Patents by Inventor Zhi WEN

Zhi WEN 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: 20140272395
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and apparatus for forming low emissivity panels that may include a first reflective layer, a second reflective layer, and a spacer layer disposed between the first reflective layer and the second reflective layer. In some embodiments, the spacer layer may have a thickness of between about 20 nm and 90 nm. The spacer layer may include a bi-metal oxide that may include tin, and may further include one of zinc, aluminum, or magnesium. The spacer layer may have a substantially amorphous structure. Moreover, the spacer layer may have a substantially uniform composition throughout the thickness of the spacer layer. The low emissivity panel may be configured to have a color change as determined by Rg ?E (i.e. as determined on the glass side) that is less than about 1.7 in response to an application of a heat treatment to the low emissivity panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Intermolecular Inc.
    Inventors: Guowen Ding, Jeremy Cheng, Tong Ju, Minh Huu Le, Daniel Schweigert, Zhi-Wen Wen Sun, Yongli Xu, Guizhen Zhang
  • Publication number: 20140272455
    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 titanium, nickel and niobium, which showed improvements in overall performance than those from binary barrier results. The percentage of titanium can be between 5 and 15 wt %. The percentage of nickel can be between 30 and 50 wt %. The percentage of niobium can be between 40 and 60 wt %.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: INTERMOLECULAR INC.
    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: 20140273341
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide methods for forming indium-gallium-zinc oxide (IGZO) devices. A substrate is provided. An IGZO layer is formed above the substrate. A copper-containing layer is formed above the IGZO layer. A wet etch process is performed on the copper-containing layer to form a source region and a drain region above the IGZO layer. The performing of the wet etch process on the copper-containing layer includes exposing the copper-containing layer to an etching solution including a peroxide compound and one of citric acid, formic acid, malonic acid, lactic acid, etidronic acid, phosphonic acid, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Intermolecular, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeroen Van Duren, Sang Lee, Zhi-Wen Sun
  • Publication number: 20140272390
    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 barrier layer is formed above the reflective layer. A nitride-containing layer is formed above the barrier layer. The nitride-containing layer has a thickness that is 1 nm or less. A over-coating layer is formed above the nitride-containing layer. The over-coating layer includes a different material than that of the nitride-containing layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: INTERMOLECULAR INC.
    Inventors: Guowen Ding, Brent Boyce, Minh Huu Le, Zhi-Wen Wen Sun, Yu Wang
  • Publication number: 20140264155
    Abstract: Methods and formulations for the selective etching of etch stop layers deposited above metal-based semiconductor layers used in the manufacture of TFT-based display devices are presented. The formulations are based on an alkaline solution. Methods and formulations for the selective etching of molybdenum-based and/or copper-based source/drain electrode layers deposited above metal-based semiconductor layers used in the manufacture of TFT-based display devices are presented. The formulations are based on an alkaline solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Intermolecular Inc.
    Inventors: Jeroen Van Duren, Zhi-Wen Wen Sun
  • Publication number: 20140268317
    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. An over-coating layer is formed above the reflective layer. The over-coating layer includes first, second, and third sub-layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: INTERMOLECULAR INC.
    Inventors: Guowen Ding, Jeremy Cheng, Minh Huu Le, Daniel Schweigert, Zhi-Wen Wen Sun, Guizhen Zhang
  • Publication number: 20140273407
    Abstract: Methods and compositions for the surface cleaning and passivation of CdTe substrates usable in solar cells are disclosed. In some embodiments amine-containing chelators are used and in other embodiments phosphorus-containing chelators are used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: FIRST SOLAR, INC.
    Inventors: Scott Christensen, Scott Jewhurst, Minh Huu Le, Haifan Liang, Hao Lin, Wei Liu, Minh Anh Nguyen, Zhi Wen Sun, Gang Xiong
  • Publication number: 20140231704
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a texture formulation that includes an aliphatic diol, an alkaline compound and water which provides a consistent textured region across a silicon surface suitable for solar cell applications. The current invention describes silicon texturing formulations that include at least one high boiling point additive. The high boiling point additive may be a derivative compound of propylene glycol or a derivative compound of ethylene glycol. Processes for texturing a crystalline silicon substrate using these formulations are also described. Additionally, a combinatorial method of optimizing the textured surface of a crystalline silicon substrate is described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Intermolecular, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhi-Wen Sun, Nikhil Kalyankar, Nitin Kumar, Minh Anh Nguyen, Sagar Vijay
  • Publication number: 20140231744
    Abstract: Resistive switching memory elements are provided that may contain electroless metal electrodes and metal oxides formed from electroless metal. The resistive switching memory elements may exhibit bistability and may be used in high-density multi-layer memory integrated circuits. Electroless conductive materials such as nickel-based materials may be selectively deposited on a conductor on a silicon wafer or other suitable substrate. The electroless conductive materials can be oxidized to form a metal oxide for a resistive switching memory element. Multiple layers of conductive materials can be deposited each of which has a different oxidation rate. The differential oxidization rates of the conductive layers can be exploited to ensure that metal oxide layers of desired thicknesses are formed during fabrication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Intermolecular Inc.
    Inventors: Nitin Kumar, Tony P. Chiang, Chi-I Lang, Zhi-Wen Wen Sun, Jinhong Tong
  • Patent number: 8784934
    Abstract: A transparent dielectric composition comprising tin, oxygen and one of aluminum or magnesium with preferably higher than 15% by weight of aluminum or magnesium offers improved thermal stability over tin oxide with respect to appearance and optical properties under high temperature processes. For example, upon a heat treatment at temperatures higher than 500 C, changes in color and index of refraction of the present transparent dielectric composition are noticeably less than those of tin oxide films of comparable thickness. The transparent dielectric composition can be used in high transmittance, low emissivity coated panels, providing thermal stability so that there are no significant changes in the coating optical and structural properties, such as visible transmission, IR reflectance, microscopic morphological properties, color appearance, and haze characteristics, of the as-coated and heated treated products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignees: Intermolecular, Inc., Guardian Industries
    Inventors: Mohd Fadzli Anwar Hassan, Richard Blacker, Guowen Ding, Muhammad Imran, Jingyu Lao, Hien Minh Huu Le, Yiwei Lu, Zhi-Wen Sun
  • Patent number: 8778514
    Abstract: A transparent dielectric composition comprising tin, oxygen and one of aluminum or magnesium with preferably higher than 15% by weight of aluminum or magnesium offers improved thermal stability over tin oxide with respect to appearance and optical properties under high temperature processes. For example, upon a heat treatment at temperatures higher than 500 C, changes in color and index of refraction of the present transparent dielectric composition are noticeably less than those of tin oxide films of comparable thickness. The transparent dielectric composition can be used in high transmittance, low emissivity coated panels, providing thermal stability so that there are no significant changes in the coating optical and structural properties, such as visible transmission, IR reflectance, microscopic morphological properties, color appearance, and haze characteristics, of the as-coated and heated treated products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignees: Intermolecular, Inc., Guardian Industries Corporation
    Inventors: Minh Huu Le, Zhi-Wen Sun, Guowen Ding, Mohd Hassan, Sandeep Jaggi, Muhammad Imran, Jingyu Lao, Yiwei Lu, Richard Blacker
  • Publication number: 20140177042
    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 an alloy of a first element having high oxygen affinity with a second element having low oxygen affinity. The first element can include Ta, Nb, Zr, Hf, Mn, Y, Si, and Ti, and the second element can include Ru, Ni, Co, Mo, and W, which can have low oxygen affinity property. The alloy barrier layer can reduce optical absorption in the visible range, can provide color-neutral product, and can improve adhesion to the silver layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicants: GUARDIAN INDUSTRIES CORP., INTERMOLECULAR INC.
    Inventors: Mohd Fadzli Anwar Hassan, Brent Boyce, Guowen Ding, Minh Huu Le, Zhi-Wen Wen Sun, Yu Wang, Yongli Xu
  • Patent number: 8759231
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a texture formulation that includes an aliphatic diol, an alkaline compound and water which provides a consistent textured region across a silicon surface suitable for solar cell applications. Processes for texturing a crystalline silicon substrate using these formulations are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Intermolecular, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhi-Wen Sun, Sagar Vijay
  • Publication number: 20140170421
    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 titanium-yttrium oxide layer is deposited above the transparent substrate, or above the transparent substrate and the reflective layer, which may enhance optical performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: INTERMOLECULAR INC.
    Inventors: Guowen Ding, Brent Boyce, Minh Huu Le, Zhi-Wen Wen Sun, Yu Wang, Yongli Xu
  • Publication number: 20140170422
    Abstract: A method for making low emissivity panels, including forming a base layer to promote a seed layer for a conductive silver layer. The base layer can be an amorphous layer or a nanocrystalline layer, which can facilitate zinc oxide seed layer growth, together with smoother surface and improved thermal stability. The base layer can include doped tin oxide, for example, tin oxide doped with Al, Ga, In, Mg, Ca, Sr, Sb, Bi, Ti, V, Y, Zr, Nb, Hf, Ta, or any combination thereof. The doped tin oxide base layer can influence the growth of (002) crystallographic orientation in zinc oxide, which in turn serves as a seed layer template for silver (111).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: INTERMOLECULAR INC.
    Inventors: Yu Wang, Brent Boyce, Guowen Ding, Mohd Fadzli Anwar Hassan, Minh Huu Le, Haifan Liang, Zhi-Wen Wen Sun
  • Publication number: 20140166472
    Abstract: A method for making low emissivity panels, comprising cooling the article before or during sputter depositing a coating layer, such as a seed layer or an infrared reflective layer. The cooling process can improve the quality of the infrared reflective layer, which can lead to better transmittance in visible regime, block more heat transfer from the low emissivity panels, and potentially can reduce the requirements for other layers, so that the overall performance, such as durability, could be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: INTERMOLECULAR INC.
    Inventors: Guowen Ding, Brent Boyce, Mohd Fadzli Anwar Hassan, Minh Huu Le, Zhi-Wen Wen Sun, Yu Wang
  • Publication number: 20140170413
    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: December 14, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: INTERMOLECULAR INC.
    Inventors: Mohd Fadzli Anwar Hassan, Guowen Ding, Minh Huu Le, Minh Anh Anh Nguyen, Zhi-Wen Wen Sun, Guizhen Zhang
  • Publication number: 20140170049
    Abstract: A method for forming boron oxide films formed using reactive sputtering. The boron oxide films are candidates as an anti-reflection coating. Boron oxide films with a refractive index of about 1.38 can be formed. The boron oxide films can be formed using power densities between 2 W/cm2 and 11 W/cm2 applied to the target. The oxygen in the reactive sputtering atmosphere can be between 40 volume % and 90 volume %.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: INTERMOLECULAR, INC.
    Inventors: Guowen Ding, Mohd Fadzli Anwar Hassan, Minh Huu Le, Zhi-Wen Sun, Yu Wang
  • Publication number: 20140170338
    Abstract: A method for making low emissivity panels, including control the ion characteristics, such as ion energy, ion density and ion to neutral ratio, in a sputter deposition process of a layer deposited on a thin conductive silver layer. The ion control can prevent or minimize degrading the quality of the conductive silver layer, which can lead to better transmittance in visible regime, block more heat transfer from the low emissivity panels, and potentially can reduce the requirements for other layers, so that the overall performance, such as durability, could be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Intermolecular Inc.
    Inventors: Guowen Ding, Brent Boyce, Mohd Fadzli Anwar Hassan, Minh Huu Le, Zhi-Wen Wen Sun, Yu Wang
  • Publication number: 20140168759
    Abstract: A method for making low emissivity panels, comprising forming a patterned layer on a transparent substrate. The patterned layers can offer different color schemes or different decorative appearance styles for the coated panels, or can offer gradable thermal efficiency through the patterned layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: INTERMOLECULAR INC.
    Inventors: Minh Huu Le, Brent Boyce, Guowen Ding, Mohd Fadzli Anwar Hassan, Zhi-Wen Wen Sun