Light Responsive Structure Patents (Class 257/21)
  • Patent number: 8642943
    Abstract: A light-receiving element includes an InP substrate 1, a light-receiving layer 3 having an MQW and located on the InP substrate 1, a contact layer 5 located on the light-receiving layer 3, a p-type region 6 extending from a surface of the contact layer 5 to the light-receiving layer, and a p-side electrode 11 that forms an ohmic contact with the p-type region. The light-receiving element is characterized in that the MQW has a laminated structure including pairs of an InxGa1-xAs (0.38?x?0.68) layer and a GaAs1-ySby (0.25?y?0.73) layer, and in the GaAs1-ySby layer, the Sb content y in a portion on the InP substrate side is larger than the Sb content y in a portion on the opposite side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki Mori, Yasuhiro Iguchi, Hiroshi Inada, Youichi Nagai, Kouhei Miura, Hideaki Nakahata, Katsushi Akita, Takashi Ishizuka, Kei Fujii
  • Patent number: 8643058
    Abstract: An electro-optical device can include a plurality of nanocrystals positioned between a first electrode and a second electrode. The nanocrystal and at least one electrode can have a band gap offset sufficient to inject a charge carrier from the first electrode or second electrode into the nanocrystal. The device can be a secondary photoconductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Moungi Bawendi, Venda J. Porter, Marc Kastner, Tamar Mentzel
  • Patent number: 8637848
    Abstract: In a method for making a GaN article, an epitaxial nitride layer is deposited on a single-crystal substrate. A 3D nucleation GaN layer is grown on the epitaxial nitride layer by HVPE under a substantially 3D growth mode. A GaN transitional layer is grown on the 3D nucleation layer by HVPE under a condition that changes the growth mode from the substantially 3D growth mode to a substantially 2D growth mode. A bulk GaN layer is grown on the transitional layer by HVPE under the substantially 2D growth mode. A polycrystalline GaN layer is grown on the bulk GaN layer to form a GaN/substrate bi-layer. The GaN/substrate bi-layer may be cooled from the growth temperature to an ambient temperature, wherein GaN material cracks laterally and separates from the substrate, forming a free-standing article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Kyma Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Preble, Lianghong Liu, Andrew D. Hanser, N. Mark Williams, Xueping Xu
  • Publication number: 20140014902
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a photodiode including the steps of providing a substrate, solution depositing a quantum nanomaterial layer onto the substrate, the quantum nanomaterial layer including a number of quantum nanomaterials having a ligand coating, and applying a thin-film oxide layer over the quantum nanomaterial layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Larken E. Euliss, G. Michael Granger, Keith J. Davis, Nicole L. Abueg, Peter D. Brewer, Brett Nosho
  • Publication number: 20140007930
    Abstract: Provided is a photo active layer for a solar cell or a light emitting diode and a fabricating method thereof. The photo active layer is formed by alternately stacking silicon quantum dot layers in which a plurality of silicon quantum dots containing conductive type impurities are formed in a medium, which is a silicon compound, and conductive layers, which are polycrystalline silicon layers, containing the same conductive type impurities as those of the silicon quantum dots.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: KOREA RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND SCIENCE
    Inventors: Kyoung Joong Kim, Seung Hui Hong, Jae Hee Park, Jong Shik Jang
  • Publication number: 20140008614
    Abstract: Provided is, for example, a photodiode in which extension of the sensitivity range to a longer wavelength in the near-infrared region can be achieved without increasing the dark current. A photodiode according to the present invention includes an absorption layer 3 that is positioned on an InP substrate 1 and has a type-II multiple-quantum well structure in which an InGaAs layer 3a and a GaAsSb layer 3b are alternately layered, wherein the InGaAs layer or the GaAsSb layer has a composition gradient in the thickness direction in which the bandgap energy of the InGaAs or the GaAsSb decreases toward the top surface or the bottom surface of the layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kei Fujii, Takashi Ishizuka, Katsushi Akita
  • Patent number: 8624222
    Abstract: An electrical device comprising (A) a substrate having a surface and (B) a nanohole superlattice superimposed on a portion of the surface is provided. The nanohole superlattice comprises a plurality of sheets having an array of holes defined therein. The array of holes is characterized by a band gap or band gap range. The plurality of sheets forms a first edge and a second edge. A first lead comprising a first electrically conductive material forms a first junction with the first edge. A second lead comprising a second electrically conductive material forms a second junction with the second edge. The first junction is a Schottky barrier with respect to a carrier. In some instances a metal protective coating covers all or a portion of a surface of the first lead. In some instances, the first lead comprises titanium, the second lead comprises palladium, and the metal protective coating comprises gold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: University of Utah Research Foundation
    Inventors: Feng Liu, Ye Zhang, Rujie Sun
  • Publication number: 20130341594
    Abstract: Single-photon detectors, arrays of single-photon detectors, methods of using the single-photon detectors and methods of fabricating the single-photon detectors are provided. The single-photon detectors combine the efficiency of a large absorbing volume with the sensitivity of nanometer-scale carrier injectors, called “nanoinjectors”. The photon detectors are able to achieve single-photon counting with extremely high quantum efficiency, low dark count rates, and high bandwidths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventors: Hooman Mohseni, Omer G. Memis
  • Patent number: 8598567
    Abstract: Photoconductive optoelectronic devices, such as photodetectors and photovoltaics, are provided. The devices are sensitized to a particular wavelength (or range of wavelengths) of electromagnetic radiation such that the devices provide increased performance efficiency (e.g., external quantum efficiency) at the wavelength. The devices include a photoconductive semiconductor layer spanning an electrode gap between two electrodes to provide a photoconductive electrical conduit. Abutting the semiconductor layer is a plurality of plasmonic nanoparticles. The improved efficiency of the devices results from wavelength-dependent plasmonic enhancement of device photosensitivity by the plasmonic nanoparticles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: University of Washington through its Center for Commercialization
    Inventors: Ludan Huang, Lih Y. Lin
  • Publication number: 20130313521
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide, for example, a photodiode that can have sufficiently high sensitivity in a near-infrared wavelength range of 1.5 ?m to 1.8 ?m and can have a low dark current. A photodiode (10) according to the present invention includes a buffer layer (2) positioned on and in contact with an InP substrate (1), and an absorption layer (3) positioned on and in contact with the buffer layer, wherein the absorption layer includes 50 or more pairs in which a first semiconductor layer 3a and a second semiconductor layer 3b constitute a single pair, the first semiconductor layer 3a having a bandgap energy of 0.73 eV or less, the second semiconductor layer 3b having a larger bandgap energy than the first semiconductor layer 3a, and the first semiconductor layer 3a and the second semiconductor layer 3b constitute a strain-compensated quantum well structure and each have a thickness of 1 nm or more and 10 nm or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsushi Akita, Takashi Ishizuka, Kei Fujii, Youichi Nagai, Hiroshi Inada, Yasuhiro Iguchi
  • Patent number: 8592801
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to an IR photodetector that broadly absorbs electromagnetic radiation including at least a portion of the near infrared (NIR) spectrum. The IR photodetector comprises polydispersed QDs of PbS and/or PbSe. The IR photodetector can be included as a layer in an up-conversion device when coupled to a light emitting diode (LED) according to an embodiment of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignees: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc., Nanoholdings, LLC
    Inventors: Franky So, Do Young Kim, Bhabendra Pradhan, Jae Woong Lee
  • Publication number: 20130306936
    Abstract: An electrical device in provided having two electrodes separated from one another, wherein one temperature controlled electronic spin-state transition particle is in direct contact with each of the two electrodes, the particle being of the ionic type and containing a transition metal bearing a cationic charge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique - CNRS -
    Inventors: Jean-Francois Letard, Celine Etrillard, Bernard Doudin, Vina Faramarzi, Jean-Francois Dayen
  • Publication number: 20130299781
    Abstract: In at least one embodiment, an infrared (IR) sensor comprising a thermopile is provided. The thermopile comprises a substrate and an absorber. The absorber is positioned above the substrate and a gap is formed between the absorber and the substrate. The absorber receives IR from a scene and generates an electrical output indicative of a temperature of the scene. The absorber is formed of a super lattice quantum well structure such that the absorber is thermally isolated from the substrate. In another embodiment, a method for forming an infrared (IR) detector is provided. The method comprises forming a substrate and forming an absorber with a plurality of alternating first and second layers with a super lattice quantum well structure. The method further comprises positioning the absorber about the substrate such that a gap is formed to cause the absorber to be suspended about the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: UD HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventor: David Kryskowski
  • Publication number: 20130292646
    Abstract: A light receiving device includes a microlens 21 located in each of regions corresponding to pixels, the microlens being disposed on a rear surface of an InP substrate 1. The microlens is formed by using a resin material having a range of a transmittance of light in the wavelength region between 0.7 and 3 ?m of 25% or less, the transmittance being 70% or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2012
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Iguchi, Tadashi Saitoh, Yasushi Fujimura, Kazunori Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8558257
    Abstract: Implementations and techniques for coupled asymmetric quantum confinement structures are generally disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: University of Seoul Industry Cooperation Foundation
    Inventor: Doyeol Ahn
  • Publication number: 20130264543
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a photodetector for detecting an infrared-light emission having a given wavelength (?) comprising a multilayer with: a layer (11) of a partially absorbent semiconductor; a spacer layer (12) made of a material that is transparent to said wavelength; and a structured metallic mirror (13), the distance (g) between the top of said mirror and said spacer layer being smaller than ? and said mirror comprising a network of holes defining an array of metallic reliefs with a pitch P of between 0.5 ?/nSC and 1.5 ?/nSC, where nSC is the real part of the refractive index of the semiconductor, a relief width L of between 9P/10 and P/2 and a hole depth h of between ?/100 and ?/15.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Roch Espiau De Lamaestre, Christophe Largeron
  • Publication number: 20130264542
    Abstract: A high-sensitivity detector for opto-electronic detection using multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) is provided. More specifically, multiwall carbon nanotube films demonstrate an infrared bolometric photoresponse higher than SWCNT films at room temperature. The observed D* exceeding 3.3×106 cm Hz1/2/W with MWCNT-film bolometers and can be further improved to over 1×107 cm Hz1/2/W by adding graphene flakes. The response time of about 1-2 milliseconds with MWCNT bolometers is more than an order of magnitude shorter than that of SWCNT bolometers. For individual MWCNTs with specially designed asymmetric Schottky contacts, one on the sidewall and the other covering the end, the photocurrent has been efficiently harvested and provides a higher detectivity of 6.2×109 cm·Hz1/2/W at room temperature, which is one order of magnitude higher than the convectional VOx detector and makes MWCNT competitive for practical optoelectronic detections over infrared and even longer wavelength range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
    Inventors: Judy Zhihong Wu, Rongtao Lu
  • Patent number: 8552288
    Abstract: Photovoltaic modules with adhesion promoters and methods for fabricating photovoltaic modules with adhesion promoters are described. A photovoltaic module includes a solar cell including a first surface and a second surface, the second surface including a plurality of interspaced back-side contacts. A first glass layer is coupled to the first surface by a first encapsulating layer. A second glass layer is coupled to the second surface by a second encapsulating layer. At least a portion of the second encapsulating layer is bonded directly to the plurality of interspaced back-side contacts by an adhesion promoter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: SunPower Corporation
    Inventor: Grace Xavier
  • Patent number: 8554022
    Abstract: Systems and methods for modulating light with light in high index contrast waveguides clad with graphene. Graphene exhibits a large nonlinear electro-optic constant ?3. Waveguides fabricated on SOI wafers and clad with graphene are described. Systems and methods for modulating light with light are discussed. Optical logic gates are described. Waveguides having closed loop structures such as rings and ovals, Mach-Zehnder interferometer, grating, and Fabry-Perot configurations, are described. Optical signal processing methods, including optical modulation at Terahertz frequencies, are disclosed. Optical detectors are described. Microelectromechanical and nanoelectromechanical systems using graphene on silicon substrates are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: University of Washington Through Its Center for Commercialization
    Inventors: Michael J. Hochberg, Jeremy Witzens
  • Patent number: 8552470
    Abstract: A photovoltaic cell is provided as a composite unit together with elements of an integrated circuit on a common substrate. In a described embodiment, connections are established between a multiple photovoltaic cell portion and a circuitry portion of an integrated structure to enable self-powering of the circuitry portion by the multiple photovoltaic cell portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Yuanning Chen, Thomas Patrick Conroy, Jeffrey DeBord, Nagarajan Sridhar
  • Publication number: 20130248821
    Abstract: A light receiving element includes an InP substrate that is transparent to light having a wavelength of 3 to 12 ?m, a buffer layer located in contact with the InP substrate, and a light-receiving layer having a multiple quantum well structure, the light-receiving layer having a cutoff wavelength of 3 ?m or more and being lattice-matched with the buffer layer. In the light receiving element, the buffer layer is epitaxially grown on the InP substrate while the buffer layer and the InP substrate exceed a range of a normal lattice-matching condition, and the buffer layer is constituted by a GaSb layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kohei Miura, Hiroshi Inada, Yasuhiro Iguchi, Tadashi Saito
  • Publication number: 20130240837
    Abstract: Room temperature IR and UV photodetectors are provided by electrochemical self-assembly of nanowires. The detectivity of such IR detectors is up to ten times better than the state of the art. Broad peaks are observed in the room temperature absorption spectra of 10-nm diameter nanowires of CdSe and ZnS at photon energies close to the bandgap energy, indicating that the detectors are frequency selective and preferably detect light of specific frequencies. Provided is a photodetector comprising: an aluminum substrate; a layer of insulator disposed on the aluminum substrate and comprising an array of columnar pores; a plurality of semiconductor nanowires disposed within the pores and standing vertically relative to the aluminum substrate; a layer of nickel disposed in operable communication with one or more of the semiconductor nanowires; and wire leads in operable communication with the aluminum substrate and the layer of nickel for connection with an electrical circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Inventors: Supriyo Bandyopadhyay, Saumil Bandyopadhyay, Pratik Agnihotri
  • Publication number: 20130240348
    Abstract: Amongst the candidates for very high efficiency electronics, solid state light sources, photovoltaics, and photoelectrochemical devices, and photobiological devices are those based upon metal-nitride nanowires. Enhanced nanowire performance typically require heterostructures, quantum dots, etc which requirement that these structures are grown with relatively few defects and in a controllable reproducible manner. Additionally flexibility according to the device design requires that the nanowire at the substrate may be either InN or GaN. Methods of growing relatively defect free nanowires and associated structures for group IIIA-nitrides are presented without the requirement for foreign metal catalysts, overcoming the non-uniform growth of prior art techniques and allowing self-organizing quantum dot, quantum well and quantum dot-in-a-dot structures to be formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: The Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learning / McGill University
    Inventor: The Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learning / McGill University
  • Patent number: 8536673
    Abstract: Provided is a light receiving circuit for detecting a change in amount of light, in which an input circuit at a subsequent stage is compact and inexpensive and current consumption is low. The light receiving circuit includes: a photoelectric conversion element for supplying a current corresponding to an amount of incident light; an N-channel MOS transistor including a drain supplied with the current from the photoelectric conversion element; and a control circuit for controlling a gate voltage of the NMOS transistor via a low pass filter so that a drain voltage of the N-channel MOS transistor becomes a desired voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Fumiyasu Utsunomiya, Taro Yamasaki, Isamu Fujii
  • Patent number: 8530883
    Abstract: Light emitting devices comprise excitation sources arranged to excite quantum dots which fluoresce to emit light. In an embodiment, a device is manufactured by a process which involves applying an acoustic field is applied to a fluid containing quantum dots, to cause the quantum dots to accumulate at locations which are adjacent to excitation sources, and then initiating a phase transition of the fluid to trap the quantum dots in the locations adjacent to the excitation sources. The quantum dots are illuminated during the process and the resulting fluorescence is optically monitored to provide indicators of quantum dot distribution in the fluid. These indicators are used as feedback for controlling aspects of the process, such as initiating the phase transition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Light-Based Technologies Incorporated
    Inventors: Yohann Sulaiman, Richard MacKellar, Allan Brent York
  • Patent number: 8530885
    Abstract: A system includes a substrate having a plurality of three-dimensional photonic crystal elements directly coupled thereto. The photonic crystal elements may each partially or substantially coated with oriented graphene and may comprise undoped silicon. The graphene may be oriented in a direction parallel to or normal to the photonic crystal element and may comprise graphene flakes contained within a composite thin film. The system may also include at least one optical component, such as a waveguide, contained within the plurality of three-dimensional photonic crystal elements. A method is also provided for preparing the graphene and coating the photonic crystal elements with the graphene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Joanna N. Ptasinski, Stephen D. Russell
  • Publication number: 20130228749
    Abstract: Various embodiment include optical and optoelectronic devices and methods of making same. Under one aspect, an optical device includes an integrated circuit having an array of conductive regions, and an optically sensitive material over at least a portion of the integrated circuit and in electrical communication with at least one conductive region of the array of conductive regions. Under another aspect, a film includes a network of fused nanocrystals, the nanocrystals having a core and an outer surface, wherein the core of at least a portion of the fused nanocrystals is in direct physical contact and electrical communication with the core of at least one adjacent fused nanocrystal, and wherein the film has substantially no defect states in the regions where the cores of the nanocrystals are fused. Additional devices and methods are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: InVisage Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Hartley Sargent, Jason Paul Clifford, Gerasimos Konstantatos, Ian Howard, Ethan J.D. Klem, Larissa Levina
  • Patent number: 8525152
    Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for absorber layers formed on foil substrate. In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing photovoltaic devices may be comprised of providing a substrate comprising of at least one electrically conductive aluminum foil substrate, at least one electrically conductive diffusion barrier layer, and at least one electrically conductive electrode layer above the diffusion barrier layer. The diffusion barrier layer may prevent chemical interaction between the aluminum foil substrate and the electrode layer. An absorber layer may be formed on the substrate. In one embodiment, the absorber layer may be a non-silicon absorber layer. In another embodiment, the absorber layer may be an amorphous silicon (doped or undoped) absorber layer. Optionally, the absorber layer may be based on organic and/or inorganic materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Nanosolar, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig Leidholm, Brent Bollman, James R. Sheats, Sam Kao, Martin R. Roscheisen
  • Publication number: 20130213462
    Abstract: A photoelectrode, methods of making and using, including systems for water-splitting are provided. The photoelectrode can be a semiconducting material having a photocatalyst such as nickel or nickel-molybdenum coated on the material. The photoelectrode includes an elongated axially integrated wire having at least two different wire compositions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventor: California Institute of Technology
  • Patent number: 8513704
    Abstract: A photodiode capable of interacting with incident photons includes at least: a stack of three layers including an intermediate layer placed between a first semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer having a first conductivity type; and a region that is in contact with at least the intermediate layer and the second layer and extends transversely relative to the planes of the three layers, the region having a conductivity type that is opposite to the first conductivity type. The intermediate layer is made of a semiconductor material having a second conductivity type and is capable of having a conductivity type that is opposite to the second conductivity type so as to form a P-N junction with the region, inversion of the conductivity type of the intermediate layer being induced by dopants of the first conductivity type that are present in the first and second layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Automique et aux Energies Alternatives
    Inventor: Johan Rothman
  • Patent number: 8492766
    Abstract: Problems exist in areas such as image visibility, endurance of the device, precision, miniaturization, and electric power consumption in an information device having a conventional resistive film method or optical method pen input function. Both EL elements and photoelectric conversion elements are arranged in each pixel of a display device in an information device of the present invention having a pen input function. Information input is performed by the input of light to the photoelectric conversion elements in accordance with a pen that reflects light by a pen tip. An information device with a pen input function, capable of displaying a clear image without loss of brightness in the displayed image, having superior endurance, capable of being miniaturized, and having good precision can thus be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Jun Koyama
  • Publication number: 20130175500
    Abstract: A transmissive light modulator including a first reflection layer; a first active layer, arranged on the first reflection layer and including a plurality of quantum well layers and a plurality of barrier layers; a second reflection layer arranged on the first active layer; a second active layer, arranged on the second reflection layer and including a plurality of quantum well layers and a plurality of barrier layers; and a third reflection layer arranged on the second active layer, wherein the first reflection layer and the third reflection layer are each doped with a first type dopant, and the second reflection layer is doped with a second type dopant, which is electrically opposite to the first type dopant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicants: GWANGJU INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yong-chul CHO, Yong-tak LEE, Jang-woo YOU, Byung-hoon NA, Yong-hwa PARK, Chang-young PARK, Hee-ju CHIO, Gun-wu JU
  • Patent number: 8482093
    Abstract: A photodetector is described along with corresponding materials, systems, and methods. The photodetector comprises an integrated circuit and at least two optically sensitive layers. A first optically sensitive layer is over at least a portion of the integrated circuit, and a second optically sensitive layer is over the first optically sensitive layer. Each optically sensitive layer is interposed between two electrodes. The two electrodes include a respective first electrode and a respective second electrode. The integrated circuit selectively applies a bias to the electrodes and reads signals from the optically sensitive layers. The signal is related to the number of photons received by the respective optically sensitive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: InVisage Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hui Tian, Edward Sargent
  • Patent number: 8476616
    Abstract: A composite material is described. The composite material comprises semiconductor nanocrystals, and organic molecules that passivate the surfaces of the semiconductor nanocrystals. One or more properties of the organic molecules facilitate the transfer of charge between the semiconductor nanocrystals. A semiconductor material is described that comprises p-type semiconductor material including semiconductor nanocrystals. At least one property of the semiconductor material results in a mobility of electrons in the semiconductor material being greater than or equal to a mobility of holes. A semiconductor material is described that comprises n-type semiconductor material including semiconductor nanocrystals. At least one property of the semiconductor material results in a mobility of holes in the semiconductor material being greater than or equal to a mobility of electrons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: InVisage Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Hartley Sargent, Ghada Koleilat, Larissa Levina
  • Publication number: 20130146844
    Abstract: A first electrode layer is disposed on a substrate and a first active layer is disposed thereon. The first active layer includes a first barrier layer and a plurality of first quantum dots that are distributed in the first barrier layer and have a band gap narrower than that of the first barrier layer. A second electrode layer is disposed on the first active layer. On the second active layer, a second active layer is disposed. The second active layer includes a second barrier layer and a plurality of second quantum dots that are distributed in the second barrier layer and have a band gap narrower than that of the second barrier layer. A third electrode layer is disposed on the second active layer. The first quantum dots are larger than the second quantum dots.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicants: Fujitsu Limited, Technical Research & Development Institute Ministry of Defense, Japan
    Inventors: Technical Research & Development Institute Minis, Fujitsu Limited
  • Patent number: 8461570
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, by which a multiple quantum well structure having a large number of pairs can be efficiently grown while maintaining good crystalline quality, and the semiconductor device, are provided. The semiconductor device manufacturing method of the present invention includes a step of forming a multiple quantum well structure 3 having 50 or more pairs of group III-V compound semiconductor quantum wells. In the step of forming the multiple quantum well structure 3, the multiple quantum well structure is formed by metal-organic vapor phase epitaxy using only metal-organic sources (all metal-organic source MOVPE).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kei Fujii, Takashi Ishizuka, Katsushi Akita, Youichi Nagai, Tatsuya Tanabe
  • Patent number: 8461571
    Abstract: In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus including a nanopillar and a graphene film, the graphene film being in contact with a first end of the nanopillar, wherein the nanopillar includes a metal, the contact being configured to form an intrinsic field region in the graphene film, and wherein the apparatus is configured to generate a photocurrent from a photogenerated charge carrier in the intrinsic field region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventor: Alan Colli
  • Publication number: 20130143744
    Abstract: A superconducting nanowire avalanche photodetector (SNAP) with improved high-speed performance. An inductive element may be coupled in series with at least two parallel-coupled nanowires. The nanowires may number 5 or fewer, and may be superconducting and responsive to even a single photon. The series inductor may ensure current diverted from a photon-absorbing nanowire propagates to other nanowires and become amplified. The series inductance may be less than 10 times the nominal inductance per nanowire, and may also be larger than a minimum inductance to avoid spurious outputs in response to a photon absorption. The series inductance may be configured to achieve a desired tradeoff between SNAP reset time and spurious outputs. For example, the series inductance may be configured achieve minimum reset time or maximum bias margin, subject to user-defined constraints. By appropriately configuring the series inductance, a systematic method of designing improved SNAPs may be provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventor: Massachusetts Institue of Technology
  • Publication number: 20130119346
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a nanocrystal. The nanocrystal includes a core including FeS2; and a coating including a ligand component capable of chemically interacting with both an iron atom and a sulfur atom on a surface of the core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA
    Inventor: Board Of Regents Of The University Of Nebraska
  • Patent number: 8440997
    Abstract: A 1D nanowire photodetector device includes a nanowire that is individually contacted by electrodes for applying a longitudinal electric field which drives the photocurrent. An intrinsic radial electric field to inhibits photo-carrier recombination, thus enhancing the photocurrent response. Circuits of 1D nanowire include groups of photodetectors addressed by their individual 1D nanowire electrode contacts. Placement of 1D nanostructures is accomplished with registration onto a substrate. A substrate is patterned with a material, e.g., photoresist, and trenches are formed in the patterning material at predetermined locations for the placement of 1D nanostructures. The 1D nanostructures are aligned in a liquid suspension, and then transferred into the trenches from the liquid suspension. Removal of the patterning material places the 1D nanostructures in predetermined, registered positions on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Deli Wang, Cesare Soci, Yu-Hwa Lo, Arthur Zhang, David Aplin, Lingquan Wang, Shadi Dayeh, Xin Yu Bao
  • Publication number: 20130107344
    Abstract: A microcavity-controlled two-dimensional carbon lattice structure device selectively modifies to reflect or to transmit, or emits, or absorbs, electromagnetic radiation depending on the wavelength of the electromagnetic radiation. The microcavity-controlled two-dimensional carbon lattice structure device employs a graphene layer or at least one carbon nanotube located within an optical center of a microcavity defined by a pair of partial mirrors that partially reflect electromagnetic radiation. The spacing between the mirror determines the efficiency of elastic and inelastic scattering of electromagnetic radiation inside the microcavity, and hence, determines a resonance wavelength of electronic radiation that is coupled to the microcavity. The resonance wavelength is tunable by selecting the dimensional and material parameters of the microcavity. The process for manufacturing this device is compatible with standard complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) manufacturing processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicants: International Business Machines Corporation, Karlsruher Institut fuer Technologie
    Inventors: Phaedon Avouris, Mathias B. Steiner, Michael Engel, Ralph Krupke, Andrea C. Ferrari, Antonio Lombardo
  • Publication number: 20130099203
    Abstract: A photodetector and a method of manufacturing the photodetector are provided, in which variation in sensitivity is suppressed over the near-infrared region from the short wavelength side including 1.3 ?m to the long wavelength side. The photodetector includes, on an InP substrate, an absorption layer of a type II multiple quantum well structure comprising a repeated structure of a GaAsSb layer and an InGaAs layer, and has sensitivity in the near-infrared region including wavelengths of 1.3 ?m and 2.0 ?m. The ratio of the sensitivity at the wavelength of 1.3 ?m to the sensitivity at the wavelength of 2.0 ?m is not smaller than 0.5 but not larger than 1.6.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Katsushi Akita, Takashi Ishizuka, Kei Fujii, Hideaki Nakahata, Youichi Nagai, Hiroshi Inada, Yasuhiro Iguchi
  • Patent number: 8426845
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention improves the fabrication and operational characteristics of a type-II superlattice material. Layers of indium arsenide and gallium antimonide comprise the bulk of the superlattice structure. One or more layers of indium antimonide are added to unit cells of the superlattice to provide a further degree of freedom in the design for adjusting the effective bandgap energy of the superlattice. One or more layers of gallium arsenide are added to unit cells of the superlattice to counterbalance the crystal lattice strain forces introduced by the aforementioned indium antimonide layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: SVT Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Yiqiao Chen, Peter Chow
  • Publication number: 20130092222
    Abstract: A device includes a generally planar substrate and a plurality of light absorbing elements extending outwardly from the substrate. Each of the light absorbing elements includes a doped outer shell, an inner core disposed inside the outer shell and a two-dimensional electron gas sheet extending and confined between the outer shell and the inner core, with a concentric cylinder of two-dimensional electron or hole gas produced in the junction between the outer shell and the inner core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: NANOGRASS SOLAR LLC
    Inventor: NanoGrass Solar LLC
  • Patent number: 8415192
    Abstract: A composite material is described. The composite material comprises semiconductor nanocrystals, and organic molecules that passivate the surfaces of the semiconductor nanocrystals. One or more properties of the organic molecules facilitate the transfer of charge between the semiconductor nanocrystals. A semiconductor material is described that comprises p-type semiconductor material including semiconductor nanocrystals. At least one property of the semiconductor material results in a mobility of electrons in the semiconductor material being greater than or equal to a mobility of holes. A semiconductor material is described that comprises n-type semiconductor material including semiconductor nanocrystals. At least one property of the semiconductor material results in a mobility of holes in the semiconductor material being greater than or equal to a mobility of electrons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: InVisage Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Hartley Sargent, Jiang Tang
  • Publication number: 20130082241
    Abstract: Ultraviolet or Extreme Ultraviolet and/or visible detector apparatus and fabrication processes are presented, in which the detector includes a thin graphene electrode structure disposed over a semiconductor surface to provide establish a potential in the semiconductor material surface and to collect photogenerated carriers, with a first contact providing a top side or bottom side connection for the semiconductor structure and a second contact for connection to the graphene layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Inventors: Francis J. Kub, Travis Anderson, Karl D. Hobart
  • Patent number: 8409898
    Abstract: Assembly system for photovoltaic packages. According an embodiment, the present invention provides a system for assembling photovoltaic packages. The system includes a base plate member, which comprises a plurality of coupling elements. The plurality of coupling elements are characterized by a first length. The plurality of coupling elements is aligned according to a predetermined configuration. The plurality of coupling elements includes first and second coupling elements. The system also includes a top plate member, which includes a plurality of openings and a plurality of locator elements. The plurality of openings is characterized by a second length. The second length is greater than the first length. The openings and the locator elements are aligned according to the first predetermined configurations. The top plate member is disengageably coupled to the base plate member by the coupling elements and the openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Solaria Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas R. Battaglia, Jr., Ziehl-Neelsen L. Co
  • Publication number: 20130075699
    Abstract: An electro-magnetic radiation detector is described. The electro-magnetic radiation detector includes a detector material and a voltage biasing element. The detector material includes a substantially regular array of nano-particles embedded in a matrix material. The voltage biasing element is configured to apply a bias voltage to the matrix material such that electrical current is directly generated based on a cooperative plasmon effect in the detector material when electro-magnetic radiation in a predetermined wavelength range is incident upon the detector material, where the dominant mechanism for decay in the cooperative plasmon effect is non-radiative.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Inventors: Robert G. Brown, James H. Stanley
  • Publication number: 20130075694
    Abstract: Processes for forming quantum well structures which are characterized by controllable nitride content are provided, as well as superlattice structures, optical devices and optical communication systems based thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: Technion Research & Development Foundation Ltd.
    Inventor: Technion Research & Development Foundation Ltd
  • Patent number: 8405028
    Abstract: Embodiments of the subject invention relate to a method and apparatus for infrared (IR) detection. Organic layers can be utilized to produce a phototransistor for the detection of IR radiation. The wavelength range of the IR detector can be modified by incorporating materials sensitive to photons of different wavelengths. Quantum dots of materials sensitive to photons of different wavelengths than the host organic material of the absorbing layer of the phototransistor can be incorporated into the absorbing layer so as to enhance the absorption of photons having wavelengths associated with the material of the quantum dots. A photoconductor structure can be used instead of a phototransistor. The photoconductor can incorporate PbSe or PbS quantum dots. The photoconductor can incorporate organic materials and part of an OLED structure. A detected IR image can be displayed to a user. Organic materials can be used to create an organic light-emitting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventor: Franky So