Patents by Inventor Ileana RAU

Ileana RAU 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: 11075313
    Abstract: A growth structure having a lattice transition (or graded buffer) or an engineered growth structure with a desired lattice constant, different from a lattice constant of conventional substrates like GaAs, Si, Ge, InP, under a release layer or an etch stop layer is used as a seed crystal for growing optoelectronic devices. The optoelectronic device can be a photovoltaic device having one or more subcells (e.g., lattice-matched or lattice-mismatched subcells). The release layer can be removed using different processes to separate the optoelectronic device from the growth structure, which may be reused, or from the engineered growth structure. When using the etch stop layer, the growth structure or the engineered growth structure may be grinded or etched away. The engineered growth structure may be made from a layer transfer process between two wafers or from a ternary and/or a quaternary material. Methods for making the optoelectronic device are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: UTICA LEASECO, LLC
    Inventors: Nikhil Jain, Andrew J. Ritenour, Ileana Rau, Claudio Canizares, Lori D. Washington, Gang He, Brendan M. Kayes
  • Patent number: 10873001
    Abstract: A growth structure having a lattice transition (or graded buffer) or an engineered growth structure with a desired lattice constant, different from a lattice constant of conventional substrates like GaAs, Si, Ge, InP, under a release layer or an etch stop layer is used as a seed crystal for growing optoelectronic devices. The optoelectronic device can be a photovoltaic device having one or more subcells (e.g., lattice-matched or lattice-mismatched subcells). The release layer can be removed using different processes to separate the optoelectronic device from the growth structure, which may be reused, or from the engineered growth structure. When using the etch stop layer, the growth structure or the engineered growth structure may be grinded or etched away. The engineered growth structure may be made from a layer transfer process between two wafers or from a ternary and/or a quaternary material. Methods for making the optoelectronic device are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: ALTA DEVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Nikhil Jain, Andrew J. Ritenour, Ileana Rau, Claudio Canizares, Lori D. Washington, Gang He, Brendan M. Kayes
  • Patent number: 10811557
    Abstract: A growth structure having a lattice transition under a release layer is used as a seed crystal for growth of optoelectronic devices. The optoelectronic device can be a single- or multi-junction photovoltaic device. The release layer can be selectively removed in an epitaxial lift-off (ELO) process to separate the optoelectronic device from the growth structure and leave the region with the lattice transition intact to reuse the growth structure to grow additional devices. A manufacturing method is described that includes providing a growth structure having a substrate and a lattice transition from a first lattice constant to a second lattice constant, depositing a release layer on the growth structure, depositing on the release layer an epitaxial layer having a lattice constant that matches the second lattice and including an optoelectronic device, and removing the release layer to separate the epitaxial layer and the optoelectronic device from the growth structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Alta Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew J. Ritenour, Ileana Rau, Claudio Canizares, Lori D. Washington, Brendan M. Kayes, Gang He
  • Publication number: 20200119216
    Abstract: A growth structure having a lattice transition (or graded buffer) or an engineered growth structure with a desired lattice constant, different from a lattice constant of conventional substrates like GaAs, Si, Ge, InP, under a release layer or an etch stop layer is used as a seed crystal for growing optoelectronic devices. The optoelectronic device can be a photovoltaic device having one or more subcells (e.g., lattice-matched or lattice-mismatched subcells). The release layer can be removed using different processes to separate the optoelectronic device from the growth structure, which may be reused, or from the engineered growth structure. When using the etch stop layer, the growth structure or the engineered growth structure may be grinded or etched away. The engineered growth structure may be made from a layer transfer process between two wafers or from a ternary and/or a quaternary material. Methods for making the optoelectronic device are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Nikhil JAIN, Andrew J. RITENOUR, Ileana RAU, Claudio CANIZARES, Lori D. WASHINGTON, Gang HE, Brendan M. KAYES
  • Publication number: 20200119222
    Abstract: A growth structure having a lattice transition (or graded buffer) or an engineered growth structure with a desired lattice constant, different from a lattice constant of conventional substrates like GaAs, Si, Ge, InP, under a release layer or an etch stop layer is used as a seed crystal for growing optoelectronic devices. The optoelectronic device can be a photovoltaic device having one or more subcells (e.g., lattice-matched or lattice-mismatched subcells). The release layer can be removed using different processes to separate the optoelectronic device from the growth structure, which may be reused, or from the engineered growth structure. When using the etch stop layer, the growth structure or the engineered growth structure may be grinded or etched away. The engineered growth structure may be made from a layer transfer process between two wafers or from a ternary and/or a quaternary material. Methods for making the optoelectronic device are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Nikhil JAIN, Andrew J. RITENOUR, Ileana RAU, Claudio CANIZARES, Lori D. WASHINGTON, Gang HE, Brendan M. KAYES
  • Publication number: 20180366609
    Abstract: A growth structure having a lattice transition under a release layer is used as a seed crystal for growth of optoelectronic devices. The optoelectronic device can be a single- or multi-junction photovoltaic device. The release layer can be selectively removed in an epitaxial lift-off (ELO) process to separate the optoelectronic device from the growth structure and leave the region with the lattice transition intact to reuse the growth structure to grow additional devices. A manufacturing method is described that includes providing a growth structure having a substrate and a lattice transition from a first lattice constant to a second lattice constant, depositing a release layer on the growth structure, depositing on the release layer an epitaxial layer having a lattice constant that matches the second lattice and including an optoelectronic device, and removing the release layer to separate the epitaxial layer and the optoelectronic device from the growth structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Andrew J. RITENOUR, Ileana RAU, Claudio CANIZARES, Lori D. WASHINGTON, Brendan M. KAYES, Gang He