Thomas C Coleman

US Patent:

6749685, Jun 15, 2004

Filed:

Aug 16, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/931537

Inventors:

Thomas G. Coleman - Pittsboro NC

Assignee:

Cree, Inc. - Durham NC

International Classification:

C30B 2300

US Classification:

117 84, 117 88, 117 98, 117105, 117107, 117951

Abstract:

Methods of growing silicon carbide are provided in which an electric arc is used to sublime a silicon carbide source material. In these embodiments, a silicon carbide seed crystal is introduced into a sublimation system, along with first and second electrodes that are separated by a gap. A power supply is coupled to at least one of the electrodes and used to create an electric arc across the gap between the two electrodes. This electric arc is used to sublime at least a portion of a silicon carbide source material. The vaporized silicon carbide material may then be encouraged to condense onto a seed material to produce monocrystalline or polycrystalline silicon carbide. In embodiments of the present invention, at least one of the electrodes is comprised of silicon carbide and serves as the silicon carbide source material.

US Patent:

7279346, Oct 9, 2007

Filed:

Jan 27, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/044126

Inventors:

Peter Andrews - Durham NC, US
Thomas G. Coleman - Pittsboro NC, US
James Ibbetson - Goleta CA, US
Michael Leung - Port Hueneme CA, US
Gerald H. Negley - Carrboro NC, US
Eric Tarsa - Goleta CA, US

Assignee:

Cree, Inc. - Durham NC

International Classification:

H01L 33/00

US Classification:

438 27, 257E33059

Abstract:

Methods of packaging a semiconductor light emitting device positioned in a reflective cavity are provided. A first quantity of encapsulant material is dispensed into the reflective cavity including the light emitting device therein and the first quantity of encapsulant in the reflective cavity is cured. A second quantity of encapsulant material is dispensed onto the cured first quantity of encapsulant material. A lens is positioned in the reflective cavity on the dispensed second quantity of encapsulant material. The dispensed second quantity of encapsulant material is cured to attach the lens in the reflective cavity.

US Patent:

7326583, Feb 5, 2008

Filed:

Jan 27, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/044779

Inventors:

Peter Andrews - Durham NC, US
Thomas G. Coleman - Pittsboro NC, US
James Ibbetson - Goleta CA, US
Michael Leung - Port Hueneme CA, US
Gerald H. Negley - Carrboro NC, US
Eric Tarsa - Goleta CA, US

Assignee:

Cree, Inc. - Durham NC

International Classification:

H01L 21/00

US Classification:

438 26, 257E33058, 438 27

Abstract:

Methods of packaging a semiconductor light emitting device in a reflector having a moat positioned between a lower and an upper sidewall thereof, the upper and lower sidewall defining a reflective cavity, include dispensing encapsulant material into the reflective cavity including the light emitting device therein to cover the light emitting device and to form a convex meniscus of encapsulant material in the reflective cavity extending from an edge of the moat without contacting the upper sidewall of the reflector. The encapsulant material in the reflective cavity is cured. Packaged semiconductor light emitting devices and reflectors for the same are also provided.

US Patent:

7612383, Nov 3, 2009

Filed:

Dec 10, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/953110

Inventors:

Peter Andrews - Durham NC, US
Thomas G. Coleman - Pittsboro NC, US
James Ibbetson - Goleta CA, US
Michael Leung - Port Hueneme CA, US
Gerald H. Negley - Carrboro NC, US
Eric Tarsa - Goleta CA, US

Assignee:

Cree, Inc. - Durham NC

International Classification:

H01L 29/267
F21V 9/16
H01J 5/48
H01L 21/00

US Classification:

257 98, 257 81, 257 82, 257 91, 257 99, 257436, 257E33056, 257E33058, 257E33059, 438 26, 438 27, 438 29, 362 84, 362267, 31331811

Abstract:

Reflectors for a semiconductor light emitting device include a lower sidewall portion defining a reflective cavity. A substantially horizontal shoulder portion extends outwardly from the sloped lower sidewall portion. The horizontal shoulder portion has a circumferentially extending moat formed therein. An upper sidewall portion extends upwardly from the horizontal shoulder portion.

US Patent:

7645342, Jan 12, 2010

Filed:

Nov 14, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/272909

Inventors:

David Todd Emerson - Chapel Hill NC, US
Robert Allen Garner - Cary NC, US
Michael John Bergmann - Chapel Hill NC, US
Keenan Carlyle Brown - Raleigh NC, US
Michael Allen Pennington - Cary NC, US
Thomas Goldthwaite Coleman - Pittsboro NC, US

Assignee:

Cree, Inc. - Durham NC

International Classification:

C23C 16/00
C23F 1/00
H01L 21/306

US Classification:

118725, 15634552

Abstract:

A vapor deposition reactor and associated method are disclosed that increase the lifetime and productivity of a filament-based resistive-heated vapor deposition system. The reactor and method provide for heating the filament while permitting the filament to move as it expands under the effect of increasing temperature while limiting the expanding movement of the filament to an amount that prevents the expanding movement of the filament from creating undesired contact with any portions of the reactor.

US Patent:

7852009, Dec 14, 2010

Filed:

Jan 24, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/626483

Inventors:

Thomas G. Coleman - Pittsboro NC, US
Peter J. Myers - Raleigh NC, US
Antony Paul Van De Ven - Sai Kung, HK
Gerald H. Negley - Durham NC, US

Assignee:

Cree, Inc. - Durham NC

International Classification:

H05B 37/00

US Classification:

315185S, 315247, 315291, 315312, 315224

Abstract:

A circuit for a lighting device comprises a sub-circuit which comprises a series current regulator and a group of solid state light emitters. The current regulator and the solid state light emitters are arranged in series. In some embodiments, the circuit further comprises a fan electrically connected in series in the sub-circuit. In some embodiments, the circuit further comprises a second sub-circuit which comprises a second series current regulator and a second group of solid state light emitters, the first sub-circuit and the second sub-circuit being arranged in parallel. In some embodiments, an anode of the series current regulator is electrically connected to a cathode of one of the solid state light emitters. Also, methods of lighting wherein a sum of voltage drops across light emitters and a current regulator is in the range of from 1. 2 to 1. 6 times the line voltage.

US Patent:

7928456, Apr 19, 2011

Filed:

Sep 4, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/849530

Inventors:

Peter Andrews - Durham NC, US
Thomas G. Coleman - Pittsboro NC, US
James Ibbetson - Goleta CA, US
Michael Leung - Port Hueneme CA, US
Gerald H. Negley - Carrboro NC, US
Eric Tarsa - Goleta CA, US

Assignee:

Cree, Inc. - Durham NC

International Classification:

H01L 33/00

US Classification:

257 98

Abstract:

Packaged semiconductor light emitting device are provided including a reflector having a lower sidewall portion defining a reflective cavity. A light emitting device is positioned in the reflective cavity. A first quantity of cured encapsulant material having a first index of refraction is provided in the reflective cavity including the light emitting device. A second quantity of cured encapsulant material having a second index of refraction, different from the first index of refraction, is provided on the first quantity of cured encapsulant material. The first and second index of refraction are selected to provide a buried lens in the reflective cavity.

US Patent:

8154043, Apr 10, 2012

Filed:

Apr 6, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/080968

Inventors:

Peter Andrews - Durham NC, US
Thomas G. Coleman - Pittsboro NC, US
James Ibbetson - Goleta CA, US
Michael Leung - Port Hueneme CA, US
Gerald H. Negley - Carrboro NC, US
Eric Tarsa - Goleta CA, US

Assignee:

Cree, Inc. - Durham NC

International Classification:

H01L 33/50
H01L 33/60
H01L 33/58

US Classification:

257 98

Abstract:

Packaged semiconductor light emitting device are provided including a reflector having a lower sidewall portion defining a reflective cavity. A light emitting device is positioned in the reflective cavity. A first quantity of cured encapsulant material having a first index of refraction is provided in the reflective cavity including the light emitting device. A second quantity of cured encapsulant material having a second index of refraction, different from the first index of refraction, is provided on the first quantity of cured encapsulant material. The first and second index of refraction are selected to provide a buried lens in the reflective cavity.