Patents by Inventor Bernhard Stering

Bernhard Stering 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).

  • Publication number: 20220317391
    Abstract: A bonded structure comprises a substrate component having a plurality of first pads arranged on or within a surface of the substrate component, and an integrated circuit component having a plurality of second pads arranged on or within a surface of the integrated circuit component. The bonded structure further comprises a plurality of connection elements physically connecting the first pads to the second pads. The surface of the integrated circuit component is tilted obliquely to the surface of the substrate component at a tilt angle that results from nominal variations of surface sizes of the first and second pads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Jochen Kraft, Bernhard Stering, Colin Steele, Jean Francois Seurin
  • Patent number: 10978507
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing optical sensor arrangements is provided. The method comprises providing at least two optical sensors on a carrier and providing a cover material on the side of the optical sensors facing away from the carrier. The method further comprises providing an aperture for each optical sensor on a top side of the cover material facing away from the carrier and forming at least one trench between the optical sensors from the carrier towards the top side of the cover material, the trench comprising inner walls. Moreover, the method comprises coating the inner walls with an opaque material, such that an inner volume of the trench is free of the opaque material, and singulating of the optical sensor arrangements along the at least one trench. Furthermore, a housing for an optical sensor is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: AMS AG
    Inventors: Sonja Koenig, Bernhard Stering, Harald Etschmaier
  • Publication number: 20190267424
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing optical sensor arrangements is provided. The method comprises providing at least two optical sensors on a carrier and providing a cover material on the side of the optical sensors facing away from the carrier. The method further comprises providing an aperture for each optical sensor on a top side of the cover material facing away from the carrier and forming at least one trench between the optical sensors from the carrier towards the top side of the cover material, the trench comprising inner walls. Moreover, the method comprises coating the inner walls with an opaque material, such that an inner volume of the trench is free of the opaque material, and singulating of the optical sensor arrangements along the at least one trench. Furthermore, a housing for an optical sensor is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Sonja KOENIG, Bernhard STERING, Harald ETSCHMAIER
  • Patent number: 10256147
    Abstract: The dicing method comprises the steps of providing a substrate (1) of semiconductor material, the substrate having a main surface (10), where integrated components (3) of chips (13) are arranged, and a rear surface (11) opposite the main surface, fastening a first handling wafer above the main surface, thinning the substrate at the rear surface, and forming trenches (20) penetrating the substrate and separating the chips by a single etching step after the substrate has been thinned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: ams AG
    Inventors: Martin Schrems, Bernhard Stering, Franz Schrank
  • Patent number: 10217715
    Abstract: The semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor substrate (1) with a main surface (10) and a further main surface (11) opposite the main surface, a TSV (3) penetrating the substrate from the main surface to the further main surface, a metallization (13) of the TSV, an under-bump metallization (5) and a bump contact (6) at least partially covering the TSV at the further main surface. The TSV (3) comprises a cavity (15), which may be filled with a gas or liquid. An opening (15?) of the cavity is provided to expose the cavity to the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: ams AG
    Inventors: Martin Schrems, Bernhard Stering, Harald Etschmaier
  • Patent number: 9961777
    Abstract: A trench (20) is introduced into a carrier (10) for electrical components (30) on a first surface (O10a) of the carrier into the material of the carrier (10). The carrier (10) is cut through by a cut (60) being introduced into the material of the carrier from a second surface (O10b) of the carrier (10), said second surface being situated opposite the first surface. The cut is implemented in such a way that the cut (60) runs through the trench (20) on the first surface (O10a) of the carrier. By providing a trench (20) in the material layers of the carrier (10) which are near the surface, it is possible to prevent material from breaking out of the carrier during the singulation of devices (1, 2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: ams AG
    Inventor: Bernhard Stering
  • Patent number: 9917012
    Abstract: A semiconductor substrate (1) is provided with integrated circuits. Dicing trenches (7) are formed in the substrate (1) between the integrated circuits, a polyimide layer (8) spanning the trenches (7) is applied above the integrated circuits, a tape layer (14) is applied above the polyimide layer (8), and a layer portion of the substrate (1) is removed from the substrate side (17) opposite the tape layer (14), until the trenches (7) are opened and dicing of the substrate (1) is thus effected. The polyimide layer (8) is severed in sections (18) above the trenches (7) when the tape layer (14) is removed. The semiconductor chip is provided with a cover layer (11) laterally confining the polyimide layer (8) near the trenches (7), in particular for forming breaking delimitations (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: ams AG
    Inventor: Bernhard Stering
  • Patent number: 9842946
    Abstract: The semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor substrate (1), a photosensor (2) integrated in the substrate (1) at a main surface (10), an emitter (12) of radiation mounted above the main surface (10), and a cover (6), which is at least partially transmissive for the radiation, arranged above the main surface (10). The cover (6) comprises a cavity (7), and the emitter (12) is arranged in the cavity (7). A radiation barrier (9) can be provided on a lateral surface of the cavity (7) to inhibit cross-talk between the emitter (12) and the photosensor (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: AMS AG
    Inventors: Rainer Minixhofer, Bernhard Stering, Harald Etschmaier
  • Publication number: 20170200647
    Abstract: A semiconductor substrate (1) is provided with integrated circuits. Dicing trenches (7) are formed in the substrate (1) between the integrated circuits, a polyimide layer (8) spanning the trenches (7) is applied above the integrated circuits, a tape layer (14) is applied above the polyimide layer (8), and a layer portion of the substrate (1) is removed from the substrate side (17) opposite the tape layer (14), until the trenches (7) are opened and dicing of the substrate (1) is thus effected. The polyimide layer (8) is severed in sections (18) above the trenches (7) when the tape layer (14) is removed. The semiconductor chip is provided with a cover layer (11) laterally confining the polyimide layer (8) near the trenches (7), in particular for forming breaking delimitations (9).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Inventor: Bernhard STERING
  • Publication number: 20170179056
    Abstract: The semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor substrate (1) with a main surface (10) and a further main surface (11) opposite the main surface, a TSV (3) penetrating the substrate from the main surface to the further main surface, a metallization (13) of the TSV, an under-bump metallization (5) and a bump contact (6) at least partially covering the TSV at the further main surface. The TSV (3) comprises a cavity (15), which may be filled with a gas or liquid. An opening (15?) of the cavity is provided to expose the cavity to the environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Martin SCHREMS, Bernhard STERING, Harald ETSCHMAIER
  • Publication number: 20170125613
    Abstract: The semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor substrate (1), a photosensor (2) integrated in the substrate (1) at a main surface (10), an emitter (12) of radiation mounted above the main surface (10), and a cover (6), which is at least partially transmissive for the radiation, arranged above the main surface (10). The cover (6) comprises a cavity (7), and the emitter (12) is arranged in the cavity (7). A radiation barrier (9) can be provided on a lateral surface of the cavity (7) to inhibit cross-talk between the emitter (12) and the photosensor (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Inventors: Rainer MINIXHOFER, Bernhard STERING, Harald ETSCHMAIER
  • Publication number: 20170062277
    Abstract: The dicing method comprises the steps of providing a substrate (1) of semiconductor material, the substrate having a main surface (10), where integrated components (3) of chips (13) are arranged, and a rear surface (11) opposite the main surface, fastening a first handling wafer above the main surface, thinning the substrate at the rear surface, and forming trenches (20) penetrating the substrate and separating the chips by a single etching step after the substrate has been thinned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Martin SCHREMS, Bernhard STERING, Franz SCHRANK
  • Patent number: 9105645
    Abstract: A semiconductor substrate (1) is provided with a structure (3) on an upper side (2), and an additional substrate (4) provided for handling the semiconductor substrate is likewise structured on an upper side (5). The structuring of the additional substrate takes place in at least partial correspondence with the structure of the semiconductor substrate. The structured upper sides of the semiconductor substrate and the additional substrate are positioned such that they face one another and are permanently connected to one another. Subsequently, the semiconductor substrate is thinned from the rear side (6), and the additional substrate is removed at least to such a degree that the structure of the semiconductor substrate is exposed to the extent required for the further use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: ams AG
    Inventors: Bernhard Stering, Jörg Siegert, Bernhard Löffler
  • Publication number: 20140349462
    Abstract: A semiconductor substrate (1) is provided with a structure (3) on an upper side (2), and an additional substrate (4) provided for handling the semiconductor substrate is likewise structured on an upper side (5). The structuring of the additional substrate takes place in at least partial correspondence with the structure of the semiconductor substrate. The structured upper sides of the semiconductor substrate and the additional substrate are positioned such that they face one another and are permanently connected to one another. Subsequently, the semiconductor substrate is thinned from the rear side (6), and the additional substrate is removed at least to such a degree that the structure of the semiconductor substrate is exposed to the extent required for the further use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2012
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: ams AG
    Inventors: Bernhard Stering, Jörg Siegert, Bernhard Löffler
  • Publication number: 20140118974
    Abstract: A trench (20) is introduced into a carrier (10) for electrical components (30) on a first surface (O10a) of the carrier into the material of the carrier (10). The carrier (10) is cut through by a cut (60) being introduced into the material of the carrier from a second surface (O10b) of the carrier (10), said second surface being situated opposite the first surface. The cut is implemented in such a way that the cut (60) runs through the trench (20) on the first surface (O10a) of the carrier. By providing a trench (20) in the material layers of the carrier (10) which are near the surface, it is possible to prevent material from breaking out of the carrier during the singulation of devices (1, 2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: AMS AG
    Inventor: Bernhard Stering