Patents by Inventor Michael De Volder

Michael De Volder 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: 10274452
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for fabricating a semiconductor device for stimulation and/or data recording of biological material to a such semiconductor device. The method comprises providing a semiconductor substrate comprising a first insulating layer; providing a patterned conductive layer on top of the first insulating layer; depositing and patterning a second insulating layer atop the patterned conductive layer; growing carbon nano-sheets atop the second insulating layer; and defining carbon nano-sheet electrode areas on the second insulating layer by etching away the carbon nano-sheets outside of the carbon nano-sheet electrode areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignees: IMEC, KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVEN, K.U. LEUVEN R&D
    Inventors: Nadine Collaert, Daire J. Cott, Michael De Volder
  • Patent number: 9221684
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods for fabricating pyrolysed carbon nanostructures. An example method includes providing a substrate, depositing a polymeric material, subjecting the polymeric material to a plasma etching process to form polymeric nanostructures, and pyrolysing the polymeric nanostructures to form carbon nanostructures. The polymeric material comprises either compounds with different plasma etch rates or compounds that can mask a plasma etching process. The plasma etching process may be an oxygen plasma etching process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignees: IMEC, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, KU Leuven R&D
    Inventor: Michael De Volder
  • Publication number: 20140079921
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods for fabricating pyrolysed carbon nanostructures. An example method includes providing a substrate, depositing a polymeric material, subjecting the polymeric material to a plasma etching process to form polymeric nanostructures, and pyrolysing the polymeric nanostructures to form carbon nanostructures. The polymeric material comprises either compounds with different plasma etch rates or compounds that can mask a plasma etching process. The plasma etching process may be an oxygen plasma etching process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicants: KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVEN, KU LEUVEN R&D, IMEC
    Inventor: Michael De Volder
  • Publication number: 20130341185
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for fabricating a semiconductor device for stimulation and/or data recording of biological material to a such semiconductor device. The method comprises providing a semiconductor substrate comprising a first insulating layer; providing a patterned conductive layer on top of the first insulating layer; depositing and patterning a second insulating layer atop the patterned conductive layer; growing carbon nano-sheets atop the second insulating layer; and defining carbon nano-sheet electrode areas on the second insulating layer by etching away the carbon nano-sheets outside of the carbon nano-sheet electrode areas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventors: Nadine Collaert, Daire J. Cott, Michael De Volder
  • Patent number: 7823499
    Abstract: Present invention involves a seal means suitable to replace the classic seals. For instance the seal means of present invention can be a liquid seal ring (7) to replace the classic rubber seal rings. Such is liquid O-ring can be adapted to resists the actuation pressure relying on surface tension forces. Such liquid O-rings can also be linked in series, hereby increasing the maximum seal pressure. In a preferred embodiment the seal means of present invention comprises two major components, a surface tension seal (7) and a pressure divider (4). The pressure divider will comprise a system that generates a pressure drop. Such pressure divider can be located before the surface tension seal and perform the first pressure drop. The combination of these two systems has the advantage that the surface tension seal is able to reduce the leakage to zero or essentially zero and that the pressure divider is able to perform a large pressure drop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: K.U. Leuven Research & Development
    Inventors: Michaƫl De Volder, Dominiek Reynaerts
  • Publication number: 20080277881
    Abstract: Present invention involves a seal means suitable to replace the classic seals. For instance the seal means of present invention can be a liquid seal ring (7) to replace the classic rubber seal rings. Such is liquid O-ring can be adapted to resists the actuation pressure relying on surface tension forces. Such liquid O-rings can also be linked in series, hereby increasing the maximum seal pressure. In a preferred embodiment the seal means of present invention comprises two major components, a surface tension seal (7) and a pressure divider (4). The pressure divider will comprise a system that generates a pressure drop. Such pressure divider can be located before the surface tension seal and perform the first pressure drop. The combination of these two systems has the advantage that the surface tension seal is able to reduce the leakage to zero or essentially zero and that the pressure divider is able to perform a large pressure drop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2005
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Inventors: Michael De Volder, Dominiek Reynaerts