Patents by Inventor Alan G. Wood

Alan G. Wood has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10121738
    Abstract: Some embodiments include methods of forming interconnects through semiconductor substrates. An opening may be formed to extend partway through a semiconductor substrate, and part of an interconnect may be formed within the opening. Another opening may be formed to extend from a second side of the substrate to the first part of the interconnect, and another part of the interconnect may be formed within such opening. Some embodiments include semiconductor constructions having a first part of a through-substrate interconnect extending partially through a semiconductor substrate from a first side of the substrate; and having a second part of the through-substrate interconnect extending from a second side of the substrate and having multiple separate electrically conductive fingers that all extend to the first part of the interconnect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan G. Wood, Philip J. Ireland
  • Publication number: 20170125342
    Abstract: Some embodiments include methods of forming interconnects through semiconductor substrates. An opening may be formed to extend partway through a semiconductor substrate, and part of an interconnect may be formed within the opening. Another opening may be formed to extend from a second side of the substrate to the first part of the interconnect, and another part of the interconnect may be formed within such opening. Some embodiments include semiconductor constructions having a first part of a through-substrate interconnect extending partially through a semiconductor substrate from a first side of the substrate; and having a second part of the through-substrate interconnect extending from a second side of the substrate and having multiple separate electrically conductive fingers that all extend to the first part of the interconnect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2017
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan G. Wood, Philip J. Ireland
  • Patent number: 9583419
    Abstract: Some embodiments include methods of forming interconnects through semiconductor substrates. An opening may be formed to extend partway through a semiconductor substrate, and part of an interconnect may be formed within the opening. Another opening may be formed to extend from a second side of the substrate to the first part of the interconnect, and another part of the interconnect may be formed within such opening. Some embodiments include semiconductor constructions having a first part of a through-substrate interconnect extending partially through a semiconductor substrate from a first side of the substrate; and having a second part of the through-substrate interconnect extending from a second side of the substrate and having multiple separate electrically conductive fingers that all extend to the first part of the interconnect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan G. Wood, Philip J. Ireland
  • Publication number: 20150130029
    Abstract: Some embodiments include methods of forming interconnects through semiconductor substrates. An opening may be formed to extend partway through a semiconductor substrate, and part of an interconnect may be formed within the opening. Another opening may be formed to extend from a second side of the substrate to the first part of the interconnect, and another part of the interconnect may be formed within such opening. Some embodiments include semiconductor constructions having a first part of a through-substrate interconnect extending partially through a semiconductor substrate from a first side of the substrate; and having a second part of the through-substrate interconnect extending from a second side of the substrate and having multiple separate electrically conductive fingers that all extend to the first part of the interconnect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Alan G. Wood, Philip J. Ireland
  • Patent number: 9018751
    Abstract: A semiconductor module system includes a module substrate and a semiconductor substrate having a through wire interconnect bonded to an electrode on the module substrate. The through wire interconnect includes a via, a wire in the via having a first end bonded to a substrate contact on the semiconductor substrate and a polymer layer at least partially encapsulating the wire. The semiconductor module system can also include a second substrate stacked on the semiconductor substrate having a second through wire interconnect in electrical contact with the through wire interconnect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David R Hembree, Alan G. Wood
  • Patent number: 9013044
    Abstract: A through wire interconnect for a semiconductor substrate includes a via extending through the semiconductor substrate from the first side to the second side thereof; a wire in the via having a first end with a bonded connection to the substrate contact and a second end proximate to the second side of the semiconductor substrate; a dielectric material in the via configured to electrically insulate the wire from the semiconductor substrate; a bonding member bonded to the first end of the wire and to the substrate contact configured to secure the wire to the substrate contact; and a contact on the second end of the wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan G Wood, David R Hembree
  • Patent number: 8853072
    Abstract: Some embodiments include methods of forming interconnects through semiconductor substrates. An opening may be formed to extend partway through a semiconductor substrate, and part of an interconnect may be formed within the opening. Another opening may be formed to extend from a second side of the substrate to the first part of the interconnect, and another part of the interconnect may be formed within such opening. Some embodiments include semiconductor constructions having a first part of a through-substrate interconnect extending partially through a semiconductor substrate from a first side of the substrate; and having a second part of the through-substrate interconnect extending from a second side of the substrate and having multiple separate electrically conductive fingers that all extend to the first part of the interconnect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan G. Wood, Philip J. Ireland
  • Publication number: 20140225259
    Abstract: A semiconductor module system includes a module substrate and a semiconductor substrate having a through wire interconnect bonded to an electrode on the module substrate. The through wire interconnect includes a via, a wire in the via having a first end bonded to a substrate contact on the semiconductor substrate and a polymer layer at least partially encapsulating the wire. The semiconductor module system can also include a second substrate stacked on the semiconductor substrate having a second through wire interconnect in electrical contact with the through wire interconnect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David R Hembree, Alan G. Wood
  • Patent number: 8786097
    Abstract: Methods for forming through vias in a semiconductor substrate and resulting structures are disclosed. In one embodiment, a through via may be formed by forming a partial via from an active surface through a conductive element thereon and a portion of the substrate underlying the conductive element. The through via may then be completed by laser ablation or drilling from a back surface. In another embodiment, a partial via may be formed by laser ablation or drilling from the back surface of a substrate to a predetermined distance therein. The through via may be completed from the active surface by forming a partial via extending through the conductive element and the underlying substrate to intersect the laser-drilled partial via. In another embodiment, a partial via may first be formed by laser ablation or drilling from the back surface of the substrate followed by dry etching to complete the through via.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles M. Watkins, Kyle K. Kirby, Alan G. Wood, Salman Akram, Warren M. Farnworth
  • Patent number: 8741667
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a through wire interconnect for a semiconductor substrate having a substrate contact includes the steps of: forming a via through the semiconductor substrate from a first side to a second side thereof; placing a wire in the via having a first end with a bonded connection to the substrate contact and a second end proximate to the second side; forming a first contact on the wire proximate to the first side; forming a second contact on the second end of the wire; and forming a polymer layer on the first side at least partially encapsulating the wire while leaving the first contact exposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David R Hembree, Alan G. Wood
  • Patent number: 8728921
    Abstract: A method for fabricating semiconductor components includes the steps of providing a semiconductor substrate having a circuit side, a back side and integrated circuits and circuitry on the circuit side; thinning the substrate from the back side to a selected thickness to form a thinned substrate; applying a dopant to the back side of the thinned substrate; and laser processing the back side of the thinned substrate to form a plurality of patterns of lasered features containing the dopant. The dopant can be selected to modify properties of the semiconductor substrate such as carrier properties, gettering properties, mechanical properties or visual properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan G. Wood, Tim Corbett
  • Patent number: 8704380
    Abstract: Methods for wafer-level packaging of microfeature devices and microfeature devices formed using such methods are disclosed herein. A method for packaging microfeature devices in accordance with an embodiment of the invention can include releasably attaching a plurality of first known good microelectronic dies to a carrier substrate in a desired arrangement. In several embodiments, for example, the first dies can be releasably attached to an attachment feature on the carrier substrate. The method can also include attaching one or more second known good microelectronic dies to the individual first dies in a stacked configuration to form a plurality of stacked devices. The method further includes at least partially encapsulating the stacked devices and separating the stacked devices from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Warren M. Farnworth, Alan G. Wood
  • Patent number: 8669179
    Abstract: A through-wafer interconnect for imager, memory and other integrated circuit applications is disclosed, thereby eliminating the need for wire bonding, making devices incorporating such interconnects stackable and enabling wafer level packaging for imager devices. Further, a smaller and more reliable die package is achieved and circuit parasitics (e.g., L and R) are reduced due to the reduced signal path lengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Salman Akram, Charles M. Watkins, William M. Hiatt, David R. Hembree, James M. Wark, Warren M. Farnworth, Mark E. Tuttle, Sidney B. Rigg, Steven D. Oliver, Kyle K. Kirby, Alan G. Wood, Lu Velicky
  • Publication number: 20140038406
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a through wire interconnect for a semiconductor substrate having a substrate contact includes the steps of: forming a via through the semiconductor substrate from a first side to a second side thereof; placing a wire in the via having a first end with a bonded connection to the substrate contact and a second end proximate to the second side; forming a first contact on the wire proximate to the first side; forming a second contact on the second end of the wire; and forming a polymer layer on the first side at least partially encapsulating the wire while leaving the first contact exposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David R Hembree, Alan G. Wood
  • Publication number: 20130323909
    Abstract: A method for fabricating semiconductor components includes the steps of providing a semiconductor substrate having a circuit side, a back side and integrated circuits and circuitry on the circuit side; thinning the substrate from the back side to a selected thickness to form a thinned substrate; applying a dopant to the back side of the thinned substrate; and laser processing the back side of the thinned substrate to form a plurality of patterns of lasered features containing the dopant. The dopant can be selected to modify properties of the semiconductor substrate such as carrier properties, gettering properties, mechanical properties or visual properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Alan G. Wood, Tim Corbett
  • Publication number: 20130299983
    Abstract: A through wire interconnect for a semiconductor substrate includes a via extending through the semiconductor substrate from the first side to the second side thereof; a wire in the via having a first end with a bonded connection to the substrate contact and a second end proximate to the second side of the semiconductor substrate; a dielectric material in the via configured to electrically insulate the wire from the semiconductor substrate; a bonding member bonded to the first end of the wire and to the substrate contact configured to secure the wire to the substrate contact; and a contact on the second end of the wire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Inventors: Alan G. Wood, David R. Hembree
  • Patent number: 8581387
    Abstract: A through wire interconnect for a semiconductor substrate includes a via extending through the semiconductor substrate from a first side to a second side thereof, and a wire in the via electrically insulated from the semiconductor substrate having a first end with a bonded connection to the substrate contact and a second end proximate to the second side of the semiconductor substrate. The through wire interconnect also includes a first contact on the wire proximate to the first side of the semiconductor substrate, a second contact on the second end of the wire, and a polymer layer on the first side at least partially encapsulating the wire while leaving the first contact exposed. The through wire interconnect can also include a bonding member bonded to the first end of the wire and to the substrate contact having a tip portion forming the first contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Hembree, Alan G. Wood
  • Publication number: 20130295766
    Abstract: A through-wafer interconnect for imager, memory and other integrated circuit applications is disclosed, thereby eliminating the need for wire bonding, making devices incorporating such interconnects stackable and enabling wafer level packaging for imager devices. Further, a smaller and more reliable die package is achieved and circuit parasitics (e.g., L and R) are reduced due to the reduced signal path lengths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: Salman Akram, Charles M. Watkins, William M. Hiatt, David R. Hembree, James M. Wark, Warren M. Farnworth, Mark E. Tuttle, Sidney B. Rigg, Steven D. Oliver, Kyle K. Kirby, Alan G. Wood, Lu Velicky
  • Patent number: 8546931
    Abstract: A stacked semiconductor component includes a semiconductor substrate having a substrate contact, a substrate opening extending to an inner surface of the substrate contact, and a conductive interconnect comprising a wire in the substrate opening having a wire bonded connection with the inner surface of the substrate contact. The stacked semiconductor component also includes a second substrate stacked on the semiconductor substrate having a contact bonded to the conductive interconnect on the semiconductor substrate. The second substrate can also include conductive interconnects in the form of wire bonded wires, and the stacked semiconductor substrate can include a third semiconductor substrate stacked on the second substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan G. Wood, William M. Hiatt, David R. Hembree
  • Patent number: 8530895
    Abstract: A semiconductor component includes a thinned semiconductor substrate having a back side and a circuit side containing integrated circuits and associated circuitry. The semiconductor component also includes at least one lasered feature on the back side configured to provide selected electrical or physical characteristics for the substrate. The lasered feature can cover the entire back side or only selected areas of the back side, and can be configured to change electrical properties, mechanical properties or gettering properties of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan G. Wood, Tim Corbett