Patents by Inventor Michael J. Cich

Michael J. Cich 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: 20160343908
    Abstract: A method of fabricating LEDs from a wafer comprising a substrate and epitaxial layers and having a substrate side and a epitaxial side, said method comprising: (a) applying a laser beam across at least one of said substrate side or said epitaxial side of said wafer to define at least one laser-scribed recess having a laser-machined surface; and (b) singulating said wafer along said laser-scribed recess to form singulated LEDs, said singulated LEDs having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a plurality of sidewalls, at least one of said sidewalls comprising at least a first portion comprising at least a portion of said laser-machined surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventors: RAFAEL ALDAZ, AURELIEN J.F. DAVID, DANIEL F. FEEZELL, THOMAS M. KATONA, RAJAT SHARMA, MICHAEL J. CICH
  • Patent number: 9379280
    Abstract: A method for fabricating LED devices. The method includes providing a gallium and nitrogen containing substrate member (e.g., GaN) comprising a backside surface and a front side surface. The method includes subjecting the backside surface to a polishing process, causing a backside surface to be characterized by a surface roughness, subjecting the backside surface to an anisotropic etching process exposing various crystal planes to form a plurality of pyramid-like structures distributed spatially in a non-periodic manner on the backside surface, treating the backside surface comprising the plurality of pyramid-like structures, to a plasma species, and subjecting the backside surface to a surface treatment. The method further includes forming a contact material comprising an aluminum bearing species or a titanium bearing species overlying the surface-treated backside to form a plurality of LED devices with the contact material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: SORAA, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Cich, Kenneth John Thomson
  • Publication number: 20150357513
    Abstract: A method for fabricating LED devices. The method includes providing a gallium and nitrogen containing substrate member (e.g., GaN) comprising a backside surface and a front side surface. The method includes subjecting the backside surface to a polishing process, causing a backside surface to be characterized by a surface roughness, subjecting the backside surface to an anisotropic etching process exposing various crystal planes to form a plurality of pyramid-like structures distributed spatially in a non-periodic manner on the backside surface, treating the backside surface comprising the plurality of pyramid-like structures, to a plasma species, and subjecting the backside surface to a surface treatment. The method further includes forming a contact material comprising an aluminum bearing species or a titanium bearing species overlying the surface-treated backside to form a plurality of LED devices with the contact material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: MICHAEL J. CICH, KENNETH JOHN THOMSON
  • Patent number: 9112116
    Abstract: A method for fabricating LED devices. The method includes providing a gallium and nitrogen containing substrate member (e.g., GaN) comprising a backside surface and a front side surface. The method includes subjecting the backside surface to a polishing process, causing a backside surface to be characterized by a surface roughness, subjecting the backside surface to an anisotropic etching process exposing various crystal planes to form a plurality of pyramid-like structures distributed spatially in a non-periodic manner on the backside surface, treating the backside surface comprising the plurality of pyramid-like structures, to a plasma species, and subjecting the backside surface to a surface treatment. The method further includes forming a contact material comprising an aluminum bearing species or a titanium bearing species overlying the surface-treated backside to form a plurality of LED devices with the contact material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Soraa, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Cich, Kenneth John Thomson
  • Publication number: 20150171276
    Abstract: A method for fabricating LED devices. The method includes providing a gallium and nitrogen containing substrate member (e.g., GaN) comprising a backside surface and a front side surface. The method includes subjecting the backside surface to a polishing process, causing a backside surface to be characterized by a surface roughness, subjecting the backside surface to an anisotropic etching process exposing various crystal planes to form a plurality of pyramid-like structures distributed spatially in a non-periodic manner on the backside surface, treating the backside surface comprising the plurality of pyramid-like structures, to a plasma species, and subjecting the backside surface to a surface treatment. The method further includes forming a contact material comprising an aluminum bearing species or a titanium bearing species overlying the surface-treated backside to form a plurality of LED devices with the contact material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Inventors: Michael J. Cich, Kenneth Jonh Thomson
  • Publication number: 20150155439
    Abstract: High-performance light-emitting diode together with apparatus and method embodiments thereto are disclosed. The light emitting diode devices emit at a wavelength of 390 nm to 470 nm or at a wavelength of 405 nm to 430 nm. Light emitting diode devices are characterized by having a geometric relationship (e.g., aspect ratio) between a lateral dimension of the device and a vertical dimension of the device such that the geometric aspect ratio forms a volumetric light emitting diode that delivers a substantially flat current density across the device (e.g., as measured across a lateral dimension of the active region). The light emitting diode devices are characterized by having a current density in the active region of greater than about 175 Amps/cm2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Publication date: June 4, 2015
    Inventors: MICHAEL J. CICH, AURELIEN J.F. DAVID, CHRISTOPHE HURNI, RAFAEL ALDAZ, MICHAEL RAGAN KRAMES
  • Patent number: 8994033
    Abstract: A method for fabricating LED devices. The method includes providing a gallium and nitrogen containing substrate member (e.g., GaN) comprising a backside surface and a front side surface. The method includes subjecting the backside surface to a polishing process, causing a backside surface to be characterized by a surface roughness, subjecting the backside surface to an anisotropic etching process exposing various crystal planes to form a plurality of pyramid-like structures distributed spatially in a non-periodic manner on the backside surface, treating the backside surface comprising the plurality of pyramid-like structures, to a plasma species, and subjecting the backside surface to a surface treatment. The method further includes forming a contact material comprising an aluminum bearing species or a titanium bearing species overlying the surface-treated backside to form a plurality of LED devices with the contact material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Soraa, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Cich, Kenneth John Thomson
  • Patent number: 8981312
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to photon detectors configured to employ the Gunn effect for detecting high-energy photons (e.g., x-rays and gamma rays) and methods of use. In an embodiment, a photon detector for detecting high-energy photons is disclosed. The photon detector includes a p-i-n semiconductor diode having a p-type semiconductor region, an n-type semiconductor region, and a compensated i-region disposed between the p-type semiconductor region and the n-type semiconductor region. The compensated i-region and has a width of about 100 ?m to about 400 ?m and is configured to exhibit the Gunn effect when the p-i-n semiconductor diode is forward biased a sufficient amount. The compensated i-region is doped to include a free carrier concentration of less than about 1010 cm?3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventor: Michael J. Cich
  • Publication number: 20150014695
    Abstract: A method for fabricating LED devices. The method includes providing a gallium and nitrogen containing substrate member (e.g., GaN) comprising a backside surface and a front side surface. The method includes subjecting the backside surface to a polishing process, causing a backside surface to be characterized by a surface roughness, subjecting the backside surface to an anisotropic etching process exposing various crystal planes to form a plurality of pyramid-like structures distributed spatially in a non-periodic manner on the backside surface, treating the backside surface comprising the plurality of pyramid-like structures, to a plasma species, and subjecting the backside surface to a surface treatment. The method further includes forming a contact material comprising an aluminum bearing species or a titanium bearing species overlying the surface-treated backside to form a plurality of LED devices with the contact material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: MICHAEL J. CICH, KENNETH JOHN THOMSON
  • Patent number: 8802471
    Abstract: Techniques for manufacturing optical devices are disclosed. More particularly, light emitting diodes and in particular to ohmic contacts for light emitting diodes are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Soraa, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Cich, Kenneth John Thomson
  • Patent number: 8450773
    Abstract: A photodetector is disclosed for the detection of infrared light with a long cutoff wavelength in the range of about 4.5-10 microns. The photodetector, which can be formed on a semiconductor substrate as an nBn device, has a light absorbing region which includes InAsSb light-absorbing layers and tensile-strained layers interspersed between the InAsSb light-absorbing layers. The tensile-strained layers can be formed from GaAs, InAs, InGaAs or a combination of these III-V compound semiconductor materials. A barrier layer in the photodetector can be formed from AlAsSb or AlGaAsSb; and a contact layer in the photodetector can be formed from InAs, GaSb or InAsSb. The photodetector is useful as an individual device, or to form a focal plane array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Jin K. Kim, Samuel D. Hawkins, John F. Klem, Michael J. Cich
  • Patent number: 8293566
    Abstract: An infrared focal plane array (FPA) is disclosed which utilizes a strained-layer superlattice (SLS) formed of alternating layers of InAs and InxGa1-xSb with 0?x?0.5 epitaxially grown on a GaSb substrate. The FPA avoids the use of a mesa structure to isolate each photodetector element and instead uses impurity-doped regions formed in or about each photodetector for electrical isolation. This results in a substantially-planar structure in which the SLS is unbroken across the entire width of a 2-D array of the photodetector elements which are capped with an epitaxially-grown passivation layer to reduce or eliminate surface recombination. The FPA has applications for use in the wavelength range of 3-25 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Jin K. Kim, Malcolm S. Carroll, Aaron Gin, Phillip F. Marsh, Erik W. Young, Michael J. Cich
  • Patent number: 8274058
    Abstract: A heterodyne terahertz transceiver comprises a quantum cascade laser that is integrated on-chip with a Schottky diode mixer. A terahertz signal can be received by an antenna connected to the mixer, an end facet or sidewall of the laser, or through a separate active section that can amplify the incident signal. The quantum cascade laser couples terahertz local oscillator power to the Schottky diode to mix with the received terahertz signal to provide an intermediate frequency output signal. The fully integrated transceiver optimizes power efficiency, sensitivity, compactness, and reliability. The transceiver can be used in compact, fieldable systems covering a wide variety of deployable applications not possible with existing technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Michael C. Wanke, Mark Lee, Christopher D. Nordquist, Michael J. Cich
  • Patent number: 7755079
    Abstract: An infrared focal plane array (FPA) is disclosed which utilizes a strained-layer superlattice (SLS) formed of alternating layers of InAs and InxGa1?xSb with 0?x?0.5 epitaxially grown on a GaSb substrate. The FPA avoids the use of a mesa structure to isolate each photodetector element and instead uses impurity-doped regions formed in or about each photodetector for electrical isolation. This results in a substantially-planar structure in which the SLS is unbroken across the entire width of a 2-D array of the photodetector elements which are capped with an epitaxially-grown passivation layer to reduce or eliminate surface recombination. The FPA has applications for use in the wavelength range of 3-25 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Jin K. Kim, Malcolm S. Carroll, Aaron Gin, Phillip F. Marsh, Erik W. Young, Michael J. Cich
  • Publication number: 20090045395
    Abstract: An infrared focal plane array (FPA) is disclosed which utilizes a strained-layer superlattice (SLS) formed of alternating layers of InAs and InxGa1?xSb with 0?x?0.5 epitaxially grown on a GaSb substrate. The FPA avoids the use of a mesa structure to isolate each photodetector element and instead uses impurity-doped regions formed in or about each photodetector for electrical isolation. This results in a substantially-planar structure in which the SLS is unbroken across the entire width of a 2-D array of the photodetector elements which are capped with an epitaxially-grown passivation layer to reduce or eliminate surface recombination. The FPA has applications for use in the wavelength range of 3-25 ?m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2007
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Inventors: Jin K. Kim, Malcolm S. Carroll, Aaron Gin, Phillip F. Marsh, Erik W. Young, Michael J. Cich