Patents by Inventor Robert J. Mears

Robert J. Mears 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: 7700447
    Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device which may include forming a first monocrystalline layer comprising a first material having a first lattice constant, a second monocrystalline layer including a second material having a second lattice constant different than the first lattice constant, and a lattice matching layer between the first and second monocrystalline layers and comprising a superlattice. More particularly, the superlattice may include a plurality of groups of layers, and each group of layers may include a plurality of stacked semiconductor monolayers defining a semiconductor base portion and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer thereon. Furthermore, the at least one non-semiconductor monolayer may be constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions, and at least some semiconductor atoms from opposing base semiconductor portions may be chemically bound together through the at least one non-semiconductor monolayer therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Mears Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ilija Dukovski, Robert John Stephenson, Jean Augustin Chan Sow Fook Yiptong, Samed Halilov, Robert J. Mears, Xiangyang Huang, Marek Hytha
  • Patent number: 7625767
    Abstract: A method is for making a spintronic device and may include forming at least one superlattice and at least one electrical contact coupled thereto, with the at least one superlattice including a plurality of groups of layers. Each group of layers may include a plurality of stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion having a crystal lattice, at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within the crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions, and a spintronic dopant. The spintronic dopant may be constrained within the crystal lattice of the base semiconductor portion by the at least one non-semiconductor monolayer. In some embodiments, the repeating structure of a superlattice may not be needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Mears Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiangyang Huang, Samed Halilov, Jean Augustin Chan Sow Fook Yiptong, Ilija Dukovski, Marek Hytha, Robert J. Mears
  • Patent number: 7612366
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a stress layer and a strained superlattice layer above the stress layer and including a plurality of stacked groups of layers. More particularly, each group of layers of the strained superlattice layer may include a plurality of stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: MEARS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Mears, Scott A. Kreps
  • Patent number: 7598515
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a strained superlattice layer including a plurality of stacked groups of layers, and a stress layer above the strained superlattice layer. Each group of layers of the strained superlattice layer may include a plurality of stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: MEARS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Mears, Scott A. Kreps
  • Patent number: 7531828
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include at least one pair of spaced apart stress regions, and a strained superlattice layer between the at least one pair of spaced apart stress regions and including a plurality of stacked groups of layers. Each group of layers of the strained superlattice layer may include a plurality of stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Mears Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Mears, Scott A. Kreps
  • Patent number: 7517702
    Abstract: A method for making an electronic device may include forming a poled superlattice comprising a plurality of stacked groups of layers and having a net electrical dipole moment. Each group of layers of the poled superlattice may include a plurality of stacked semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer thereon. The at least one non-semiconductor monolayer may be constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions, and at least some semiconductor atoms from opposing base semiconductor portions may be chemically bound together through the at least one non-semiconductor monolayer therebetween. The method may further include coupling at least one electrode to the poled superlattice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: MEARS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Samed Halilov, Xiangyang Huang, Ilija Dukovski, Jean Augustin Chan Sow Fook Yiptong, Robert J. Mears, Marek Hytha, Robert John Stephenson
  • Patent number: 7446002
    Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device may include forming a superlattice comprising a plurality of stacked groups of layers adjacent a substrate. Each group of layers of the superlattice may include a plurality of stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions. The method may further include forming a high-K dielectric layer on the electrode layer, and forming an electrode layer on the high-K dielectric layer and opposite the superlattice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: MEARS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Mears, Marek Hytha, Scott A. Kreps, Robert John Stephenson, Jean Augustin Chan Sow Fook Yiptong, Ilija Dukovski, Kalipatnam Vivek Rao, Samed Halilov, Xiangyang Huang
  • Patent number: 7446334
    Abstract: An electronic device may include first and second integrated circuits including respective first and second active optical devices establishing an optical communications link therebetween. The first active optical device may include a superlattice including a plurality of stacked groups of layers. Each group of layers of the superlattice may include a plurality of stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion and an energy band-modifying layer thereon. Also, the energy-band modifying layer may include at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: MEARS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Mears, Robert John Stephenson
  • Publication number: 20080258134
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a semiconductor substrate having a surface, a shallow trench isolation (STI) region in the semiconductor substrate and extending above the surface thereof, and a superlattice layer adjacent the surface of the semiconductor substrate and comprising a plurality of stacked groups of layers. More particularly, each group of layers of the superlattice layer may include a plurality of stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion, and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions. Moreover, at least some atoms from opposing base semiconductor portions may be chemically bound together with the chemical bonds traversing the at least one intervening non-semiconductor monolayer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: MEARS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Mears, Kalipatnam Vivek Rao
  • Patent number: 7435988
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a substrate and at least one MOSFET adjacent the substrate including a superlattice. The superlattice may include a plurality of stacked groups of layers and a semiconductor cap layer on an uppermost group of layers. Each group of layers of the superlattice may comprise a plurality of stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions. The MOSFET may further include source, drain, and gate regions defining a channel through at least a portion of the semiconductor cap layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: MEARS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Mears, Jean Augustin Chan Sow Fook Yiptong, Marek Hytha, Scott A. Kreps, Ilija Dukovski
  • Patent number: 7432524
    Abstract: An integrated circuit may include at least one active optical device including a superlattice including a plurality of stacked groups of layers. Each group of layers of the superlattice may include a plurality of stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion and an energy band-modifying layer thereon. The energy-band modifying layer may include at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions. The integrated circuit may further include a waveguide coupled to the at least one active optical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: MEARS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Mears, Robert John Stephenson
  • Publication number: 20080197341
    Abstract: A method for making a multiple-wavelength opto-electronic device which may include providing a substrates and forming a plurality of active optical devices to be carried by the substrate and operating at different respective wavelengths. Moreover, each optical device may include a superlattice comprising a plurality of stacked groups of layers, and each group of layers may include a plurality of stacked semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Applicant: RJ Mears, LLC
    Inventors: Robert J. Mears, Robert John Stephenson, Marek Hytha, IIija Dukovski, Jean Augustin Chan Sow Fook Yiptong, Samed Halilov, Xiangyang Huang
  • Publication number: 20080197340
    Abstract: A multiple-wavelength opto-electronic device may include a substrate and a plurality of active optical devices carried by the substrate and operating at different respective wavelengths. Each optical device may include a superlattice comprising a plurality of stacked groups of layers, and each group of layers may include a plurality of stacked semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Applicant: RJ Mears, LLC
    Inventors: Robert J. Mears, Robert John Stephenson, Marek Hytha, Ilija Dukovski, Jean Augustin Chan Sow Fook Yiptong, Samed Halilov, Xiangyang Huang
  • Patent number: 7303948
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, and at least one MOSFET adjacent the substrate. The MOSFET may include a superlattice channel that, in turn, includes a plurality of stacked groups of layers. The MOSFET may also include source and drain regions laterally adjacent the superlattice channel, and a gate overlying the superlattice channel for causing transport of charge carriers through the superlattice channel in a parallel direction relative to the stacked groups of layers. Each group of the superlattice channel may include a plurality of stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion, and an energy band-modifying layer thereon. The energy-band modifying layer may include at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions so that the superlattice channel may have a higher charge carrier mobility in the parallel direction than would otherwise occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: MEARS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Mears, Jean Augustin Chan Sow Fook Yiptong, Marek Hytha, Scott A. Kreps, Ilija Dukovski
  • Patent number: 7279699
    Abstract: An integrated circuit may include at least one active optical device and a waveguide coupled thereto. The waveguide may include a superlattice including a plurality of stacked groups of layers. Each group of layers of the superlattice may include a plurality of stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion and an energy band-modifying layer thereon. The energy-band modifying layer may include at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: RJ Mears, LLC
    Inventors: Robert J. Mears, Robert John Stephenson
  • Patent number: 7265002
    Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device may include providing a substrate, and forming at least one MOSFET adjacent the substrate by forming a superlattice including a plurality of stacked groups of layers and a semiconductor cap layer on an uppermost group of layers. Each group of layers of the superlattice may include a plurality of stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions. The method may further include forming source, drain, and gate regions defining a channel through at least a portion of the semiconductor cap layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: RJ Mears, LLC
    Inventors: Robert J. Mears, Jean Augustin Chan Sow Fook Yiptong, Marek Hytha, Scott A. Kreps, Ilija Dukovski
  • Patent number: 7229902
    Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device may include forming a superlattice comprising a plurality of stacked groups of layers. Each group of layers of the superlattice may include a plurality of stacked base silicon monolayers defining a base silicon portion and an energy band-modifying layer thereon. The energy band-modifying layer may include at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions. The method may further include forming at least one pair of oppositely-doped regions in the superlattice defining at least one semiconductor junction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: RJ Mears, LLC
    Inventors: Robert J. Mears, Robert John Stephenson
  • Patent number: 7227174
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a superlattice comprising a plurality of stacked groups of layers. Each group of layers of the superlattice may include a plurality of stacked base silicon monolayers defining a base silicon portion and an energy band-modifying layer thereon. The energy band-modifying layer may include at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base silicon portions. The semiconductor device may further include a semiconductor layer adjacent the superlattice and comprising at least one first region therein including a first conductivity type dopant. The superlattice may also include at least one second region therein including a second conductivity type dopant to define, with the at least one first region, at least one semiconductor junction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: RJ Mears, LLC
    Inventors: Robert J. Mears, Robert John Stephenson
  • Patent number: 7109052
    Abstract: A method for making an integrated circuit may include forming at least one active optical device and a waveguide coupled thereto. The waveguide may include a superlattice including a plurality of stacked groups of layers. Each group of layers of the superlattice may include a plurality of stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion and an energy band-modifying layer thereon. The energy-band modifying layer may include at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: RJ Mears, LLC
    Inventors: Robert J. Mears, Robert John Stephenson
  • Patent number: 7071119
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a superlattice that, in turn, includes a plurality of stacked groups of layers. The device may also include regions for causing transport of charge carriers through the superlattice in a parallel direction relative to the stacked groups of layers. Each group of the superlattice may include a plurality of stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion and an energy band-modifying layer thereon. Moreover, the energy-band modifying layer may include at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions. Accordingly, the superlattice may have a higher charge carrier mobility in the parallel direction than would otherwise be present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: RJ Mears, LLC
    Inventors: Robert J. Mears, Jean Augustin Chan Sow Fook Yiptong, Marek Hytha, Scott A. Kreps, Ilija Dukovski