Patents by Inventor Thomas Gehrke

Thomas Gehrke 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: 9093589
    Abstract: Solid state lighting devices that can produce white light without a phosphor are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a solid state lighting device includes a first semiconductor material, a second semiconductor material spaced apart from the first semiconductor material, and an active region between the first and second semiconductor materials. The active region includes a first sub-region having a first center wavelength and a second sub-region having a second center wavelength different from the first center wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Zaiyuan Ren, Thomas Gehrke
  • Patent number: 9082748
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods for making semiconductor devices are disclosed herein. A method configured in accordance with a particular embodiment includes forming a stack of semiconductor materials from an epitaxial substrate, where the stack of semiconductor materials defines a heterojunction, and where the stack of semiconductor materials and the epitaxial substrate further define a bulk region that includes a portion of the semiconductor stack adjacent the epitaxial substrate. The method further includes attaching the stack of semiconductor materials to a carrier, where the carrier is configured to provide a signal path to the heterojunction. The method also includes exposing the bulk region by removing the epitaxial substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin F. Schubert, Vladimir Odnoblyudov, Cem Basceri, Thomas Gehrke
  • Publication number: 20150187880
    Abstract: The invention provides semiconductor materials including a gallium nitride material layer formed on a silicon substrate and methods to form the semiconductor materials. The semiconductor materials include a transition layer formed between the silicon substrate and the gallium nitride material layer. The transition layer is compositionally-graded to lower stresses in the gallium nitride material layer which can result from differences in thermal expansion rates between the gallium nitride material and the substrate. The lowering of stresses in the gallium nitride material layer reduces the tendency of cracks to form. Thus, the invention enables the production of semiconductor materials including gallium nitride material layers having few or no cracks. The semiconductor materials may be used in a number of microelectronic and optical applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Inventors: T. Warren Weeks, JR., Edwin Lanier Piner, Thomas Gehrke, Kevin J. Linthicum
  • Patent number: 9064775
    Abstract: The invention provides semiconductor materials including a gallium nitride material layer formed on a silicon substrate and methods to form the semiconductor materials. The semiconductor materials include a transition layer formed between the silicon substrate and the gallium nitride material layer. The transition layer is compositionally-graded to lower stresses in the gallium nitride material layer which can result from differences in thermal expansion rates between the gallium nitride material and the substrate. The lowering of stresses in the gallium nitride material layer reduces the tendency of cracks to form. Thus, the invention enables the production of semiconductor materials including gallium nitride material layers having few or no cracks. The semiconductor materials may be used in a number of microelectronic and optical applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventors: T. Warren Weeks, Jr., Edwin Lanier Piner, Thomas Gehrke, Kevin J. Linthicum
  • Publication number: 20150155440
    Abstract: Semiconductor growth substrates and associated systems and methods for die singulation are disclosed. A representative method for manufacturing semiconductor devices includes forming spaced-apart structures at a dicing street located between neighboring device growth regions of a substrate material. The method can further include epitaxially growing a semiconductor material by adding a first portion of semiconductor material to the device growth regions and adding a second portion of semiconductor material to the structures. The method can still further include forming semiconductor devices at the device growth regions, and separating the semiconductor devices from each other at the dicing street by removing the spaced-apart structures and the underlying substrate material at the dicing street.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Publication date: June 4, 2015
    Inventors: Xiaolong Fang, Lifang Xu, Tingkai Li, Thomas Gehrke
  • Patent number: 9041005
    Abstract: Solid state lighting (“SSL”) devices with cellular arrays and associated methods of manufacturing are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a light emitting diode includes a semiconductor material having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The semiconductor material has an aperture extending into the semiconductor material from the first surface. The light emitting diode also includes an active region in direct contact with the semiconductor material, and at least a portion of the active region is in the aperture of the semiconductor material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott E. Sills, Lifang Xu, Scott D. Schellhammer, Thomas Gehrke, Zaiyuan Ren, Anton J. De Villiers
  • Publication number: 20150108495
    Abstract: The invention provides semiconductor materials including a gallium nitride material layer formed on a silicon substrate and methods to form the semiconductor materials. The semiconductor materials include a transition layer formed between the silicon substrate and the gallium nitride material layer. The transition layer is compositionally-graded to lower stresses in the gallium nitride material layer which can result from differences in thermal expansion rates between the gallium nitride material and the substrate. The lowering of stresses in the gallium nitride material layer reduces the tendency of cracks to form. Thus, the invention enables the production of semiconductor materials including gallium nitride material layers having few or no cracks. The semiconductor materials may be used in a number of microelectronic and optical applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: T. Warren Weeks, JR., Edwin Lanier Piner, Thomas Gehrke, Kevin J. Linthicum
  • Patent number: 8969899
    Abstract: A method and system for manufacturing a light conversion structure for a light emitting diode (LED) is disclosed. The method includes forming a transparent, thermally insulating cover over an LED chip. The method also includes dispensing a conversion material onto the cover to form a conversion coating on the cover, and encapsulating the LED, the silicone cover, and the conversion coating within an encapsulant. Additional covers and conversion coatings can be added.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles M. Watkins, Kevin Tetz, Thomas Gehrke
  • Patent number: 8951842
    Abstract: Semiconductor growth substrates and associated systems and methods for die singulation are disclosed. A representative method for manufacturing semiconductor devices includes forming spaced-apart structures at a dicing street located between neighboring device growth regions of a substrate material. The method can further include epitaxially growing a semiconductor material by adding a first portion of semiconductor material to the device growth regions and adding a second portion of semiconductor material to the structures. The method can still further include forming semiconductor devices at the device growth regions, and separating the semiconductor devices from each other at the dicing street by removing the spaced-apart structures and the underlying substrate material at the dicing street.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaolong Fang, Lifang Xu, Tingkai Li, Thomas Gehrke
  • Publication number: 20150028347
    Abstract: Light emitting diodes and associated methods of manufacturing are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a light emitting diode (LED) includes a substrate, a semiconductor material carried by the substrate, and an active region proximate to the semiconductor material. The semiconductor material has a first surface proximate to the substrate and a second surface opposite the first surface. The second surface of the semiconductor material is generally non-planar, and the active region generally conforms to the non-planar second surface of the semiconductor material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Scott D. Schellhammer, Scott E. Sills, Lifang Xu, Thomas Gehrke, Zaiyuan Ren, Anton J. De Villiers
  • Patent number: 8937335
    Abstract: The invention provides semiconductor materials including a gallium nitride material layer formed on a silicon substrate and methods to form the semiconductor materials. The semiconductor materials include a transition layer formed between the silicon substrate and the gallium nitride material layer. The transition layer is compositionally-graded to lower stresses in the gallium nitride material layer which can result from differences in thermal expansion rates between the gallium nitride material and the substrate. The lowering of stresses in the gallium nitride material layer reduces the tendency of cracks to form. Thus, the invention enables the production of semiconductor materials including gallium nitride material layers having few or no cracks. The semiconductor materials may be used in a number of microelectronic and optical applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventors: T. Warren Weeks, Jr., Edwin L. Piner, Thomas Gehrke, Kevin J. Linthicum
  • Patent number: 8928034
    Abstract: The invention provides semiconductor materials including a gallium nitride material layer formed on a silicon substrate and methods to form the semiconductor materials. The semiconductor materials include a transition layer formed between the silicon substrate and the gallium nitride material layer. The transition layer is compositionally-graded to lower stresses in the gallium nitride material layer which can result from differences in thermal expansion rates between the gallium nitride material and the substrate. The lowering of stresses in the gallium nitride material layer reduces the tendency of cracks to form. Thus, the invention enables the production of semiconductor materials including gallium nitride material layers having few or no cracks. The semiconductor materials may be used in a number of microelectronic and optical applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventors: T. Warren Weeks, Jr., Edwin L. Piner, Thomas Gehrke, Kevin J. Linthicum
  • Patent number: 8928035
    Abstract: The invention provides semiconductor materials including a gallium nitride material layer formed on a silicon substrate and methods to form the semiconductor materials. The semiconductor materials include a transition layer formed between the silicon substrate and the gallium nitride material layer. The transition layer is compositionally-graded to lower stresses in the gallium nitride material layer which can result from differences in thermal expansion rates between the gallium nitride material and the substrate. The lowering of stresses in the gallium nitride material layer reduces the tendency of cracks to form. Thus, the invention enables the production of semiconductor materials including gallium nitride material layers having few or no cracks. The semiconductor materials may be used in a number of microelectronic and optical applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventors: T. Warren Weeks, Jr., Edwin L. Piner, Thomas Gehrke, Kevin J. Linthicum
  • Publication number: 20150004729
    Abstract: Various embodiments of light emitting devices with built-in chromaticity conversion and associated methods of manufacturing are described herein. In one embodiment, a method for manufacturing a light emitting device includes forming a first semiconductor material, an active region, and a second semiconductor material on a substrate material in sequence, the active region being configured to produce a first emission. A conversion material is then formed on the second semiconductor material. The conversion material has a crystalline structure and is configured to produce a second emission. The method further includes adjusting a characteristic of the conversion material such that a combination of the first and second emission has a chromaticity at least approximating a target chromaticity of the light emitting device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Cem Basceri, Thomas Gehrke, Charles M. Watkins
  • Publication number: 20140353680
    Abstract: The invention provides semiconductor materials including a gallium nitride material layer formed on a silicon substrate and methods to form the semiconductor materials. The semiconductor materials include a transition layer formed between the silicon substrate and the gallium nitride material layer. The transition layer is compositionally-graded to lower stresses in the gallium nitride material layer which can result from differences in thermal expansion rates between the gallium nitride material and the substrate. The lowering of stresses in the gallium nitride material layer reduces the tendency of cracks to form. Thus, the invention enables the production of semiconductor materials including gallium nitride material layers having few or no cracks. The semiconductor materials may be used in a number of microelectronic and optical applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: T. Warren Weeks, JR., Edwin Lanier Piner, Thomas Gehrke, Kevin J. Linthicum
  • Publication number: 20140319536
    Abstract: Solid state lighting (“SSL”) devices with cellular arrays and associated methods of manufacturing are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a light emitting diode includes a semiconductor material having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The semiconductor material has an aperture extending into the semiconductor material from the first surface. The light emitting diode also includes an active region in direct contact with the semiconductor material, and at least a portion of the active region is in the aperture of the semiconductor material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott E. Sills, Lifang Xu, Scott D. Schellhammer, Thomas Gehrke, Zaiyuan Ren, Anton J. De Villiers
  • Patent number: 8859305
    Abstract: Light emitting diodes and associated methods of manufacturing are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a light emitting diode (LED) includes a substrate, a semiconductor material carried by the substrate, and an active region proximate to the semiconductor material. The semiconductor material has a first surface proximate to the substrate and a second surface opposite the first surface. The second surface of the semiconductor material is generally non-planar, and the active region generally conforms to the non-planar second surface of the semiconductor material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Macron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Schellhammer, Scott Sills, Lifang Xu, Thomas Gehrke, Zaiyuan Ren, Anton De Villiers
  • Patent number: 8847198
    Abstract: Various embodiments of light emitting devices with built-in chromaticity conversion and associated methods of manufacturing are described herein. In one embodiment, a method for manufacturing a light emitting device includes forming a first semiconductor material, an active region, and a second semiconductor material on a substrate material in sequence, the active region being configured to produce a first emission. A conversion material is then formed on the second semiconductor material. The conversion material has a crystalline structure and is configured to produce a second emission. The method further includes adjusting a characteristic of the conversion material such that a combination of the first and second emission has a chromaticity at least approximating a target chromaticity of the light emitting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Cem Basceri, Thomas Gehrke, Charles M. Watkins
  • Publication number: 20140246683
    Abstract: Solid state lighting devices and associated methods of manufacturing are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a solid state lighting device includes a substrate material having a substrate surface and a plurality of hemispherical grained silicon (“HSG”) structures on the substrate surface of the substrate material. The solid state lighting device also includes a semiconductor material on the substrate material, at least a portion of which is between the plurality of HSG structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Cem Basceri, Thomas Gehrke
  • Patent number: 8728840
    Abstract: Solid state lighting devices and associated methods of manufacturing are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a solid state lighting device includes a substrate material having a substrate surface and a plurality of hemispherical grained silicon (“HSG”) structures on the substrate surface of the substrate material. The solid state lighting device also includes a semiconductor material on the substrate material, at least a portion of which is between the plurality of HSG structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Cem Basceri, Thomas Gehrke