Patents Assigned to Ziptronix
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Patent number: 6905557Abstract: A device integration method and integrated device. The method includes the steps of polishing surfaces of first and second workpieces each to a surface roughness of about 5-10 ?. The polished surfaces of the first and second workpieces are bonded together. A surface of a third workpiece is polished to the surface roughness. The surface of the third workpiece is bonded to the joined first and second workpieces. The first, second and third workpieces may each be a semiconductor device having a thin material formed on one surface, preferably in wafer form. The thin materials are polished to the desired surface roughness and then bonded together. The thin materials may each have a thickness of approximately 1-10 times the surface non-planarity of the material on which they are formed. Any number of devices may be bonded together, and the devices may be different types of devices or different technologies.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2002Date of Patent: June 14, 2005Assignee: Ziptronix, Inc.Inventor: Paul M. Enquist
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Patent number: 6902987Abstract: A method for bonding at low or room temperature includes steps of surface cleaning and activation by cleaning or etching. One etching process the method may also include removing by-products of interface polymerization to prevent a reverse polymerization reaction to allow room temperature chemical bonding of materials such as silicon, silicon nitride and SiO2. The surfaces to be bonded are polished to a high degree of smoothness and planarity. VSE may use reactive ion etching or wet etching to slightly etch the surfaces being bonded. The surface roughness and planarity are not degraded and may be enhanced by the VSE process. The etched surfaces may be rinsed in solutions such as ammonium hydroxide or ammonium fluoride to promote the formation of desired bonding species on the surfaces.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2000Date of Patent: June 7, 2005Assignee: Ziptronix, Inc.Inventors: Qin-Yi Tong, Gaius Gillman Fountain, Jr., Paul M. Enquist
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Publication number: 20050079712Abstract: A method for bonding at low or room temperature includes steps of surface cleaning and activation by cleaning or etching. One etching process The method may also include removing by-products of interface polymerization to prevent a reverse polymerization reaction to allow room temperature chemical bonding of materials such as silicon, silicon nitride and SiO2. The surfaces to be bonded are polished to a high degree of smoothness and planarity. VSE may use reactive ion etching or wet etching to slightly etch the surfaces being bonded. The surface roughness and planarity are not degraded and may be enhanced by the VSE process. The etched surfaces may be rinsed in solutions such as ammonium hydroxide or ammonium fluoride to promote the formation of desired bonding species on the surfaces.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2004Publication date: April 14, 2005Applicant: Ziptronix, Inc.Inventors: Qin-Yi Tong, Gaius Fountain, Paul Enquist
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Patent number: 6867073Abstract: A method of connecting elements such as semiconductor devices and a device having connected elements such as semiconductor devices. A first element having a first contact structure is bonded to a second element having a second contact structure. A single mask is used to form a via in the first element to expose the first contact and the second contact. The first contact structure is used as a mask to expose the second contact structure. A contact member is formed in contact with the first and second contact structures. The first contact structure may have an aperture or gap through which the first and second contact structures are connected. A back surface of the first contact structure may be exposed by the etching.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2003Date of Patent: March 15, 2005Assignee: Ziptronix, Inc.Inventor: Paul M. Enquist
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Patent number: 6864585Abstract: A device integration method and integrated device. The method may include the steps of directly bonding a semiconductor device having a substrate to an element; and removing a portion of the substrate to expose a remaining portion of the semiconductor device after bonding. The element may include one of a substrate used for thermal spreading, impedance matching or for RF isolation, an antenna, and a matching network comprised of passive elements. A second thermal spreading substrate may be bonded to the remaining portion of the semiconductor device. Interconnections may be made through the first or second substrates. The method may also include bonding a plurality of semiconductor devices to an element, and the element may have recesses in which the semiconductor devices are disposed.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2002Date of Patent: March 8, 2005Assignee: Ziptronix, Inc.Inventor: Paul M. Enquist
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Publication number: 20050009246Abstract: A method for providing encapsulation of an electronic device which obtains an encapsulating member configured to enclose the electronic device, prepares a surface of the encapsulating member for non-adhesive direct bonding, prepares a surface of a device carrier including the electronic device for non-adhesive direct bonding, and bonds the prepared surface of the encapsulating member to the prepared surface of the device carrier to form an encapsulation of the electronic device. As such, an encapsulated electronic device results which includes the device carrier having a first bonding region encompassing the electronic device, includes the encapsulating member having at least one relief preventing contact between the electronic device and the encapsulating member and having a second bonding region bonded to the first bonding region of the device carrier, and includes a non-adhesive direct bond formed between the first and second bonding regions thereby to form an encapsulation of the electronic device.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2004Publication date: January 13, 2005Applicant: Ziptronix, Inc.Inventors: Paul Enquist, Qin-Yi Tong, Gaius Fountain, Robert Markunas
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Publication number: 20040235266Abstract: A method of bonding includes using a bonding layer having a fluorinated oxide. Fluorine may be introduced into the bonding layer by exposure to a fluorine-containing solution, vapor or gas or by implantation. The bonding layer may also be formed using a method where fluorine is introduced into the layer during its formation. The surface of the bonding layer is terminated with a desired species, preferably an NH2 species. This may be accomplished by exposing the bonding layer to an NH4OH solution. High bonding strength is obtained at room temperature. The method may also include bonding two bonding layers together and creating a fluorine distribution having a peak in the vicinity of the interface between the bonding layers. One of the bonding layers may include two oxide layers formed on each other. The fluorine concentration may also have a second peak at the interface between the two oxide layers.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2003Publication date: November 25, 2004Applicant: Ziptronix, Inc.Inventor: Qin-Yi Tong
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Patent number: 6822326Abstract: A method for providing encapsulation of an electronic device which obtains an encapsulating member configured to enclose the electronic device, prepares a surface of the encapsulating member for non-adhesive direct bonding, prepares a surface of a device carrier including the electronic device for non-adhesive direct bonding, and bonds the prepared surface of the encapsulating member to the prepared surface of the device carrier to form an encapsulation of the electronic device. As such, an encapsulated electronic device results which includes the device carrier having a first bonding region encompassing the electronic device, includes the encapsulating member having at least one relief preventing contact between the electronic device and the encapsulating member and having a second bonding region bonded to the first bonding region of the device carrier, and includes a non-adhesive direct bond formed between the first and second bonding regions thereby to form an encapsulation of the electronic device.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2002Date of Patent: November 23, 2004Assignee: ZiptronixInventors: Paul M. Enquist, Qin-Yi Tong, Gaius Gillman Fountain, Jr., Robert Markunas
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Publication number: 20040157407Abstract: A bonded device structure including a first substrate having a first set of metallic bonding pads, preferably connected to a device or circuit, and having a first non-metallic region adjacent to the metallic bonding pads on the first substrate, a second substrate having a second set of metallic bonding pads aligned with the first set of metallic bonding pads, preferably connected to a device or circuit, and having a second non-metallic region adjacent to the metallic bonding pads on the second substrate, and a contact-bonded interface between the first and second set of metallic bonding pads formed by contact bonding of the first non-metallic region to the second non-metallic region. At least one of the first and second substrates may be elastically deformed.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2003Publication date: August 12, 2004Applicant: ZiptronixInventors: Qin-Yi Tong, Paul M. Enquist, Anthony Scot Rose
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Publication number: 20040152282Abstract: A method for bonding at low or room temperature includes steps of surface cleaning and activation by cleaning or etching. One etching process The method may also include removing by-products of interface polymerization to prevent a reverse polymerization reaction to allow room temperature chemical bonding of materials such as silicon, silicon nitride and SiO2. The surfaces to be bonded are polished to a high degree of smoothness and planarity. VSE may use reactive ion etching or wet etching to slightly etch the surfaces being bonded. The surface roughness and planarity are not degraded and may be enhanced by the VSE process. The etched surfaces may be rinsed in solutions such as ammonium hydroxide or ammonium fluoride to promote the formation of desired bonding species on the surfaces.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2004Publication date: August 5, 2004Applicant: Ziptronix, Inc.Inventors: Qin-Yin Tong, Gaius Gillman Fountain, Paul M. Enquist
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Patent number: 6756281Abstract: A semiconductor device and method of fabricating the device. An emitter region is formed self centered and self aligned symmetrically with a base region. Using frontside processing techniques, a collector is formed symmetrically self-aligned with the base region and the emitter region. The collector region may be further formed self-centered with the base region using backside processing techniques. The self-aligned and self-centered symmetric structure virtually eliminates parasitic elements in the device significantly improving the device performance. The device is scalable on the order of approximately 0.1 microns. The method also provides reproduceability and repeatability of device characteristics necessary for commercial manufacture of the symmetric device.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2002Date of Patent: June 29, 2004Assignee: ZiptronixInventor: Paul Enquist
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Patent number: 6740909Abstract: A semiconductor device and method of fabricating the device. An emitter region is formed self centered and self aligned symmetrically with a base region. Using frontside processing techniques, a collector is formed symmetrically self-aligned with the base region and the emitter region. The collector region may be further formed self-centered with the base region using backside processing techniques. The self-aligned and self-centered symmetric structure virtually eliminates parasitic elements in the device significantly improving the device performance. The device is scalable on the order of approximately 0.1 microns. The method also provides reproduceability and repeatability of device characteristics necessary for commercial manufacture of the symmetric device.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2001Date of Patent: May 25, 2004Assignee: Ziptronix, Inc.Inventor: Paul Enquist
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Publication number: 20040058476Abstract: A method for providing encapsulation of an electronic device which obtains an encapsulating member configured to enclose the electronic device, prepares a surface of the encapsulating member for non-adhesive direct bonding, prepares a surface of a device carrier including the electronic device for non-adhesive direct bonding, and bonds the prepared surface of the encapsulating member to the prepared surface of the device carrier to form an encapsulation of the electronic device. As such, an encapsulated electronic device results which includes the device carrier having a first bonding region encompassing the electronic device, includes the encapsulating member having at least one relief preventing contact between the electronic device and the encapsulating member and having a second bonding region bonded to the first bonding region of the device carrier, and includes a non-adhesive direct bond formed between the first and second bonding regions thereby to form an encapsulation of the electronic device.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2002Publication date: March 25, 2004Applicant: ZiptronixInventors: Paul M. Enquist, Qin-Yi Tong, Gaius Gillman Fountain, Robert Markunas
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Publication number: 20030211705Abstract: A method for bonding at low or room temperature includes steps of surface cleaning and activation by cleaning or etching. One etching process The method may also include removing by-products of interface polymerization to prevent a reverse polymerization reaction to allow room temperature chemical bonding of materials such as silicon, silicon nitride and SiO2. The surfaces to be bonded are polished to a high degree of smoothness and planarity. VSE may use reactive ion etching or wet etching to slightly etch the surfaces being bonded. The surface roughness and planarity are not degraded and may be enhanced by the VSE process. The etched surfaces may be rinsed in solutions such as ammonium hydroxide or ammonium fluoride to promote the formation of desired bonding species on the surfaces.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2003Publication date: November 13, 2003Applicant: Ziptronix, Inc.Inventors: Qin-Yi Tong, Gaius Gillman Fountain, Paul M. Enquist
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Patent number: 6627531Abstract: A device integration method and integrated device. The method may include the steps of directly bonding a semiconductor device having a substrate to an element; and removing a portion of the substrate to expose a remaining portion of the semiconductor device after bonding. The element may include one of a substrate used for thermal spreading, impedance matching or for RF isolation, an antenna, and a matching network comprised of passive elements. A second thermal spreading substrate may be bonded to the remaining portion of the semiconductor device. Interconnections may be made through the first or second substrates. The method may also include bonding a plurality of semiconductor devices to an element, and the element may have recesses in which the semiconductor devices are disposed.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2001Date of Patent: September 30, 2003Assignee: Ziptronix, Inc.Inventor: Paul M. Enquist
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Publication number: 20030141502Abstract: A process for bonding oxide-free silicon substrate pairs and other substrates at low temperature. This process involves modifying the surface of the silicon wafers to create defect regions, for example by plasma-treating the surface to be bonded with a or boron-containing plasmas such as a B2H6 plasma. The surface defect regions may also be created by ion implantation, preferably using boron. The surfaces may also be amorphized. The treated surfaces are placed together, thus forming an attached pair at room temperature in ambient air. The bonding energy reaches approximately 400 mJ/m2 at room temperature, 900 mJ/m2 at 150° C., and 1800 mJ/m2 at 250° C. The bulk silicon fracture energy of 2500 mJ/m2 was achieved after annealing at 350-400° C. The release of hydrogen from B—H complexes and the subsequent absorption of the hydrogen by the plasma induced modified layers on the bonding surfaces at low temperature is most likely responsible for the enhanced bonding energy.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2003Publication date: July 31, 2003Applicant: ZiptronixInventor: Qin-Yi Tong
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Publication number: 20030119279Abstract: A device integration method and integrated device. The method may include the steps of directly bonding a semiconductor device having a substrate to an element; and removing a portion of the substrate to expose a remaining portion of the semiconductor device after bonding. The element may include one of a substrate used for thermal spreading, impedance matching or for RF isolation, an antenna, and a matching network comprised of passive elements A second thermal spreading substrate may be bonded to the remaining portion of the semiconductor device. Interconnections may be made through the first or second substrates. The method may also include bonding a plurality of semiconductor devices to an element, and the element may have recesses in which the semiconductor devices are disposed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2002Publication date: June 26, 2003Applicant: ZiptronixInventor: Paul M. Enquist
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Patent number: 6563133Abstract: A process for bonding oxide-free silicon substrate pairs and other substrates at low temperature. This process involves modifying the surface of the silicon wafers to create defect regions, for example by plasma-treating the surface to be bonded with a or boron-containing plasmas such as a B2H6 plasma. The surface defect regions may also be created by ion implantation, preferably using boron. The surfaces may also be amorphized. The treated surfaces are placed together, thus forming an attached pair at room temperature in ambient air. The bonding energy reaches approximately 400 mJ/M2 at room temperature, 900 mJ/M2 at 150° C., and 1800 mJ/M2 at 250° C. The bulk silicon fracture energy of 2500 mJ/m2 was achieved after annealing at 350-400° C. The release of hydrogen from B—H complexes and the subsequent absorption of the hydrogen by the plasma induced modified layers on the bonding surfaces at low temperature is most likely responsible for the enhanced bonding energy.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2000Date of Patent: May 13, 2003Assignee: Ziptronix, Inc.Inventor: Qin-Yi Tong
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Patent number: 6500694Abstract: A device integration method and integrated device. The method may include the steps of directly bonding a semiconductor device having a substrate to an element; and removing a portion of the substrate to expose a remaining portion of the semiconductor device after bonding. The element may include one of a substrate used for thermal spreading, impedance matching or for RF isolation, an antenna, and a matching network comprised of passive elements. A second thermal spreading substrate may be bonded to the remaining portion of the semiconductor device. Interconnections may be made through the first or second substrates. The method may also include bonding a plurality of semiconductor devices to an element, and the element may have recesses in which the semiconductor devices are disposed.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2000Date of Patent: December 31, 2002Assignee: Ziptronix, Inc.Inventor: Paul M. Enquist
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Publication number: 20020173120Abstract: A device integration method and integrated device. The method includes the steps of polishing surfaces of first and second workpieces each to a surface roughness of about 5-10 Å. The polished surfaces of the first and second workpieces are bonded together. A surface of a third workpiece is polished to the surface roughness. The surface of the third workpiece is bonded to the joined first and second workpieces. The first, second and third workpieces may each be a semiconductor device having a thin material formed on one surface, preferably in wafer form. The thin materials are polished to the desired surface roughness and then bonded together. The thin materials may each have a thickness of approximately 1-10 times the surface non-planarity of the material on which they are formed. Any number of devices may be bonded together, and the devices may be different types of devices or different technologies.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2002Publication date: November 21, 2002Applicant: ZIPTRONIXInventor: Paul M. Enquist