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).

  • Publication number: 20140131659
    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: November 19, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventors: T. Warren Weeks, JR., Edwin L. Piner, Thomas Gehrke, Kevin J. Linthicum
  • Patent number: 8709845
    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: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott E. Sills, Lifang Xu, Scott D. Schellhammer, Thomas Gehrke, Zaiyuan Ren, Anton J. De Villiers
  • Publication number: 20140097446
    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: November 19, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventors: T. Warren Weeks, Jr., Edwin L. Piner, Thomas Gehrke, Kevin J. Linthicum
  • Publication number: 20140097441
    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: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin F. Schubert, Vladimir Odnoblyudov, Cem Basceri, Thomas Gehrke
  • Publication number: 20140077222
    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: November 19, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL RECTIFIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: T. Warren Weeks, JR., Edwin L. Piner, Thomas Gehrke, Kevin J. Linthicum
  • Patent number: 8664664
    Abstract: A dimpled substrate and method of making including a substrate of high thermal conductivity having a first main surface and a second main surface opposite the first main surface. Active epitaxial layers are formed on the first main surface of the substrate. Dimples are formed as extending from the second main surface into the substrate toward the first main surface. An electrical contact of low resistance material is disposed on the second main surface and within the dimples. A back contact of low resistance and low loss is thus provided while maintaining the substrate as an effective heat sink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Harris, Cem Basceri, Thomas Gehrke, Cengiz Balkas
  • Publication number: 20130342133
    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: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Zaiyuan Ren, Thomas Gehrke
  • Patent number: 8592862
    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: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventors: T. Warren Weeks, Jr., Edwin L. Piner, Thomas Gehrke, Kevin J. Linthicum
  • Patent number: 8525148
    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: July 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Zaiyuan Ren, Thomas Gehrke
  • Publication number: 20130181219
    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: January 12, 2012
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Inventors: Xiaolong Fang, Lifang Xu, Tingkai Li, Thomas Gehrke
  • Patent number: 8420415
    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: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles M. Watkins, Kevin Tetz, Thomas Gehrke
  • Patent number: 8390010
    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: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Sills, Lifang Xu, Scott Schellhammer, Thomas Gehrke, Zaiyuan Ren, Anton De Villiers
  • Publication number: 20130049043
    Abstract: Engineered substrates for semiconductor devices are disclosed herein. A device in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a transducer structure having a plurality of semiconductor materials including a radiation-emitting active region. The device further includes an engineered substrate having a first material and a second material, at least one of the first material and the second material having a coefficient of thermal expansion at least approximately matched to a coefficient of thermal expansion of at least one of the plurality of semiconductor materials. At least one of the first material and the second material is positioned to receive radiation from the active region and modify a characteristic of the light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Martin F. Schubert, Cem Basceri, Vladimir Odnoblyudov, Casey Kurth, Thomas Gehrke
  • Publication number: 20130005065
    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: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Sills, Lifang Xu, Scott Schellhammer, Thomas Gehrke, Zaiyuan Ren, Anton De Villiers
  • Patent number: 8344417
    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: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventors: T. Warren Weeks, Jr., Edwin L. Piner, Thomas Gehrke, Kevin J. Linthicum
  • Publication number: 20120329191
    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: September 5, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Cem Basceri, Thomas Gehrke
  • Publication number: 20120298950
    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: May 26, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Cem Basceri, Thomas Gehrke, Charles M. Watkins
  • Patent number: 8263988
    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: July 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Cem Basceri, Thomas Gehrke
  • Publication number: 20120119223
    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: January 27, 2012
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventors: T. Warren Weeks, JR., Edwin L. Piner, Thomas Gehrke, Kevin J. Linthicum
  • Publication number: 20120056206
    Abstract: Solid state lighting dies and associated methods of manufacturing are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a solid state lighting die includes a substrate material, a first semiconductor material, a second semiconductor material, and an active region between the first and second semiconductor materials. The second semiconductor material has a surface facing away from the substrate material. The solid state lighting die also includes a plurality of openings extending from the surface of the second semiconductor material toward the substrate material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Cem Basceri, Casey Kurth, Thomas Gehrke, Kevin Tetz