The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 14, 2007
Filed:
Jul. 07, 2004
Joseph F. Pinkerton, Austin, TX (US);
John C. Harlan, Leander, TX (US);
Jeffrey D. Mullen, Scarsdale, NY (US);
Joseph F. Pinkerton, Austin, TX (US);
John C. Harlan, Leander, TX (US);
Jeffrey D. Mullen, Scarsdale, NY (US);
Ambient Systems, Inc., Austin, TX (US);
Abstract
Nanoelectromechanical switch systems (NEMSS) that are structured around the mechanical manipulation of nanotubes are provided. Such NEMSS can realize the functionality of, for example, automatic switches, adjustable diodes, amplifiers, inverters, variable resistors, pulse position modulators (PPMs), and transistors. In one embodiment, a nanotube is anchored at one end to a base member. The nanotube is also coupled to a voltage source. This voltage source creates an electric charge at the tip of the free-moving-end of the nanotube that is representative of the polarity and intensity of the voltage source. The free-moving end of this nanotube can be electrically controlled by applying an electric charge to a nearby charge member layer that is either of the same (repelling) or opposite (attracting) polarity of the nanotube. A contact layer is then placed in the proximity of the free-moving end of the nanotube such that when a particular electric charge is placed on the nanotube, the nanotube electrically couples the contact layer.