Sam Kao Email & Phone Number

Cupertino, California, United States

Equipment designs for display and optics team members to develop novel process and manufacturing technologies

Milpitas, California

NuvoSun, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company, is a second-generation innovator of thin-film PV (photovoltaic) cells and modules based on flexible CIGS (Copper Indium/Gallium di-Selenide) technology, low-cost equipment and a low-cost proprietary manufacturing process. Dow’s acquisition of NuvoSun is one of several examples of Dow investing in alternative energy technologies to deliver superior value for our customers.

Milpitas, California

NuvoSun is a second generation innovator of thin-film photovoltaic (PV) cells and modules based on flexible Copper Indium/Gallium di- Selenide (CIGS) technology. NuvoSun's mission is to redefine the cost point for PV cells and modules and to become the lowest cost producer of these products by 2012.

Sunnyvale, Ca

Setup all the equipments to support R&D lab and pilot production for Bi-polar lead-acid battery line toward a production line at China• Sourced and installed used equipments to minimize CapEx while optimizing the tool performance by modifying key components• Setup a pilot line monthly capacity to produce 40X 48V 250Wh BILAB batteries• Improved Bi-polar membrane production to run at full capacity and achieved 100% yield• Generated production tool functional specifications to… Show more Setup all the equipments to support R&D lab and pilot production for Bi-polar lead-acid battery line toward a production line at China• Sourced and installed used equipments to minimize CapEx while optimizing the tool performance by modifying key components• Setup a pilot line monthly capacity to produce 40X 48V 250Wh BILAB batteries• Improved Bi-polar membrane production to run at full capacity and achieved 100% yield• Generated production tool functional specifications to procure second line for manufacturing capacity expansion at China Show less

San Jose

Led a group of people to scale front end tools into full manufacturing production with major accomplishments• Improved and supported production tools to run at full capacity and achieved highest 99% yield• Developed and built proprietary selenization vapor delivery and condensing systems achieving company’s highest cell efficient record• Minimized tool downtime with 24/7 support and PM to achieve greater than 80% OEE• Procured and installed productions tool to meet 100% planned… Show more Led a group of people to scale front end tools into full manufacturing production with major accomplishments• Improved and supported production tools to run at full capacity and achieved highest 99% yield• Developed and built proprietary selenization vapor delivery and condensing systems achieving company’s highest cell efficient record• Minimized tool downtime with 24/7 support and PM to achieve greater than 80% OEE• Procured and installed productions tool to meet 100% planned production shipment requirement• Designed and built a test bed to test key tool components to improve production tool performance Show less

Sunnyvale, California

Managed a group of people to run pilot production of thru-silicon wafers for next generation IC packaging• Developed a Turn-Key solution for Thru-Silicon Via with process development and documentation including via drilling, filling, planarization, embedded capacitor, re-routing, stacking technique, solder transferring/plating to via, reliability testing, design rules of SI-BT structure• Designed and developed key process for proprietary fast Cu plating tool to fill high aspect ratio… Show more Managed a group of people to run pilot production of thru-silicon wafers for next generation IC packaging• Developed a Turn-Key solution for Thru-Silicon Via with process development and documentation including via drilling, filling, planarization, embedded capacitor, re-routing, stacking technique, solder transferring/plating to via, reliability testing, design rules of SI-BT structure• Designed and developed key process for proprietary fast Cu plating tool to fill high aspect ratio 250um deep blind via• Planned budget and head count with strategic planning for pilot line production, yield improvement, process cost reduction, and market research with performance benefit• Managed IP related to ADP equipment and Thru-Silicon applications, trade secret, know-how Show less

Ph.D, Mechanical Engineering

Master, Mechanical Engineering