Patents by Inventor Nikhil Kalyankar

Nikhil Kalyankar 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: 20140037841
    Abstract: In some embodiments, the present invention discloses methods and apparatuses for making coated articles comprising exposing the coated layer to vapor-phase agents to modify its properties, such as the bonding and distribution of the coating mass. The coated layer is a porous solid layer, deposited via methods such as sol-gel, physical or chemical vapor deposition, aerosol deposition, or other methods capable of depositing a porous solid coating, with or without further processing such as curing or heat treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: Intermolecular, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott A. Jewhurst, Nikhil Kalyankar
  • Publication number: 20130340805
    Abstract: Embodiments of the current invention describe methods of forming different types of crystalline silicon based solar cells that can be combinatorially varied and evaluated. Examples of these different types of solar cells include front and back contact silicon based solar cells, all-back contact solar cells and selective emitter solar cells. These methodologies all incorporate the formation of site-isolated regions using a combinatorial processing tool and the use of these site-isolated regions to form the solar cell area. Therefore, multiple solar cells may be rapidly formed on a single crystalline silicon substrate for use in combinatorial methodologies. Any of the individual processes of the methods described may be varied combinatorially to test varied process conditions or materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: INTERMOLECULAR, INC.
    Inventors: Jian Li, James Craig Hunter, Nikhil Kalyankar, Nitin Kumar, Minh Anh Nguyen
  • Patent number: 8574949
    Abstract: Embodiments of the current invention describe methods of forming different types of crystalline silicon based solar cells that can be combinatorially varied and evaluated. Examples of these different types of solar cells include front and back contact silicon based solar cells, all-back contact solar cells and selective emitter solar cells. These methodologies all incorporate the formation of site-isolated regions using a combinatorial processing tool and the use of these site-isolated regions to form the solar cell area. Therefore, multiple solar cells may be rapidly formed on a single crystalline silicon substrate for use in combinatorial methodologies. Any of the individual processes of the methods described may be varied combinatorially to test varied process conditions or materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Intermolecular, Inc.
    Inventors: Jian Li, Minh Anh Nguyen, Nikhil Kalyankar, Nitin Kumar, Craig Hunter
  • Patent number: 8492189
    Abstract: Embodiments of the current invention include methods of improving a process of forming a textured TCO film by combinatorial methods. The combinatorial method may include depositing a TCO by physical vapor deposition or sputtering, annealing the TCO, and etching the TCO where at least one of the depositing, the annealing, or the etching is performed combinatorially. Embodiments of the current invention also include improved methods of forming the TCO based on the results of combinatorial testing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Intermolecular, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhi-Wen Sun, Nitin Kumar, Guizhen Zhang, Nikhil Kalyankar, Minh Anh Nguyen
  • Patent number: 8486282
    Abstract: Surface texturing of the transparent conductive oxide (TCO) front contact of a thin film photovoltaic (TFPV) solar cell is needed to enhance the light-trapping capability of the TFPV solar cells and thus improving the solar cell efficiency. Embodiments of the current invention describe chemical formulations and methods for the wet etching of the TCO. The formulations and methods may be optimized to tune the surface texturing of the TCO as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Intermolecular, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhi-Wen Sun, Nitin Kumar, Guizhen Zhang, Minh Anh Nguyen, Nikhil Kalyankar
  • Patent number: 8466003
    Abstract: Embodiments of the current invention describe methods of forming different types of crystalline silicon based solar cells that can be combinatorially varied and evaluated. Examples of these different types of solar cells include front and back contact silicon based solar cells, all-back contact solar cells and selective emitter solar cells. These methodologies all incorporate the formation of site-isolated regions using a combinatorial processing tool and the use of these site-isolated regions to form the solar cell area. Therefore, multiple solar cells may be rapidly formed on a single crystalline silicon substrate for use in combinatorial methodologies. Any of the individual processes of the methods described may be varied combinatorially to test varied process conditions or materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Intermolecular, Inc.
    Inventors: Jian Li, James Craig Hunter, Nikhil Kalyankar, Nitin Kumar, Minh Anh Anh Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20120238050
    Abstract: Embodiments of the current invention include methods of improving a process of forming a textured TCO film by combinatorial methods. The combinatorial method may include depositing a TCO by physical vapor deposition or sputtering, annealing the TCO, and etching the TCO where at least one of the depositing, the annealing, or the etching is performed combinatorially. Embodiments of the current invention also include improved methods of forming the TCO based on the results of combinatorial testing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Inventors: Zhi-Wen Sun, Nitin Kumar, Guizhen Zhang, Nikhil Kalyankar, Minh Anh Nguyen
  • Patent number: 8263427
    Abstract: Embodiments of the current invention include methods of improving a process of forming a textured TCO film by combinatorial methods. The combinatorial method may include depositing a TCO by physical vapor deposition or sputtering, annealing the TCO, and etching the TCO where at least one of the depositing, the annealing, or the etching is performed combinatorially. Embodiments of the current invention also include improved methods of forming the TCO based on the results of combinatorial testing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Intermolecular, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhi-Wen Sun, Nitin Kumar, Guizhen Zhang, Nikhil Kalyankar, Minh Anh Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20120196397
    Abstract: Embodiments of the current invention describe methods of forming different types of crystalline silicon based solar cells that can be combinatorially varied and evaluated. Examples of these different types of solar cells include front and back contact silicon based solar cells, all-back contact solar cells and selective emitter solar cells. These methodologies all incorporate the formation of site-isolated regions using a combinatorial processing tool and the use of these site-isolated regions to form the solar cell area. Therefore, multiple solar cells may be rapidly formed on a single crystalline silicon substrate for use in combinatorial methodologies. Any of the individual processes of the methods described may be varied combinatorially to test varied process conditions or materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: Intermolecular, Inc.
    Inventors: Jian Li, Minh Anh Nguyen, Nikhil Kalyankar, Nitin Kumar, Craig Hunter
  • Publication number: 20110230004
    Abstract: Embodiments of the current invention describe methods of forming different types of crystalline silicon based solar cells that can be combinatorially varied and evaluated. Examples of these different types of solar cells include front and back contact silicon based solar cells, all-back contact solar cells and selective emitter solar cells. These methodologies all incorporate the formation of site-isolated regions using a combinatorial processing tool and the use of these site-isolated regions to form the solar cell area. Therefore, multiple solar cells may be rapidly formed on a single crystalline silicon substrate for use in combinatorial methodologies. Any of the individual processes of the methods described may be varied combinatorially to test varied process conditions or materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Inventors: Jian Li, Minh Anh Nguyen, Nikhil Kalyankar, Nitin Kumar, Craig Hunter
  • Patent number: 7919446
    Abstract: Compositions comprise a purine compound; an alcohol amine; a quaternary ammonium salt; an amino acid, and optionally an antioxidant. The compositions are useful in post-CMP cleaning processes. One particular advantage of these compositions is that they can effectively remove slurry contamination without increasing the roughness of the copper surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Intermolecular, Inc.
    Inventors: Zachary M. Fresco, Anh Duong, Chi-I Lang, Nikhil Kalyankar, Nicole Rutherford, Alexander Gorer
  • Publication number: 20110020971
    Abstract: Embodiments of the current invention include methods of improving a process of forming a textured TCO film by combinatorial methods. The combinatorial method may include depositing a TCO by physical vapor deposition or sputtering, annealing the TCO, and etching the TCO where at least one of the depositing, the annealing, or the etching is performed combinatorially. Embodiments of the current invention also include improved methods of forming the TCO based on the results of combinatorial testing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventors: Zhi-Wen Sun, Nitin Kumar, Guizhen Zhang, Nikhil Kalyankar, Minh Anh Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20100288725
    Abstract: Surface texturing of the transparent conductive oxide (TCO) front contact of a thin film photovoltaic (TFPV) solar cell is needed to enhance the light-trapping capability of the TFPV solar cells and thus improving the solar cell efficiency. Embodiments of the current invention describe chemical formulations and methods for the wet etching of the TCO. The formulations and methods may be optimized to tune the surface texturing of the TCO as desired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Inventors: Zhi-Wen Sun, Nitin Kumar, Guizhen Zhang, Minh Anh Nguyen, Nikhil Kalyankar