Patents by Inventor Andrew D. Koehler

Andrew D. Koehler 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: 12376388
    Abstract: A light controlled semiconductor switch (LCSS), method of making, and method of using are provided. In embodiments, a vertical LCSS includes: a semiconductor body including a photoactive layer of gallium nitride (GaN) doped with carbon; a first electrode in contact with a first surface of the semiconductor body, the first electrode defining an area through which light energy from at least one light source can impinge on the first surface; and a second electrode in contact with a second surface of the semiconductor body opposed to the first surface, wherein the vertical LCSS is configured to switch from a non-conductive off-state to a conductive on-state when the light energy impinging on the semiconductor body is sufficient to raise electrons within the photoactive layer into a conduction band of the photoactive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2025
    Assignee: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Andrew D. Koehler, Travis J. Anderson, Geoffrey M. Foster, Karl D. Hobart, Francis J. Kub, Michael A. Mastro
  • Publication number: 20250126931
    Abstract: A wafer-scale method of making gallium nitride (GaN) device die is provided. In embodiments, the method includes: providing a GaN wafer including a GaN material layer, a non-crystalline substrate, and at least one etchable intermediate layer between the GaN material layer and the non-crystalline substrate; forming trenches through the GaN material layer and at least partially through the at least one etchable intermediate layer; forming one or more tether material layers on a first side of the GaN material layer and through portions of the trenches, thereby forming a set of tethers between the GaN material layer and the non-crystalline substrate; and removing the at least one etchable intermediate layer to expose a second side of the GaN material layer. In implementations, the resulting exposed second side of the GaN material layer has a surface roughness of less than 1 nanometers (nm) Root Mean Square (RMS).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2024
    Publication date: April 17, 2025
    Applicant: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Francis J. Kub, Andrew D. Koehler, Travis J. Anderson, Karl D. Hobart, Marko J. Tadjer
  • Patent number: 11996840
    Abstract: Light controlled switching modules are provide. In embodiments, a light controlled switching module includes: a housing; a light controlled semiconductor switch mounted to the housing, the light controlled semiconductor switch including a semiconductor body; at least one light source mounted to the housing in a spaced relationship from the light controlled semiconductor switch and positioned to direct light emitted from the at least one light source toward the semiconductor body; and first and second electrodes mounted to the housing and connected to the light controlled semiconductor switch, wherein the first and second electrodes are configured to have variable resistance between the first and the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Andrew D Koehler, Travis J. Anderson, Geoffrey M. Foster, Karl D. Hobart, Francis J. Kub, Michael A. Mastro
  • Publication number: 20240097064
    Abstract: A light controlled semiconductor switch (LCSS), method of making, and method of using are provided. In embodiments, a vertical LCSS includes: a semiconductor body including a photoactive layer of gallium nitride (GaN) doped with carbon; a first electrode in contact with a first surface of the semiconductor body, the first electrode defining an area through which light energy from at least one light source can impinge on the first surface; and a second electrode in contact with a second surface of the semiconductor body opposed to the first surface, wherein the vertical LCSS is configured to switch from a non-conductive off-state to a conductive on-state when the light energy impinging on the semiconductor body is sufficient to raise electrons within the photoactive layer into a conduction band of the photoactive layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Andrew D. Koehler, Travis J. Anderson, Geoffrey M. Foster, Karl D. Hobart, Francis J. Kub, Michael A. Mastro
  • Patent number: 11634834
    Abstract: A method for growing polycrystalline diamond films having engineered grain growth and microstructure. Grain growth of a polycrystalline diamond film on a substrate is manipulated by growing the diamond on a nanopatterned substrate having features on the order of the initial grain size of the diamond film. By growing the diamond on such nanopatterned substrates, the crystal texture of a polycrystalline diamond film can be engineered to favor the preferred <110> orientation texture, which in turn enhances the thermal conductivity of the diamond film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Karl D. Hobart, Tatyana I. Feygelson, Marko J. Tadjer, Travis J. Anderson, Andrew D. Koehler, Samuel Graham, Jr., Mark Goorsky, Zhe Cheng, Luke Yates, Tingyu Bai, Yekan Wang
  • Publication number: 20230030549
    Abstract: A hybrid edge termination structure and method of forming the same. The hybrid edge termination structure in accordance with the invention is based on a junction termination extension (JTE) architecture, but includes an additional Layer of guard ring (GR) structures to further implement the implantation of dopants into the structure. The hybrid edge termination structure of the invention has a three-Layer structure, with a top Layer and a bottom Layer each having a constant dopant concentration in the lateral direction, and a middle Layer consisting of a plurality of spatially defined alternating regions that exhibit the electrical properties of either the top or bottom layer. By including the second layer, a discretized varying charge profile can be obtained that approximates the varying charge profile obtained using tapered edge termination but with easier manufacturing and lower cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2022
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Applicant: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Travis J. Anderson, Mona A. Ebrish, Andrew D. Koehler, Alan G. Jacobs, Matthew A. Porter, Karl D. Hobart, Prakash Pandey, Tolen Michael Nelson, Daniel G. Georgiev, Raghav Khanna, Michael Robert Hontz
  • Patent number: 11342420
    Abstract: Current conducting devices and methods for their formation are disclosed. Described are vertical current devices that include a substrate, an n-type material layer, a plurality of p-type gates, and a source. The n-type material layer disposed on the substrate and includes a current channel. A plurality of p-type gates are disposed on opposite sides of the current channel. A source is disposed on a distal side of the current channel with respect to the substrate. The n-type material layer comprises beta-gallium oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Francis J. Kub, Travis J. Anderson, Marko J. Tadjer, Andrew D. Koehler, Karl D. Hobart
  • Publication number: 20210381127
    Abstract: A method for growing polycrystalline diamond films having engineered grain growth and microstructure. Grain growth of a polycrystalline diamond film on a substrate is manipulated by growing the diamond on a nanopatterned substrate having features on the order of the initial grain size of the diamond film. By growing the diamond on such nanopatterned substrates, the crystal texture of a polycrystalline diamond film can be engineered to favor the preferred <110> orientation texture, which in turn enhances the thermal conductivity of the diamond film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Applicant: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Karl D. Hobart, Tatyana I. Feygelson, Marko J. Tadjer, Travis J. Anderson, Andrew D. Koehler, Samuel Graham, JR., Mark Goorsky, Zhe Cheng, Luke Yates, Tingyu Bai, Yekan Wang
  • Patent number: 11131039
    Abstract: A method for growing polycrystalline diamond films having engineered grain growth and microstructure. Grain growth of a polycrystalline diamond film on a substrate is manipulated by growing the diamond on a nanopatterned substrate having features on the order of the initial grain size of the diamond film. By growing the diamond on such nanopatterned substrates, the crystal texture of a polycrystalline diamond film can be engineered to favor the preferred <110> orientation texture, which in turn enhances the thermal conductivity of the diamond film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Karl D. Hobart, Tatyana I. Feygelson, Marko J. Tadjer, Travis J. Anderson, Andrew D. Koehler, Samuel Graham, Jr., Mark Goorsky, Zhe Cheng, Luke Yates, Tingyu Bai, Yekan Wang
  • Publication number: 20210005721
    Abstract: Current conducting devices and methods for their formation are disclosed. Described are vertical current devices that include a substrate, an n-type material layer, a plurality of p-type gates, and a source. The n-type material layer disposed on the substrate and includes a current channel. A plurality of p-type gates are disposed on opposite sides of the current channel. A source is disposed on a distal side of the current channel with respect to the substrate. The n-type material layer comprises beta-gallium oxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventors: Francis J. Kub, Travis J. Anderson, Marko J. Tadjer, Andrew D. Koehler, Karl D. Hobart
  • Patent number: 10777644
    Abstract: Current conducting devices and methods for their formation are disclosed. Described are vertical current devices that include a substrate, an n-type material layer, a plurality of p-type gates, and a source. The n-type material layer disposed on the substrate and includes a current channel. A plurality of p-type gates are disposed on opposite sides of the current channel. A source is disposed on a distal side of the current channel with respect to the substrate. The n-type material layer comprises beta-gallium oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Francis J. Kub, Travis J. Anderson, Marko J. Tadjer, Andrew D. Koehler, Karl D. Hobart
  • Publication number: 20190360117
    Abstract: A method for growing polycrystalline diamond films having engineered grain growth and microstructure. Grain growth of a polycrystalline diamond film on a substrate is manipulated by growing the diamond on a nanopatterned substrate having features on the order of the initial grain size of the diamond film. By growing the diamond on such nanopatterned substrates, the crystal texture of a polycrystalline diamond film can be engineered to favor the preferred <110> orientation texture, which in turn enhances the thermal conductivity of the diamond film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Applicant: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Karl D. Hobart, Tatyana I. Feygelson, Marko J. Tadjer, Travis J. Anderson, Andrew D. Koehler, Sam Graham, JR., Mark Goorsky, Zhe Cheng, Luke Yates, Tingyu Bai, Yekan Wang
  • Publication number: 20190305157
    Abstract: An extreme ultraviolet (EUV) photodetector is formed by providing a substrate having a first doping type of material; forming a photodetector body layer having the first doping type of material over the substrate, wherein the photodetector body layer includes a carrier collection region and a potential barrier maximum level; and forming a carrier collection material layer over the photodetector body layer. The carrier collection region includes a region between the potential barrier maximum level and the carrier collection material layer. The potential barrier maximum level includes a height within the photodetector body layer that prevents photogenerated carriers created at a depth deeper than the potential barrier maximum level from transporting to the carrier collection region and the carrier collection material layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2018
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventors: Francis J. Kub, Travis J. Anderson, Karl D. Hobart, Andrew D. Koehler
  • Patent number: 10424643
    Abstract: A device structure and method for improving thermal management in highly scaled, high power electronic and optoelectronic devices such as GaN FET and AlGaN/GaN HEMT devices by implementing diamond air bridges into such devices to remove waste heat. The diamond air bridge can be formed from a polycrystalline diamond material layer which can be grown on the surface of a dielectric material layer, on the surface of a III-nitride material, or on the surface of a diamond polycrystalline nucleation layer, and may be optimized to have a high thermal conductivity at the growth interface with the underlying material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Karl D. Hobart, Andrew D. Koehler, Francis J. Kub, Travis J. Anderson, Tatyana I. Feygelson, Marko J. Tadjer, Lunet E. Luna
  • Publication number: 20190252501
    Abstract: A device structure and method for improving thermal management in highly scaled, high power electronic and optoelectronic devices such as GaN FET and AlGaN/GaN HEMT devices by implementing diamond air bridges into such devices to remove waste heat. The diamond air bridge can be formed from a polycrystalline diamond material layer which can be grown on the surface of a dielectric material layer, on the surface of a III-nitride material, or on the surface of a diamond polycrystalline nucleation layer, and may be optimized to have a high thermal conductivity at the growth interface with the underlying material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventors: Karl D. Hobart, Andrew D. Koehler, Francis J. Kub, Travis J. Anderson, Tatyana I. Feygelson, Marko J. Tadjer, Lunet E. Luna
  • Patent number: 10312175
    Abstract: A device structure and method for improving thermal management in highly scaled, high power electronic and optoelectronic devices such as GaN FET and AlGaN/GaN HEMT devices by implementing diamond air bridges into such devices to remove waste heat. The diamond air bridge can be formed from a polycrystalline diamond material layer which can be grown on the surface of a dielectric material layer, on the surface of a III-nitride material, or on the surface of a diamond polycrystalline nucleation layer, and may be optimized to have a high thermal conductivity at the growth interface with the underlying material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Karl D. Hobart, Andrew D. Koehler, Francis J. Kub, Travis J. Anderson, Tatyana I. Feygelson, Marko J. Tadjer, Lunet E. Luna
  • Publication number: 20190157181
    Abstract: A device structure and method for improving thermal management in highly scaled, high power electronic and optoelectronic devices such as GaN FET and AlGaN/GaN HEMT devices by implementing diamond air bridges into such devices to remove waste heat. The diamond air bridge can be formed from a polycrystalline diamond material layer which can be grown on the surface of a dielectric material layer, on the surface of a III-nitride material, or on the surface of a diamond polycrystalline nucleation layer, and may be optimized to have a high thermal conductivity at the growth interface with the underlying material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Applicant: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Karl D. Hobart, Andrew D. Koehler, Francis J. Kub, Travis J. Anderson, Tatyana I. Feygelson, Marko J. Tadjer, Lunet E. Luna
  • Patent number: 10229839
    Abstract: An method of annealing by: providing a substrate having a III-nitride, sapphire, silicon, diamond, gallium arsenide, or silicon carbide surface; depositing a layer of a transition metal nitride directly on the surface; and annealing the substrate at at least 900° C. in an oxygen-free environment. An article having: a substrate having a III-nitride, sapphire, silicon, diamond, gallium arsenide, or silicon carbide surface; and a layer of a transition metal nitride directly on the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: The United States of America, as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Travis J. Anderson, Boris N. Feygelson, Andrew D. Koehler, Karl D. Hobart, Francis J. Kub, Jordan Greenlee
  • Patent number: 10158009
    Abstract: A method of making a graphene base transistor with reduced collector area comprising forming an electron injection region, forming an electron collection region, and forming a base region wherein the base region comprises one or more sheets of graphene and wherein the base region is intermediate the electron injection region and the electron collection region and forms electrical interfaces therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Francis J. Kub, Travis J. Anderson, Andrew D. Koehler
  • Publication number: 20180315820
    Abstract: Current conducting devices and methods for their formation are disclosed. Described are vertical current devices that include a substrate, an n-type material layer, a plurality of p-type gates, and a source. The n-type material layer disposed on the substrate and includes a current channel. A plurality of p-type gates are disposed on opposite sides of the current channel. A source is disposed on a distal side of the current channel with respect to the substrate. The n-type material layer comprises beta-gallium oxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventors: Francis J. Kub, Travis J. Anderson, Marko J. Tadjer, Andrew D. Koehler, Karl D. Hobart