Patents by Inventor James S. Speck

James S. Speck 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: 7772602
    Abstract: Disclosed is a light emitting device having a plurality of light emitting cells. The light emitting device comprises a thermally conductive substrate, such as a SiC substrate, having a thermal conductivity higher than that of a sapphire substrate. The plurality of light emitting cells are connected in series on the thermally conductive substrate. Meanwhile, a semi-insulating buffer layer is interposed between the thermally conductive substrate and the light emitting cells. For example, the semi-insulating buffer layer may be formed of AlN or semi-insulating GaN. Since the thermally conductive substrate having a thermal conductivity higher than that of a sapphire substrate is employed, heat-dissipating performance can be enhanced as compared with a conventional sapphire substrate, thereby increasing the maximum light output of a light emitting device that is driven under a high voltage AC power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Seoul Opto Device Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chung Hoon Lee, Hong San Kim, James S. Speck
  • Publication number: 20100193911
    Abstract: A method for growing reduced defect density planar gallium nitride (GaN) films is disclosed. The method includes the steps of (a) growing at least one silicon nitride (SiNx) nanomask layer over a GaN template, and (b) growing a thickness of a GaN film on top of the SiNx nanomask layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Arpan Chakraborty, Kwang-Choong Kim, James S. Speck, Steven P. DenBaars, Umesh K. Mishra
  • Patent number: 7755096
    Abstract: A single or multi-color light emitting diode (LED) with high extraction efficiency is comprised of a substrate, a buffer layer formed on the substrate, one or more patterned layers deposited on top of the buffer layer, and one or more active layers formed on or between the patterned layers, for example by Lateral Epitaxial Overgrowth (LEO), and including one or more light emitting species, such as quantum wells. The patterned layers include a patterned, perforated or pierced mask made of insulating, semiconducting or metallic material, and materials filling holes in the mask. The patterned layer acts as an optical confining layer due to a contrast of a refractive index with the active layer and/or as a buried diffraction grating due to variation of a refractive index between the mask and the material filling the holes in the mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Claude C. A. Weisbuch, David J. F. Aurelien, James S. Speck, Steven P. DenBaars
  • Publication number: 20100148195
    Abstract: A method for improved growth of a semipolar (Al,In,Ga,B)N semiconductor thin film using an intentionally miscut substrate. Specifically, the method comprises intentionally miscutting a substrate, loading a substrate into a reactor, heating the substrate under a flow of nitrogen and/or hydrogen and/or ammonia, depositing an InxGa1-xN nucleation layer on the heated substrate, depositing a semipolar nitride semiconductor thin film on the InxGa1-xN nucleation layer, and cooling the substrate under a nitrogen overpressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: John F. Kaeding, Dong-Seon Lee, Michael Iza, Troy J. Baker, Hiroshi Sato, Benjamin A. Haskell, James S. Speck, Steven P. DenBaars, Shuji Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20100133663
    Abstract: A method for growing planar, semi-polar nitride film on a miscut spinel substrate, in which a large area of the planar, semi-polar nitride film is parallel to the substrate's surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Troy J. Baker, Benjamin A. Haskell, Paul T. Fini, Steven P. DenBaars, James S. Speck, Shuji Nakamua
  • Patent number: 7723745
    Abstract: A structure using integrated optical elements is comprised of a substrate, a buffer layer grown on the substrate, one or more patterned layers formed on the buffer layer and one or more active layers formed on or between the patterned layers, for instance by Lateral Epitaxial Overgrowth (LEO), and including one or more light emitting species. The patterned layer comprises a mask (made of insulating, semiconducting or metallic material) and material filling holes in the mask. The patterned layer, due to a large index difference with the active layer and/or variations of a refractive index between the mask and materials filling holes in the mask, acts as an optical confinement layer, a mirror, a diffraction grating, a wavelength selective element, a beam shaping element or a beam directing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Claude C. A. Weisbuch, Aurelien J. F. David, James S. Speck, Steven P. DenBaars
  • Patent number: 7723216
    Abstract: A method for growing reduced defect density planar gallium nitride (GaN) films is disclosed. The method includes the steps of (a) growing at least one silicon nitride (SiNx) nanomask layer over a GaN template, and (b) growing a thickness of a GaN film on top of the SiNx nanomask layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Arpan Chakraborty, Kwang-Choong Kim, James S. Speck, Steven P. DenBaars, Umesh K. Mishra
  • Publication number: 20100108985
    Abstract: A high-power and high-efficiency light emitting device with emission wavelength (?peak) ranging from 280 nm to 360 nm is fabricated. The new device structure uses non-polar or semi-polar AlInN and AlInGaN alloys grown on a non-polar or semi-polar bulk GaN substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Roy B. Chung, Zhen Chen, James S. Speck, Steven P. DenBaars, Shuji Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20100111808
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for growing group III-nitride crystals wherein the group III-nitride crystal growth occurs on an etched seed crystal. The etched seed is fabricated prior to growth using a temperature profile which produces a high solubility of the group III-nitride material in a seed crystals zone as compared to a source materials zone. The measured X-ray diffraction of the obtained crystals have significantly narrower Full Width at Half Maximum values as compared to crystals grown without etch back of the seed crystal surfaces prior to growth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Siddha Pimputkar, Derrick S. Kamber, Makoto Saito, Steven P. DenBaars, James S. Speck, Shuji Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7704331
    Abstract: A method for growing planar, semi-polar nitride film on a miscut spinel substrate, in which a large area of the planar, semi-polar nitride film is parallel to the substrate's surface. The planar films and substrates are: (1) {10 11} gallium nitride (GaN) grown on a {100} spinel substrate miscut in specific directions, (2) {10 13} gallium nitride (GaN) grown on a {110} spinel substrate, (3) {11 22} gallium nitride (GaN) grown on a {1 100} sapphire substrate, and (4) {10 13} gallium nitride (GaN) grown on a {1 100} sapphire substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignees: The Regents of the University of California, Japan Science and Technology Agency
    Inventors: Troy J. Baker, Benjamin A. Haskell, Paul T. Fini, Steven P. DenBaars, James S. Speck, Shuji Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20100090240
    Abstract: A photoelectrochemical (PEC) etch is performed for chip shaping of a device comprised of a III-V semiconductor material, in order to extract light emitted into guided modes trapped in the III-V semiconductor material. The chip shaping involves varying an angle of incident light during the PEC etch to control an angle of the resulting sidewalls of the III-V semiconductor material. The sidewalls may be sloped as well as vertical, in order to scatter the guided modes out of the III-V semiconductor material rather than reflecting the guided modes back into the III-V semiconductor material. In addition to shaping the chip in order to extract light emitted into guided modes, the chip may be shaped to act as a lens, to focus its output light, or to direct its output light in a particular way.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Adele Tamboli, Evelyn L. Hu, James S. Speck
  • Patent number: 7691658
    Abstract: A method for improved growth of a semipolar (Al,In,Ga,B)N semiconductor thin film using an intentionally miscut substrate. Specifically, the method comprises intentionally miscutting a substrate, loading a substrate into a reactor, heating the substrate under a flow of nitrogen and/or hydrogen and/or ammonia, depositing an InxGa1?xN nucleation layer on the heated substrate, depositing a semipolar nitride semiconductor thin film on the InxGa1?xN nucleation layer, and cooling the substrate under a nitrogen overpressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignees: The Regents of the University of California, Japan Science and Technology Agency
    Inventors: John F. Kaeding, Dong-Seon Lee, Michael Iza, Troy J. Baker, Hitoshi Sato, Benjamin A. Haskell, James S. Speck, Steven P. DenBaars, Shuji Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20100075175
    Abstract: A high-quality, large-area seed crystal for ammonothermal GaN growth and method for fabricating. The seed crystal comprises double-side GaN growth on a large-area substrate. The seed crystal is of relatively low defect density and has flat surfaces free of bowing. The seed crystal is useful for producing large-volume, high-quality bulk GaN crystals by ammonothermal growth methods for eventual wafering into large-area GaN substrates for device fabrication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: SORAA, INC.
    Inventors: CHRISTIANE POBLENZ, James S. Speck
  • Publication number: 20100075107
    Abstract: A technique for growing high quality bulk hexagonal single crystals using a solvo-thermal method, and a technique for achieving the high quality and high growth rate at the same time. The crystal quality strongly depends on the growth planes, wherein a nonpolar or semipolar seed surface such as {10-10}, {10-11}, {10-1-1}, {10-12}, {10-1-2}, {11-20}, {11-22}, {11-2-2} gives a higher crystal quality as compared to a c-plane seed surface such as (0001) and (000-1). Also, the growth rate strongly depends on the growth planes, wherein a semipolar seed surface such as {10-12}, {10-1-2}, {11-22}, {11-2-2} gives a higher growth rate. High crystal quality and high growth rate are achievable at the same time by choosing the suitable growth plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Makoto Saito, Steven P. DenBaars, James S. Speck, Shuji Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7682953
    Abstract: A method of forming a p-type compound semiconductor layer includes increasing a temperature of a substrate loaded into a reaction chamber to a first temperature. A source gas of a Group III element, a source gas of a p-type impurity, and a source gas of nitrogen containing hydrogen are supplied into the reaction chamber to grow the p-type compound semiconductor layer. Then, the supply of the source gas of the Group III element and the source gas of the p-type impurity is stopped and the temperature of the substrate is lowered to a second temperature. The supply of the source gas of nitrogen containing hydrogen is stopped and drawn out at the second temperature, and the temperature of the substrate is lowered to room temperature using a cooling gas. Accordingly, hydrogen is prevented from bonding to the p-type impurity in the p-type compound semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Seoul Opto Device Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ki Bum Nam, Hwa Mok Kim, James S. Speck
  • Publication number: 20100065854
    Abstract: A Group III-nitride semiconductor film containing aluminum, and methods for growing this film. A film is grown by patterning a substrate, and growing the Group III-nitride semi-conductor film containing aluminum on the substrate at a temperature designed to increase the mobility of aluminum atoms to increase a lateral growth rate of the Group III-nitride semiconductor film. The film optionally includes a substrate patterned with elevated stripes separated by trench regions, wherein the stripes have a height chosen to allow the Group III-nitride semiconductor film to coalesce prior to growth from the bottom of the trenches reaching the top of the stripes, the temperature being greater than 1075° C., the Group III-nitride semiconductor film being grown using hydride vapor phase epitaxy, the stripes being oriented along a (1-100) direction of the substrate or the growing film, and a dislocation density of the grown film being less than 107 cm?2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Derrick S. Kamber, Shuji Nakamura, James S. Speck
  • Publication number: 20100052008
    Abstract: An off-axis cut of a nonpolar III-nitride wafer towards a polar (?c) orientation results in higher polarization ratios for light emission than wafers without such off-axis cuts. A 5° angle for an off-axis cut has been confirmed to provide the highest polarization ratio (0.9) than any other examined angles for off-axis cuts between 0 and 27°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Hisashi Masui, Hisashi Yamada, Kenji Iso, Asako Hirai, Makoto Saito, James S. Speck, Shuji Nakamura, Steven P. DenBaars
  • Publication number: 20100003810
    Abstract: A method of forming a p-type compound semiconductor layer includes increasing a temperature of a substrate loaded into a reaction chamber to a first temperature. A source gas of a Group III element, a source gas of a p-type impurity, and a source gas of nitrogen containing hydrogen are supplied into the reaction chamber to grow the p-type compound semiconductor layer. Then, the supply of the source gas of the Group III element and the source gas of the p-type impurity is stopped and the temperature of the substrate is lowered to a second temperature. The supply of the source gas of nitrogen containing hydrogen is stopped and drawn out at the second temperature, and the temperature of the substrate is lowered to room temperature using a cooling gas. Accordingly, hydrogen is prevented from bonding to the p-type impurity in the p-type compound semiconductor layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Applicant: SEOUL OPTO DEVICE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ki Bum NAM, Hwa Mok KIM, James S. SPECK
  • Publication number: 20090320745
    Abstract: An improved heater for processing materials or growing crystals in supercritical fluids is provided. In a specific embodiment, the heater is scalable up to very large volumes and is cost effective. In conjunction with suitable high pressure apparatus, the heater is capable of processing materials at pressures and temperatures of 0.2-2 GPa and 400-1200° C., respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: SORAA, INC.
    Inventors: Mark P. D'Evelyn, James S. Speck, Michael T. Coulter, Shuji Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20090310640
    Abstract: A III-nitride optoelectronic device comprising a light emitting diode (LED) or laser diode with a peak emission wavelength longer than 500 nm. The III-nitride device has a dislocation density, originating from interfaces between an indium containing well layer and barrier layers, less than 9×109 cm?2. The III-nitride device is grown with an interruption time, between growth of the well layer and barrier layers, of more than 1 minute.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Hitoshi Sato, Roy B. Chung, Feng Wu, James S. Speck, Steven P. DenBaars, Shuji Nakamura