Patents by Inventor Andrew P. Ritenour

Andrew P. Ritenour 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: 11522518
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device that includes a crystalline substrate and a patterned aluminum-based material layer disposed onto the crystalline substrate. The patterned aluminum-based material layer has a titanium-alloyed surface. A titanium-based material layer is disposed over select portions of the titanium-alloyed surface. In an exemplary embodiment, the patterned aluminum-based material layer forms a pair of interdigitated transducers to provide a surface wave acoustic (SAW) device. The SAW device of the present disclosure is usable to realize SAW-based filters for wireless communication equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.
    Inventors: Casey Kirkpatrick, Andrew P. Ritenour
  • Patent number: 11482986
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device that includes a crystalline substrate and a patterned aluminum-based material layer disposed onto the crystalline substrate. The patterned aluminum-based material layer has a titanium-alloyed surface. A titanium-based material layer is disposed over select portions of the titanium-alloyed surface. In an exemplary embodiment, the patterned aluminum-based material layer forms a pair of interdigitated transducers to provide a surface wave acoustic (SAW) device. The SAW device of the present disclosure is usable to realize SAW-based filters for wireless communication equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.
    Inventors: Casey Kirkpatrick, Andrew P. Ritenour
  • Publication number: 20200127641
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device that includes a crystalline substrate and a patterned aluminum-based material layer disposed onto the crystalline substrate. The patterned aluminum-based material layer has a titanium-alloyed surface. A titanium-based material layer is disposed over select portions of the titanium-alloyed surface. In an exemplary embodiment, the patterned aluminum-based material layer forms a pair of interdigitated transducers to provide a surface wave acoustic (SAW) device. The SAW device of the present disclosure is usable to realize SAW-based filters for wireless communication equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Casey Kirkpatrick, Andrew P. Ritenour
  • Patent number: 10581403
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device that includes a crystalline substrate and a patterned aluminum-based material layer disposed onto the crystalline substrate. The patterned aluminum-based material layer has a titanium-alloyed surface. A titanium-based material layer is disposed over select portions of the titanium-alloyed surface. In an exemplary embodiment, the patterned aluminum-based material layer forms a pair of interdigitated transducers to provide a surface wave acoustic (SAW) device. The SAW device of the present disclosure is usable to realize SAW-based filters for wireless communication equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.
    Inventors: Casey Kirkpatrick, Andrew P. Ritenour
  • Patent number: 9917080
    Abstract: A semiconductor device with electrical overstress (EOS) protection is disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a semi-insulating layer, a first contact disposed onto the semi-insulating layer, and a second contact disposed onto the semi-insulating layer. A passivation layer is disposed onto the semi-insulating layer. The passivation layer has a dielectric strength that is greater than that of the semi-insulating layer to ensure that a voltage breakdown occurs within the semi-insulating layer within a semi-insulating region between the first contact and the second contact before a voltage breakdown can occur in the passivation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Qorvo US. Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew P. Ritenour
  • Publication number: 20180013402
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device that includes a crystalline substrate and a patterned aluminum-based material layer disposed onto the crystalline substrate. The patterned aluminum-based material layer has a titanium-alloyed surface. A titanium-based material layer is disposed over select portions of the titanium-alloyed surface. In an exemplary embodiment, the patterned aluminum-based material layer forms a pair of interdigitated transducers to provide a surface wave acoustic (SAW) device. The SAW device of the present disclosure is usable to realize SAW-based filters for wireless communication equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Inventors: Casey Kirkpatrick, Andrew P. Ritenour
  • Patent number: 9640632
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having improved heat dissipation is disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a semi-insulating substrate and epitaxial layers disposed on the semi-insulating substrate wherein the epitaxial layers include a plurality of heat conductive vias that are disposed through the epitaxial layers with the plurality of heat conductive vias being spaced along a plurality of finger axes that are aligned generally parallel across a surface of the epitaxial layers. The semiconductor device further includes an electrode having a plurality of electrically conductive fingers that are disposed along the plurality of finger axes such that the electrically conductive fingers are in contact with the first plurality of heat conductive vias.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew P. Ritenour
  • Patent number: 9632389
    Abstract: A backplane for an electro-optic display comprising pixels with reduced capacitance. The pixel architecture results in a backplane with some voltage spiking, but well-suited for use with electro-optic media having at least a small threshold for switching, for example, electrophoretic media comprising particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew P. Ritenour, Gregg M. Duthaler
  • Patent number: 9564497
    Abstract: A field effect transistor having at least one structure configured to redistribute and/or reduce an electric field from gate finger ends is disclosed. Embodiments of the field effect transistor include a substrate, an active region disposed on the substrate, at least one source finger in contact with the active region, at least one drain finger in contact with the active region, and at least one gate finger in rectifying contact with the active region. One embodiment has at least one end of the at least one gate finger extending outside of the active region. Another embodiment includes at least one source field plate integral with the at least one source finger. The at least one source field plate extends over the at least one gate finger that includes a portion outside of the active region. Either embodiment can also include a sloped gate foot to further improve high voltage operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Wesley Kobayashi, Haldane S. Henry, Andrew P. Ritenour
  • Publication number: 20160313625
    Abstract: A backplane for an electro-optic display comprising pixels with reduced capacitance. The pixel architecture results in a backplane with some voltage spiking, but well-suited for use with electro-optic media having at least a small threshold for switching, for example, electrophoretic media comprising particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Applicant: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew P. Ritenour, Gregg M. Duthaler
  • Patent number: 9455327
    Abstract: A Schottky gated transistor having reduced gate leakage current is disclosed. The Schottky gated transistor includes a substrate and a plurality of epitaxial layers disposed on the substrate. Further included is a gate contact having an interfacial layer disposed on a surface of the plurality of epitaxial layers and having a thickness that is between about 5 Angstroms (?) and 40 ?. The interfacial layer can be made up of non-native materials in contrast to a native insulator such as silicon dioxide (SiO2) that is used as an insulating gate layer with silicon-based power transistors. The Schottky gated transistor further includes at least one metal layer disposed over the interfacial layer. A source contact and a drain contact are disposed on the surface of the plurality of epitaxial layers, wherein the source contact and the drain contact are spaced apart from the gate contact and each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew P. Ritenour
  • Patent number: 9419024
    Abstract: An electro-optic display comprises a substrate (100), non-linear devices (102) disposed substantially in one plane on the substrate (100), pixel electrodes (106) connected to the non-linear devices (102), an electro-optic medium (110) and a common electrode (112) on the opposed side of the electro-optic medium (110) from the pixel electrodes (106). The moduli of the various parts of the display are arranged so that, when the display is curved, the neutral axis or neutral plane lies substantially in the plane of the non-linear devices (102).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: E INK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Andrew P. Ritenour, Gregg M. Duthaler
  • Publication number: 20150357457
    Abstract: A Schottky gated transistor having reduced gate leakage current is disclosed. The Schottky gated transistor includes a substrate and a plurality of epitaxial layers disposed on the substrate. Further included is a gate contact having an interfacial layer disposed on a surface of the plurality of epitaxial layers and having a thickness that is between about 5 Angstroms (?) and 40 ?. The interfacial layer can be made up of non-native materials in contrast to a native insulator such as silicon dioxide (SiO2) that is used as an insulating gate layer with silicon-based power transistors. The Schottky gated transistor further includes at least one metal layer disposed over the interfacial layer. A source contact and a drain contact are disposed on the surface of the plurality of epitaxial layers, wherein the source contact and the drain contact are spaced apart from the gate contact and each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventor: Andrew P. Ritenour
  • Patent number: 9202874
    Abstract: A gallium nitride (GaN) device with leakage current-based over-voltage protection is disclosed. The GaN device includes a drain and a source disposed on a semiconductor substrate. The GaN device also includes a first channel region within the semiconductor substrate and between the drain and the source. The GaN device further includes a second channel region within the semiconductor substrate and between the drain and the source. The second channel region has an enhanced drain induced barrier lowering (DIBL) that is greater than the DIBL of the first channel region. As a result, a drain voltage will be safely clamped below a destructive breakdown voltage once a substantial drain current begins to flow through the second channel region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: RF Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew P. Ritenour
  • Publication number: 20150318376
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having improved heat dissipation is disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a semi-insulating substrate and epitaxial layers disposed on the semi-insulating substrate wherein the epitaxial layers include a plurality of heat conductive vias that are disposed through the epitaxial layers with the plurality of heat conductive vias being spaced along a plurality of finger axes that are aligned generally parallel across a surface of the epitaxial layers. The semiconductor device further includes an electrode having a plurality of electrically conductive fingers that are disposed along the plurality of finger axes such that the electrically conductive fingers are in contact with the first plurality of heat conductive vias.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Inventor: Andrew P. Ritenour
  • Publication number: 20150295053
    Abstract: A field effect transistor having at least one structure configured to redistribute and/or reduce an electric field from gate finger ends is disclosed. Embodiments of the field effect transistor include a substrate, an active region disposed on the substrate, at least one source finger in contact with the active region, at least one drain finger in contact with the active region, and at least one gate finger in rectifying contact with the active region. One embodiment has at least one end of the at least one gate finger extending outside of the active region. Another embodiment includes at least one source field plate integral with the at least one source finger. The at least one source field plate extends over the at least one gate finger that includes a portion outside of the active region. Either embodiment can also include a sloped gate foot to further improve high voltage operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Inventors: Kevin Wesley Kobayashi, Haldane S. Henry, Andrew P. Ritenour
  • Patent number: 9147632
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having improved heat dissipation is disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a semi-insulating substrate and epitaxial layers disposed on the semi-insulating substrate wherein the epitaxial layers include a plurality of heat conductive vias that are disposed through the epitaxial layers with the plurality of heat conductive vias being spaced along a plurality of finger axes that are aligned generally parallel across a surface of the epitaxial layers. The semiconductor device further includes an electrode having a plurality of electrically conductive fingers that are disposed along the plurality of finger axes such that the electrically conductive fingers are in contact with the first plurality of heat conductive vias.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: RF Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew P. Ritenour
  • Patent number: 9142620
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a power device and power device packaging. Generally, the power device of the present disclosure includes a die backside and a die frontside. A semi-insulating substrate with epitaxial layers disposed thereon is sandwiched between the die backside and the die frontside. Pads on the die frontside are coupled to the die backside with patterned backmetals that are disposed within vias that pass through the semi-insulating substrate and epitaxial layers from the die backside to the die frontside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: RF Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew P. Ritenour, Paul Partyka
  • Patent number: 9136341
    Abstract: A field effect transistor having at least one structure configured to redistribute and/or reduce an electric field from gate finger ends is disclosed. Embodiments of the field effect transistor include a substrate, an active region disposed on the substrate, at least one source finger in contact with the active region, at least one drain finger in contact with the active region, and at least one gate finger in rectifying contact with the active region. One embodiment has at least one end of the at least one gate finger extending outside of the active region. Another embodiment includes at least one source field plate integral with the at least one source finger. The at least one source field plate extends over the at least one gate finger that includes a portion outside of the active region. Either embodiment can also include a sloped gate foot to further improve high voltage operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: RF Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Wesley Kobayashi, Haldane S. Henry, Andrew P. Ritenour
  • Patent number: 9129802
    Abstract: A lateral semiconductor device having a vertical region for providing a protective avalanche breakdown (PAB) is disclosed. The lateral semiconductor device has a lateral structure that includes a conductive substrate, semi-insulating layer(s) disposed on the conductive substrate, device layer(s) disposed on the semi-insulating layer(s), along with a source electrode and a drain electrode disposed on the device layer(s). The vertical region is separated from the source electrode by a lateral region wherein the vertical region has a relatively lower breakdown voltage level than a relatively higher breakdown voltage level of the lateral region for providing the PAB within the vertical region to prevent a potentially damaging breakdown of the lateral region. The vertical region is structured to be more rugged than the lateral region and thus will not be damaged by a PAB event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: RF Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew P. Ritenour