectronic devices and arrays of devices on substrates comprising polymeric materials. The present invention also provides stretchable semiconductor structures and stretchable electronic devices capable of good performance in stretched configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
    Inventors: Ralph G. Nuzzo, John A. Rogers, Etienne Menard, Keon Jae Lee, Dahl-Young Khang, Yugang Sun, Matthew Meitl, Zhengtao Zhu
  • Patent number: 7973374
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to a semiconductor device and a method for fabricating the same. According to embodiments, a semiconductor device may include a metal film spaced from a semiconductor substrate at a predetermined interval and in which a plurality of etching holes are formed. A bottom metal pattern disposed on and/or over a space between the semiconductor substrate and metal film and top metal pattern formed on and/or over the bottom metal pattern may be provided. A pillar may be formed on and/or over the semiconductor substrate and may support one side of a low surface of the bottom metal pattern. A pad may be formed on and/or over the semiconductor substrate, and an air layer corresponding to the bottom metal pattern may be inserted therein. According to embodiments, a pyro-electric switch transistor using a bi-metal with different coefficients of thermal expansion may be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Dongbu HiTek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Eun-Soo Jeong
  • Patent number: 7966898
    Abstract: A microfluidic embedded nanoelectromechanical system (NEMs) force sensor provides an electrical readout. The force sensor contains a deformable member that is integrated with a strain sensor. The strain sensor converts a deformation of the deformable member into an electrical signal. A microfluidic channel encapsulates the force sensor, controls a fluidic environment around the force sensor, and improves the read out. In addition, a microfluidic embedded vacuum insulated biocalorimeter is provided. A calorimeter chamber contains a parylene membrane. Both sides of the chamber are under vacuum during measurement of a sample. A microfluidic cannel (built from parylene) is used to deliver a sample to the chamber. A thermopile, used as a thermometer is located between two layers of parylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Michael L. Roukes, Chung-Wah Fon, Wonhee Lee, Hongxing Tang, Blake Waters Axelrod, John Liang Tan
  • Patent number: 7965156
    Abstract: Under one aspect, a resonator 400 includes a nanotube element 410 including a non-woven fabric of unaligned nanotubes and having a thickness, and a support structure 404 defining a gap 406 over which the nanotube element 410 is suspended, the thickness of the nanotube element 410 and the length of the gap 406 being selected to provide a pre-specified resonance frequency for the resonator 400 The resonator 400 also includes a conductive element 412 in electrical contact with the nanotube element 410, a drive electrode 408 in spaced relation to the nanotube element 410, and power logic in electrical contact with die at least one drive electrode 408 The power logic provides a series of electrical pulses at a frequency selected to be about the same as the pre-specified resonance frequency of the resonator 400 to the drive electrode 408 during operation of the resonator 400, such that the nanotube element 410 responds to the series of electrical pulses applied to the drive electrode 408 by making a series of mecha
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Nantero, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan W. Ward, Brent M. Segal
  • Patent number: 7888753
    Abstract: Techniques for ultra-sensitive detection are provided. In one aspect, a detection device is provided. The detection device comprises a source; a drain; a nanowire comprising a semiconductor material having a first end clamped to the source and a second end clamped to the drain and suspended freely therebetween; and a gate in close proximity to the nanowire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ali Afzali-Ardakani, Sudhir Gowda, Supratik Guha, Hendrik F. Hamann, Emanuel Tutuc
  • Patent number: 7888129
    Abstract: A method of obtaining a surface-enhanced optical property of an analyte using a flexible structured substrate having a metal layer conformably disposed on nanostructure, a flexible structured substrate, and a method of making the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: John C. Hulteen, Lisa A. Dick, Haiyan Zhang, William L. Stebbings
  • Patent number: 7884430
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to structures and methods of fabricating electromechanical memory cells having nanotube crossbar elements. Such memory cells include a substrate having transistor with a contact that electrically contacts with the transistor. A first support layer is formed over the substrate with an opening that defines a lower chamber above the electrical contact. A nanotube crossbar element is arranged to span the lower chamber. A second support layer is formed with an opening that defines a top chamber above the lower chamber, the top chamber including an extension region that extends beyond an edge of the lower chamber to expose a portion of the top surface of the first support layer. A roof layer covers the top of the top chamber and includes an aperture that exposes a portion of the extension region of the top chamber and includes a plug that extends into the aperture in the roof layer to seal the top and bottom chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Nantero, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Carter, Peter A. Burke, Verne C. Hornback, Thomas Rueckes, Claude L. Bertin
  • Patent number: 7884525
    Abstract: A nano-scale compliant mechanism includes a coupler and a plurality of nanotubes disposed for nano-scale motion relative to a grounded component. The nanotubes are fastened at one end to the coupler and at the other end to ground, to guide motion of the coupler relative to the ground. Particular embodiments include a plurality of parallel carbon nanotubes. An exemplary embodiment exhibits first and second regions of mechanical behavior; a first region governed by bulk elastic deformation of the nanotubes and a second region governed by compliant, hinge-like bending of the buckled nanotubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Brigham Young University
    Inventors: Martin L. Culpepper, Spencer P. Magleby, Larry L. Howell, Christopher M. DiBiasio, Robert M. Panas
  • Patent number: 7872320
    Abstract: The present invention improves mechanical strength of a micro-electro-mechanical device (MEMS) having a movable portion to improve reliability. In a micro-electro-mechanical device (MEMS) having a movable portion, a portion which has been a hollow portion in the case of a conventional structure is filled with a filler material. As the filler material, a block copolymer that is highly flexible is used, for example. By filling the hollow portion, mechanical strength improves. Besides, warpage of an upper portion of a structure body in the manufacture process is prevented, whereby yield improves. A micro-electro-mechanical device thus manufactured is highly reliable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kaoru Tsuchiya, Takafumi Mizoguchi
  • Publication number: 20110001398
    Abstract: A single wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) film electrode (FE), all-organic electroactive device systems fabricated with the SWNT-FE, and methods for making same. The SWCNT can be replaced by multi-wall carbon nanotubes or few wall carbon nanotubes. The SWCNT film can be obtained by filtering SWCNT solution onto the surface of an anodized alumina membrane. A freestanding flexible SWCNT film can be collected by breaking up this brittle membrane. The conductivity of this SWCNT film can advantageously be higher than 280 S/cm. The EAP actuator layered with the SWNT-FE shows a higher electric field-induced strain than an EAP layered with metal electrodes because the flexible SWNT-FE relieves the restraint of the displacement of the polymeric active layer as compared to the metal electrode. In addition, if thin enough, the SWNT-FE is transparent in the visible light range, thus making it suitable for use in actuators used in optical devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: USA as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Jin Ho Kang, Cheol Park, Joycelyn S. Harrison
  • Publication number: 20100310465
    Abstract: A nanodevice has a containment vessel defining a storage chamber therein and defining at least one port to provide access to and from said storage chamber, and a stopper assembly attached to the containment vessel. The stopper assembly has a blocking unit arranged proximate the at least one port and has a structure suitable to substantially prevent material after being loaded into the storage chamber from being released while the blocking unit is arranged in a blocking configuration. The stopper assembly is responsive to the presence of a predetermined stimulus such that the blocking unit is released in the presence of the predetermined stimulus to allow the material to be released from the storage chamber. The predetermined stimulus is a predetermined catalytic activity that is suitable to at least one of cleave, hydrolyze, oxidize, or reduce a portion of the stopper assembly, and the nanodevice has a maximum dimension of about 1 ?m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Jeffrey I. Zink, Jie Lu, Fuyuhiko Tamanoi, Andre Nel, Sarah Angelos, Fraser Stoddart, Qiaolin Chen, Tian Xia, Kaushik Patel, William Dichtel
  • Patent number: 7842793
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to methods and composition for generating nanoscale devices, systems, and enzyme factories based upon a nucleic acid nanostructure the can be designed to have a predetermined structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: The California Institute of Technology
    Inventor: Paul W. K. Rothemund
  • Patent number: 7829886
    Abstract: A nonvolatile carbon nanotube memory device using multiwall carbon nanotubes and methods of operating and fabricating the same are provided. The nonvolatile memory device may include a substrate, at least one first electrode on the substrate, first and second vertical walls on the at least one first electrode spaced from each other, a multiwall carbon nanotube on the at least one first electrode between the first and second vertical walls, second and third electrodes on the first and second vertical walls respectively and at least one fourth electrode spaced a variable distance D (where D?0) from the multiwall carbon nanotubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Leonid Maslov, Jin-Gyoo Yoo, Cheol-Soon Kim
  • Patent number: 7819718
    Abstract: A method of making an electron-emitting device has the steps of disposing a film containing metal on a substrate, arranging a plurality of catalytic particles on the film containing metal, and heat-treating the substrate on which the plurality of catalytic particles are arranged under circumstance including hydrocarbon gas and hydrogen to form a plurality of carbon fibers. Catalytic particles contain Pd and at least one element selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co, Ni, Y, Rh, Pt, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er and Lu, and 20˜80 atm % (atomic percentage) or more of the at least one element is contained in the catalytic particles relative to Pd.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinichi Kawate, Takeo Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 7817458
    Abstract: A hybrid memory system having electromechanical memory cells is discussed. A memory cell core circuit has an array of electromechanical memory cells, in which each cell is a crossbar junction at least one element of which is a nanotube or a nanotube ribbon. An access circuit provides array addresses to the memory cell core circuit to select at least one corresponding cell. The access circuit is constructed of semiconductor circuit elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Nantero, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent M. Segal, Darren K. Brock, Thomas Rueckes
  • Publication number: 20100220385
    Abstract: An electronic device comprising an array of aligned nanotubes supported on a first side of the substrate, with at least one of the nanotubes in the array of nanotubes being in electrical communication with a location on the substrate; and a second array of aligned nanotubes supported on the substrate, with at least one of the nanotubes in the second array of nanotubes being in electrical communication with a location on the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Inventor: Robert Joseph Crowley
  • Patent number: 7787990
    Abstract: A system of three-dimensional multipurpose elements is disclosed, consisting of single solid elements which can be computer-controlled to move, connect to one another, and disconnect from one another. A single element of the system consists of a casing made up of walls (6), linked with each other by means of an electroplastic actuator (3) which changes the reciprocal position of the walls of the casing of a single element. Changes in the reciprocal position of the walls occur according to the exciting signal transmitted from a programmable integrated circuit (1). Heat emitters (14) carry away excess heat from the system devices. Inside a single element there are provided interlocks (7) for connecting respective single elements, as well as magnetic coils (8) and a voltage source (5) supplying the integrated circuit (1), interlocks, magnetic coils and electroplastic actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Inventor: Andrzej Pietrzyk
  • Patent number: 7781382
    Abstract: There is provided a lubricant composition which includes: a first particle having a spherical shape having a diameter of 1 to 300 nm, having a Mohs hardness of 5 or more, at an amount of 0.01 to 40 weight %; and a second particle, having a diameter of 500 nm to 50 ?m, having a Brinell hardness of 17 HB or less, at an amount of 0.01 to 40 weight %. The lubricant composition can form a bearing structure when the lubricant composition is subjected to an extreme pressure. The second particles are deformed into a retainer for the first particle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Napra Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigenobu Sekine, Yurina Sekine
  • Patent number: 7749792
    Abstract: The present disclosure is broadly directed to a method for designing new MEMS micro-movers, particularly suited for, but not limited to, CMOS fabrication techniques, that are capable of large lateral displacement for tuning capacitors, fabricating capacitors, self-assembly of small gaps in CMOS processes, fabricating latching structures and other applications where lateral micro-positioning on the order of up to 10 ?m, or greater, is desired. Principles of self-assembly and electro-thermal actuation are used for designing micro-movers. In self-assembly, motion is induced in specific beams by designing a lateral effective residual stress gradient within the beams. The lateral residual stress gradient arises from purposefully offsetting certain layers of one material versus another material. For example, lower metal layers may be side by side with dielectric layers, both of which are positioned beneath a top metal layer of a CMOS-MEMS beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Carnegie Mellon University
    Inventors: Gary K. Fedder, Altug Oz
  • Publication number: 20100155692
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a first array of transistor elements; a second array of carbon nano-elements formed above or below the first array of transistor elements; and a circuit coupled to the first array to access the carbon nano elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventor: Bao Q. Tran
  • Patent number: 7719318
    Abstract: A nanoelectromechanical (NEM) switch is formed on a substrate with a source electrode containing a suspended electrically-conductive beam which is anchored to the substrate at each end. This beam, which can be formed of ruthenium, bows laterally in response to a voltage applied between a pair of gate electrodes and the source electrode to form an electrical connection between the source electrode and a drain electrode located near a midpoint of the beam. Another pair of gate electrodes and another drain electrode can be located on an opposite side of the beam to allow for switching in an opposite direction. The NEM switch can be used to form digital logic circuits including NAND gates, NOR gates, programmable logic gates, and SRAM and DRAM memory cells which can be used in place of conventional CMOS circuits, or in combination therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher D. Nordquist, David A. Czaplewski
  • Publication number: 20100116631
    Abstract: A non-volatile bistable nano-electromechanical switch is provided for use in memory devices and microprocessors. The switch employs carbon nanotubes as the actuation element. A method has been developed for fabricating nanoswitches having one single-walled carbon nanotube as the actuator. The actuation of two different states can be achieved using the same low voltage for each state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2008
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Sivasubramanian Somu, Ahmed Busnaina, Nicol McGruer, Peter Ryan, George G. Adams, Xugang Xiong, Taehoon Kim
  • Patent number: 7709087
    Abstract: A fabricated microstructure includes a substrate, a primary fiber, and a plurality of base fibers. The primary fiber has a width less than about 5 microns. Each base fiber of the plurality of base fibers has a first end attached to the primary fiber and a second end attached to the substrate. Each base fiber has a width less than the width of the primary fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Carmel Majidi, Richard E. Groff, Ronald S. Fearing, Steven D. Jones
  • Patent number: 7695811
    Abstract: An on/off reversible adhesive mechanism, and method for fabricating same. The adhesive mechanism is a hierarchical system comprised of a micro-scale compliant surface having one or more nano-structures thereon, wherein the compliant surface is moved by applying a magnetic field either to engage the nano-structures with an adhering surface or to remove the nano-structures from the adhering surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Michael T. Northen, Kimberly L. Turner
  • Publication number: 20100062226
    Abstract: A method of obtaining a surface-enhanced optical property of an analyte using a flexible structured substrate having a metal layer conformably disposed on nanostructure, a flexible structured substrate, and a method of making the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Inventors: John C. Hulteen, Lisa A. Dick, Haiyan Zhang, William L. Stebbings
  • Patent number: 7671398
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of wash durable clothing strands; an array of nano electronic elements fabricated in the strands; and an array of memory elements coupled to the nano electronic elements. The nano electronic elements can include solar cells, display elements, or antennas, among others.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Inventor: Bao Q. Tran