Patents by Inventor Gerald Ho Kim

Gerald Ho Kim has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20130270255
    Abstract: A silicon-based thermal energy transfer apparatus that aids dissipation of thermal energy from a heat-generating device is described. In one aspect, the apparatus comprises a silicon-based cooling device configured to receive the heat-generating device and at least one heating element disposed on the silicon-based cooling device. The at least one heating element is configured to maintain a temperature of at least a first region of the silicon-based cooling device in a predetermined condition when the heat-generating device is deactivated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventors: Gerald Ho Kim, Jay Eunjae Kim
  • Publication number: 20130258597
    Abstract: Various embodiments of an apparatus that simultaneously cools and thermally decouples adjacent electrically-driven devices in close proximity are provided. In one aspect, an apparatus comprises a first non-silicon heat sink and a first silicon-based heat sink disposed on the first non-silicon heat sink. The first silicon-based heat sink is configured to receive a first electrically-driven device on a first portion of the first silicon-based heat sink and to receive a second electrically-driven device on a second portion of the first silicon-based heat sink. The first silicon-based heat sink includes a first groove or a first opening between the first portion and the second portion such that a heat conduction path between the first electrically-driven device and the first non-silicon heat sink through the first silicon-based heat sink is shorter than a heat conduction path between the first electrically-driven device and the second electrically-driven device through the first silicon-based heat sink.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventors: Gerald Ho Kim, Jay Eunjae Kim
  • Patent number: 8514901
    Abstract: Embodiments of silicon-based thermal energy transfer apparatus for gain medium crystal of a laser system are provided. For a disk-shaped crystal, the apparatus includes a silicon-based manifold and a silicon-based cover element. For a rectangular cuboid-shaped gain medium crystal, the apparatus includes a first silicon-based manifold, a second silicon-based manifold, and first and second conduit elements coupled between the first and second manifolds. For a right circular cylinder-shaped gain medium crystal, the apparatus includes a first silicon-based manifold, a second silicon-based manifold, and first and second conduit elements coupled between the first and second manifolds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Inventor: Gerald Ho Kim
  • Publication number: 20130206365
    Abstract: Embodiments of silicon-based thermal energy transfer apparatus for gain medium crystal of a laser system are provided. For a disk-shaped crystal, the apparatus includes a silicon-based manifold and a silicon-based cover element. For a rectangular cuboid-shaped gain medium crystal, the apparatus includes a first silicon-based manifold, a second silicon-based manifold, and first and second conduit elements coupled between the first and second manifolds. For a right circular cylinder-shaped gain medium crystal, the apparatus includes a first silicon-based manifold, a second silicon-based manifold, and first and second conduit elements coupled between the first and second manifolds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Inventor: Gerald Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 8490678
    Abstract: A thermal energy transfer device attached to an object to dissipate thermal energy from the object is provided. The thermal energy transfer device includes a non-metal base plate and a first non-metal fin structure. The base plate has a first primary surface and a second primary surface opposite the first primary surface, and includes at least one groove on the first primary surface. The fin structure has a first primary surface, a second primary surface opposite the first primary surface, and a plurality of edges that are between the first and the second primary surfaces including a first edge. The first fin structure is attached to the base plate with the first edge received in a first groove of the at least one groove of the base plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Inventor: Gerald Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 8457173
    Abstract: An apparatus that includes a silicon-based support member and a silicon-based alignment structure is provided. The silicon-based alignment structure is received on a receiving surface of the support member. The alignment structure includes a first surface and a second surface parallel to and facing the first surface with a gap defined therebetween and configured to receive a light-emitting device inside the gap with the first surface and the second surface in contact with the light-emitting device such that, when a collimating rod lens is disposed on the alignment structure and over the gap, a longitudinal center line of the collimating rod lens is not aligned with a mid-point of the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Inventor: Gerald Ho Kim
  • Publication number: 20120275482
    Abstract: An apparatus that includes a silicon-based support member and a silicon-based alignment structure is provided. The silicon-based alignment structure is received on a receiving surface of the support member. The alignment structure includes a first surface and a second surface parallel to and facing the first surface with a gap defined therebetween and configured to receive a light-emitting device inside the gap with the first surface and the second surface in contact with the light-emitting device such that, when a collimating rod lens is disposed on the alignment structure and over the gap, a longitudinal center line of the collimating rod lens is not aligned with a mid-point of the gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Inventor: Gerald Ho Kim
  • Publication number: 20120211199
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a thermal energy transfer apparatus that removes thermal energy from a heat-generating device are described. In one aspect, a thermal energy transfer apparatus comprises a silicon-based manifold having an internal cavity, a first primary side, and a second primary side opposite the first primary side. The second primary side of the manifold has at least one coolant inlet port and at least one coolant outlet port that are connected to the internal cavity of the manifold, the at least one coolant inlet port being at a position directly opposite a position on the diamond layer where the heat-generating device is received. A diamond layer covers at least a portion of the first primary side of the manifold such that the heat-generating device is in direct contact with the diamond layer when the heat-generating device is received on the first primary side of the manifold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Inventor: Gerald Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 8238401
    Abstract: An apparatus that includes a first diode laser and a silicon-based support structure is provided. The first diode laser is configured to emit a first laser beam when powered. The support structure includes a silicon-based support plate, a silicon-based first fin structure, and a silicon-based second fin structure. The support plate has a first primary surface and a second primary surface opposite the first primary surface. The first fin structure has a first primary surface, a second primary surface opposite the first primary surface, and a plurality of edges between the first and the second primary surfaces including a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge. The first fin structure is physically coupled to the support plate with the first edge of the first fin structure attached to the first primary surface of the support plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Inventor: Gerald Ho Kim
  • Publication number: 20120195051
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a thermal energy transfer apparatus that removes thermal energy from a light-emitting device are described. In one aspect, an apparatus comprises a silicon-based base plate and a silicon-based cover element disposed on the base plate. The base plate includes a recess to receive a light-emitting device therein. The base plate is coated with a first electrically-conductive pattern that forms a first electrode. The base plate is further coated with a second electrically-conductive pattern that is electrically isolated from the first electrically-conductive pattern. The cover element holds the light-emitting device between the base plate and the cover element with at least a portion of a light-emitting surface of the light-emitting device exposed. The cover element is coated with a third electrically-conductive pattern that is in contact with the second electrically-conductive pattern to form a second electrode when the cover element is disposed on the base plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Inventor: Gerald Ho Kim
  • Publication number: 20120103569
    Abstract: Embodiments of silicon-based thermal energy transfer apparatus for gain medium crystal of a laser system are provided. For a disk-shaped crystal, the apparatus includes a silicon-based manifold and a silicon-based cover element. For a rectangular cuboid-shaped gain medium crystal, the apparatus includes a first silicon-based manifold, a second silicon-based manifold, and first and second conduit elements coupled between the first and second manifolds. For a right circular cylinder-shaped gain medium crystal, the apparatus includes a first silicon-based manifold, a second silicon-based manifold, and first and second conduit elements coupled between the first and second manifolds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventor: Gerald Ho KIM
  • Publication number: 20100046569
    Abstract: An apparatus that includes a first diode laser and a silicon-based support structure is provided. The first diode laser is configured to emit a first laser beam when powered. The support structure includes a silicon-based support plate, a silicon-based first fin structure, and a silicon-based second fin structure. The support plate has a first primary surface and a second primary surface opposite the first primary surface. The first fin structure has a first primary surface, a second primary surface opposite the first primary surface, and a plurality of edges between the first and the second primary surfaces including a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge. The first fin structure is physically coupled to the support plate with the first edge of the first fin structure attached to the first primary surface of the support plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Inventor: Gerald Ho Kim
  • Publication number: 20100000718
    Abstract: A thermal energy transfer device attached to an object to dissipate thermal energy from the object is provided. The thermal energy transfer device includes a non-metal base plate and a first non-metal fin structure. The base plate has a first primary surface and a second primary surface opposite the first primary surface, and includes at least one groove on the first primary surface. The fin structure has a first primary surface, a second primary surface opposite the first primary surface, and a plurality of edges that are between the first and the second primary surfaces including a first edge. The first fin structure is attached to the base plate with the first edge received in a first groove of the at least one groove of the base plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2009
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Inventor: Gerald Ho Kim