External Physical Configuration Of Semiconductor (e.g., Mesas, Grooves) Patents (Class 257/466)
  • Patent number: 8860162
    Abstract: A solar module includes a solar cell, a heat spreader layer disposed above the solar cell, and a cell interconnect disposed above the solar cell. From a top-down perspective, the heat spreader layer at least partially surrounds an exposed portion of the cell interconnect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Sunpower Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan Linderman, Matthew Dawson, Itai Suez
  • Patent number: 8860164
    Abstract: A light receiving element includes a core configured to propagate a signal light, a first semiconductor layer having a first conductivity type, the first semiconductor layer being configured to receive the signal light from the core along a first direction in which the core extends, an absorbing layer configured to absorb the signal light received by the first semiconductor layer, and a second semiconductor layer having a second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Kazumasa Takabayashi
  • Patent number: 8772896
    Abstract: In order to improve reliability by preventing an edge breakdown in a semiconductor photodetector having a mesa structure such as a mesa APD, the semiconductor photodetector includes a mesa structure formed on a first semiconductor layer of the first conduction type formed on a semiconductor substrate, the mesa structure including a light absorbing layer for absorbing light, an electric field buffer layer for dropping an electric field intensity, an avalanche multiplication layer for causing avalanche multiplication to occur, and a second semiconductor layer of the second conduction type, wherein the thickness of the avalanche multiplication layer at the portion in the vicinity of the side face of the mesa structure is made thinner than the thickness at the central portion of the mesa structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignees: Fujitsu Limited, Sumitomo Electric Device Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Nami Yasuoka, Haruhiko Kuwatsuka, Toru Uchida, Yoshihiro Yoneda
  • Patent number: 8772075
    Abstract: A display region and a light sensing region are defined in each pixel region of the OLED touch panel of the present invention. The readout thin film transistor of the light sensing region is formed by the same processes with the drive thin film transistor of the display region. The top and bottom electrodes of the optical sensor are formed by the same processes with the top and bottom electrodes of the OLED. Accordingly, the present invention can just add a step of forming the patterned sensing dielectric layer to the processes of forming an OLED panel to integrate the optical sensor into the pixel region of the OLED panel. Thus, an OLED touch panel is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: AU Optronics Corp.
    Inventors: An-Thung Cho, Jung-Yen Huang, Chia-Tien Peng, Chun-Hsiun Chen, Wei-Ming Huang
  • Patent number: 8735228
    Abstract: A trench isolation metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) P-N junction diode device and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The trench isolation MOS P-N junction diode device is a combination of an N-channel MOS structure and a lateral P-N junction diode, wherein a polysilicon-filled trench oxide layer is buried in the P-type structure to replace the majority of the P-type structure. As a consequence, the trench isolation MOS P-N junction diode device of the present invention has the benefits of the Schottky diode and the P-N junction diode. That is, the trench isolation MOS P-N junction diode device has rapid switching speed, low forward voltage drop, low reverse leakage current and short reverse recovery time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: PFC Device Corp.
    Inventors: Mei-Ling Chen, Hung-Hsin Kuo, Kuo-Liang Chao
  • Patent number: 8729539
    Abstract: Provided is a light-emitting apparatus which, without using an insulating film for separating pixels, inhibits leakage current between adjacent pixels and which accommodates higher resolution. By providing a groove in an insulating layer along an edge of a first electrode, the thickness of a first charge transport layer is reduced to inhibit leakage current between adjacent pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuaki Kakinuma, Seishi Miura, Koichi Ishige, Nobuhiko Sato
  • Patent number: 8723286
    Abstract: Coil units are disclosed for use in electrical circuits. An exemplary coil unit comprises a rigid substrate having an electrically non-conductive three-dimensional (3-D) surface. At least one 3-D coil (shaped, for example, as a helical coil) of semiconductor material is formed on the substrate surface. Disposed on the at least one coil of semiconductor material is a 3-D coil of a conductive metal. The coil of conductive metal is situated sufficiently closely to the at least one coil of semiconductor material for the coil of conductive metal to produce Coulombic drag in the at least one coil of semiconductor material when the coils are conductive of low-mass electrons. The semiconductor material can be a photoconductor or other material that has conductive low-mass electrons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Levitronics, Inc.
    Inventor: William N. Barbat
  • Patent number: 8710614
    Abstract: A light receiving element includes a core configured to propagate a signal light, a first semiconductor layer having a first conductivity type, the first semiconductor layer being configured to receive the signal light from the core along a first direction in which the core extends, an absorbing layer configured to absorb the signal light received by the first semiconductor layer, and a second semiconductor layer having a second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Kazumasa Takabayashi
  • Patent number: 8703525
    Abstract: A solar cell includes; a substrate; a first electrode disposed on the substrate, and including a first groove formed therein, a semiconductor layer disposed on the first electrode, and including a second groove formed therein, and a second electrode disposed on the semiconductor layer and connected to the first electrode via the second groove, wherein a third groove passing through the first electrode, the semiconductor layer, and the second electrode is formed in a first region, a fourth groove passing through only the semiconductor layer and the second electrode is formed in a second region, and the first region and the second region are alternately disposed along a direction of extension of the third groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignees: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd., Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Joong-Hyun Park
  • Publication number: 20140103480
    Abstract: A mask for partially blocking ultraviolet rays in TFT glass substrate manufacturing process is disclosed. The mask includes a panel pattern area for forming the panel patterns, and an additional pattern area for forming additional patterns in a rim of the panel pattern area. In addition, a TFT glass substrate and the manufacturing thereof are also disclosed. By arranging the additional patterns in the rim of the panel patterns, the microstructures in the rim of the panel patterns are substantially the same with that in the middle of the panel patterns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: SHENZHEN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO
    Inventors: Pei Lin, Hua Zheng, Liangdong Wu, Shangpan Chen, Long Pan, Pan Gao, Mingwen Lin, Shyh-Feng Chen
  • Publication number: 20140103481
    Abstract: A semiconductor substrate according to the present invention includes: a substrate; an electrode array which is provided on the surface on one side in a thickness direction of the substrate and in which a plurality of electrodes is two-dimensionally arranged in a plan view; and a resin layer which is provided on the surface on one side and seals peripheries of the plurality of electrodes. The plurality of electrodes protrudes by greater than or equal to 5% of its own height on the resin layer and is capable of being accommodated in the resin layer by being compressed in the thickness direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shugo Ishizuka, Yuichi Gomi, Yoshiaki Takemoto
  • Patent number: 8686526
    Abstract: The invention is directed to providing a semiconductor device receiving a blue-violet laser, of which the reliability and yield are enhanced. A device element converting a blue-violet laser into an electric signal is formed on a front surface of a semiconductor substrate. An optically transparent substrate is attached to the front surface of the semiconductor substrate with an adhesive layer being interposed therebetween. The adhesive layer contains transparent silicone. Since the front surface of the device element is covered by the optically transparent substrate, foreign substances are prevented from adhering to the front surface of the device element. Furthermore, the adhesive layer is covered by the optically transparent substrate. This prevents the adhesive layer from being exposed to outside air, thereby preventing the degradation of the adhesive layer 6 due to a blue-violet laser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Kitagawa, Hiroyuki Shinogi, Shinzo Ishibe, Hiroshi Yamada
  • Patent number: 8685858
    Abstract: Hemispheres and spheres are formed and employed for a plurality of applications. Hemispheres are employed to form a substrate having an upper surface and a lower surface. The upper surface includes peaks of pillars which have a base attached to the lower surface. The peaks have a density defined at the upper surface by an array of hemispherical metal structures that act as a mask during an etch to remove substrate material down to the lower surface during formation of the pillars. The pillars are dense and uniform and include a microscale average diameter. The spheres are formed as independent metal spheres or nanoparticles for other applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Augustin J. Hong, Woo-Shik Jung, Jeehwan Kim, Jae-Woong Nah, Devendra K. Sadana
  • Patent number: 8682116
    Abstract: One embodiment provides an integrated circuit including a first non-planar structure and a waveguide configured to provide electromagnetic waves to the first non-planar structure. The first non-planar structure provides a first signal in response to at least some of the electromagnetic waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Thomas Schulz
  • Patent number: 8637951
    Abstract: A semiconductor light receiving element comprises: a substrate, a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type formed on the substrate, a non-doped semiconductor light absorbing layer formed on the semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type, a semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type formed on the non-doped semiconductor light absorbing layer, and an electro-conductive layer formed on the semiconductor layer of the second conductivity type. A plurality of openings, periodically arrayed, are formed in a laminated body composed of the electro-conductive layer, the semiconductor layer of the second conductivity type, and the non-doped semiconductor light absorbing layer. The widths of the openings are less than or equal to the wavelength of incident light, and the openings pass through the electro-conductive layer and the semiconductor layer of the second conductivity type to reach the non-doped semiconductor light absorbing layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Daisuke Okamoto, Junichi Fujikata, Kenichi Nishi
  • Patent number: 8633513
    Abstract: Structures and method for reducing junction leakage in semiconductor devices. The die can include a substrate having a cut edge, a first region of first conductivity type within the substrate and a region of a second conductivity type within the substrate and in contact with the first region forming a junction. At least one semiconductor device is on the substrate. A second region of the first conductivity type is between the plurality of semiconductor devices and the cut edge within the region of the second conductivity type, and extending to the junction. The second region of the first conductivity type can isolate the at least one semiconductor device from leakage pathways created by saw damage at the junction along the cut edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Aptina Imaging Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Doyle, Jeffrey Gleason
  • Publication number: 20140017839
    Abstract: An optoelectronic device as well as its methods of use and manufacture are disclosed. In one embodiment, the optoelectronic device includes a first optoelectronic material that is inhomogeneously strained. A first charge carrier collector and a second charge carrier collector are each in electrical communication with the first optoelectronic material and are adapted to collect charge carriers from the first optoelectronic material. In another embodiment, a method of photocatalyzing a reaction includes using a strained optoelectronic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: Peking University
    Inventors: Ju Li, Xiaofeng Qian, Ji Feng
  • Publication number: 20140001592
    Abstract: A semiconductor light-receiving element includes: a light-receiving portion that is provided on a semi-insulating substrate and has a mesa shape in which semiconductor layers are laminated; a lamination structure of insulating films that is provided on a part of a side face of the light-receiving portion and has a structure in which a first insulating film comprised of a silicon nitride film, a second insulating film comprised of a silicon oxynitride film and a third insulating film comprised of a silicon nitride film are laminated in contact with each other; and a resin film that is provided adjacent to the light-receiving portion, the resin film being sandwiched in or between any of the first insulating film, the second insulating film and the third insulating film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Inventors: Ryuji YAMABI, Yoshifumi NISHIMOTO
  • Patent number: 8610170
    Abstract: An array structure solves issues that exist in conventional compound semiconductor photodiode arrays, such as large cross talk, large surface leaks, large stray capacitance, narrow detection wavelength bands, and bad manufacturing yield, simultaneously. A photodiode array has, laminated upon a semiconductor substrate, a buffer layer (8) with a broad forbidden band width, an I-type (low concentration photosensitive layer (2) with a narrow forbidden band width, and an n-type semiconductor window layer (3) with a broad forbidden band width, wherein photodiode elements are electrically separated from adjacent elements, by doping the periphery of the p-type impurity, and the detection wavelength band is expanded, by making the n-type window layer (3) on the photosensitive layer (2) a thinner layer with crystal growth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Irspec Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Nishida, Mutsuo Ogura
  • Patent number: 8604580
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides a silicon photodetector having a surface layer that is doped with sulfur inclusions with an average concentration in a range of about 0.5 atom percent to about 1.5 atom percent. The surface layer forms a diode junction with an underlying portion of the substrate. A plurality of electrical contacts allow application of a reverse bias voltage to the junction in order to facilitate generation of an electrical signal, e.g., a photocurrent, in response to irradiation of the surface layer. The photodetector exhibits a responsivity greater than about 1 A/W for incident wavelengths in a range of about 250 nm to about 1050 nm, and a responsivity greater than about 0.1 A/W for longer wavelengths, e.g., up to about 3.5 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: President and Fellows of Harvard College
    Inventors: Eric Mazur, James Edward Carey
  • Publication number: 20130320358
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is manufactured by forming at least one epitaxial structure over a substrate. A portion of the substrate is cut and lifted to expose a partial surface of the epitaxial structure. A first electrode is then formed on the exposed partial surface to result in a vertical semiconductor device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: PHOSTEK, INC.
    Inventor: Yuan-Hsiao CHANG
  • Publication number: 20130299934
    Abstract: A pixel and pixel array for use in an image sensor are provided. The image sensor includes floating sensing nodes symmetrically arranged with respect to a photodiode in each pixel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Inventors: Min-seok OH, Eun-sub SHIM, Jung-chak AHN, Moo-sup LIM, Sung-ho CHOI
  • Patent number: 8581313
    Abstract: There is employed a lamination structure of semiconductor substrate in which light receiving part having a photoelectric converting function is formed in an inner portion, and insulating films and wirings. There are provided a wiring layer formed above semiconductor substrate and having a concave portion formed in a place corresponding to a portion disposed above light receiving part, second insulating film having a higher refractive index than insulating films and covering a side surface of the wiring layer facing the concave portion, third insulating film having a lower refractive index than second insulating film and covering the side surface of second insulating film, and fourth insulating film having a higher refractive index than third insulating film and covering the side surface of third insulating film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Motonari Katsuno, Masayuki Takase, Tetsuya Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8569853
    Abstract: A semiconductor light-receiving device includes a semiconductor light-receiving element that has a first electrode and a second electrode, a first wiring coupled to the first electrode, and a second wiring coupled to the second electrode, a width of the second wiring being smaller than a width of the first wiring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Device Innovations, Inc.
    Inventor: Yuji Koyama
  • Patent number: 8564036
    Abstract: In a photodetector 1, a low-resistance Si substrate 3, an insulating layer 4, a high-resistance Si substrate 5, and an Si photodiode 20 construct a hermetically sealed package for an InGaAs photodiode 30 placed within a recess 6, while an electric passage part 8 of the low-resistance Si substrate 3 and a wiring film 15 achieve electric wiring for the Si photodiode 20 and InGaAs photodiode 30. While a p-type region 22 of the Si photodiode 20 is disposed in a part on the rear face 21b side of an Si substrate 21, a p-type region 32 of the InGaAs photodiode 30 is disposed in a part on the front face 31a side of an InGaAs substrate 31.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Warashina, Masatoshi Ishihara, Tomofumi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8541857
    Abstract: Backside illumination CMOS image sensors having convex light-receiving faces and methods of manufacturing the same. A backside illumination CMOS image sensor includes a metal layer, an insulating layer and a photodiode. The insulating layer is on the metal layer. The photodiode is on the insulating layer, and a top face of the photodiode, which receives light, is curved. A method of manufacturing a backside illumination CMOS image sensor including a photodiode having a convex surface includes forming an island smaller than the photodiode on a portion of a light-receiving face of the photodiode, and annealing the island to form the photodiode having the convex light-receiving face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jung-chak Ahn, Kyung-ho Lee
  • Publication number: 20130221474
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image sensor includes an image-sensing element region formed by arranging a plurality of image-sensing elements on a semiconductor substrate, and a logic circuit region formed in a region different from the image-sensing element region on the substrate and including a plurality of gate patterns. Further, dummy gate patterns are formed with a constant pitch on the image-sensing element region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
  • Publication number: 20130168658
    Abstract: An exemplary printable composition of a liquid or gel suspension of diodes comprises a plurality of diodes, a first solvent and/or a viscosity modifier. An exemplary diode comprises: a light emitting or absorbing region having a diameter between about 20 and 30 microns and a height between 2.5 to 7 microns; a plurality of first terminals spaced apart and coupled to the light emitting region peripherally on a first side, each first terminal of the plurality of first terminals having a height between about 0.5 to 2 microns; and one second terminal coupled centrally to a mesa region of the light emitting region on the first side, the second terminal having a height between 1 to 8 microns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: NTHDEGREE TECHNOLOGIES WORLDWIDE INC.
    Inventor: NTHDEGREE TECHNOLOGIES WORLDWIDE INC.
  • Patent number: 8476725
    Abstract: The present invention is a front-side contact, back-side illuminated (FSC-BSL) photodiode arrays and front-side illuminated, back-side contact (FSL-BSC) photodiode arrays having improved characteristics, including high production throughput, low-cost manufacturing via implementation of batch processing techniques; uniform, as well as high, photocurrent density owing to presence of a large continuous homogeneous, heavily doped layer; and back to front intrachip connections via the homogenous, heavily doped layers on the front and back sides of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: OSI Optoelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Steven Bui, Narayan Dass Taneja
  • Publication number: 20130162330
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to photo cell devices. In one embodiment, a trench-based photo cells provides very fast capture of photo-generated charge carriers, particularly when compared with conventional approaches, as the trenches of the photo cells create depleted regions deep within the bulk of the substrate that avoid the time-consuming diffusion of carriers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Inventor: Thoralf Kautzsch
  • Patent number: 8471353
    Abstract: A mesa photodiode which includes a mesa, the side wall of the mesa (a light-receiving region mesa) and at least a shoulder portion of the mesa in an upper face of the mesa are continuously covered with a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type, a second conductivity type, a semi-insulating type, or an undoped type (an undoped InP layer, for example) that is grown on the side wall and the upper face of the mesa. In the semiconductor layer, a layer thickness D1 of a portion covering the side wall of the mesa is equal to or greater than 850 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoaki Koi, Isao Watanabe, Takashi Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8466529
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an imaging device includes a substrate, a photodetecting portion, a circuit portion and a through interconnect. The substrate has a first major surface, a second major surface on a side opposite to the first major surface, a recess portion provided on the first major surface and retreated in a first direction going from the first major surface to the second major surface, and a through hole communicating with the first major surface and the second major surface and extending in the first direction. The photodetecting portion is provided above the recess portion and away from the substrate. The circuit portion is electrically connected to the photodetecting portion and provided on the first major surface. The through interconnect is electrically connected to the circuit portion and provided inside the through hole. The recess portion has a first inclined surface. The through hole has a second inclined surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Suzuki, Risako Ueno, Honam Kwon, Koichi Ishii, Hideyuki Funaki
  • Patent number: 8455753
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to minimize an electrode in a solar cell to minimize the solar cell. The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a solar cell comprising the steps of forming a first electrode layer over a substrate, forming a photoelectric conversion layer over the first electrode layer, forming an organic layer over the photoelectric conversion layer, forming an opening reaching the first electrode layer in the photoelectric conversion layer, and forming a second electrode layer by filling the opening with a conductive paste, wherein the organic layer modifies the surface of the photoelectric conversion layer and a contact angle between the conductive paste and the photoelectric conversion becomes greater. According to the present invention, wettability of a photoelectric conversion layer can be decreased by forming an organic layer on a surface of the photoelectric conversion layer. Thereby an electrode layer and an insulating isolation layer can be thinned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Nishi, Tomoyuki Aoki, Toshiyuki Isa, Gen Fujii
  • Patent number: 8455294
    Abstract: A method for making the image sensor structure, for avoiding or mitigating lens shading effect. The image sensor structure includes a substrate, a sensor array disposed at the surface of the substrate, a dielectric layer covering the sensor array, wherein the dielectric layer includes a top surface having a dishing structure, an under layer filled into the dishing structure and having a refraction index greater than that of the dielectric layer, a filter array disposed on the under layer corresponding to the sensor array, and a microlens array disposed above the filter array. A top layer may be additionally disposed to cover the filter array and the microlens array is disposed on the top layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventor: Cheng-Hung Yu
  • Patent number: 8450138
    Abstract: Provided herein are embodiments of a three-dimensional bicontinuous heterostructure, a method of producing same, and the application of this structure. The three-dimensional bicontinuous heterostructure includes two interpenetrating layers which are spatially continuous, include only protrusions or peninsulas, and have no islands. The method of producing the three-dimensional bicontinuous heterostructure includes forming an essentially planar continuous bottom layer of a first material; forming a layer of this first material on top of the bottom layer that is textured to produce protrusions for subsequent interpenetration with a second material, coating this second material onto this structure, and forming a coating with the second material that ensures that only the second material is contacted by subsequent layer. One of the materials includes visible and/or infrared-absorbing semiconducting quantum dot nanoparticles, and one of materials is a hole conductor and the other is an electron conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: InVisage Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Sargent, Steven Ashworth McDonald, Shiguo Zhang, Larissa Levina, Gerasimos Konstantatos, Paul Cyr
  • Patent number: 8446002
    Abstract: A multilayer wiring substrate has a through hole that passes from a first surface through to a second surface. The multilayer wiring substrate includes an electrical connection terminal formed in at least one of an inner edge portion which is a periphery of the through hole, an outer edge portion which is an outer periphery of the substrate, and a non-edge portion, on at least one of the first surface and the second surface. The electrical connection terminal has a castellation structure that does not pass through to a surface opposite to a formation surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Noriko Shibuta, Tohru Terasaki, Tomoyasu Yamada, Nobuo Naito, Yukihiko Tsukuda, Ryu Nonoyama
  • Patent number: 8431975
    Abstract: A back side illumination (BSI) image sensor includes at least one pixel. The pixel area includes a photo diode and a transfer transistor. The transfer transistor has a control electrode made of a gate poly and a gate oxide for receiving a control instruction, a first electrode coupled to the photo diode, and a second electrode, wherein an induced conduction channel of the transfer transistor partially surrounds a recessed space which is filled with the gate poly and the gate oxide of the transfer transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Himax Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Chih-Wei Hsiung, Fang-Ming Huang, Chung-Wei Chang
  • Patent number: 8421173
    Abstract: A chip package structure includes a silicon substrate, a sensing component, a metal circuit layer, a first insulating layer and a conductive metal layer. The silicon substrate has opposite first and second surfaces. The sensing component is disposed on the first surface. The metal circuit layer is disposed on the first surface and electrically connected to the sensing component. The first insulating layer covers the second surface and has a first through hole to expose a portion of the second surface. The conductive metal layer is disposed on the first insulating layer and includes first leads and a second lead. The first leads are electrically connected to the metal circuit layer. The second lead is filled in the first through hole to electrically connect to the silicon substrate and one of the first leads. A chip packaging process for fabricating the chip package structure is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Pixart Imaging Inc.
    Inventors: Wei-Chung Wang, Sen-Huang Huang
  • Patent number: 8415758
    Abstract: An optoelectronic device that includes a material having enhanced electronic transitions. The electronic transitions are enhanced by mixing electronic states at an interface. The interface may be formed by a nano-well, a nano-dot, or a nano-wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Los Alamos National Security, LLC
    Inventor: Marcie R. Black
  • Patent number: 8415555
    Abstract: Methods of fabricating dimensional silica-based substrates or structures comprising a porous silicon layers are contemplated. According to one embodiment, oxygen is extracted from the atomic elemental composition of a silica glass substrate by reacting a metallic gas with the substrate in a heated inert atmosphere to form a metal-oxygen complex along a surface of the substrate. The metal-oxygen complex is removed from the surface of the silica glass substrate to yield a crystalline porous silicon surface portion and one or more additional layers are formed over the crystalline porous silicon surface portion of the silica glass substrate to yield a dimensional silica-based substrate or structure comprising the porous silicon layer. Embodiments are also contemplated where the substrate is glass-based, but is not necessarily a silica-based glass substrate. Additional embodiments are disclosed and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Robert A. Bellman, Nicholas F. Borrelli, David A. Deneka, Shawn M. O'Malley, Vitor M. Schneider
  • Patent number: 8405298
    Abstract: Light-emitting devices, and related components, systems and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Luminus Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexei A. Erchak, Elefterios Lidorikis, Chiyan Luo
  • Patent number: 8399950
    Abstract: A photodiode includes a photosensitive element formed in a silicon semiconductor layer on an insulation layer. The photosensitive element includes a low concentration diffusion layer, a P-type high concentration diffusion layer, and an N-type high concentration diffusion layer. A method of producing the photodiode includes the steps of: forming an insulation material layer on the silicon semiconductor layer after the P-type impurity and the N-type impurity are implanted into the low concentration diffusion layer, the P-type high concentration diffusion layer, and the N-type high concentration diffusion layer; forming an opening portion in the insulation material layer in an area for forming the low concentration diffusion layer; and etching the silicon semiconductor layer in the area for forming the low concentration diffusion layer so that a thickness of the silicon semiconductor layer is reduced to a specific level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Oki Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Noriyuki Miura
  • Patent number: 8394661
    Abstract: A structuring device is for structuring a plate-like element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: InnoLas Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Richard Grundmueller
  • Publication number: 20130049158
    Abstract: Hemispheres and spheres are formed and employed for a plurality of applications. Hemispheres are employed to form a substrate having an upper surface and a lower surface. The upper surface includes peaks of pillars which have a base attached to the lower surface. The peaks have a density defined at the upper surface by an array of hemispherical metal structures that act as a mask during an etch to remove substrate material down to the lower surface during formation of the pillars. The pillars are dense and uniform and include a microscale average diameter. The spheres are formed as independent metal spheres or nanoparticles for other applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Augustin J. Hong, Woo-Shik Jung, Jeehwan Kim, Jae-woong Nah, Devendra K. Sadana
  • Publication number: 20130026595
    Abstract: A semiconductor light-receiving device includes a semiconductor light-receiving element that has a first electrode and a second electrode, a first wiring coupled to the first electrode, and a second wiring coupled to the second electrode, a width of the second wiring being smaller than a width of the first wiring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC DEVICE INNOVATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Yuji Koyama
  • Patent number: 8362354
    Abstract: A photovoltaic apparatus includes a second groove so formed as to cut at least an intermediate layer, an insulating member so formed as to cover at least a cut portion of the intermediate layer in the second groove and extend along an upper surface of a second photoelectric conversion layer, and a third groove so formed as to pass through a first photoelectric conversion layer, the intermediate layer, the second photoelectric conversion layer and the insulating member on a region opposite to a first groove with respect to the second groove, wherein the insulating member is so formed as to extend up to at least a region opposite to the first groove with respect to the third groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wataru Shinohara
  • Patent number: 8362494
    Abstract: An electro-optic device is disclosed. The electro-optic device includes an insulating layer, a first semiconducting region disposed above the insulating layer and being doped with doping atoms of a first conductivity type, a second semiconducting region disposed above the insulating layer and being doped with doping atoms of a second conductivity type and an electro-optic active region disposed above the insulating layer and between the first semiconducting region and the second semiconducting region. The electro-optic active region includes a first partial active region and a second partial active region and an insulating structure in between. The insulating structure extends perpendicular to the surface of the insulating layer such that there is no overlap of the first partial active region and the second partial active region in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the insulating layer. A method for manufacturing is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Agency for Science, Technology and Research
    Inventors: Guo-Qiang Patrick Lo, Kee-Soon Darryl Wang, Wei-Yip Loh, Mingbin Yu, Junfeng Song
  • Publication number: 20130015850
    Abstract: The cost and size of an atomic magnetometer are reduced by attaching together a first die which integrates together a vapor cell, top and side photo detectors, and processing electronics, a second die which integrates together an optics package and a heater for the vapor cell, and a third die which integrates together a VCSEL, a heater for the VCSEL, and control electronics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Inventors: Philipp Lindorfer, Peter J. Hopper, William French, Paul Mawson, Steven Hunt, Roozbeh Parsa
  • Patent number: 8350351
    Abstract: A semiconductor light receiving device includes: a first semiconductor light receiving element that is provided on a semiconductor substrate and has a mesa structure having an upper electrode to be coupled to an electrode wiring of a mounting carrier and a lower electrode; a first mesa that is provided on the semiconductor substrate and has an upper electrode coupled electrically to a lower electrode of the first semiconductor light receiving element with a wiring provided on the semiconductor substrate; and a second mesa that is provided on the semiconductor substrate and has an upper electrode that has a same electrical potential as the upper electrode of the first semiconductor light receiving element when coupled to the electrode wiring on the mounting carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Device Innovations, Inc.
    Inventor: Yuji Koyama
  • Patent number: 8344501
    Abstract: A multilayer wiring substrate has a through hole that passes from a first surface through to a second surface. The multilayer wiring substrate includes an electrical connection terminal formed in at least one of an inner edge portion which is a periphery of the through hole, an outer edge portion which is an outer periphery of the substrate, and a non-edge portion, on at least one of the first surface and the second surface. The electrical connection terminal has a castellation structure that does not pass through to a surface opposite to a formation surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Noriko Shibuta, Tohru Terasaki, Tomoyasu Yamada, Nobuo Naito, Yukihiko Tsukuda, Ryu Nonoyama