Patents by Inventor Robert Clark-Phelps

Robert Clark-Phelps 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).

  • Photovoltaic Devices with Textured TCO Layers, and Methods of Making TCO Stacks
    Publication number: 20220013674
    Abstract: According to the embodiments provided herein, a method for sputtering a TCO material onto a substrate includes process conditions that produce a textured topography at the interfaces of various layers. The textured topography can include an average roughness from about 5 to about 40 nm. The process conditions can include providing oxygen in the sputtering environment at a flow rate of from 0 to about 30 sccm; or heating the substrate to at least 200; or increasing the magnetic field strength to above 40 mT. The textured topography creates interfacial transition areas which have hybrid physical properties compared to their constituent materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Applicant: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Paulina Bourgeois, Robert Clark-Phelps, Qi Fang, Jing Guo, Gopal Mor, Rui Shao
  • Method and apparatus for forming a thin lamina
    Patent number: 8435804
    Abstract: A method for producing a lamina from a donor body includes implanting the donor body with an ion dosage and separably contacting the donor body with a susceptor assembly, where the donor body and the susceptor assembly are in direct contact. A lamina is exfoliated from the donor body, and a deforming force is applied to the lamina or to the donor body to separate the lamina from the donor body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: GTAT Corporation
    Inventors: Adam Kell, Robert Clark-Phelps, Joseph D. Gillespie, Gopal Prabhu, Takao Sakase, Theodore H. Smick, Steve Zuniga, Steve Bababyan
  • Method and apparatus for forming a thin lamina
    Patent number: 8268645
    Abstract: A method for producing a lamina from a donor body includes implanting the donor body with an ion dosage and heating the donor body to an implant temperature during implanting. The donor body is separably contacted with a susceptor assembly, where the donor body and the susceptor assembly are in direct contact. A lamina is exfoliated from the donor body by applying a thermal profile to the donor body. Implantation and exfoliation conditions may be adjusted in order to maximize the defect-free area of the lamina.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Twin Creeks Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Kell, Robert Clark-Phelps, Joseph D. Gillespie, Gopal Prabhu, Takao Sakase, Theodore H. Smick, Steve Zuniga, Steve Bababyan
  • Method and Apparatus for Forming a Thin Lamina
    Publication number: 20120168091
    Abstract: A method for producing a lamina from a donor body includes implanting the donor body with an ion dosage and separably contacting the donor body with a susceptor assembly, where the donor body and the susceptor assembly are in direct contact. A lamina is exfoliated from the donor body, and a deforming force is applied to the lamina or to the donor body to separate the lamina from the donor body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: TWIN CREEKS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Adam Kell, Robert Clark-Phelps, Joseph D. Gillespie, Gopal Prabhu, Takao Sakase, Theodore H. Smick, Steve Zuniga, Steve Bababyan
  • Method and Apparatus for Forming a Thin Lamina
    Publication number: 20120171809
    Abstract: A method for producing a lamina from a donor body includes implanting the donor body with an ion dosage and heating the donor body to an implant temperature during implanting. The donor body is separably contacted with a susceptor assembly, where the donor body and the susceptor assembly are in direct contact. A lamina is exfoliated from the donor body by applying a thermal profile to the donor body. Implantation and exfoliation conditions may be adjusted in order to maximize the defect-free area of the lamina.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: TWIN CREEKS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Adam Kell, Robert Clark-Phelps, Joseph D. Gillespie, Gopal Prabhu, Takao Sakase, Theodore H. Smick, Steve Zuniga, Steve Bababyan