Patents by Inventor Chadwick D. Sofield

Chadwick D. Sofield 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).

  • Method to build robust mechanical structures on substrate surfaces
    Patent number: 8383958
    Abstract: A robust mechanical structure is provided to prevent small foundation structures formed on a substrate from detaching from the substrate surface. The strengthened structure is formed by plating a foundation metal layer on a seed layer and then embedding the plated foundation structure in an adhesive polymer material, such as epoxy. Components, such as spring probes, can then be constructed on the plated foundation. The adhesive polymer material better assures the adhesion of the metal foundation structure to the substrate surface by counteracting forces applied to an element, such as a spring probe, attached to the plated foundation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: FormFactor, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary W. Grube, Gaetan L. Mathieu, Benjamin N. Eldridge, Chadwick D. Sofield
  • METHOD TO BUILD ROBUST MECHANICAL STRUCTURES ON SUBSTRATE SURFACES
    Publication number: 20100224303
    Abstract: A robust mechanical structure is provided to prevent small foundation structures formed on a substrate from detaching from the substrate surface. The strengthened structure is formed by plating a foundation metal layer on a seed layer and then embedding the plated foundation structure in an adhesive polymer material, such as epoxy. Components, such as spring probes, can then be constructed on the plated foundation. The adhesive polymer material better assures the adhesion of the metal foundation structure to the substrate surface by counteracting forces applied to an element, such as a spring probe, attached to the plated foundation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2010
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Inventors: Gary W. Grube, Gaetan L. Mathieu, Benjamin N. Eldridge, Chadwick D. Sofield
  • Method to build robust mechanical structures on substrate surfaces
    Patent number: 7732713
    Abstract: A robust mechanical structure is provided to prevent small foundation structures formed on a substrate from detaching from the substrate surface. The strengthened structure is formed by plating a foundation metal layer on a seed layer and then embedding the plated foundation structure in an adhesive polymer material, such as epoxy. Components, such as spring probes, can then be constructed on the plated foundation. The adhesive polymer material better assures the adhesion of the metal foundation structure to the substrate surface by counteracting forces applied to an element, such as a spring probe, attached to the plated foundation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: FormFactor, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary W. Grube, Gaetan L. Mathieu, Benjamin N. Eldridge, Chadwick D. Sofield
  • Method to build robust mechanical structures on substrate surfaces
    Patent number: 7251884
    Abstract: A robust mechanical structure is provided to prevent small foundation structures formed on a substrate from detaching from the substrate surface. The strengthened structure is formed by plating a foundation metal layer on a seed layer and then embedding the plated foundation structure in an adhesive polymer material, such as epoxy. Components, such as spring probes, can then be constructed on the plated foundation. The adhesive polymer material better assures the adhesion of the metal foundation structure to the substrate surface by counteracting forces applied to an element, such as a spring probe, attached to the plated foundation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: FormFactor, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary W. Grube, Gaetan L. Mathieu, Benjamin N. Eldridge, Chadwick D. Sofield