Patents by Inventor Daniel Carleton Driscoll

Daniel Carleton Driscoll 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: 20260075992
    Abstract: Solid-state lighting devices including light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and more particularly LED chip structures and related methods are disclosed. LED chip structures include arrangements of current spreading layers and dielectric reflective layers relative to active LED structures. Current spreading layers may be positioned to provide electron path steering toward bulk portions of active LED structures and away from associated mesa sidewalls. Dielectric reflective layers may cover current spreading layers while also extending to cover the mesa sidewalls. Dielectric reflective layers include etch stop layers followed by one or more dielectric layers. The etch stop layers allow over-etching of the dielectric layers to ensure integrity of openings for various electrical interconnects formed through the dielectric reflective layer in related methods. Arrangements of electrical interconnects are also provided that provide tailored current balancing for LED chips.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2024
    Publication date: March 12, 2026
    Inventors: Michael Check, Steven Wuester, Daniel Carleton Driscoll
  • Publication number: 20250338682
    Abstract: Solid-state lighting devices including light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and more particularly landing pad structures in LED chips and related methods are disclosed. Landing pad structures include landing pads for contacts positioned outside active LED structures of LED chips. Landing pads and metal reflective layers form portions of electrically conductive pathways between contacts and active LED structures. Dielectric reflective layers and metal reflective layers may form reflective structures proximate active LED structures, while also extending outside active LED structures proximate landing pads. Landing pads may extend through openings of dielectric reflective layers to form electrical connections with metal reflective layers. As described herein, landing pad structures allow increased thickness of metal reflective layers to reduce topography variations, increase current handling, and/or increase reflectivity in LED chips.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2024
    Publication date: October 30, 2025
    Inventors: Steven Wuester, Michael Check, Andre Pertuit, Daniel Carleton Driscoll
  • Patent number: 12094998
    Abstract: Group III nitride based light emitting diode (LED) structures include multiple quantum wells with barrier-well units that include III nitride interface layers. Each interface layer may have a thickness of no greater than about 30% of an adjacent well layer, and a comparatively low concentration of indium or aluminum. One or more interface layers may be present in a barrier-well unit. Multiple barrier-well units having different properties may be provided in a single active region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: CreeLED, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Kuhr, Robert David Schmidt, Daniel Carleton Driscoll, Brian T. Collins
  • Publication number: 20210343893
    Abstract: Group III nitride based light emitting diode (LED) structures include multiple quantum wells with barrier-well units that include III nitride interface layers. Each interface layer may have a thickness of no greater than about 30% of an adjacent well layer, and a comparatively low concentration of indium or aluminum. One or more interface layers may be present in a barrier-well unit. Multiple barrier-well units having different properties may be provided in a single active region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas A. Kuhr, Robert David Schmidt, Daniel Carleton Driscoll, Brian T. Collins
  • Patent number: 11088295
    Abstract: Group III nitride based light emitting diode (LED) structures include multiple quantum wells with barrier-well units that include Ill nitride interface layers. Each interface layer may have a thickness of no greater than about 30% of an adjacent well layer, and a comparatively low concentration of indium or aluminum. One or more interface layers may be present in a barrier-well unit. Multiple barrier-well units having different properties may be provided in a single active region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: CreeLED, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Kuhr, Robert David Schmidt, Daniel Carleton Driscoll, Brian T. Collins
  • Publication number: 20200381581
    Abstract: Group III nitride based light emitting diode (LED) structures include multiple quantum wells with barrier-well units that include Ill nitride interface layers. Each interface layer may have a thickness of no greater than about 30% of an adjacent well layer, and a comparatively low concentration of indium or aluminum. One or more interface layers may be present in a barrier-well unit. Multiple barrier-well units having different properties may be provided in a single active region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas A. Kuhr, Robert David Schmidt, Daniel Carleton Driscoll, Brian T. Collins
  • Patent number: 10756231
    Abstract: Group III nitride based light emitting diode (LED) structures include multiple quantum wells with barrier-well units that include III nitride interface layers. Each interface layer may have a thickness of no greater than about 30% of an adjacent well layer, and a comparatively low concentration of indium or aluminum. One or more interface layers may be present in a barrier-well unit. Multiple barrier-well units having different properties may be provided in a single active region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: CREE, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Kuhr, Robert David Schmidt, Daniel Carleton Driscoll, Brian T. Collins
  • Publication number: 20190172971
    Abstract: Group III nitride based light emitting diode (LED) structures include multiple quantum wells with barrier-well units that include III nitride interface layers. Each interface layer may have a thickness of no greater than about 30% of an adjacent well layer, and a comparatively low concentration of indium or aluminum. One or more interface layers may be present in a barrier-well unit. Multiple barrier-well units having different properties may be provided in a single active region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Inventors: Thomas A. Kuhr, Robert David Schmidt, Daniel Carleton Driscoll, Brian T. Collins
  • Patent number: 10224454
    Abstract: Group III nitride based light emitting diode (LED) structures include multiple quantum wells with barrier-well units that include III nitride interface layers. Each interface layer may have a thickness of no greater than about 30% of an adjacent well layer, and a comparatively low concentration of indium or aluminum. One or more interface layers may be present in a barrier-well unit. Multiple barrier-well units having different properties may be provided in a single active region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Kuhr, Robert David Schmidt, Daniel Carleton Driscoll, Brian T. Collins
  • Publication number: 20180254377
    Abstract: Group III nitride based light emitting diode (LED) structures include multiple quantum wells with barrier-well units that include III nitride interface layers. Each interface layer may have a thickness of no greater than about 30% of an adjacent well layer, and a comparatively low concentration of indium or aluminum. One or more interface layers may be present in a barrier-well unit. Multiple barrier-well units having different properties may be provided in a single active region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas A. Kuhr, Robert David Schmidt, Daniel Carleton Driscoll, Brian T. Collins
  • Patent number: 9985168
    Abstract: Group III nitride based light emitting diode (LED) structures include multiple quantum wells with barrier-well units that include III nitride interface layers. Each interface layer may have a thickness of no greater than about 30% of an adjacent well layers, and a comparatively low concentration of indium or aluminum. One or more interface layers may be present in a barrier-well unit. Multiple barrier-well units having different properties may be provided in a single active region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: CREE, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Kuhr, Robert David Schmidt, Daniel Carleton Driscoll, Brian T. Collins
  • Publication number: 20150221815
    Abstract: A solid state light emitting device includes a solid state light emitter and a lumiphoric material that are selected for use with one another to provide light emissions with improved (i.e., reduced) thermal droop A solid state emitter having a short peak emission wavelength (e.g., in a visible range at or below 440 nm) seemingly less than optimal at room temperature for use with a particular lumiphor can trigger more efficient stimulation of lumiphor emissions at high temperatures. Enhanced epitaxial structures also inhibit decrease of radiant flux by LEDs at elevated temperatures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Inventors: David Clatterbuck, Harry Seibel, Romit Dhar, Robert David Schmidt, Daniel Carleton Driscoll, Michael John Bergmann
  • Patent number: 8604461
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a doped semiconductor region having a modulated dopant concentration. The doped semiconductor region may be a silicon doped Group III nitride semiconductor region with a dopant concentration of silicon being modulated in the Group III nitride semiconductor region. In addition, a semiconductor active region may be configured to generate light responsive to an electrical signal therethrough. Related methods, devices, and structures are also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Carleton Driscoll, Ashonita Chavan, Adam William Saxler
  • Patent number: 8575592
    Abstract: A Group III nitride based light emitting diode includes a p-type Group III nitride based semiconductor layer, an n-type Group III nitride based semiconductor layer that forms a P-N junction with the p-type Group III nitride based semiconductor layer, and a Group III nitride based active region on the n-type Group III nitride based semiconductor layer. The active region includes a plurality of sequentially stacked Group III nitride based wells including respective well layers. The plurality of well layers includes a first well layer having a first thickness and a second well layer having a second thickness. The second well layer is between the P-N junction and the first well layer, and the second thickness is greater than the first thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael John Bergmann, Daniel Carleton Driscoll, Ashonita Chavan, Pablo Cantu-Alejandro, James Ibbotson
  • Patent number: 8536615
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a doped semiconductor region wherein a dopant concentration of the semiconductor region is modulated over a plurality of intervals. Each interval may include at least one portion having a relatively low dopant concentration and at least one portion having a relatively high dopant concentration. A plurality of delta doped layers may be included in the plurality of intervals. Related methods are also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Carleton Driscoll, Ashonita Chavan, Adam William Saxler
  • Publication number: 20110187294
    Abstract: A Group III nitride based light emitting diode includes a p-type Group III nitride based semiconductor layer, an n-type Group III nitride based semiconductor layer that forms a P-N junction with the p-type Group III nitride based semiconductor layer, and a Group III nitride based active region on the n-type Group III nitride based semiconductor layer. The active region includes a plurality of sequentially stacked Group III nitride based wells including respective well layers. The plurality of well layers includes a first well layer having a first thickness and a second well layer having a second thickness. The second well layer is between the P-N junction and the first well layer, and the second thickness is greater than the first thickness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Inventors: Michael John Bergmann, Daniel Carleton Driscoll, Ashonita Chavan, Pablo Cantu-Alejandro, James Ibbetson
  • Publication number: 20110140083
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a doped semiconductor region having a modulated dopant concentration. The doped semiconductor region may be a silicon doped Group III nitride semiconductor region with a dopant concentration of silicon being modulated in the Group III nitride semiconductor region. In addition, a semiconductor active region may be configured to generate light responsive to an electrical signal therethrough. Related methods, devices, and structures are also discussed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventors: Daniel Carleton Driscoll, Ashonita Chavan, Adam William Saxler
  • Patent number: 7943924
    Abstract: Light emitting devices include a gallium nitride-based epitaxial structure that includes an active light emitting region and a gallium nitride-based outer layer, for example gallium nitride. A indium nitride-based layer, such as indium gallium nitride, is provided directly on the outer layer. A reflective metal layer or a transparent conductive oxide layer is provided directly on the indium gallium nitride layer opposite the outer layer. The indium gallium nitride layer forms a direct ohmic contact with the outer layer. An ohmic metal layer need not be used. Related fabrication methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael John Bergmann, Daniel Carleton Driscoll, David Todd Emerson
  • Publication number: 20100314640
    Abstract: Light emitting devices include a gallium nitride-based epitaxial structure that includes an active light emitting region and a gallium nitride-based outer layer, for example gallium nitride. A indium nitride-based layer, such as indium gallium nitride, is provided directly on the outer layer. A reflective metal layer or a transparent conductive oxide layer is provided directly on the indium gallium nitride layer opposite the outer layer. The indium gallium nitride layer forms a direct ohmic contact with the outer layer. An ohmic metal layer need not be used. Related fabrication methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Inventors: Michael John Bergmann, Daniel Carleton Driscoll, David Todd Emerson
  • Patent number: D920934
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: CreeLED, Inc.
    Inventors: William Sheldon Taylor, Daniel Carleton Driscoll