Patents by Inventor Jef Poortmans

Jef Poortmans 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).

  • Publication number: 20060207651
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for passivating and contacting a surface of a germanium substrate. A passivation layer of amorphous silicon material is formed on the germanium surface. A contact layer of metal, e.g., aluminum, is then formed on the passivation layer. The structure is heated so that the germanium surface makes contact with the contact layer. The aluminum contact layer can be configured for use as a mirroring surface for the back surface of the device. Thus, a passivated germanium surface is disclosed, as well as a solar cell comprising such a structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2006
    Publication date: September 21, 2006
    Inventors: Niels Posthuma, Giovanni Flamand, Jef Poortmans, Johan van der Heide
  • Publication number: 20060184266
    Abstract: In one inventive aspect, a thin film device is manufactured by (a) forming a porous semiconductor layer in the form of a thin film on an original substrate, the formation being immediately followed by (b) separation of the thin film by a lift-off process from the original substrate; (c) transfer of the thin film to a dummy support, the thin film not being attached to the dummy support; (d) fabrication of a device on top of the thin film; and (e) transfer and attachment of said device on said thin film on a foreign substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Publication date: August 17, 2006
    Inventors: Chetan Solanki, Renat Bilyalov, Jef Poortmans
  • Patent number: 7022585
    Abstract: In one inventive aspect, a thin film device is manufactured by (a) forming a porous semiconductor layer in the form of a thin film on an original substrate, the formation being immediately followed by (b) separation of the thin film by a lift-off process from the original substrate; (c) transfer of the thin film to a dummy support, the thin film not being attached to the dummy support; (d) fabrication of a device on top of the thin film; and (e) transfer and attachment of said device on said thin film on a foreign substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Interuniversitair Microelektronica Centrum (IMEC)
    Inventors: Chetan Singh Solanki, Renat Bilyalov, Jef Poortmans
  • Publication number: 20050272222
    Abstract: Methods for manufacturing electronic devices and devices produced by those methods are disclosed. One such method includes releasably bonding a first surface of a device substrate to a face of a first carrier substrate using a first bonding agent to produce a first composite substrate, where the face of the first carrier substrate includes a pattern of trenches. The method also includes processing the device substrate to manufacture an electronic device on a second surface of the device substrate. The method further includes releasing the device substrate from the first carrier substrate by a releasing agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Publication date: December 8, 2005
    Applicants: Interuniversitair Microelektronica Centrum (IMEC), Umicore
    Inventors: Giovanni Flamand, Wim Geens, Jef Poortmans
  • Publication number: 20050020032
    Abstract: In one inventive aspect, a thin film device is manufactured by (a) forming a porous semiconductor layer in the form of a thin film on an original substrate, the formation being immediately followed by (b) separation of the thin film by a lift-off process from the original substrate; (c) transfer of the thin film to a dummy support, the thin film not being attached to the dummy support; (d) fabrication of a device on top of the thin film; and (e) transfer and attachment of said device on said thin film on a foreign substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Publication date: January 27, 2005
    Inventors: Chetan Solanki, Renat Bilyalov, Jef Poortmans
  • Publication number: 20050000566
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for passivating and contacting a surface of a germanium substrate. A passivation layer of amorphous silicon material is formed on the germanium surface. A contact layer of metal is then formed on the passivation. The structure is heated so that the germanium surface makes contact with the contact layer. Thus, a passivated germanium surface is disclosed, as well as a solar cell comprising such a structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2004
    Publication date: January 6, 2005
    Inventors: Niels Posthuma, Giovanni Flamand, Jef Poortmans
  • Patent number: 6815711
    Abstract: An organic field-effect transistor comprises source and drain electrodes formed separately from each other on a substrate, wherein the substrate comprises at least an organic semiconductor layer constituting a channel between the source and drain electrodes, an insulation layer underlying the organic semiconductor layer, and a gate electrode formed on the opposite side of the isolation layer. The organic semiconductor layer comprises hole and electron transporters, wherein the electron transporters comprise (6,6)-phenyl C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM), and wherein the hole transporters comprise poly(2-methoxy-5-(3′,7′-dimethyloctyloxy)-1,4-phenylene-vinylene)(OC1C10-PPV) and/or poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignees: Interuniversitair Microelektronica Centrum (IMEC), Agfa Gevaert
    Inventors: Wim Geens, Jef Poortmans, Tom Aernouts, Hieronymus Andriessen, Dirk Vanderzande
  • Patent number: 6815247
    Abstract: A thin-film opto-electronic device on a conductive silicon-containing substrate includes a sequence of layers. The layers include a layer of a porous medium preferably a porous silicon, on a substrate. The porous layer has both light diffusing and light reflecting properties. In addition, a non-porous layer is located on said porous silicon layer, with at least one first region and at least one second region being in said non-porous layer. The first region is of a first conductivity type acting as a light absorber and the second region has a conductivity of a second type, different from said first conductivity type. The sequence of layers is such that optical confinement is realised in the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Interuniversitair Microelektronica Centrum (IMEC)
    Inventors: Lieven Stalmans, Jef Poortmans, Matty Caymax, Khalid Said, Johan Nijs
  • Publication number: 20040103937
    Abstract: The present invention is related to a photovoltaic device, the device comprising a first layer of a first semiconductor material of a first conductivity type, a second layer of a second semiconductor material of the opposite conductivity type of the first layer, and a third layer of a third porous semiconductor material situated between the first layer and the second layer. The present invention also provides a method for producing the photovoltaic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2003
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Applicants: Interuniversitair Microelektronica Centrum (IMEC), FernUniversitat Hagen
    Inventors: Renat Bilyalov, Alexander Ulyashin, Jef Poortmans, Wolfgang Fahrner
  • Publication number: 20040087056
    Abstract: A thin-film opto-electronic device on a conductive silicon-containing substrate includes a sequence of layers. The layers include a layer of a porous medium preferably a porous silicon, on a substrate. The porous layer has both light diffusing and light reflecting properties. In addition, a non-porous layer is located on said porous silicon layer, with at least one first region and at least one second region being in said non-porous layer. The first region is of a first conductivity type acting as a light absorber and the second region has a conductivity of a second type, different from said first conductivity type. The sequence of layers is such that optical confinement is realised in the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2003
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Inventors: Lieven Stalmans, Jef Poortmans, Matty Caymax, Khalid Said, Johan Nijs
  • Patent number: 6683367
    Abstract: The present invention is related to a thin-film opto-electronic device and a method of fabricating the same. Particularly this thin film opto-electronic device is fabricated on a Si-containing substrate. The thin-film material is a crystalline semiconductor material. In order to increase the efficiency of this device a porous silicon layer is applied between the thin-film and the substrate. This porous silicon layer has both light reflecting and light diffusing properties thereby giving rise to light confinement in the thin-film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: IMEC vzw
    Inventors: Lieven Stalmans, Jef Poortmans, Matty Caymax, Khalid Said, Johan Nijs
  • Publication number: 20030216043
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a layer stack comprising a monocrystalline layer located upon a porous surface of a substrate, said monocrystalline layer and said substrate being significantly lattice mismatched, obtainable by a process comprising a sublimation or an evaporation step by emission from a source and an incomplete filling step of said porous surface by said sublimated or evaporated emission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventors: Giovanni Flamand, Jef Poortmans
  • Patent number: 6649485
    Abstract: A method for the manufacture, formation, and removal of porous layers in a semiconductor substrate having at least a surface acting as a cathode. The method comprises applying a solution comprising negative Fluorine (F−) ions between the surface of the semiconductor substrate and an anode. The method further comprises applying a predetermined current between the anode and the cathode. The method further comprises maintaining the predetermined current at substantially the same current value for a sufficient amount of time to obtain a low porosity layer at said surface. A high porosity layer positioned under the low porosity layer is also obtained by the method of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Interuniversitair Microelektronica Centrum (IMEC)
    Inventors: Chetan Singh Solanki, Renat Bilyalov, Jef Poortmans, Guy Beaucarne
  • Patent number: 6602760
    Abstract: A method of producing a semiconductor layer onto a semiconductor substrate. The method comprises providing a first semiconductor substrate, and providing a second semiconductor substrate. The method also comprises producing a porous layer, which has a porosity profile, on top of the first semiconductor substrate, and producing a porous layer, which has a porosity profile, on top of the second semiconductor substrate. The method further comprises bringing the porous layer of the second substrate into contact with the porous layer of the first substrate, so as to form a bond between the two substrates, performing a thermal annealing step, and lifting off of the second substrate, leaving a layer of the second substrate's semiconductor material attached to the first substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignees: Interuniversitair Microelektronica Centrum (IMEC), Umicore
    Inventors: Jef Poortmans, Giovanni Flamand, Renat Bilyalov
  • Publication number: 20030085397
    Abstract: An organic field-effect transistor comprises source and drain electrodes formed separately from each other on a substrate, wherein the substrate comprises at least an organic semiconductor layer constituting a channel between the source and drain electrodes, an insulation layer underlying the organic semiconductor layer, and a gate electrode formed on the opposite side of the isolation layer. The organic semiconductor layer comprises hole and electron transporters, wherein the electron transporters comprise (6,6)-phenyl C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM), and wherein the hole transporters comprise poly(2-methoxy-5-(3′,7′-dimethyloctyloxy)-1, 4-phenylene-vinylene)(OC1C10-PPV) and/or poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Inventors: Wim Geens, Jef Poortmans, Tom Aernouts, Hieronymus Andriessen, Dirk Vanderzande
  • Patent number: 6521109
    Abstract: A device for detecting an analyte in a sample comprising an active layer comprising at least a dielectric material, a source electrode, a drain electrode and a semiconducting substrate which acts as current pathway between source and drain. The conductivity of said semiconducting layer can be influenced by the interaction of the active layer with the sample containing the analyte to detect. The device is fabricated such that properties like low price, disposability, reduced drift of the device and suitability for biomedical and pharmaceutical applications are obtained. To fulfill these requirements, the device described in this application will be based on organic-containing materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Interuniversitair Microelektronica Centrum (IMEC) vzw
    Inventors: Carmen Bartic, Jef Poortmans, Kris Baert
  • Publication number: 20020106882
    Abstract: A method of producing a semiconductor layer onto a semiconductor substrate, comprising the steps of:
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Publication date: August 8, 2002
    Inventors: Jef Poortmans, Giovanni Flamand, Renat Bilyalov
  • Publication number: 20010036747
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for the manufacture of porous layers in a semiconductor substrate, comprising the following steps:
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2001
    Publication date: November 1, 2001
    Inventors: Chetan Singh Solanky, Renat Bilyalov, Jef Poortmans, Guy Beaucarne