Choonkun Ryu, Ph.D.
Patent Agent
Phone: (480) 655-0073 | Email: cryu@iplawusa.com
Choonkun Ryu, Ph.D., is a Patent Agent at Schmeiser Olsen who brings nearly two decades of experience at the forefront of the semiconductor and advanced materials industries. With a rare combination of high-level technical authority, industry leadership, and legal expertise, he helps clients protect complex innovations and develop strategic intellectual property portfolios in highly competitive technology sectors.
Choonkun’s background spans advanced semiconductor manufacturing, materials science, and artificial intelligence, enabling him to translate cutting-edge research and development into strong, defensible patent protection. His work supports technology companies seeking to secure market leadership through innovation-driven intellectual property strategy.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Before joining Schmeiser Olsen, Choonkun served as a Principal Engineer at SK Hynix Inc., where he led advanced process technology teams and coordinated joint development projects with global semiconductor companies. He also worked as a Process Technologist at Applied Materials, Inc., where he developed new coating processes for semiconductor manufacturing and supported customer demonstrations of next-generation fabrication technologies.
Choonkun’s practice focuses on patent prosecution and intellectual property strategy for complex technologies. He has been directly involved in the research and development lifecycle for nano-scale memory devices, novel materials science, and artificial intelligence systems. His technical accomplishments include 35 registered patents, including 13 U.S. patents, as well as 17 published technical papers.
In addition to his industry experience, Choonkun served as an Adjunct Lecturer at the University of Arizona, where he taught “Electronic, Optical, and Magnetic Properties of Materials.” He is also an accomplished author, having published books on technology law.
EDUCATION
- J.D., University of Arizona, James E. Rogers College of Law
- Intellectual Property Clinic and Patent Practice Concentration
- Ph.D., Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign
- M.S., Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University
- B.S., cum laude, Seoul National University
BAR ADMISSIONS
- United States Patent and Trademark Office
PUBLICATIONS & INVENTIONS
- U.S. Pat. 5,344,676 ” Method and apparatus for producing nanodrops and nanoparticles and thin film deposits therefrom.”
- U.S. Pat. 7,022,624″ Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same.”
- U.S. Pat. 9,385,304 ” Magnetic memory and method of manufacturing the same.”
- Book: “AI Legal Issues and Innovation in the United States,” Bookk Publishing
- Book: “Cyber Torts in the U.S.,” Bookk Publishing
HONORS & PRESENTATIONS
- Who’s Who in the World, Marquis Who’s Who
- Super-Forecaster, The Good Judgment Project
- Invited Speaker, Materials Research Society and Electrochemical Society
- National Abroad Study Scholarship, Korea Ministry of Education