Patents by Inventor Stephen R. Forrest

Stephen R. Forrest 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: 20170025484
    Abstract: Devices including organic and inorganic LEDs are provided. Techniques for fabricating the devices include fabricating an inorganic LED on a parent substrate and transferring the LED to a host substrate via a non-destructive ELO process. Scaling techniques are also provided, in which an elastomeric substrate is deformed to achieve a desired display size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Stephen R. FORREST, Kyusang LEE
  • Patent number: 9548218
    Abstract: There is disclosed a method of preserving the integrity of a growth substrate in a epitaxial lift-off method, the method comprising providing a structure comprising a growth substrate, one or more protective layers, a sacrificial layer, and at least one epilayer, wherein the sacrificial layer and the one or more protective layers are positioned between the growth substrate and the at least one epilayer; releasing the at least one epilayer by etching the sacrificial layer with an etchant; and heat treating the growth substrate and/or at least one of the protective layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
    Inventors: Kyusang Lee, Jeramy Zimmerman, Stephen R. Forrest
  • Publication number: 20170005284
    Abstract: A highly efficient multi junction photovoltaic device, such as a two, three, or four junction device, is disclosed. The multi-junction device may include a first subcell comprising a first photoactive region and a second subcell comprising a second photoactive region. The first and second photoactive regions are designed to minimize spectral overlap and maximize photocurrent across a broad absorption spectra, such as wavelengths ranging from 400 nm to 900 nm. The device may further include an inter-connecting layer, disposed between the first subcell and the second subcell, that is at least substantially transparent. By introducing a transparent interconnecting layer, a dual element (tandem) cell achieves a power conversion efficiency of 10.0±0.5%. By adding an additional (3rd) sub-cell that absorbs at the second order optical interference maximum within the stack. The triple junction cell significantly improves the quantum efficiency at shorter wavelengths, achieving a power conversion efficiency of 11.1±0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: Xiaozhou Che, Xin Xiao, Stephen R. Forrest
  • Patent number: 9515275
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to organic photosensitive optoelectronic devices grown in an inverted manner. An inverted organic photosensitive optoelectronic device of the present disclosure comprises a reflective electrode, an organic donor-acceptor heterojunction over the reflective electrode, and a transparent electrode on top of the donor-acceptor heterojunction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
    Inventors: Stephen R. Forrest, Rhonda F. Bailey-Salzman
  • Publication number: 20160351747
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and growth structures for making thin-film electronic and optoelectronic devices, such as flexible photovoltaic devices, using epitaxial lift-off (ELO). In particular, disclosed herein are wafer protection schemes that preserve the integrity of the wafer surface during ELO and increase the number of times that the wafer may be used for regrowth. The wafer protection schemes use growth structures that include at least one superlattice layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: Stephen R. Forrest, Kyusang Lee, Dejiu Fan
  • Publication number: 20160351836
    Abstract: An organic light emitting device (OLED) is provided. The OLED includes, an anode; a cathode; and an emissive layer disposed between the anode and the cathode. The emissive layer includes a singlet fission sensitizer and a triplet emitter. The singlet energy of the singlet fission sensitizer is equal to or greater than twice the triplet energy of the singlet fission sensitizer. The triplet energy of the triplet emitter is less than the triplet energy of the singlet fission sensitizer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
    Inventors: Stephen R. FORREST, Yifan ZHANG, Kevin BERGEMANN
  • Patent number: 9508940
    Abstract: Organic light emitting devices are disclosed which are comprised of a heterostructure for producing electroluminescence wherein the heterostructure is comprised of an emissive layer containing a phosphorescent dopant compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignees: The Trustees of Princeton University, The University of Southern California
    Inventors: Mark E. Thompson, Yujian You, Andrei Shoustikov, Scott Sibley, Paul E. Burrows, Stephen R. Forrest
  • Publication number: 20160343966
    Abstract: High efficiency multi-junction small-molecule organic photovoltaic devices and methods of fabricating the same are disclosed herein. Design considerations for improving spectral coverage and light-harvesting efficiency using the multi-junction devices are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventors: Stephen R. Forrest, Xiaozhou Che, Xin Xiao
  • Patent number: 9496315
    Abstract: Top-gate, bottom-contact organic thin film transistors are provided. The transistors may include metal bilayer electrodes to aid in charge movement within the device. In an embodiment, an organic transistor includes a drain electrode and a source electrode disposed over a first region of a substrate, a transition metal oxide layer disposed over and in direct physical contact with the drain electrode and the source electrode, an organic preferentially hole conducting channel layer disposed over the metal oxide and between the drain electrode and the source electrode, and a gate electrode disposed over the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Universal Display Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen R. Forrest, Xin Xu, Christopher Kyle Renshaw
  • Publication number: 20160329457
    Abstract: There is disclosed a method of preparing a photovoltaic device. In particular, the method comprises integrating epitaxial lift-off solar cells with mini-parabolic concentrator arrays via a printing method. Thus, there is disclosed a method comprising providing a growth substrate; depositing at least one protection layer on the growth substrate; depositing at least one sacrificial layer on the protection layer; depositing at least one photoactive cell on the sacrificial layer; etching a pattern of at least two parallel trenches that extend from the at least one photoactive cell to the sacrificial layer; depositing a metal on the at least one photoactive cell; bonding said metal to a host substrate; and removing the sacrificial layer with one or more etch steps. The host substrate can be a siloxane, which when rolled, can form a stamp used to integrate solar cells into concentrator arrays. There are also disclosed a method of making a growth substrate and the growth substrate made therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Stephen R. Forrest, Kyusang Lee, Dejiu Fan, Jeramy Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20160308135
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to photosensitive optoelectronic devices comprising at least one of an electron blocking or hole blocking layer. Further disclosed are methods of increasing power conversion efficiency in photosensitive optoelectronic devices using at least one of an electron blocking or hole blocking layer. The electron blocking and hole blocking layers presently disclosed may reduce electron leakage current by reducing the dark current components of photovoltaic cells. This work demonstrates the importance of reducing dark current to improve power conversion efficiency of photovoltaic cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
    Inventors: Stephen R. FORREST, Ning LI
  • Publication number: 20160307924
    Abstract: Thin-film electronic devices such as LED devices and field effect transistor devices are fabricated using a non-destructive epitaxial lift-off technique that allows indefinite reuse of a growth substrate. The method includes providing an epitaxial protective layer on the growth substrate and a sacrificial release layer between the protective layer and an active device layer. After the device layer is released from the growth substrate, the protective layer is selectively etched to provide a newly exposed surface suitable for epitaxial growth of another device layer. The entire thickness of the growth substrate is preserved, enabling continued reuse. Inorganic thin-film device layers can be transferred to a flexible secondary substrate, enabling formation of curved inorganic optoelectronic devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventors: Stephen R. FORREST, Kyusang LEE
  • Publication number: 20160293864
    Abstract: An organic light emitting device is disclosed in which the emissive dopant material in its organic emissive layer is an organic phosphorescent emissive material and a neat film of the organic phosphorescent emissive material is disposed between the organic emissive layer and the anode as an electron blocking layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Applicants: The Regents of the University of Michigan, University of Southern California
    Inventors: Stephen R. Forrest, Jaesang Lee, Mark E. Thompson
  • Patent number: 9461193
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to focusing luminescent concentrators wherein directional emission, obtained by placing an absorber/emitter within a microcavity or photonic crystal, may be oriented by a macroscopic concentrator and focused to a point or line for 3D or 2D concentration, respectively. The focusing luminescent concentrators disclosed herein may provide high concentration ratios without the need for tracking, and may reduce re-absorption losses associated with conventional concentrators. The present disclosure further relates to photovoltaic cells and/or optical detector devices comprising a focusing luminescent concentrator. The devices and methods presently disclosed are also useful, for example, in solar, thermal and thermophotovolatic applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Stephen R. Forrest, Noel C. Giebink
  • Publication number: 20160285410
    Abstract: There is disclosed Kirigami-inspired structures for use in solar tracking applications. When coupled with thin-film active materials, the disclosed microstructures can track solar position and maximize solar power generation. In one embodiment, there is disclosed a photovoltaic system comprising a single-axis, or multi-axis solar tracking structure comprising a support structure made of a flexible material having a defined unit cell structure, and a flexible photovoltaic cell disposed on the support structure. There is also disclosed methods of making such structures in which the photovoltaic cell is mounted to the support structure by a direct-attachment bonding processes such as cold-welding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2014
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Inventors: Stephen R. Forrest, Kyusang Lee, Matthew Shlian, Chih-Wei Chien, Peicheng Ku, Aaron Lamoreux, Max Shtein
  • Publication number: 20160276520
    Abstract: A process for assembling a thin-film optoelectronic device is disclosed. The process may include providing a growth structure comprising a wafer having a growing surface, a sacrificial layer, and a device region. The process may further include providing a host substrate and depositing a first metal layer on the device region and depositing a second metal layer on the host substrate. The process may further include bonding the first metal layer to the second metal layer by pressing the first and second metal layers together at a bonding temperature, wherein the bonding temperature is above room temperature and below the lower of a glass transition temperature of the host substrate and a melting temperature of the host substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Inventors: Stephen R. Forrest, Kyusang Lee
  • Publication number: 20160260917
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are processes for fabricating organic photosensitive optoelectronic devices with a vertical compositionally graded organic active layer. The processes use either a single-stamp or double-stamp printing technique to transfer the vertical compositionally graded organic active layer from a starting substrate to a device layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Inventors: Stephen R. FORREST, Jun Yeob LEE, Yong Joo CHO
  • Publication number: 20160254101
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are organic photosensitive devices including a first subcell and a second subcell and having at least one exciton-blocking charge carrier filter disposed between the subcells. The filters comprise a mixture of at least one wide energy gap material and at least one electron or hole conducting material. As described herein, the filters simultaneously block excitons and conduct the desired charge carrier (electrons or holes).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Inventors: Stephen R. FORREST, Xin XIAO, Kevin BERGEMANN, Anurag PANDA, Jeramy D. ZIMMERMAN, Brian E. LASSITER, Mark E. THOMPSON, Andrew N. BARTYNSKI, Cong THINH, Xiaozhou CHE
  • Publication number: 20160254471
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are organic photosensitive optoelectronic devices, such as organic photovoltaics, including a photoactive region, wherein the photo-active region contains an energy-cascading multilayer donor region. The energy-cascading multilayer donor region may drive exciton transfer from an anode to a dissociating interface while reducing exciton quenching, improving overlap with the solar spectrum, and minimizing polaron pair recombination, resulting in improved device performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Inventors: Stephen R. Forrest, Olga L. Griffith
  • Publication number: 20160254470
    Abstract: A high efficiency small molecule tandem solar cell is disclosed. The tandem cell may include a first subcell comprising a first photoactive region and a second subcell comprising a second photoactive region. The first and second photoactive regions are designed to minimize spectral overlap and maximize photocurrent. The device may further include an interconnecting layer, disposed between the first subcell and the second subcell, that is at least substantially transparent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Inventors: Stephen R. Forrest, Xiaozhou Che, Xin Xiao, Jeramy Zimmerman