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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 QUz04/OSz92U46DJ3srIsoSRfBhX2T00Whfich73GQAAq2e9BbSbRia0HojFm6Su
 GgPNCYPjr0+qRnJj17QH7Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001019687-08-001999.txt : 20080502
<SEC-HEADER>0001019687-08-001999.hdr.sgml : 20080502
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080502160719
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001019687-08-001999
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080430
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080502
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080502

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NANO PROPRIETARY INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000891417
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT, NEC [3669]
		IRS NUMBER:				760273345
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			TX
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3006 LONGHORN BOULEVARD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 107
		CITY:			AUSTIN
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			78758
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5123315020

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		12100 TECHNOLOGY BOULEVARD
		CITY:			AUSTIN
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			78727

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	NANO PROPRIETARY  INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20030702

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	SI DIAMOND TECHNOLOGY INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19940318

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Westerman Howard G JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001363998

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11602
		FILM NUMBER:		08799091

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		972-233-8191

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		15508 WRIGHT BROTHERS DRIVE
		CITY:			ADDISON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75001
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-04-30</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000891417</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NANO PROPRIETARY INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NNPP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001363998</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Westerman Howard G JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3006 LONGHORN BLVD., STE. 107</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>AUSTIN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>78758</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-04-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>196207</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Quarterly restricted stock grant to outside Directors. Shares vest 25% each at the end of 3, 6, 9, and 12 months respectively.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Donald T. Locke as Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-05-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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