Interconnected Nanosystems

Abstract

Communication to or from a nanodevice is provided with a nanostructure-based antenna, preferably formed from, but not limited to, a single wall nanotube (SWNT). Other nanostructure-based antennas include double walled nanotubes, semiconducting nanowires, metal nanowires and the like. The use of a nanostructure-based antenna eliminates the need to provide a physical communicative connection to the nanodevice, while at the same time allowing communication between the nanodevice and other nanodevices or outside systems, i.e., systems larger than nanoscale such as those formed from semiconductor fabrication processes such as CMOS, GaAs, bipolar processes and the like.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wirelessly interconnected system, comprising:
 a nanodevice having at least one nanostructure-based antenna coupled thereto, wherein the nanodevice is configured to communicate over the nanostructure-based antenna.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an outside system configured to communicate with the nanodevice using the nanostructure-based antenna. 
     
     
         3 . A method of fabricating an interconnected nanosystem, comprising:
 forming a nanodevice having at least one communication lead; and   coupling a nanostructure-based antenna to the communication lead.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein coupling a nanostructure-based antenna to the communication lead comprises forming a carbon nanotube on the lead. 
     
     
         5 . A method of communicating with a nanostructured device comprising the steps of
 wirelessly transmitting information from a first device, and   wirelessly receiving information at a second device, wherein at least one of the first and second devices is a nano-structured device.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the nano-structured device includes a communication lead and a nano-structure-based antenna coupled to the communication lead. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the nano-structure-based antenna is a carbon nanotube. 
     
     
         8 . An interconnected system, comprising:
 a first device, and   a second device wirelessly coupled to the first device, wherein one of the first and second devices is a nanodevice.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the nanodevice having at least one nanostructure-based antenna coupled thereto, wherein the nanodevice is configured to communicate over the nanostructure-based antenna. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the nanostructure-based antenna is a carbon single walled nanotube. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the nanostructure-based antenna is a carbon double walled nanotube. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the nanostructure-based antenna is a semi-conductor nanowire. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the nanostructure-based antenna is a metal nanowire. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the nanodevice includes a plurality of communication ports and an array of nanostructure-based antennas coupled to the plurality of communication ports. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the array of nanostructure-based antennas comprises an array of carbon single walled nanotubes. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the array of nanostructure-based antennas comprises an array of carbon double walled nanotubes. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the array of nanostructure-based antennas comprises an array of semi-conductor nanowires. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the array of nanostructure-based antennas comprises an array of metal nanowires.