Patents by Inventor Kenneth John Thomson

Kenneth John Thomson 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).

  • Patent number: 9379280
    Abstract: A method for fabricating LED devices. The method includes providing a gallium and nitrogen containing substrate member (e.g., GaN) comprising a backside surface and a front side surface. The method includes subjecting the backside surface to a polishing process, causing a backside surface to be characterized by a surface roughness, subjecting the backside surface to an anisotropic etching process exposing various crystal planes to form a plurality of pyramid-like structures distributed spatially in a non-periodic manner on the backside surface, treating the backside surface comprising the plurality of pyramid-like structures, to a plasma species, and subjecting the backside surface to a surface treatment. The method further includes forming a contact material comprising an aluminum bearing species or a titanium bearing species overlying the surface-treated backside to form a plurality of LED devices with the contact material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: SORAA, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Cich, Kenneth John Thomson
  • Publication number: 20150357513
    Abstract: A method for fabricating LED devices. The method includes providing a gallium and nitrogen containing substrate member (e.g., GaN) comprising a backside surface and a front side surface. The method includes subjecting the backside surface to a polishing process, causing a backside surface to be characterized by a surface roughness, subjecting the backside surface to an anisotropic etching process exposing various crystal planes to form a plurality of pyramid-like structures distributed spatially in a non-periodic manner on the backside surface, treating the backside surface comprising the plurality of pyramid-like structures, to a plasma species, and subjecting the backside surface to a surface treatment. The method further includes forming a contact material comprising an aluminum bearing species or a titanium bearing species overlying the surface-treated backside to form a plurality of LED devices with the contact material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: MICHAEL J. CICH, KENNETH JOHN THOMSON
  • Patent number: 9112116
    Abstract: A method for fabricating LED devices. The method includes providing a gallium and nitrogen containing substrate member (e.g., GaN) comprising a backside surface and a front side surface. The method includes subjecting the backside surface to a polishing process, causing a backside surface to be characterized by a surface roughness, subjecting the backside surface to an anisotropic etching process exposing various crystal planes to form a plurality of pyramid-like structures distributed spatially in a non-periodic manner on the backside surface, treating the backside surface comprising the plurality of pyramid-like structures, to a plasma species, and subjecting the backside surface to a surface treatment. The method further includes forming a contact material comprising an aluminum bearing species or a titanium bearing species overlying the surface-treated backside to form a plurality of LED devices with the contact material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Soraa, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Cich, Kenneth John Thomson
  • Patent number: 8994033
    Abstract: A method for fabricating LED devices. The method includes providing a gallium and nitrogen containing substrate member (e.g., GaN) comprising a backside surface and a front side surface. The method includes subjecting the backside surface to a polishing process, causing a backside surface to be characterized by a surface roughness, subjecting the backside surface to an anisotropic etching process exposing various crystal planes to form a plurality of pyramid-like structures distributed spatially in a non-periodic manner on the backside surface, treating the backside surface comprising the plurality of pyramid-like structures, to a plasma species, and subjecting the backside surface to a surface treatment. The method further includes forming a contact material comprising an aluminum bearing species or a titanium bearing species overlying the surface-treated backside to form a plurality of LED devices with the contact material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Soraa, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Cich, Kenneth John Thomson
  • Patent number: 8975615
    Abstract: A method for forming optical devices includes providing a gallium nitride substrate having a crystalline surface region and a backside region. The backside is subjected to a laser scribing process to form scribe regions. Metal contacts overly the scribe regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Soraa Laser Diode, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Felker, Nicholas A. Vickers, Rafael Aldaz, David Press, Nicholas J. Pfister, James W. Raring, Mathew C. Schmidt, Kenneth John Thomson
  • Publication number: 20150014695
    Abstract: A method for fabricating LED devices. The method includes providing a gallium and nitrogen containing substrate member (e.g., GaN) comprising a backside surface and a front side surface. The method includes subjecting the backside surface to a polishing process, causing a backside surface to be characterized by a surface roughness, subjecting the backside surface to an anisotropic etching process exposing various crystal planes to form a plurality of pyramid-like structures distributed spatially in a non-periodic manner on the backside surface, treating the backside surface comprising the plurality of pyramid-like structures, to a plasma species, and subjecting the backside surface to a surface treatment. The method further includes forming a contact material comprising an aluminum bearing species or a titanium bearing species overlying the surface-treated backside to form a plurality of LED devices with the contact material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: MICHAEL J. CICH, KENNETH JOHN THOMSON
  • Patent number: 8802471
    Abstract: Techniques for manufacturing optical devices are disclosed. More particularly, light emitting diodes and in particular to ohmic contacts for light emitting diodes are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Soraa, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Cich, Kenneth John Thomson
  • Publication number: 20120104359
    Abstract: A method for forming optical devices includes providing a gallium nitride substrate having a crystalline surface region and a backside region. The backside is subjected to a laser scribing process to form scribe regions. Metal contacts overly the scribe regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: Soraa, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Felker, Nicholas A. Vickers, Rafael Aldaz, David Press, Nicholas J. Pfister, James W. Raring, Mathew C. Schmidt, Kenneth John Thomson