Patents by Inventor Alex T Tran

Alex T Tran 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: 6379989
    Abstract: A microoptomechanical structure produced by defining a microoptical structure in a single-crystal silicon layer separated by an insulator layer from a handle wafer, such as a SOI wafer, selectively etching the single crystal silicon layer, depositing a sacrificial oxide layer on the etched single crystal silicon layer, depositing and etching a polysilicon layer on the sacrificial oxide layer, with remaining polysilcon forming hinge elements, and releasing formed microoptical structures. Embodiments use an oxide as an insulator, and other embodiments provide for wafer bonding of the silicon layer to the insulator layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Joel A. Kubby, Jingkuang Chen, Alex T. Tran
  • Patent number: 6362512
    Abstract: A device structure is defined in a single-crystal silicon (SCS) layer separated by an insulator layer, such as an oxide layer, from a handle wafer. The SCS can be attached to the insulator by wafer bonding, and is selectively etched, as by photolithographic patterning and dry etching. A sacrificial oxide layer can be deposited on the etched SCS, on which polysilicon can be deposited. A protective oxide layer is deposited, and CMOS circuitry and sensors are integrated. Silicon microstructures with sensors connected to CMOS circuitry are released. In addition, holes can be etched through the sacrificial oxide layer, sacrificial oxide can be deposited on the etched SCS, polysilicon can be deposited on the sacrificial oxide, PSG can be deposited on the polysilicon layer, which both can then be patterned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Joel A. Kubby, Jingkuang Chen, Alex T. Tran
  • Patent number: 6295130
    Abstract: A microelectromechanically tunable Fabry-Perot spectrophotometer is provided for color sensing. Optical fiber provides light input to a Fabry-Perot filter which is adjusted by a switched capacitor circuit. Spectral intensity is sensed by an integrated photodetector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Decai Sun, Joel A. Kubby, Alex T. Tran, Eric Peeters
  • Patent number: 6257739
    Abstract: A micromachined movable shuttle is constructed in III-V material to allow in situ placement of VCSELs on the shuttle for a solid state image scanner in optical display and printing applications. A comb drive is used to actuate the shuttle for scanning purposes. Hundreds of VCSELs may be fabricated on a large movable shuttle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Decai Sun, Alex T. Tran
  • Patent number: 6054335
    Abstract: A III-V compound light emitter is integrated with Si-based actuators. The Proposed devices take advantage of the superior optical properties of III-V compounds and the superior mechanical properties of Si, as well as mature fabrication technologies of Si-Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS). The emitter can be a light emitting diode (LED), a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) or an edge emitting laser. Electro or magnetic based actuation from Si-based actuators provides linear or angular movement of the light emitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Decai Sun, Ross D. Bringans, Christopher L. Chua, Philip D. Floyd, Eric Peeters, Joel A. Kubby, Alex T. Tran