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: 9040327
    Abstract: A method for fabricating AlxGa1-xN-cladding-free nonpolar III-nitride based laser diodes or light emitting diodes. Due to the absence of polarization fields in the nonpolar crystal planes, these nonpolar devices have thick quantum wells that function as an optical waveguide to effectively confine the optical mode to the active region and eliminate the need for Al-containing waveguide cladding layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Daniel F. Feezell, Mathew C. Schmidt, Kwang-Choong Kim, Robert M. Farrell, Daniel A. Cohen, James S. Speck, Steven P. DenBaars, Shuji Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9030110
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved light-emitting device for an AC power operation. A conventional light emitting device employs an AC light-emitting diode having arrays of light emitting cells connected in reverse parallel. The arrays in the prior art alternately repeat on/off in response to a phase change of an AC power source, resulting in short light emission time during a ½ cycle and the occurrence of a flicker effect. An AC light-emitting device according to the present invention employs a variety of means by which light emission time is prolonged during a ½ cycle in response to a phase change of an AC power source and a flicker effect can be reduced. For example, the means may be switching blocks respectively connected to nodes between the light emitting cells, switching blocks connected to a plurality of arrays, or a delay phosphor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Seoul Viosys Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chung Hoon Lee, James S. Speck, Hong San Kim, Jae Jo Kim, Sung Han Kim, Jae Ho Lee
  • Publication number: 20150115220
    Abstract: A nitride light emitting diode comprising at least one nitride-based active region formed on or above a patterned substrate, wherein the active region is comprised of at least one quantum well structure; and a nitride interlayer, formed on or above the active region, having at least two periods of alternating layers of InxGa1-xN and InyGa1-yN, where 0<x<1, 0?y<1 and x?y.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Michael Iza, James S. Speck, Shuji Nakamura, Steven P. DenBaars
  • Patent number: 8956896
    Abstract: A method of device growth and p-contact processing that produces improved performance for non-polar III-nitride light emitting diodes and laser diodes. Key components using a low defect density substrate or template, thick quantum wells, a low temperature p-type III-nitride growth technique, and a transparent conducting oxide for the electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignees: The Regents of the University of California, Japan Science and Technology Agency
    Inventors: Mathew C. Schmidt, Kwang Choong Kim, Hitoshi Sato, Steven P. DenBaars, James S. Speck, Shuji Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20140376584
    Abstract: An epitaxial structure for a III-Nitride based optical device, comprising an active layer with anisotropic strain on an underlying layer, where a lattice constant and strain in the underlying layer are partially or fully relaxed in at least one direction due to a presence of misfit dislocations, so that the anisotropic strain in the active layer is modulated by the underlying layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Hiroaki Ohta, Feng Wu, Anurag Tyagi, Arpan Chakraborty, James S. Speck, Steven P. DenBaars, Shuji Nakamura, Erin C. Young
  • Publication number: 20140367698
    Abstract: Methods of controlling stress in GaN films deposited on silicon and silicon carbide substrates and the films produced therefrom are disclosed. A typical method comprises providing a substrate and depositing a graded gallium nitride layer on the substrate having a varying composition of a substantially continuous grade from an initial composition to a final composition formed from a supply of at least one precursor in a growth chamber without any interruption in the supply. A typical semiconductor film comprises a substrate and a graded gallium nitride layer deposited on the substrate having a varying composition of a substantially continuous grade from an initial composition to a final composition formed from a supply of at least one precursor in a growth chamber without any interruption in the supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Hugues Marchand, Brendan J. Moran, Umesh K. Mishra, James S. Speck
  • Publication number: 20140346542
    Abstract: A III-nitride light emitting diode (LED) and method of fabricating the same, wherein at least one surface of a semipolar or nonpolar plane of a III-nitride layer of the LED is textured, thereby forming a textured surface in order to increase light extraction. The texturing may be performed by plasma assisted chemical etching, photolithography followed by etching, or nano-imprinting followed by etching.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Hong Zhong, Anurag Tyagi, Kenneth J. Vampola, James S. Speck, Steven P. DenBaars, Shuji Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8882935
    Abstract: A method for the fabrication of nonpolar indium gallium nitride (InGaN) films as well as nonpolar InGaN-containing device structures using metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOVCD). The method is used to fabricate nonpolar InGaN/GaN violet and near-ultraviolet light emitting diodes and laser diodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignees: The Regents of the University of California, The Japan Science and Technology Agency
    Inventors: Arpan Chakraborty, Benjamin A. Haskell, Stacia Keller, James S. Speck, Steven P. DenBaars, Shuji Nakamura, Umesh K. Mishra
  • Patent number: 8866126
    Abstract: An epitaxial structure for a III-Nitride based optical device, comprising an active layer with anisotropic strain on an underlying layer, where a lattice constant and strain in the underlying layer are partially or fully relaxed in at least one direction due to a presence of misfit dislocations, so that the anisotropic strain in the active layer is modulated by the underlying layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Hiroaki Ohta, Feng Wu, Anurag Tyagi, Arpan Chakraborty, James S. Speck, Steven P. DenBaars, Shuji Nakamura, Erin C. Young
  • Patent number: 8866417
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the present invention disclose a light-emitting device including a first power source connection terminal and a second power source connection terminal, the first and second power source connection terminals configured to be connected to an external power source, and a plurality of light emitting cell arrays, each of the plurality of light emitting cell arrays being connected in parallel to one another between the first and the second power source connection terminals, each of the plurality of light emitting cell arrays comprising serially connected light emitting cells. Each of the light emitting cells includes a first conductivity-type semiconductor layer, a second conductivity-type semiconductor layer, an active layer disposed between the first conductivity-type semiconductor layer and the second conductivity-type semiconductor layer, and an electrode pad disposed on the second conductivity-type semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Seoul Viosys Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chung Hoon Lee, James S. Speck, Hong San Kim, Jae Jo Kim, Sung Han Kim, Jae Ho Lee
  • Publication number: 20140308769
    Abstract: A method for improving the growth morphology of (Ga,Al,In,B)N thin films on nonpolar or semipolar (Ga,Al,In,B)N substrates, wherein a (Ga,Al,In,B)N thin film is grown directly on a nonpolar or semipolar (Ga,Al,In,B)N substrate or template and a portion of the carrier gas used during growth is comprised of an inert gas. Nonpolar or semipolar nitride LEDs and diode lasers may be grown on the smooth (Ga,Al,In,B)N thin films grown by the present invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Robert M. Farrell, Michael Iza, James S. Speck, Steven P. DenBaars, Shuji Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8860331
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved light-emitting device for an AC power operation. An AC light-emitting device according to the present invention employs a variety of means by which light emission time is prolonged during a ½ cycle in response to a phase change of an AC power source and a flicker effect can be reduced. For example, the means may be switching blocks respectively connected to nodes between the light emitting cells, switching blocks connected to a plurality of arrays, or a delay phosphor. Further, there is provided an AC light-emitting device, wherein a plurality of arrays having the different numbers of light emitting cells are employed to increase light emission time and to reduce a flicker effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Seoul Viosys Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chung Hoon Lee, James S. Speck, Hong San Kim, Jae Jo Kim, Sung Han Kim, Jae Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 8853669
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a substrate for a semipolar III-nitride device, comprising patterning and forming one or more mesas on a surface of a semipolar III-nitride substrate or epilayer, thereby forming a patterned surface of the semipolar III-nitride substrate or epilayer including each of the mesas with a dimension l along a direction of a threading dislocation glide, wherein the threading dislocation glide results from a III-nitride layer deposited heteroepitaxially and coherently on a non-patterned surface of the substrate or epilayer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: James S. Speck, Anurag Tyagi, Steven P. Denbaars, Shuji Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20140291694
    Abstract: A nonpolar III-nitride film grown on a miscut angle of a substrate, in order to suppress the surface undulations, is provided. The surface morphology of the film is improved with a miscut angle towards an a-axis direction comprising a 0.15° or greater miscut angle towards the a-axis direction and a less than 30° miscut angle towards the a-axis direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Asako Hirai, Zhongyuan Jia, Makoto Saito, Hisashi Yamada, Kenji Iso, Steven P. DenBaars, Shuji Nakamura, James S. Speck
  • Patent number: 8835200
    Abstract: A III-nitride light emitting diode (LED) and method of fabricating the same, wherein at least one surface of a semipolar or nonpolar plane of a III-nitride layer of the LED is textured, thereby forming a textured surface in order to increase light extraction. The texturing may be performed by plasma assisted chemical etching, photolithography followed by etching, or nano-imprinting followed by etching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Hong Zhong, Anurag Tyagi, Kenneth J. Vampola, James S. Speck, Steven P. DenBaars, Shuji Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8809867
    Abstract: Lateral epitaxial overgrowth of non-polar III-nitride seed layers reduces threading dislocations in the non-polar III-nitride thin films. First, a thin patterned dielectric mask is applied to the seed layer. Second, a selective epitaxial regrowth is performed to achieve a lateral overgrowth based on the patterned mask. Upon regrowth, the non-polar III-nitride films initially grow vertically through openings in the dielectric mask before laterally overgrowing the mask in directions perpendicular to the vertical growth direction. Threading dislocations are reduced in the overgrown regions by (1) the mask blocking the propagation of dislocations vertically into the growing film and (2) the bending of dislocations through the transition from vertical to lateral growth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Michael D. Craven, Steven P. Denbaars, James S. Speck, Shuji Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8795430
    Abstract: A method for improving the growth morphology of (Ga,Al,In,B)N thin films on nonpolar or semipolar (Ga,Al,In,B)N substrates, wherein a (Ga,Al,In,B)N thin film is grown directly on a nonpolar or semipolar (Ga,Al,In,B)N substrate or template and a portion of the carrier gas used during growth is comprised of an inert gas. Nonpolar or semipolar nitride LEDs and diode lasers may be grown on the smooth (Ga,Al,In,B)N thin films grown by the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Robert M. Farrell, Michael Iza, James S. Speck, Steven P. DenBaars, Shuji Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8795440
    Abstract: A method of growing non-polar m-plane III-nitride film, such as GaN, AlN, AlGaN or InGaN, wherein the non-polar m-plane III-nitride film is grown on a suitable substrate, such as an m-SiC, m-GaN, LiGaO2 or LiAlO2 substrate, using metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). The method includes performing a solvent clean and acid dip of the substrate to remove oxide from the surface, annealing the substrate, growing a nucleation layer, such as aluminum nitride (AlN), on the annealed substrate, and growing the non-polar m-plane III-nitride film on the nucleation layer using MOCVD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignees: The Regents of the University of California, Japan Science and Technology Agency
    Inventors: Bilge M. Imer, James S. Speck, Steven P. DenBaars, Shuji Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20140211820
    Abstract: A method for growth and fabrication of semipolar (Ga,Al,In,B)N thin films, heterostructures, and devices, comprising identifying desired material properties for a particular device application, selecting a semipolar growth orientation based on the desired material properties, selecting a suitable substrate for growth of the selected semipolar growth orientation, growing a planar semipolar (Ga,Al,In,B)N template or nucleation layer on the substrate, and growing the semipolar (Ga,Al,In,B)N thin films, heterostructures or devices on the planar semipolar (Ga,Al,In,B)N template or nucleation layer. The method results in a large area of the semipolar (Ga,Al,In,B)N thin films, heterostructures, and devices being parallel to the substrate surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicants: Japan Science and Technology Agency, The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Robert M. Farrell, JR., Troy J. Baker, Arpan Chakraborty, Benjamin A. Haskell, P. Morgan Pattison, Rajat Sharma, Umesh K. Mishra, Steven P. DenBaars, James S. Speck, Shuji Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8791000
    Abstract: A nonpolar III-nitride film grown on a miscut angle of a substrate, in order to suppress the surface undulations, is provided. The surface morphology of the film is improved with a miscut angle towards an a-axis direction comprising a 0.15° or greater miscut angle towards the a-axis direction and a less than 30° miscut angle towards the a-axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Asako Hirai, Zhongyuan Jia, Makoto Saito, Hisashi Yamada, Kenji Iso, Steven P. DenBaars, Shuji Nakamura, James S. Speck