Patents by Inventor Keith Doran Weeks

Keith Doran Weeks 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: 12707690
    Abstract: A semiconductor gate-all-around (GAA) device may include a semiconductor substrate, source and drain regions on the semiconductor substrate, a plurality of semiconductor nanostructures extending between the source and drain regions, and a gate surrounding the plurality of semiconductor nanostructures in a gate-all-around arrangement. Furthermore, at least one superlattice may be within at least one of the nanostructures. The at least one superlattice may include a plurality of stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers including a plurality of stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2024
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2026
    Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Keith Doran Weeks, Nyles Wynn Cody, Marek Hytha, Robert J. Mears, Robert John Stephenson, Hideki Takeuchi
  • Publication number: 20260123299
    Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device may include growing 28Si on a semiconductor layer, intermixing the 28Si in the semiconductor layer, and thinning the semiconductor layer after intermixing. The method may further include repeating growing, intermixing, and thinning until a concentration of 28Si in the semiconductor layer reaches a target concentration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2025
    Publication date: April 30, 2026
    Inventors: Marek HYTHA, Nyles Wynn CODY, Keith Doran WEEKS, Robert J. MEARS
  • Publication number: 20260047165
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a first single crystal silicon layer having a first percentage of silicon 28; a second single crystal silicon layer having a second percentage of silicon 28 higher than the first percentage of silicon 28; and a superlattice between the first and second single crystal silicon layers. The superlattice may include stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers including stacked base silicon monolayers defining a base silicon portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base silicon portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2025
    Publication date: February 12, 2026
    Inventors: MAREK HYTHA, Keith Doran Weeks, Nyles Wynn Cody, Hideki Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 12477798
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a first single crystal silicon layer having a first percentage of silicon 28; a second single crystal silicon layer having a second percentage of silicon 28 higher than the first percentage of silicon 28; and a superlattice between the first and second single crystal silicon layers. The superlattice may include stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers including stacked base silicon monolayers defining a base silicon portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base silicon portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2024
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2025
    Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Marek Hytha, Keith Doran Weeks, Nyles Wynn Cody, Hideki Takeuchi
  • Publication number: 20250273460
    Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device may include forming a first single crystal silicon layer having a first percentage of silicon 28, and forming a superlattice above the first single crystal silicon layer. The superlattice may include a plurality of stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers comprising a plurality of stacked base silicon monolayers defining a base silicon portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base silicon portions. The method may further include forming a second single crystal silicon layer above the superlattice having a second percentage of silicon 28 higher than the first percentage of silicon 28.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2025
    Publication date: August 28, 2025
    Inventors: MAREK HYTHA, Keith Doran Weeks, Nyles Wynn Cody, Hideki Takeuchi
  • Publication number: 20250259841
    Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device may include forming a superlattice above a semiconductor layer, the superlattice including a plurality of stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers including a plurality of stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions. The method may further include selectively etching the superlattice to remove semiconductor atoms and cause non-semiconductor atoms to accumulate adjacent the semiconductor layer, epitaxially growing an active semiconductor device layer above the semiconductor layer and accumulated non-semiconductor atoms after the selective etching, and forming at least one circuit in the epitaxially grown active semiconductor device layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2025
    Publication date: August 14, 2025
    Inventors: MAREK HYTHA, Keith Doran Weeks, Nyles Wynn Cody
  • Publication number: 20250259840
    Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device may include, in an epitaxial deposition tool, performing an anneal on a semiconductor on insulator (SOI) substrate including a first semiconductor layer, an insulating layer on the first semiconductor layer, and a second semiconductor layer on the insulating layer, the second semiconductor layer having a first thickness. The method may also include, in the epitaxial deposition tool, performing an in-situ etch to reduce the second semiconductor layer to a second thickness less than the first thickness, and forming a superlattice layer on the second semiconductor layer. The superlattice layer may include a plurality of stacked groups of layers, each group of layers comprising a plurality of stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2025
    Publication date: August 14, 2025
    Inventors: NYLES WYNN CODY, KEITH DORAN WEEKS, ROBERT MICHAEL VYNE, ROBERT J. STEPHENSON
  • Publication number: 20250248091
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a substrate, a stack of alternating gate and nanostructure layers above the substrate, and a first superlattice laterally adjacent the stack on a first side thereof and extending from the substrate to an upper surface of the stack to define a first source/drain region. The first superlattice may include a plurality of stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers including a plurality of stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions. The non-semiconductor monolayers of the first superlattice may be arranged along growth rings extending outwardly from respective adjacent nanostructure layer portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2025
    Publication date: July 31, 2025
    Inventors: DANIEL CONNELLY, DONGHUN KANG, KEITH DORAN WEEKS, NYLES WYNN CODY, ROBERT J. MEARS, MAREK HYTHA, HIDEKI TAKEUCHI
  • Publication number: 20250248090
    Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device may include forming a stack of alternating gate and nanostructure layers above a substrate, and forming a first superlattice laterally adjacent the stack on a first side thereof and extending from the substrate to an upper surface of the stack to define a first source/drain region. The first superlattice may include a plurality of stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers including stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions. The non-semiconductor monolayers of the first superlattice may be arranged along growth rings extending outwardly from respective adjacent nanostructure layer portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2025
    Publication date: July 31, 2025
    Inventors: DANIEL CONNELLY, DONGHUN KANG, KEITH DORAN WEEKS, NYLES WYNN CODY, ROBERT J. MEARS, MAREK HYTHA, HIDEKI TAKEUCHI
  • Patent number: 12322594
    Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device may include forming a first single crystal silicon layer having a first percentage of silicon 28, and forming a superlattice above the first single crystal silicon layer. The superlattice may include a plurality of stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers comprising a plurality of stacked base silicon monolayers defining a base silicon portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base silicon portions. The method may further include forming a second single crystal silicon layer above the superlattice having a second percentage of silicon 28 higher than the first percentage of silicon 28.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2025
    Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Marek Hytha, Keith Doran Weeks, Nyles Wynn Cody, Hideki Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 12315723
    Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device may include forming a superlattice above a semiconductor layer, the superlattice including a plurality of stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers including a plurality of stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions. The method may further include selectively etching the superlattice to remove semiconductor atoms and cause non-semiconductor atoms to accumulate adjacent the semiconductor layer, epitaxially growing an active semiconductor device layer above the semiconductor layer and accumulated non-semiconductor atoms after the selective etching, and forming at least one circuit in the epitaxially grown active semiconductor device layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2025
    Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Marek Hytha, Keith Doran Weeks, Nyles Wynn Cody
  • Publication number: 20250125149
    Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device may include implanting non-semiconductor atoms into a localized region of a semiconductor layer, and forming a superlattice on the semiconductor layer over the localized region. The superlattice may include a stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers including stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion, and at least one monolayer of the non-semiconductor atoms constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions. The method may also include performing a thermal treatment to cause non-semiconductor atoms from the superlattice to be displaced, and to cause non-semiconductor atoms from the localized region to migrate into the superlattice and replace at least some of the displaced non-semiconductor atoms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2024
    Publication date: April 17, 2025
    Inventors: MAREK HYTHA, RICHARD BURTON, NYLES WYNN CODY, ROBERT J. MEARS, HIDEKI TAKEUCHI, KEITH DORAN WEEKS
  • Publication number: 20250125187
    Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device may include forming spaced apart shallow trench isolation (STI) regions in a semiconductor layer, etching first portions of the semiconductor layer between adjacent ones of the STI regions to an etch depth, and performing a well implant in the first portions of the semiconductor layer. The method may further include forming respective superlattices on the first portions of the semiconductor layer between the adjacent ones of STI regions and with a height not greater than the etch depth. The method may also include forming respective spaced apart source and drain regions associated with each superlattice, and forming a respective gate above each superlattice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2024
    Publication date: April 17, 2025
    Inventors: DONGHUN KANG, KEITH DORAN WEEKS, DANIEL CONNELLY, HIDEKI TAKEUCHI, ROBERT J. MEARS
  • Publication number: 20250107192
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a semiconductor layer, and a superlattice adjacent the semiconductor layer and including stacked groups of layers. Each group of layers may include stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion, and at least one oxygen monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions. The at least one oxygen monolayer of a given group of layers may include an atomic percentage of 18O greater than 10 percent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2024
    Publication date: March 27, 2025
    Inventors: MAREK HYTHA, Nyles Wynn Cody, Keith Doran weeks
  • Publication number: 20250105021
    Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device may include forming first and second superlattices adjacent a semiconductor layer. Each of the first and second superlattices may include stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers including stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions. The second superlattice may have a greater thermal stability with respect to non-semiconductor atoms therein than the first superlattice. The method may further include heating the first and second superlattices to cause non-semiconductor atoms from the first superlattice to migrate toward the at least one non-semiconductor monolayer of the second superlattice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2024
    Publication date: March 27, 2025
    Inventors: KEITH DORAN WEEKS, NYLES WYNN CODY, MAREK HYTHA, ROBERT J. MEARS
  • Publication number: 20250048701
    Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor gate-all-around (GAA) device may include forming source and drain regions on a semiconductor substrate, forming a plurality of semiconductor nanostructures extending between the source and drain regions, and forming a gate surrounding the plurality of semiconductor nanostructures in a gate-all-around arrangement. Furthermore, the method may include forming at least one superlattice may be within at least one of the nanostructures. The at least one superlattice may include a plurality of stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers including a plurality of stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2024
    Publication date: February 6, 2025
    Inventors: KEITH DORAN WEEKS, Nyles Wynn CODY, Marek HYTHA, Robert J. MEARS, Robert John STEPHENSON, Hideki TAKEUCHI
  • Patent number: 12199148
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a semiconductor layer, and a superlattice adjacent the semiconductor layer and including stacked groups of layers. Each group of layers may include stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion, and at least one oxygen monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions. The at least one oxygen monolayer of a given group of layers may include an atomic percentage of 18O greater than 10 percent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Marek Hytha, Nyles Wynn Cody, Keith Doran Weeks
  • Patent number: 12191160
    Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device may include forming first and second superlattices adjacent a semiconductor layer. Each of the first and second superlattices may include stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers including stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions. The second superlattice may have a greater thermal stability with respect to non-semiconductor atoms therein than the first superlattice. The method may further include heating the first and second superlattices to cause non-semiconductor atoms from the first superlattice to migrate toward the at least one non-semiconductor monolayer of the second superlattice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Keith Doran Weeks, Nyles Wynn Cody, Marek Hytha, Robert J. Mears
  • Publication number: 20250006794
    Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device may include forming a superlattice adjacent a semiconductor layer. The superlattice may include a plurality of stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers including a plurality of stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions. The at least one non-semiconductor monolayer in a first group of layers of the superlattice may comprise oxygen and be devoid of carbon, and the at least one non-semiconductor monolayer in a second group of layers of the superlattice may comprise carbon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2024
    Publication date: January 2, 2025
    Inventors: KEITH DORAN WEEKS, NYLES WYNN CODY, MAREK HYTHA, ROBERT J. MEARS, ROBERT JOHN STEPHENSON, HIDEKI TAKEUCHI
  • Patent number: 12142641
    Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor gate-all-around (GAA) device may include forming source and drain regions on a semiconductor substrate, forming a plurality of semiconductor nanostructures extending between the source and drain regions, and forming a gate surrounding the plurality of semiconductor nanostructures in a gate-all-around arrangement. Furthermore, the method may include forming at least one superlattice may be within at least one of the nanostructures. The at least one superlattice may include a plurality of stacked groups of layers, with each group of layers including a plurality of stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: ATOMERA INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Keith Doran Weeks, Nyles Wynn Cody, Marek Hytha, Robert J. Mears, Robert John Stephenson, Hideki Takeuchi