Patents by Inventor Michael D. Lowell

Michael D. Lowell 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: 6524352
    Abstract: A parallel capacitor structure capable of forming an internal part of a larger circuit board or the like structure to provide capacitance therefore. Alternatively, the capacitor may be used as an interconnector to interconnect two different electronic components (e.g., chip carriers, circuit boards, and even semiconductor chips) while still providing desired levels of capacitance for one or more of said components. The capacitor includes at least one internal conductive layer, two additional conductor layers added on opposite sides of the internal conductor, and inorganic dielectric material (preferably an oxide layer on the second conductor layer's outer surfaces or a suitable dielectric material such as barium titanate applied to the second conductor layers). Further, the capacitor includes outer conductor layers atop the inorganic dielectric material, thus forming a parallel capacitor between the internal and added conductive layers and the outer conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Sylvia Adae-Amoakoh, John M. Lauffer, Michael D. Lowell, Voya R. Markovich, Joseph J. Sniezek
  • Publication number: 20020054471
    Abstract: A parallel capacitor structure capable of forming an internal part of a larger circuit board or the like structure to provide capacitance therefore. Alternatively, the capacitor may be used as an interconnector to interconnect two different electronic components (e.g., chip carriers, circuit boards, and even semiconductor chips) while still providing desired levels of capacitance for one or more of said components. The capacitor includes at least one internal conductive layer, two additional conductor layers added on opposite sides of the internal conductor, and inorganic dielectric material (preferably an oxide layer on the second conductor layer's outer surfaces or a suitable dielectric material such as barium titanate applied to the second conductor layers). Further, the capacitor includes outer conductor layers atop the inorganic dielectric material, thus forming a parallel capacitor between the internal and added conductive layers and the outer conductors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2002
    Publication date: May 9, 2002
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Sylvia Adae-Amoakoh, John M. Lauffer, Michael D. Lowell, Voya R. Markovich, Joseph J. Sniezek
  • Patent number: 6370012
    Abstract: A parallel capacitor structure capable of forming an internal part of a larger circuit board or the like structure to provide capacitance therefore. Alternatively, the capacitor may be used as an interconnector to interconnect two different electronic components (e.g., chip carriers, circuit boards, and even semiconductor chips) while still providing desired levels of capacitance for one or more of said components. The capacitor includes at least one internal conductive layer, two additional conductor layers added on opposite sides of the internal conductor, and inorganic dielectric material (preferably an oxide layer on the second conductor layer's outer surfaces or a suitable dielectric material such as barium titanate applied to the second conductor layers). Further, the capacitor includes outer conductor layers atop the inorganic dielectric material, thus forming a parallel capacitor between the internal and added conductive layers and the outer conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Sylvia Adae-Amoakoh, John M. Lauffer, Michael D. Lowell, Voya R. Markovich, Joseph J. Sniezek
  • Patent number: 5528159
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing semi-conductor chips is disclosed. The individual semiconductor chips have I/O contacts. The apparatus is provided with an interposer that has contacts corresponding to the contacts on the semiconductor chip. Both the chip and the interposer contacts can be any known type including metal ball, bumps, or tabs or may be provided with dendritic surfaces. The chip contacts are first brought into relative loose temporary contact with the contacts on the interposer and then a compressive force greater that 5 grams per chip contact is applied to the chip to force the chip contacts into good electrical contact with the interposer contacts. Testing of the chip is then performed. The tests may include heating of the chip as well as the application of signals to the chip contacts. After testing the chip is removed from the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: International Business Machine Corp.
    Inventors: Richard G. Charlton, George C. Correia, Mark A. Couture, Gary R. Hill, Kibby B. Horsford, Anthony P. Ingraham, Michael D. Lowell, Voya R. Markovich, Gordon C. Osborne, Jr., Mark V. Pierson
  • Patent number: 5523696
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing semi-conductor chips is disclosed. The individual semiconductor chips have I/O contacts. The apparatus is provided with an interposer that has contacts corresponding to the contacts on the semiconductor chip. Both the chip and the interposer contacts can be any known type including metal ball, bumps, or tabs or may be provided with dendritic surfaces. The chip contacts are first brought into relative loose temporary contact with the contacts on the interposer and then a compressive force greater that 5 grams per chip contact is applied to the chip to force the chip contacts into good electrical contact with the interposer contacts. Testing of the chip is then performed. The tests may include heating of the chip as well as the application of signals to the chip contacts. After testing the chip is removed from the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corp.
    Inventors: Richard G. Charlton, George C. Correla, Mark A. Couture, Gary R. Hill, Kibby B. Horsford, Anthony P. Ingraham, Michael D. Lowell, Voya R. Markovich, Gordon C. Osborne, Jr., Mark V. Pierson
  • Patent number: 5420520
    Abstract: A method of testing semi-conductor chips is disclosed. The individual semiconductor chips have I/O, power, and ground contacts. In the method of the invention a chip test fixture system is provided. The chip test fixture system has contacts corresponding to the contacts on the semiconductor chip. The carrier contacts have dendritic surfaces. The chip contacts are brought into electrically conductive contact with the conductor pads on the chip test fixture system. Test signal input vectors are applied to the inputs of the semiconductor chip, and output signal vectors are recovered from the semiconductor chip. After testing the chip is removed from the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Morris Anschel, Anthony P. Ingraham, Charles R. Lamb, Michael D. Lowell, Voya R. Markovich, Wolfgang Mayr, Richard G. Murphy, Mark V. Pierson, Tamar A. Powers, Timothy S. Reny, Scott D. Reynolds, Bahgat G. Sammakia, Wayne R. Storr