Patents by Inventor Earnest Hodge

Earnest Hodge 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).

  • Process for color filter array residual pigment removal
    Patent number: 8129079
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a color filter array including the removal of unwanted residual color pigments. A substrate is coated with a colored photoresist layer. The photoresist layer is patterned. The substrate is then cured. A descumming step is performed after the curing step to remove the residual pigments without causing significant damage to the remaining color filter array pattern. In another embodiment, the descumming process may be used to control or manipulate the thickness of the color filter array. In another embodiment, the descumming process may be used to modify the surface of the color filter array to be more desirable for the formation of microlenses or other layers over the color filter array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Aptina Imaging Corporation
    Inventors: Earnest Hodge, Brent A. McClure
  • Process for color filter array residual pigment removal
    Publication number: 20080102385
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a color filter array including the removal of unwanted residual color pigments. A substrate is coated with a colored photoresist layer. The photoresist layer is patterned. The substrate is then cured. A descumming step is performed after the curing step to remove the residual pigments without causing significant damage to the remaining color filter array pattern. In another embodiment, the descumming process may be used to control or manipulate the thickness of the color filter array. In another embodiment, the descumming process may be used to modify the surface of the color filter array to be more desirable for the formation of microlenses or other layers over the color filter array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Inventors: Earnest Hodge, Brent McClure
  • Process for color filter array residual pigment removal
    Patent number: 7326503
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a color filter array including the removal of unwanted residual color pigments. A substrate is coated with a colored photoresist layer. The photoresist layer is patterned. The substrate is then cured. A descumming step is performed after the curing step to remove the residual pigments without causing significant damage to the remaining color filter array pattern. In another embodiment, the descumming process may be used to control or manipulate the thickness of the color filter array. In another embodiment, the descumming process may be used to modify the surface of the color filter array to be more desirable for the formation of microlenses or other layers over the color filter array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Earnest Hodge, Brent A. McClure
  • Process for color filter array residual pigment removal
    Publication number: 20070042278
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a color filter array including the removal of unwanted residual color pigments. A substrate is coated with a colored photoresist layer. The photoresist layer is patterned. The substrate is then cured. A descumming step is performed after the curing step to remove the residual pigments without causing significant damage to the remaining color filter array pattern. In another embodiment, the descumming process may be used to control or manipulate the thickness of the color filter array. In another embodiment, the descumming process may be used to modify the surface of the color filter array to be more desirable for the formation of microlenses or other layers over the color filter array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2005
    Publication date: February 22, 2007
    Inventors: Earnest Hodge, Brent McClure