Patents by Inventor Minh Huu Le

Minh Huu Le 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: 20160013367
    Abstract: Transparent conductive layers usable as ohmic contacts for III-V semiconductors with work functions between 4.1 and 4.7 eV are formed by annealing layers of transparent oxide with thin (0.1-5 nm) layers of conductive metal. When the layers interdiffuse during the annealing, some of the conductive metal atoms remain free to reduce resistivity and others oxidize to reduce optical absorption. Examples of the transparent oxides include indium-tin oxide, zinc oxide, and aluminum zinc oxide with up to 5 wt % Al. Examples of the metals include aluminum and titanium. The work function of the transparent conductive layer can be tuned to match the contacted semiconductor by adjusting the ratio of metal to transparent oxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Inventors: Jianhua Hu, Heng-Kai Hsu, Minh Huu Le, Sandeep Nijhawan, Teresa B. Sapirman
  • Publication number: 20150368152
    Abstract: Embodiments provided herein describe low-e panels and methods for forming low-e panels. A transparent substrate is provided. A reflective layer is formed above the transparent substrate. A dielectric layer is formed between the transparent substrate and the reflective layer. The dielectric layer includes niobium, tin, and aluminum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Inventors: Tong Ju, Jeremy Cheng, Guowen Ding, Minh Huu Le, Daniel Schweigert, Guizhen Zhang
  • Patent number: 9206078
    Abstract: Provided is High Productivity Combinatorial (HPC) testing methodology of semiconductor substrates, each including multiple site isolated regions. The site isolated regions are used for testing different compositions and/or structures of barrier layers disposed over silver reflectors. The tested barrier layers may include all or at least two of nickel, chromium, titanium, and aluminum. In some embodiments, the barrier layers include oxygen. This combination allows using relative thin barrier layers (e.g., 5-30 Angstroms thick) that have high transparency yet provide sufficient protection to the silver reflector. The amount of nickel in a barrier layer may be 5-10% by weight, chromium—25-30%, titanium and aluminum—30%-35% each. The barrier layer may be co-sputtered in a reactive or inert-environment using one or more targets that include all four metals. An article may include multiple silver reflectors, each having its own barrier layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Intermolecular, Inc.
    Inventors: Guizhen Zhang, Jeremy Cheng, Guowen Ding, Minh Huu Le, Daniel Schweigert, Yu Wang
  • Publication number: 20150345005
    Abstract: Methods, and coated panels fabricated from the methods, are disclosed to form multiple coatings, (e.g., one or more infrared reflective layers), with minimal color change before and after heat treatments. For example, by adding appropriate seed layers between the IR reflective layers and the base oxide layers, the color performance can be maintained regardless of high temperature processes. The optical filler layers can include a metal oxide layer. In some embodiments, the seed layer can include nickel, titanium, and niobium, forming a nickel titanium niobium alloy such as NiTiNb.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Applicant: Intermolecular Inc.
    Inventors: Guowen Ding, Tong Ju, Minh Huu Le, Daniel Schweigert, Guizhen Zhang
  • Publication number: 20150337432
    Abstract: Provided is High Productivity Combinatorial (HPC) testing methodology of semiconductor substrates, each including multiple site isolated regions. The site isolated regions are used for testing different compositions and/or structures of barrier layers disposed over silver reflectors. The tested barrier layers may include all or at least two of nickel, chromium, titanium, and aluminum. In some embodiments, the barrier layers include oxygen. This combination allows using relative thin barrier layers (e.g., 5-30 Angstroms thick) that have high transparency yet provide sufficient protection to the silver reflector. The amount of nickel in a barrier layer may be 5-10% by weight, chromium—25-30%, titanium and aluminum—30%-35% each. The barrier layer may be co-sputtered in a reactive or inert-environment using one or more targets that include all four metals. An article may include multiple silver reflectors, each having its own barrier layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Inventors: Guizhen Zhang, Jeremy Cheng, Guowen Ding, Minh Huu Le, Daniel Schweigert, Yu Wang
  • Publication number: 20150327366
    Abstract: Methods for making conducting stacks includes forming a doped or alloyed silver layer sandwiched between two layers of transparent conductive oxide such as indium tin oxide (ITO). The doped silver or silver alloy layer can be thin, such as between 1.5 to 20 nm and thus can be transparent. The doped silver or silver alloy can provide improved ductility property, allowing the conductive stack to be bendable. The transparent conductive oxide layers can also be thin, allowing the conductive stack can have improved ductility property.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Inventors: Mohd Fadzli Anwar Hassan, Guowen Ding, Minh Huu Le, Minh Anh Anh Nguyen, Zhi-Wen Wen Sun, Guizhen Zhang
  • Publication number: 20150318446
    Abstract: A ternary transparent conductive oxide, indium zinc oxide (IZO), is formed as a thin film by co-sputtering zinc oxide with indium oxide at a deposition temperature between 25 and 200 C. Optionally, up to 1-2% Al may be added by various methods. The layers may be annealed at temperatures between 200 and 400 C. Measurements of IZO with 75-85 wt % In2O3 showed low resistivity and low visible absorbance, both of which were thermally stable up to 400 C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Applicant: Intermolecular, Inc.
    Inventors: Jianhua Hu, Heng Kai Hsu, Minh Huu Le, Sandeep Nijhawan, Teresa B. Sapirman
  • Patent number: 9177876
    Abstract: Optical absorbers and methods are disclosed. The methods comprise depositing a plurality of precursor layers comprising one or more of Cu, Ga, and In on a substrate, and heating the layers in a chalcogenizing atmosphere. The plurality of precursor layers can be one or more sets of layers comprising at least two layers, wherein each layer in each set of layers comprises one or more of Cu, Ga, and In exhibiting a single phase. The layers can be deposited using two or three targets selected from Ag and In containing less than 21% In by weight, Cu and Ga where the Cu and Ga target comprises less than 45% Ga by weight, Cu(In,Ga), wherein the Cu(In,Ga) target has an atomic ratio of Cu to (In+Ga) greater than 2 and an atomic ratio of Ga to (Ga+In) greater than 0.5, elemental In, elemental Cu, and In2Se3 and In2S3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Intermolecular, Inc.
    Inventors: Haifan Liang, Jessica Eid, Minh Huu Le, Jeroen Van Duren
  • Publication number: 20150311397
    Abstract: Transparent ohmic contacts to p-GaN and other high-work-function (?4.2 eV) semiconductors are fabricated from zinc stannate (e.g., ZnSnO3). ZnO and SnO2 may be sputtered from separate targets and annealed to form the zinc stannate. The Zn:Sn ratio may be tuned over the range between 1:2 and 2:1 to optimize bandgap, work function, conductivity, and transparency for the particular semiconductor and wavelength of interest. Conductivity may be improved by crystallizing the zinc stannate, by doping with up to 5 wt % Al or In, or both.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Applicant: INTERMOLECULAR, INC.
    Inventors: Jianhua Hu, Heng Kai Hsu, Tong Ju, Minh Huu Le, Sandeep Nijhawan, Teresa B. Sapirman
  • Publication number: 20150279674
    Abstract: A co-sputter technique is used to deposit In—Ga—Zn—O films using PVD. The films are deposited in an atmosphere including both oxygen and argon. A heater setpoint of about 300 C results in a substrate temperature of about 165 C. One target includes an alloy of In, Ga, Zn, and O with an atomic ratio of In:Ga:Zn of about 1:1:1. The second target includes a compound of zinc oxide. The third target includes a compound of indium oxide. The films exhibit the c-axis aligned crystalline (CAAC) phase in an as-deposited state, when deposited at room temperature, without the need of a subsequent anneal treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventors: Seon-Mee Cho, Sang Lee, Minh Huu Le
  • Publication number: 20150279670
    Abstract: A co-sputter technique is used to deposit In—Ga—Zn—O films using PVD. The films are deposited in an atmosphere including both oxygen and argon. A heater setpoint of about 300 C results in a substrate temperature of about 165 C. One target includes an alloy of In, Ga, Zn, and O with an atomic ratio of In:Ga:Zn of about 1:1:1. The second target includes a compound of zinc oxide. The films exhibit the c-axis aligned crystalline (CAAC) phase in an as-deposited state, without the need of a subsequent anneal treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventors: Seon-Mee Cho, Stuart Brinkley, Anh Duong, Majid Gharghi, Sang Lee, Minh Huu Le, Karl Littau, Jingang Su
  • Patent number: 9127348
    Abstract: Provided is High Productivity Combinatorial (HPC) testing methodology of semiconductor substrates, each including multiple site isolated regions. The site isolated regions are used for testing different compositions and/or structures of barrier layers disposed over silver reflectors. The tested barrier layers may include all or at least two of nickel, chromium, titanium, and aluminum. In some embodiments, the barrier layers include oxygen. This combination allows using relative thin barrier layers (e.g., 5-30 Angstroms thick) that have high transparency yet provide sufficient protection to the silver reflector. The amount of nickel in a barrier layer may be 5-10% by weight, chromium—25-30%, titanium and aluminum—30%-35% each. The barrier layer may be co-sputtered in a reactive or inert-environment using one or more targets that include all four metals. An article may include multiple silver reflectors, each having its own barrier layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Intermolecular, Inc.
    Inventors: Guizhen Zhang, Jeremy Cheng, Guowen Ding, Minh Huu Le, Daniel Schweigert, Yu Wang
  • Patent number: 9121100
    Abstract: Methods for making conducting stacks includes forming a doped or alloyed silver layer sandwiched between two layers of transparent conductive oxide such as indium tin oxide (ITO). The doped silver or silver alloy layer can be thin, such as between 1.5 to 20 nm and thus can be transparent. The doped silver or silver alloy can provide improved ductility property, allowing the conductive stack to be bendable. The transparent conductive oxide layers can also be thin, allowing the conductive stack to have an improved ductility property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Intermolecular, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohd Fadzli Anwar Hassan, Guowen Ding, Minh Huu Le, Minh Anh Anh Nguyen, Zhi-Wen Wen Sun, Guizhen Zhang
  • Publication number: 20150232378
    Abstract: Embodiments provided herein describe a low-e panel and a method for forming a low-e panel. A transparent substrate is provided. A metal oxide layer is formed over the transparent substrate. The metal oxide layer includes a first element, a second element, and a third element. A reflective layer is formed over the transparent substrate. The first element may include tin or zinc. The second element and the third element may each include tin, zinc, antimony, silicon, strontium, titanium, niobium, zirconium, magnesium, aluminum, yttrium, lanthanum, hafnium, or bismuth. The metal oxide layer may also include nitrogen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Inventors: Mohd Fadzli Anwar Hassan, Richard Blacker, Guowen Ding, Jingyu Lao, Minh Huu Le, Yiwei Lu, Minh Anh Anh Nguyen, Zhi-Wen Wen Sun
  • Publication number: 20150232376
    Abstract: A bi-layer seed layer can exhibit good seed property for an infrared reflective layer, together with improved thermal stability. The bi-layer seed layer can include a thin zinc oxide layer having a desired crystallographic orientation for a silver infrared reflective layer disposed on a bottom layer having a desired thermal stability. The thermal stable layer can include aluminum, magnesium, or bismuth doped tin oxide (AlSnO, MgSnO, or BiSnO), which can have better thermal stability than zinc oxide but poorer lattice matching for serving as a seed layer template for silver (111).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Inventors: Mohd Fadzli Anwar Hassan, Brent Boyce, Guowen Ding, Muhammad Imran, Minh Huu Le, Zhi-Wen Wen Sun, Yu Wang, Yongli Xu
  • Patent number: 9105526
    Abstract: Methods for HPC techniques are applied to the processing of site-isolated regions (SIR) on a substrate to form at least a portion of a TFT device used in display applications. The processing may be applied to at least one of gate dielectric deposition, gate dielectric patterning, metal-based semiconductor (e.g. ZnOx, ZnSnOx, ZnInOx, or ZnGaOx) deposition, metal-based semiconductor (e.g. ZnOx, ZnSnOx, ZnInOx, or ZnGaOx) patterning, etch stop deposition, etch stop patterning, source/drain deposition, or source/drain patterning. The SIRs may be defined during the deposition process with uniform deposition within each SIR or the SIRs may be defined subsequent to the deposition of layers wherein the layers are deposited with a gradient in one or more properties across the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Intermolecular, Inc.
    Inventors: Minh Huu Le, Sang Lee, Jeroen Van Duren
  • Patent number: 9105527
    Abstract: Methods for HPC techniques are applied to the processing of site-isolated regions (SIR) on a substrate to form at least a portion of a TFT device used in display applications. The processing may be applied to at least one of gate dielectric deposition, gate dielectric patterning, metal-based semiconductor deposition, metal-based patterning, etch stop deposition, etch stop patterning, source/drain deposition, or source/drain patterning. The SIRs may be defined during the deposition process with uniform deposition within each SIR or the SIRs may be defined subsequent to the deposition of layers wherein the layers are deposited with a gradient in one or more properties across the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Intermolecular, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeroen Van Duren, Sang Lee, Minh Huu Le
  • Patent number: 9081245
    Abstract: Embodiments provided herein describe electrochromic devices and methods for forming electrochromic devices. The electrochromic devices include a transparent substrate, a transparent conducting oxide layer coupled to the transparent substrate, and a layer of electrochromic material coupled to the transparent conducting oxide layer. The transparent conducting oxide layer includes indium and zinc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Intermolecular, Inc.
    Inventors: Minh Huu Le, Thai Cheng Chua, Guowen Ding, Minh Anh Nguyen, Yu Wang, Guizhen Zhang
  • Publication number: 20150191815
    Abstract: A method for making low emissivity panels, including control the composition of a barrier layer formed on a thin conductive silver layer. The barrier structure can include a ternary alloy of nickel, titanium, and niobium, which showed improvements in overall performance than those from binary barrier results. The percentage of nickel can be between 5 and 15 wt %. The percentage of titanium can be between 30 and 50 wt %. The percentage of niobium can be between 40 and 60 wt %.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Inventors: Guowen Ding, Brent Boyce, Jeremy Cheng, Muhammad Imran, Jingyu Lao, Minh Huu Le, Daniel Schweigert, Zhi-Wen Wen Sun, Yu Wang, Yongli Xu, Guizhen Zhang
  • Publication number: 20150191965
    Abstract: Embodiments provided herein describe low-e panels and methods for forming low-e panels. A transparent substrate is provided. A low-e stack is formed above the transparent substrate. Each of the layers of the low-e stack are formed to have a specific thickness to tune the performance characteristics of the low-e panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Inventors: Guowen Ding, Brent Boyce, Tong Ju, Minh Huu Le, Phil Lingle, Daniel Schweigert, Yongli Xu, Guizhen Zhang