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Non-MEMS Devices

Latest Innovations
Femto-Joule Atomic Scale Reversible Switch A device that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a memory array having a first array of nanotubes, a second array of... Read More A device that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a memory array having a first array of nanotubes, a second array of nanotubes, and a resistive change material located between the first and second array of nanotubes. Other embodiments are disclosed.
Self-Rolled-UP Tube Base Vertical Coupler for 3D Monolithic Photonic Integration Researchers have developed a new self-rolled-up tube based vertical photonic coupler. The technology will open up new design perspectives for semiconductor... Read More Researchers have developed a new self-rolled-up tube based vertical photonic coupler. The technology will open up new design perspectives for semiconductor manufacturers, allowing them to integrate active and passive photonic devices with more suitable materials. This technology provides a low loss system to integrate active and passive photonic elements. It also allows the manufacturers to utilize their existing infrastructure to produce active elements from semiconductor material, and produce passive elements from silicon, therefore it doesn't require tremendous resources to change the existing infrastructure.
Long-Range Energy Transfer via Quenching Surfaces for the Detection of Biomolecular Binding and Un-Binding This technology is a rapid, simple and sensitive method for detecting the binding or unbinding of biomolecules using a silicon wafer. It is a novel method... Read More This technology is a rapid, simple and sensitive method for detecting the binding or unbinding of biomolecules using a silicon wafer. It is a novel method for detecting when two biomolecules unbind. The target biomolecule is placed on the silicon wafer, and then the partner biomolecules is fluorescently labeled and allowed to bind to target protein. At this point, the fluorescent label is quenched as it is brought into proximity of the silicon substrate. The technology works best for detecting disassociation or unbinding, such as screening for drugs that interfere with protein-protein binding. Compared to quenching by the common technique of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), the technology yields much larger quenching (signal/background ratio); provides robust signals even on the largest biomolecules complexes; and simplifies labeling since only one protein must be labeled (compared with two labels needed for FRET). Also, position or rigidity of the labeling site is relatively unimportant compared with polarized fluorescence assays. Because silicon is used, photolithographic techniques can potentially be used to miniaturize and integrate excitation, detection, and sample handling. Finally, the technology is fluorescence-based so it is highly sensitive and safe without the need for radioactivity. Applications This technology would be highly useful in therapeutic drug screening, and should be of interest to major pharmaceutical companies. High-throughput screening for drug discovery Works best for measuring disassociation/unbinding Benefits Long-quenching range: more efficient at energy transfer than the standard fluoresce resonance energy transfer (FRET), thus larger complexes still receive energy transfer Simplified Labeling: acceptor protein does not have to be labeled and is less critical where dye is attached to donor Scalable: Possible to miniaturize technology Safe: Technology does not use radioactivity
Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) with Adaptive Thresholds An adaptive Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) that adjusts the representation levels used in the conversion process so as to optimize system performance. By... Read More An adaptive Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) that adjusts the representation levels used in the conversion process so as to optimize system performance. By establishing system performance criteria by which to select or adjust the signal value range associated with each digital representation and/or the digital representation, substantially fewer bits may be used in the ADC. The systems and methods described herein enable lower-power, smaller form-factor designs as well as very high-speed operation. In particular, this technology may be beneficial for use in communications systems because it enables ADC's to operate at speeds where traditional ADC designs simply cannot.
Aligned Free-Standing Copper Nanowires This invention fabricates copper nanowires using thermal chemical vapor deposition (CVD) at temperatures of about 200 to 400 C. The method can produce vertically... Read More This invention fabricates copper nanowires using thermal chemical vapor deposition (CVD) at temperatures of about 200 to 400 C. The method can produce vertically aligned copper nanowires on various metallic, oxide, and plastic substrates without the need for pores, templates, catalysts, or lithography of the substrate surface. The CVD process does not use hydrogen and is compatible with standard silicon processing technologies. Copper wires with diameters of 70 to100 nanometers and lengths of several microns can be produced and characterized. Electron emission properties have been measured and are superior to most other materials including carbon nanotubes. The processing conditions are adjusted so as to promote the growth of wires instead of films. Applications: Flat panel display devices Computing Medical imaging Entertainment Home appliances Wireless communication Remote sensors Benefits: Simplicity and scalability - A straightforward CVD process that uses standard equipment is utilized. This technique does not require complex substrate preparation. Compatibility - The process is compatible with most standard semiconductor processing protocols. The wires can be grown on a wide variety of materials including metals, silicon, and plastics.
A Touch Mode Capacitance Microvalve with High Speed, Microsecond Switching A bi-directional electrostatic microvalve includes a membrane electrode that is controlled by application of voltage to fixed electrodes disposed on either side of... Read More A bi-directional electrostatic microvalve includes a membrane electrode that is controlled by application of voltage to fixed electrodes disposed on either side of the membrane electrode. Dielectric insulating layers separate the electrodes. One of the fixed electrodes defines a microcavity. Microfluidic channels formed into the electrodes provide fluid to the microcavity. A central pad defined in the microcavity places a portion of the second electrode close to the membrane electrode to provide a quick actuation while the microcavity reduces film squeezing pressure of the membrane electrode. In preferred embodiment microvalves, low surface energy and low surface charge trapping coatings, such as fluorocarbon films made from cross-linked carbon di-fluoride monomers or surface monolayers made from fluorocarbon terminated silanol compounds coatings coat the electrode low bulk charge trapping dielectric layers limit charge trapping and other problems and increase device lifetime operation. To license the entire Lunch Box Size Portable Gas Chromatograph portfolio, click here.
Droplet Manipulation through Novel Fluidic Channel Geometries Dr. Bailey from the University of IL has invented a new fluidic device for droplet manipulation for use in droplet-based analysis, such as PCR in DNA sequencing.... Read More Dr. Bailey from the University of IL has invented a new fluidic device for droplet manipulation for use in droplet-based analysis, such as PCR in DNA sequencing. Sample preparation has been longing an high through-put, automated solution due to its intensive labor cost. This chip-scale fluidic device enables multiple droplet manipulations, such as splitting, addition, extraction in one single geometry. With further development it even has possibility to change droplet concentration.
Nanoscale, Electrified Liquid Jets for High Resolution Printing of Charge The ability to print a polarized electrical charge onto a medium, or charge patterning, is currently in the early stages of development. A similar technology... Read More The ability to print a polarized electrical charge onto a medium, or charge patterning, is currently in the early stages of development. A similar technology commonly used in office printers, Xerography, thrives in large size regimes. There exist only a few competitive technologies capable of printing at the nanometer scale. Current technologies use processes that provide only low resolutions and relatively poor control over the printed charges. For example, current atomic force microscopy probes can provide suitable charges, but are only able for use on specialized materials. This technology has been designed to enable the printing of electrical charges on a nanoscale resolution. This technology works by modifying an E-Jet printer so that electric charges are used to manipulate a fluid medium and imprint a net positive or negative charge onto a nearly any surface. Applications This technology may be used for: Electrostatic control of nano-electric mechanical devices Guided assembly of charged particles or nanostructures Modulation of activity in biological systems Invisible, printed security codes Benefits Enables complex patterns of alternating charge with nanoscale resolutions Allows highly controlled amounts of material transfer Printing can be performed on nearly any surface
Extreme Miniaturized 3D Spiral On-Chip Inductors, Transformers, and Transmission Lines Inductors Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a novel design of on-chip inductors using multiple turn microtubes based on stain-... Read More Inductors Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a novel design of on-chip inductors using multiple turn microtubes based on stain-induced self-rolled-up nanotechnology. This technology would allow nearly 200x smaller footprint compared to conventional planar inductors while achieving significant performance improvements in all aspects. Transformers Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a novel design of on-chip transformers using multiple turn microtubes based on strain-induced, self-rolled-up nanotechnology. This design allows a nearly 12x smaller footprint compared to conventional planar transformers, while achieving significant performance improvements. Transmission Lines Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a novel design of on-chip transmission lines using multiple turn microtubes based on strain-induced, self-rolled-up nanotechnology. This design allows transmission lines to operate at Terahertz frequencies with significant performance improvements and reductions in interference and loss.
Self-Rolled up On-Chip Transformer for Extreme Size Reduction and Performance Enhancement Inductors Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a novel design of on-chip inductors using multiple turn microtubes based on stain-... Read More Inductors Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a novel design of on-chip inductors using multiple turn microtubes based on stain-induced self-rolled-up nanotechnology. This technology would allow nearly 200x smaller footprint compared to conventional planar inductors while achieving significant performance improvements in all aspects. Transformers Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a novel design of on-chip transformers using multiple turn microtubes based on strain-induced, self-rolled-up nanotechnology. This design allows a nearly 12x smaller footprint compared to conventional planar transformers, while achieving significant performance improvements. Transmission Lines Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a novel design of on-chip transmission lines using multiple turn microtubes based on strain-induced, self-rolled-up nanotechnology. This design allows transmission lines to operate at Terahertz frequencies with significant performance improvements and reductions in interference and loss.

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