Patents by Inventor Kurt Ulmer

Kurt Ulmer 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: 20180158979
    Abstract: A surface mount emissive element is provided with a top surface and a bottom surface. A first electrical contact is formed exclusively on the top surface, and a second electrical contact is formed exclusively on the top surface. A post extends from the bottom surface. An emissive display is also provided made from surface mount emissive elements and an emissions substrate. The emissions substrate has a top surface with a first plurality of wells formed in the emissions substrate top surface. Each well has a bottom surface, sidewalls, a first electrical interface formed on the bottom surface, and a second electrical interface formed on the bottom surface. The emissions substrate also includes a matrix of column and row conductive traces forming a first plurality of column/row intersections, where each column/row intersection is associated with a corresponding well. A first plurality of emissive elements populates the wells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2018
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Inventors: Paul J. Schuele, Kenji Sasaki, Kurt Ulmer, Jong-Jan Lee
  • Publication number: 20180145057
    Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating an emissive display substrate with a light management system. The method provides a transparent first substrate with a top surface and forms a plurality of emissive element wells. The well sidewalls are formed from a light absorbing material or a light reflector material. In one aspect, a light blocking material film layer is formed overlying the first substrate top surface, and the emissive element sidewalls are formed in the light blocking material film layer. In another aspect, a transparent second substrate is formed overlying the first substrate top surface. Then, the emissive element wells are formed in the second substrate with via surfaces, and the light blocking material is deposited overlying the well via surfaces. Additionally, the light blocking material may be formed on the bottom surface of each well. An emissive display substrate with light management system is provided below.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Inventors: Kurt Ulmer, Paul J. Schuele, Kenji Sasaki, Jong-Jan Lee
  • Publication number: 20180138359
    Abstract: A method is presented for fabricating a light emitting diode (LED) device with a stratified quantum dot (QD) structure. The method provides an LED and a stratified QD structure is formed as follows. A first liquid precursor is deposited overlying the LED emission surface to form a transparent first barrier layer. A second liquid precursor is deposited overlying the first barrier layer to form a first layer of discrete QDs. A third liquid precursor is deposited overlying the first layer of QDs to form a transparent second barrier layer. Subsequent to each barrier layer liquid precursor deposition, an annealing is performed to cure the deposited precursor. The first and second barrier layers act to encapsulate the first layer of QDs. The LED emits a first wavelength of light, and the first layer of QDs converts the first wavelength of light to a first color of light in the visible spectrum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Kurt Ulmer, Alexey Koposov
  • Publication number: 20180047867
    Abstract: A surface mount emissive element is provided with a top surface and a bottom surface. A first electrical contact is formed exclusively on the top surface, and a second electrical contact is formed exclusively on the top surface. A post extends from the bottom surface. An emissive display is also provided made from surface mount emissive elements and an emissions substrate. The emissions substrate has a top surface with a first plurality of wells formed in the emissions substrate top surface. Each well has a bottom surface, sidewalls, a first electrical interface formed on the bottom surface, and a second electrical interface formed on the bottom surface. The emissions substrate also includes a matrix of column and row conductive traces forming a first plurality of column/row intersections, where each column/row intersection is associated with a corresponding well. A first plurality of emissive elements populates the wells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Paul J. Schuele, Kenji Sasaki, Kurt Ulmer, Jong-Jan Lee
  • Publication number: 20180047710
    Abstract: Embodiments are related generally to electronic displays and, more particularly, to emissive displays made with transparent sheets having phosphor dots on the surface for the purpose of color conversion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventor: Kurt Ulmer
  • Patent number: 9825202
    Abstract: A surface mount emissive element is provided with a top surface and a bottom surface. A first electrical contact is formed exclusively on the top surface, and a second electrical contact is formed exclusively on the top surface. A post extends from the bottom surface. An emissive display is also provided made from surface mount emissive elements and an emissions substrate. The emissions substrate has a top surface with a first plurality of wells formed in the emissions substrate top surface. Each well has a bottom surface, sidewalls, a first electrical interface formed on the bottom surface, and a second electrical interface formed on the bottom surface. The emissions substrate also includes a matrix of column and row conductive traces forming a first plurality of column/row intersections, where each column/row intersection is associated with a corresponding well. A first plurality of emissive elements populates the wells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: eLux, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul J. Schuele, Kenji Sasaki, Kurt Ulmer, Jong-Jan Lee
  • Publication number: 20170179092
    Abstract: A hybrid light emitting diode (LED) display and fabrication method are provided. The method forms a stack of thin-film layers overlying a top surface of a substrate. The stack includes an LED control matrix and a plurality of pixels. Each pixel is made up of a first subpixel enabled using an inorganic micro LED (uLED), a second subpixel enabled using an organic LED (OLED), and a third subpixel enabled using an OLED. The first subpixel emits a blue color light, the second subpixel emits a red color light, and the third subpixel emits a green color light. In one aspect, the stack includes a plurality of wells in a top surface of the stack, populated by the LEDs. The uLEDs may be configured vertical structures with top and bottom electrical contacts, or surface mount top surface contacts. The uLEDs may also include posts for fluidic assembly orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Kenji Sasaki, Paul J. Schuele, Kurt Ulmer, Jong-Jan Lee
  • Publication number: 20170139276
    Abstract: A multi-color emissive display is presented with printed light modifier structures. A fabrication method provides an emissive substrate with a plurality of wells formed in the emissions substrate top surface, and a plurality of emissive elements populating the wells. The method prints light modifier structures overlying the emissive elements. Some examples of light modifier material include light scattering materials, phosphors, and quantum dots. In one aspect, the emissive substrate wells have a first shape, with sidewalls and a first perimeter. Likewise, the emissive elements have the first shape, with sides and a second perimeter, less than the first perimeter. The light modifier structures fill the space between the emissive element sides and the well sidewalls with light modifier material. If the first shape is circular, the method prints the light modifier structures overlying the emissive elements in the circular shape having a first diameter defined by the well sidewalls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Inventors: Kurt Ulmer, Jong-Jan Lee, Kenji Sasaki, Paul J. Schuele
  • Publication number: 20170140961
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for repairing an emissive display. Following assembly, the emissive substrate is inspected to determine defective array sites, and defect items are removed using a pick-and-remove process. In one aspect, the emissive substrate includes an array of wells, with emissive elements located in the wells, but not electrically connected to the emissive substrate. If the emissive elements are light emitting diodes (LEDs), then the emissive substrate is exposed to ultraviolet illumination to photoexcite the array of LED, so that LED illumination can be measured to determine defective array sites. The defect items may be determined to be misaligned, mis-located, or non-functional emissive elements, or debris. Subsequent to determining these defect items, the robotic pick-and-remove process is used to remove them. The pick-and-remove process can also be repurposed to populate empty wells with replacement emissive elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Inventors: Kenji Sasaki, Paul J. Schuele, Kurt Ulmer, Jong-Jan Lee
  • Publication number: 20170133564
    Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating an emissive display substrate with a light management system. The method provides a transparent first substrate with a top surface and forms a plurality of emissive element wells. The well sidewalls are formed from a light absorbing material or a light reflector material. In one aspect, a light blocking material film layer is formed overlying the first substrate top surface, and the emissive element sidewalls are formed in the light blocking material film layer. In another aspect, a transparent second substrate is formed overlying the first substrate top surface. Then, the emissive element wells are formed in the second substrate with via surfaces, and the light blocking material is deposited overlying the well via surfaces. Additionally, the light blocking material may be formed on the bottom surface of each well. An emissive display substrate with light management system is provided below.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Kurt Ulmer, Paul J. Schuele, Kenji Sasaki, Jong-Jan Lee
  • Publication number: 20170133550
    Abstract: A surface mount emissive element is provided with a top surface and a bottom surface. A first electrical contact is formed exclusively on the top surface, and a second electrical contact is formed exclusively on the top surface. A post extends from the bottom surface. An emissive display is also provided made from surface mount emissive elements and an emissions substrate. The emissions substrate has a top surface with a first plurality of wells formed in the emissions substrate top surface. Each well has a bottom surface, sidewalls, a first electrical interface formed on the bottom surface, and a second electrical interface formed on the bottom surface. The emissions substrate also includes a matrix of column and row conductive traces forming a first plurality of column/row intersections, where each column/row intersection is associated with a corresponding well. A first plurality of emissive elements populates the wells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Paul J. Schuele, Kenji Sasaki, Kurt Ulmer, Jong-Jan Lee
  • Publication number: 20170133558
    Abstract: Fluidic assembly methods are presented for the fabrication of emissive displays. An emissive substrate is provided with a top surface, and a first plurality of wells formed in the top surface. Each well has a bottom surface with a first electrical interface. Also provided is a liquid suspension of emissive elements. The suspension is flowed across the emissive substrate and the emissive elements are captured in the wells. As a result of annealing the emissive substrate, electrical connections are made between each emissive element to the first electrical interface of a corresponding well. A eutectic solder interface metal on either the substrate or the emissive element is desirable as well as the use of a fluxing agent prior to thermal anneal. The emissive element may be a surface mount light emitting diode (SMLED) with two electrical contacts on its top surface (adjacent to the bottom surfaces of the wells).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Kenji Sasaki, Paul J. Schuele, Kurt Ulmer, Jong-Jan Lee
  • Patent number: 9452630
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling printed ink horizontal. cross-sectional areas using fluoropolymer templates. The method initially forms a fluoropolymer template overlying a substrate. The fluoropolymer template has a horizontal first cross-sectional dimension. Then, a primary ink is printed overlying the fluoropolymer template having a horizontal second cross-sectional dimension less than the first cross-sectional dimension. In the case of a fluoropolymer line having a template length greater than a template width, where the template width is the first cross-sectional dimension, printing the primary ink entails printing a primary ink line having an ink length greater than an ink width, where the ink width is the second cross-sectional dimension. In one aspect, the method prints a plurality of primary ink layers, each primary ink layer having an ink width less than the template width. Each overlying primary ink layer can be printed prior to solvents in underlying primary ink layers evaporating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt Ulmer, Kanan Puntambekar, Lisa Stecker
  • Patent number: 9198299
    Abstract: A method is provided for repairing defects in a contact printed circuit. The method provides a substrate with a contact printed circuit formed on a substrate top surface. After detecting a discontinuity in a printed circuit feature, a bias voltage is applied to at least one of a first region of the printed circuit feature or a second region of the printed circuit feature. The bias voltage may also be applied to both the first and second regions. An electric field is formed between the bias voltage and an ink delivery nozzle having a voltage potential less than the bias voltage. Conductive ink is attracted into the electric field from the ink delivery nozzle. Conductive ink is printed on the discontinuity, forming a conductive printed bridge. Typically, the ink delivery nozzle is an electrohydrodynamic (EHD) printing nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt Ulmer, Kanan Puntambekar, Lisa Stecker
  • Patent number: 9093475
    Abstract: A method is provided for forming a printed top gate thin film transistor (TFT) with a short channel length. The method provides a substrate with a low surface energy top surface. A metal ink line is continuously printed across a region of the substrate top surface, and in response to the surface tension of the printed metal ink, discrete spherical ink caps are formed in the region. Then, the surface energy of the substrate top surface in the region is increased. A source metal ink line is printed overlying a source spherical ink cap contact, and a drain metal ink line, parallel to the source metal ink line, is printed overlying a drain spherical ink cap contact. After depositing a semiconductor film, a channel is formed in the semiconductor film between the source and drain spherical ink cap contacts having a channel length equal to the first distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc
    Inventors: Kurt Ulmer, Kanan Puntambekar
  • Patent number: 9023683
    Abstract: A method is provided for forming an epoxy-based planarization layer overlying an organic semiconductor (OSC) film. Generally, the method forms a fluoropolymer passivation layer overlying the OSC layer. A photopatternable adhesion layer is formed overlying the fluoropolymer passivation layer, and patterned. A photopatternable planarization layer, comprising an epoxy-based organic resin, is formed overlying the photopatternable adhesion layer and patterned to expose the fluoropolymer passivation layer. Then, the fluoropolymer passivation layer is plasma etched to expose the OSC layer. More explicitly, the method can be used to fabricate a bottom gate or top gate organic thin-film transistor (OTFT). Top gate and bottom gate OTFT devices are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Karen Nishimura, Lisa Stecker, Themistokles Afentakis, Kurt Ulmer
  • Patent number: 8888255
    Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator includes a cantilever membrane. A thin film sheet is affixed to one side of the cantilever membrane to bend the membrane in multiple directions in response to an electric field induced within the thin film sheet. A plurality of coplanar electrodes disposed on the thin film sheet are interdigitated in relation to one another to generate the electric field during application of a voltage across interdigitated electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Peter Mardilovich, Haggai Karlinski, Kurt Ulmer
  • Publication number: 20140332760
    Abstract: A method is provided for forming an epoxy-based planarization layer overlying an organic semiconductor (OSC) film. Generally, the method forms a fluoropolymer passivation layer overlying the OSC layer. A photopatternable adhesion layer is formed overlying the fluoropolymer passivation layer, and patterned. A photopatternable planarization layer, comprising an epoxy-based organic resin, is formed overlying the photopatternable adhesion layer and patterned to expose the fluoropolymer passivation layer. Then, the fluoropolymer passivation layer is plasma etched to expose the OSC layer. More explicitly, the method can be used to fabricate a bottom gate or top gate organic thin-film transistor (OTFT). Top gate and bottom gate OTFT devices are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Karen Nishimura, Lisa Stecker, Themistokles Afentakis, Kurt Ulmer
  • Publication number: 20140290513
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling printed ink horizontal. cross-sectional areas using fluoropolymer templates. The method initially forms a fluoropolymer template overlying a substrate. The fluoropolymer template has a horizontal first cross-sectional dimension. Then, a primary ink is printed overlying the fluoropolymer template having a horizontal second cross-sectional dimension less than the first cross-sectional dimension. In the case of a fluoropolymer line having a template length greater than a template width, where the template width is the first cross-sectional dimension, printing the primary ink entails printing a primary ink line having an ink length greater than an ink width, where the ink width is the second cross-sectional dimension. In one aspect, the method prints a plurality of primary ink layers, each primary ink layer having an ink width less than the template width. Each overlying primary ink layer can be printed prior to solvents in underlying primary ink layers evaporating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventors: Kurt Ulmer, Kanan Puntambekar, Lisa Stecker
  • Patent number: 8803139
    Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a printed organic thin film transistor (OTFT) with a patterned organic semiconductor using a fluropolymer banked crystallization well. In the case of a bottom gate OTFT, a substrate is provided and a gate electrode is formed overlying the substrate. A gate dielectric is formed overlying the gate electrode, and source (S) and drain (D) electrodes are formed overlying the gate dielectric. A gate dielectric OTFT channel interface region is formed between the S/D electrodes. A well with fluropolymer containment and crystallization banks is then formed, to define an organic semiconductor print area. The well is filled with an organic semiconductor, covering the S/D electrodes and the gate dielectric OTFT channel interface. Then, the organic semiconductor is crystallized. Predominant crystal grain nucleation originates from regions overlying the S/D electrodes. As a result, an organic semiconductor channel is formed, interposed between the S/D electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kanan Puntambekar, Lisa Stecker, Kurt Ulmer