Patents by Inventor Kenneth M. Ring

Kenneth M. Ring 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: 20150171258
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling the amount of a second material incorporated into a first material by controlling the amount of a third material which can interact with the second material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Inventors: Arnold Allenic, John Barden, Feng Liao, Xilin Peng, Rick C. Powell, Kenneth M. Ring, Gang Xiong
  • Patent number: 9006020
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling the amount of a second material incorporated into a first material by controlling the amount of a third material which can interact with the second material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Gang Xiong, Rick C. Powell, Xilin Peng, John Barden, Arnold Allenic, Feng Liao, Kenneth M. Ring
  • Patent number: 8785232
    Abstract: A method to improve CdTe-based photovoltaic device efficiency is disclosed. The CdTe-based photovoltaic device can include oxygen or silicon in semiconductor layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Gang Xiong, Rick C. Powell, Aaron Roggelin, Kuntal Kumar, Arnold Allenic, Kenneth M. Ring, Charles E. Wickersham
  • Publication number: 20130298992
    Abstract: A method to improve CdTe-based photovoltaic device efficiency is disclosed. The CdTe-based photovoltaic device can include oxygen or silicon in semiconductor layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Gang Xiong, Rick C. Powell, Aaron Roggelin, Kuntal Kumar, Arnold Allenic, Kenneth M. Ring, Charles E. Wickersham
  • Patent number: 8497151
    Abstract: A method to improve CdTe-based photovoltaic device efficiency is disclosed. The CdTe-based photovoltaic device can include oxygen or silicon in semiconductor layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Gang Xiong, Ricky C. Powell, Aaron Roggelin, Kuntal Kumar, Arnold Allenic, Kenneth M. Ring, Charles Wickersham
  • Publication number: 20130017317
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling evacuation pressure of a load lock connected to a processing chamber uses prior pressure changes detected in the processing chamber when the load lock communicates with the processing chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Inventors: Kenneth M. Ring, Rick C. Powell, William Logan, Feng Liao, Xilin Peng
  • Patent number: 7994611
    Abstract: According to one exemplary embodiment, a bipolar transistor includes a base having a top surface. The bipolar transistor further includes a base oxide layer situated on the top surface of the base. The bipolar transistor further includes an antireflective coating layer situated on the base oxide layer. The bipolar transistor further includes an emitter situated over the top surface of the base and the antireflective coating layer, where a layer of polysilicon is not situated between the base oxide layer and the emitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Newport Fab, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Q. Yin, Amol Kalburge, Kenneth M. Ring
  • Patent number: 7863148
    Abstract: According to one exemplary embodiment, a method for forming an NPN and a vertical PNP device on a substrate comprises forming an insulating layer over an NPN region and a PNP region of the substrate. The method further comprises forming a buffer layer on the insulating layer and forming an opening in the buffer layer and the insulating layer in the NPN region, where the opening exposes the substrate. The method further comprises forming a semiconductor layer on the buffer layer and in the opening in the NPN region, where the semiconductor layer has a first portion situated in the opening and a second portion situated on the buffer layer in the PNP region. The first portion of the semiconductor layer forms a single crystal base of the NPN device and the second portion of the semiconductor layer forms a polycrystalline emitter of the vertical PNP device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Newport Fab, LLC
    Inventors: Paul D. Hurwitz, Kenneth M. Ring, Chun Hu, Amol M Kalburge
  • Publication number: 20100288359
    Abstract: A method to improve CdTe-based photovoltaic device efficiency is disclosed. The CdTe-based photovoltaic device can include oxygen or silicon in semiconductor layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Inventors: Gang Xiong, Ricky C. Powell, Aaron Roggelin, Kuntal Kumar, Arnold Allenic, Kenneth M. Ring, Charles Wickersham
  • Publication number: 20090203183
    Abstract: According to one exemplary embodiment, a method for forming an NPN and a vertical PNP device on a substrate comprises forming an insulating layer over an NPN region and a PNP region of the substrate. The method further comprises forming a buffer layer on the insulating layer and forming an opening in the buffer layer and the insulating layer in the NPN region, where the opening exposes the substrate. The method further comprises forming a semiconductor layer on the buffer layer and in the opening in the NPN region, where the semiconductor layer has a first portion situated in the opening and a second portion situated on the buffer layer in the PNP region. The first portion of the semiconductor layer forms a single crystal base of the NPN device and the second portion of the semiconductor layer forms a polycrystalline emitter of the vertical PNP device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2009
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Inventors: Paul D. Hurwitz, Kenneth M. Ring, Chun Hu, Amol M. Kalburge
  • Patent number: 7541231
    Abstract: According to one exemplary embodiment, a method for forming an NPN and a vertical PNP device on a substrate comprises forming an insulating layer over an NPN region and a PNP region of the substrate. The method further comprises forming a buffer layer on the insulating layer and forming an opening in the buffer layer and the insulating layer in the NPN region, where the opening exposes the substrate. The method further comprises forming a semiconductor layer on the buffer layer and in the opening in the NPN region, where the semiconductor layer has a first portion situated in the opening and a second portion situated on the buffer layer in the PNP region. The first portion of the semiconductor layer forms a single crystal base of the NPN device and the second portion of the semiconductor layer forms a polycrystalline emitter of the vertical PNP device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Newport Fab, LLC
    Inventors: Paul D. Hurwitz, Kenneth M. Ring, Chun Hu, Amol Kalburge
  • Patent number: 7268038
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for fabricating a MIM capacitor in a semiconductor die includes a step of depositing a first interconnect metal layer. The method further includes depositing a layer of silicon nitride on the first interconnect layer. The layer of silicon nitride is deposited in a deposition process using an ammonia-to-silane ratio of at least 12.5. The method further includes depositing a layer of MIM capacitor metal on the layer of silicon nitride. The method further includes etching the layer of MIM capacitor metal to form an upper electrode of the MIM capacitor. According to this exemplary embodiment, the method further includes etching the layer of silicon nitride to form a MIM capacitor dielectric segment and etching the first interconnect metal layer to form a lower electrode of the MIM capacitor. The MIM capacitor has a capacitance density of at least 2.0 fF/um2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Newport Fab, LLC
    Inventors: Dieter Dornisch, Kenneth M. Ring, Tinghao F. Wang, David Howard, Guangming Li
  • Patent number: 6933202
    Abstract: According to one exemplary embodiment, a method for forming an NPN and a vertical PNP device on a substrate comprises forming an insulating layer over an NPN region and a PNP region of the substrate. The method further comprises forming a buffer layer on the insulating layer and forming an opening in the buffer layer and the insulating layer in the NPN region, where the opening exposes the substrate. The method further comprises forming a semiconductor layer on the buffer layer and in the opening in the NPN region, where the semiconductor layer has a first portion situated in the opening and a second portion situated on the buffer layer in the PNP region. The first portion of the semiconductor layer forms a single crystal base of the NPN device and the second portion of the semiconductor layer forms a polycrystalline emitter of the vertical PNP device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Newport Fab, LLC
    Inventors: Paul D. Hurwitz, Kenneth M. Ring, Chun Hu, Amol Kalburge
  • Patent number: 6797580
    Abstract: According to one exemplary embodiment, a method for fabricating a bipolar transistor in a BiCMOS process comprises a step of forming an emitter window stack by sequentially depositing a base oxide layer and an antireflective coating layer on a top surface of a base, where the emitter window stack does not comprise a polysilicon layer. The method further comprises etching an emitter window opening in the emitter window stack. The method further comprises depositing an emitter layer in the emitter window opening and over the antireflective coating layer and etching the emitter layer to form an emitter. The method further comprises etching a first portion of the base oxide layer not covered by the emitter using a first etchant, thereby causing the first portion of the base oxide layer to have a thickness less than a thickness of a second portion of the base oxide layer covered by the emitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Newport Fab, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Q. Yin, Amol Kalburge, Kenneth M. Ring
  • Publication number: 20040135179
    Abstract: According to one exemplary embodiment, a bipolar transistor comprises a base having a top surface. The bipolar transistor further comprises a base oxide layer situated on top surface of the base. The bipolar transistor further comprises a sacrificial post situated on base oxide layer. The bipolar transistor further comprises a conformal layer situated over the sacrificial post and top surface of the base, where the conformal layer has a density greater than a density of base oxide layer. The conformal layer may be, for example, HDPCVD oxide. According to this exemplary embodiment, the bipolar transistor further comprises a sacrificial planarizing layer situated over the conformal layer. The sacrificial planarizing layer has a first thickness in a first region between first and second link spacers and a second thickness in a second region outside of first and second link spacers, where the second thickness is generally greater than the first thickness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Inventors: Amol M. Kalburge, Kevin Q. Yin, Kenneth M. Ring