Patents by Inventor James Sheats

James Sheats 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: 7964964
    Abstract: A semiconductor chip packaging on a flexible substrate is disclosed. The chip and the flexible substrate are provided with corresponding raised and indented micron-scale contact pads with the indented contact pads partially filled with a liquid amalgam. After low temperature amalgam curing, the chip and the substrate form a flexible substrate IC packaging with high conductivity, controllable interface layer thickness, micron-scale contact density and low process temperature. Adhesion between the chip and the substrate can be further enhanced by coating other areas with non-conducting adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Inventor: James Sheats
  • Patent number: 7863762
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for packaging semiconductor chips on a flexible substrate employing thin film transfer. The semiconductor chips are placed on a temporary adhesive substrate, then covered by a permanent flexible substrate with a casting layer for planarizingly embedding the chips on the permanent substrate before removing the temporary substrate. With the surface of the chips coplanar with the surface of the complete structure without any gaps, interconnect metal lines can be easily placed on the uninterrupted surface, connecting the chips and other components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Inventor: James Sheats
  • Publication number: 20100038770
    Abstract: A semiconductor chip packaging on a flexible substrate is disclosed. The chip and the flexible substrate are provided with corresponding raised and indented micron-scale contact pads with the indented contact pads partially filled with a liquid amalgam. After low temperature amalgam curing, the chip and the substrate form a flexible substrate IC packaging with high conductivity, controllable interface layer thickness, micron-scale contact density and low process temperature. Adhesion between the chip and the substrate can be further enhanced by coating other areas with non-conducting adhesive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Inventor: James Sheats
  • Patent number: 7618844
    Abstract: A semiconductor chip packaging on a flexible substrate is disclosed. The chip and the flexible substrate are provided with corresponding raised and indented micron-scale contact pads with the indented contact pads partially filled with a liquid amalgam. After low temperature amalgam curing, the chip and the substrate form a flexible substrate IC packaging with high conductivity, controllable interface layer thickness, micron-scale contact density and low process temperature. Adhesion between the chip and the substrate can be further enhanced by coating other areas with non-conducting adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Intelleflex Corporation
    Inventor: James Sheats
  • Patent number: 7334737
    Abstract: A thin film non volatile memory scalable to small sizes and its fabrication process are disclosed. The thin film memory includes a thin film transistor control circuitry fabricated on a flexible substrate, together with an optoelectronic cross bar memory employing a photoconducting material. The thin film non volatile memory can be used in RFID communication tag with the control circuitry further employing wireless communication circuitry such as an antenna, a receiver, and a transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Intelleflex Corp.
    Inventor: James Sheats
  • Patent number: 7335551
    Abstract: A thin film non volatile memory scalable to small sizes and its fabrication process are disclosed. The thin film memory comprises a thin film transistor control circuitry fabricated on a flexible substrate, together with an optoelectronic cross bar memory comprising a photoconducting material. The thin film non volatile memory can be used in RFID communication tag with the control circuitry further comprises wireless communication circuitry such as an antenna, a receiver, and a transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Intelleflex Corp.
    Inventor: James Sheats
  • Publication number: 20080036066
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for packaging semiconductor chips on a flexible substrate employing thin film transfer. The semiconductor chips are placed on a temporary adhesive substrate, then covered by a permanent flexible substrate with a casting layer for planarizingly embedding the chips on the permanent substrate before removing the temporary substrate. With the surface of the chips coplanar with the surface of the complete structure without any gaps, interconnect metal lines can be easily placed on the uninterrupted surface, connecting the chips and other components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventor: James Sheats
  • Publication number: 20080020503
    Abstract: Series interconnection of optoelectronic device modules is disclosed. Each device module includes an active layer disposed between a bottom electrode and a transparent conducting layer. An insulating layer is disposed between the bottom electrode of a first device module and a backside top electrode of the first device module. One or more vias are formed through the active layer, transparent conducting layer and insulating layer of the first device module. Sidewalls of the vias are coated with an insulating material such that a channel is formed through the insulating material to the backside top electrode of the first device module. The channel is at least partially filled with an electrically conductive material to form a plug that makes electrical contact between the transparent conducting layer and the backside top electrode of the first device module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Inventors: James Sheats, Sam Kao, Gregory Miller, Martin Roscheisen
  • Publication number: 20070295388
    Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for improved environmental protection for photovoltaic devices and assemblies. In one embodiment, a photovoltaic device module is provided comprising of a multi-ply module encapsulant, a bottom module layer, and a plurality of solar cells. The multi-ply module encapsulant includes one or more discrete layers comprising of at least a first module layer and at least a second module layer. The plurality of solar cells may be sandwiched between the multi-ply module encapsulant and the bottom module layer. At least one of the cells has a protective layer that provides a level of moisture resistance equal to or higher than any of the layers above the cells. The protective layer is typically above the solar cell and light passes through the multi-ply module encapsulant and the protective layer to reach the solar cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Applicant: Nanosolar, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Adriani, Philip Capps, James Sheats
  • Patent number: 7300824
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for packaging semiconductor chips on a flexible substrate employing thin film transfer. The semiconductor chips are placed on a temporary adhesive substrate, then covered by a permanent flexible substrate with a casting layer for planarizingly embedding the chips on the permanent substrate before removing the temporary substrate. With the surface of the chips coplanar with the surface of the complete structure without any gaps, interconnect metal lines can be easily placed on the uninterrupted surface, connecting the chips and other components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Inventor: James Sheats
  • Publication number: 20070186971
    Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for high-efficiency solar cells. In one embodiment, the device comprises of a solar cell having a high efficiency backside electrode configuration, wherein the solar cell comprises of: at least one transparent conductor, a photovoltaic layer, at least one bottom electrode, and at least one backside electrode. The device may include a plurality of electrical conduction fingers mounted to the transparent conductor in the solar cell. The device may include a plurality of filled vias coupled to the electrical conduction fingers, wherein the vias extend through the transparent conductor, the photovoltaic layer, and the bottom electrode, wherein the vias have a conductive core that conducts charge from the transparent conductor to the backside electrode. The via insulating layer may separate the conductive core in each via from the bottom electrode, wherein the insulating layer may be formed by a variety of techniques such as but not limited to aerosol coating of the via.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2006
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Applicant: Nanosolar, Inc.
    Inventors: Darren Lochun, James Sheats, Gregory Miller
  • Publication number: 20070040258
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for packaging semiconductor chips on a flexible substrate employing thin film transfer. The semiconductor chips are placed on a temporary adhesive substrate, then covered by a permanent flexible substrate with a casting layer for planarizingly embedding the chips on the permanent substrate before removing the temporary substrate. With the surface of the chips coplanar with the surface of the complete structure without any gaps, interconnect metal lines can be easily placed on the uninterrupted surface, connecting the chips and other components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2005
    Publication date: February 22, 2007
    Inventor: James Sheats
  • Publication number: 20070040272
    Abstract: A semiconductor chip packaging on a flexible substrate is disclosed. The chip and the flexible substrate are provided with corresponding raised and indented micron-scale contact pads with the indented contact pads partially filled with a liquid amalgam. After low temperature amalgam curing, the chip and the substrate form a flexible substrate IC packaging with high conductivity, controllable interface layer thickness, micron-scale contact density and low process temperature. Adhesion between the chip and the substrate can be further enhanced by coating other areas with non-conducting adhesive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2005
    Publication date: February 22, 2007
    Inventor: James Sheats
  • Publication number: 20070009827
    Abstract: This invention discloses a releasable adhesion layer having good adhesion during high temperature fabrication process in the absence of light, and delaminating at a lower temperature in the presence of light. One embodiment of this invention is a film of polymer whose thermal decomposition temperature changes drastically upon photoexposure. These materials, prior to photoexposure, can withstand temperatures in the range of approximately 200° C. to 300° C. without decomposition, yet decompose at around 100° C. with photoexposure. The releasable adhesion layer can be used in a thermal transfer element, sandwiching a donor substrate and a transfer layer having a plurality of multicomponent transfer units. In the absence of light, the releasable adhesion layer can sustain high temperature processing of these multicomponent transfer units. By photoexposing according to a pattern, the photoexposed multicomponent transfer units can be selectively released at a low temperature to transfer to a receptor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Publication date: January 11, 2007
    Inventors: James Sheats, Tue Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20070000537
    Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for absorber layers formed on foil substrate. In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing photovoltaic devices may be comprised of providing a substrate comprising of at least one electrically conductive aluminum foil substrate, at least one electrically conductive diffusion barrier layer, and at least one electrically conductive electrode layer above the diffusion barrier layer. The diffusion barrier layer may prevent chemical interaction between the aluminum foil substrate and the electrode layer. An absorber layer may be formed on the substrate. In one embodiment, the absorber layer may be a non-silicon absorber layer. In another embodiment, the absorber layer may be an amorphous silicon (doped or undoped) absorber layer. Optionally, the absorber layer may be based on organic and/or inorganic materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Publication date: January 4, 2007
    Inventors: Craig Leidholm, Brent Bollman, James Sheats, Sam Kao, Martin Roscheisen
  • Patent number: 7141348
    Abstract: This invention discloses a releasable adhesion layer having good adhesion during high temperature fabrication process in the absence of light, and delaminating at a lower temperature in the presence of light. One embodiment of this invention is a film of polymer whose thermal decomposition temperature changes drastically upon photoexposure. These materials, prior to photoexposure, can withstand temperatures in the range of approximately 200° C. to 300° C. without decomposition, yet decompose at around 100° C. with photoexposure. The releasable adhesion layer can be used in a thermal transfer element, sandwiching a donor substrate and a transfer layer having a plurality of multicomponent transfer units. In the absence of light, the releasable adhesion layer can sustain high temperature processing of these multicomponent transfer units. By photoexposing according to a pattern, the photoexposed multicomponent transfer units can be selectively released at a low temperature to transfer to a receptor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Intelleflex Corporation
    Inventors: James Sheats, Tue Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20060157103
    Abstract: Optoelectronic device modules, arrays optoelectronic device modules and methods for fabricating optoelectronic device modules are disclosed. The device modules are made using a starting substrate having an insulator layer sandwiched between a bottom electrode made of a flexible bulk conductor and a conductive back plane. An active layer is disposed between the bottom electrode and a transparent conducting layer. One or more electrical contacts between the transparent conducting layer and the back plane are formed through the transparent conducting layer, the active layer, the flexible bulk conductor and the insulating layer. The electrical contacts are electrically isolated from the active layer, the bottom electrode and the insulating layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2005
    Publication date: July 20, 2006
    Applicant: Nanosolar, Inc.
    Inventors: James Sheats, Sam Kao, Martin Roscheisen
  • Publication number: 20060160261
    Abstract: Series interconnection of optoelectronic device modules is disclosed. Each device module includes an active layer disposed between a bottom electrode and a transparent conducting layer. An insulating layer is disposed between the bottom electrode of a first device module and a backside top electrode of the first device module. One or more vias are formed through the active layer, transparent conducting layer and insulating layer of the first device module. Sidewalls of the vias are coated with an insulating material such that a channel is formed through the insulating material to the backside top electrode of the first device module. The channel is at least partially filled with an electrically conductive material to form a plug that makes electrical contact between the transparent conducting layer and the backside top electrode of the first device module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2005
    Publication date: July 20, 2006
    Applicant: Nanosolar, Inc.
    Inventors: James Sheats, Sam Kao, Gregory Miller, Martin Roscheisen
  • Publication number: 20060151616
    Abstract: A thin film non volatile memory scalable to small sizes and its fabrication process are disclosed. The thin film memory comprises a thin film transistor control circuitry fabricated on a flexible substrate, together with an optoelectronic cross bar memory comprising a photoconducting material. The thin film non volatile memory can be used in RFID communication tag with the control circuitry further comprises wireless communication circuitry such as an antenna, a receiver, and a transmitter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Publication date: July 13, 2006
    Inventor: James Sheats
  • Publication number: 20060152960
    Abstract: A thin film non volatile memory scalable to small sizes and its fabrication process are disclosed. The thin film memory comprises a thin film transistor control circuitry fabricated on a flexible substrate, together with an optoelectronic cross bar memory comprising a photoconducting material. The thin film non volatile memory can be used in RFID communication tag with the control circuitry further comprises wireless communication circuitry such as an antenna, a receiver, and a transmitter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Publication date: July 13, 2006
    Inventor: James Sheats