Chemically assembled nano-scale circuit elements
AssigneeIntegrated Nano-Technologies, Inc.
InventorDennis Michael Connolly
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides nano-scale devices, including electronic circuits, using DNA molecules as a support structure. DNA binding proteins are used to mask regions of the DNA as a material, such as a metal is coated onto the DNA. Included in the invention are DNA based transistors, capacitors, inductors and diodes. The present invention also provides methods of making integrated circuits using DNA molecules as a support structure. Methods are also included for making DNA based transistors, capacitors, inductors and diodes.
Claims70
A circuit element comprising:
- a nucleic acid template;
- two or more sequential regions along a length of the template are coated with different materials, wherein each of the different materials is at least partially conductive.
A resistor comprising a first material separated by a second material, the second material having a different resistivity than the first material and the first and second materials having a common nucleic acid template core.
A resistor comprising:
- at least one resistive material;
- and
- a pair of at least partially conductive leads, each of the leads coupled to the resistive material;
- the resistive material and the pair of leads having a nucleic acid template core.
A diode comprising a first type of semiconductor material adjacent to a second type of semiconductor material, the first and second types of semiconductor materials having a common nucleic acid template core.
A diode comprising:
- a first type of semiconductor material;
- a second type of semiconductor material adjacent to the first type of semiconductor material;
- and
- a pair of at least partially conductive leads, each of the leads coupled to one of the first and second types of semiconductor materials;
- the first and second types of semiconductor materials and the pair of leads having a nucleic acid template core.
A capacitor comprising a pair of at least partially conductive plates separated by a dielectric, each of the plates having a nucleic acid template core.
A capacitor comprising a pair of at least partially conductive plates separated by a dielectric, the dielectric having a nucleic acid template core.
A transistor comprising a first type of semiconductor material separated by a second type of semiconductor material, the first and second types of semiconductor materials having a common nucleic acid template core.
A transistor comprising:
- a first type of semiconductor material;
- a second type of semiconductor material separating the first type of semiconductor material;
- and
- a plurality of at least partially conductive leads, each of the leads is coupled to one of the first and second types of semiconductor materials;
- the first and second types of semiconductor materials and the leads having a nucleic acid template core.
An inducer comprising a coil of at least partially conductive material, the coil of at least partially conductive material having a nucleic acid template core.
A method for making a resistor, the method comprising:
- protecting at least one region of a nucleic acid molecule template using a nucleic acid binding molecule;
- coating unprotected regions of the nucleic acid molecule template with a first conductive material;
- removing the nucleic acid binding molecule from the protected region;
- and
- coating the protected region with a second conductive material, where the second conductive material has a different resistivity from the first conductive material.
A method for making a diode, the method comprising:
- protecting at least one region of a nucleic acid molecule template using two or more nucleic acid binding molecules;
- coating unprotected regions of the nucleic acid molecule template with a conductive material,
- removing at least one of the nucleic acid binding molecules from one portion of the protected region;
- coating the one portion of the protected region with a first-type of semiconductor material;
- removing any remaining ones of the nucleic acid binding molecules from any remaining portion of the protected region;
- and
- coating the remaining portion of the protected region with a second type of semiconductor material.
A method for making a capacitor, the method comprising coating parallel regions of a nucleic acid molecule template with a conductive material, each of the coated parallel regions coupled to a lead.
A method for making a capacitor, the method comprising:
- protecting a first region of a nucleic acid molecule template between parallel regions of a nucleic acid molecule template with at least one nucleic acid binding molecule;
- coating unprotected parallel regions of the nucleic acid molecule template around the first region with a conductive material;
- removing the nucleic acid binding molecule from the first region;
- and
- coating the first region with a dielectric material.
A method for making a transistor, the method comprising:
- protecting a central region and two of three adjacent branch regions of a nucleic acid molecule template with nucleic acid binding molecules;
- coating unprotected regions of the nucleic acid molecule template with a conductive material;
- removing the one or more nucleic acid binding molecules protecting the central region of the nucleic acid molecule template;
- coating the central region with a first-type of semiconductor material;
- removing the nucleic acid binding molecules from the protected branch regions;
- and
- coating the branch regions with a second type of semiconductor material.
A method for making an inducer, the method comprising:
- wrapping a nucleic acid molecule template around at least one protein;
- and
- coating the nucleic acid molecule template with a first conductive material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.