US Patent 7420396 - Nanoparticle chain universal logic gate

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7420396.html

Knowmtech is a company exploring the possibilities of nanoparticle based materials to form neural networks and computational systems. This latest patent teaches a new type of reconfigurable computing logic based on self-assembling nanoparticle chains. Claim 1 reads:

1. A universal logic gate apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of self-assembling chains of nanoparticles having a plurality of resistive connections, wherein said plurality of self-assembling chains of nanoparticles comprise resistive connects utilized to create a universal, reconfigurable logic gate thereof; and

a plasticity mechanism based on a plasticity rule for creating stable connections from said plurality of self-assembling chains of nanoparticles for use with said universal, reconfigurable logic gate, wherein said plasticity mechanism is based on an input data stream, wherein said plasticity rule comprises a reproducible modification of a connection resistance in response to input and output electrode activity.