Patents by Inventor Paul A. Rodriguez

Paul A. Rodriguez 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: 6281563
    Abstract: A CMOS semiconductor device is programmed by a laser beam which causes a PN junction in a silicon substrate to be permanently altered. This produces a leakage path between a program node and a tank region in the substrate; the program node can be an input to a transistor in a CMOS circuit, for example, so this node will always hold the transistor on or off depending whether or not it has been laser-programmed. Preferably, the tank region is of opposite type compared to the substrate, so the program node is electrically isolated from the substrate in either case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Kendall Scott Wills, Paul A. Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 5960263
    Abstract: A CMOS semiconductor device is programmed by a laser beam which causes a PN junction in a silicon substrate to be permanently altered. This produces a leakage path between a program node and a tank region in the substrate; the program node can be an input to a transistor in a CMOS circuit, for example, so this node will always hold the transistor on or off depending whether or not it has been laser-programmed. Preferably, the tank region is of opposite type compared to the substrate, so the program node is electrically isolated from the substrate in either case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Kendall Scott Wills, Paul A. Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 5605863
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing device or die is presented which uses laser deposited leads, with a filler to bridge the gap between the die and the lead frame. The filler may be oxide, poly amide, a combination of oxide layers and poly amide layers, plastic or a plastic which has plastic coated beads of metal. The die and lead frame are placed on a heat spreader. Leads are formed over the filler material from bond pads on the lead frame to bond pads on the die. Various protective materials are placed over the die to protect it from the package. Over the protective material is another heat spreader or other device that is required to make the die function better. Typical devices are batteries, capacitors, or other die. Finally, the structure is encapsulated in a package of non-conductive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Kendall S. Wills, Paul A. Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 5543365
    Abstract: A channel is formed in a wafer to fore descrite die. A portion of the wafer is heated in the channel. A portion of the heated portion is cooled to eliminate the uniform structure. The cooled portion is scribed to separate the die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Kendall S. Wills, Paul A. Rodriguez, Melvin Brewer
  • Patent number: 5451550
    Abstract: A semiconductor die is enveloped by an ambient gas that will react to the presence of a particular wave length of light. A laser beam is focused on the edge of the die to deposit a dielectric coating. The laser beam or the die is rotated until the dielectric coating covers the entire die edge. The dielectric coating acts as a seal that is impervious to water and other contamination that can reduce the die reliability. The dielectric coating also electrically insulates the die from its surroundings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1995
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Kendall S. Wills, Paul A. Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 5317186
    Abstract: A ring of polycrystalline material is developed around the edge of a wafer by general heating of the wafer and localized heating with a laser beam followed by rapid cooling. The ring of polycrystalline material helps prevent wafer breakage due to thermal shock. One or more additional ring, loop or closed figures of polycrystalline material can be formed inside of said ring of polycrystalline material developed around the edge of the wafer to further reinforce the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Kendall S. Wills, Paul A. Rodriguez, Melvin L. Brewer
  • Patent number: 5149675
    Abstract: A ring of polycrystalline material is developed around the edge of a wafer by general heating of the wafer and localized heating with a laser beam followed by rapid cooling. The ring of polycrystalline material helps prevent wafer breakage due to thermal shock. One or more additonal ring, loop or closed figures of polycrystalline material can be formed inside of said ring of polycrystalline material developed around the edge of the wafer to further reinforce the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1992
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Kendall S. Wills, Paul A. Rodriguez, Melvin L. Brewer
  • Patent number: 5119451
    Abstract: Optical waveguides are used to bridge between integrated circuits on different die. The waveguide is suspended on polyamid or some other material. An optional waveguide is built which can have both active components or passive components and beam dumps. The optical waveguides allow the signal from one integrated circuit to another to travel at the speed of light. Such waveguides can be direct deposited to better than 0.2 micron accuracy to connect submicron waveguides on the integrated circuit. The use of conductive waveguides or conductive coatings to encapsulate the waveguide allows electrical signals to be passed along with the optical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1992
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Kendall S. Wills, Paul A. Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 5008729
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is programmed by a laser beam which causes a PN junction in a silicon substrate to be permanently altered. This produces a leakage path between a program node and a tank region in the substrate; the program node can be an input to a transistor in a CMOS circuit, for example, so this node will always hold the transistor on or off depending whether or not it has been laser-programmed. Preferably, the tank region is of opposite type compared to the substrate, so the program node is electrically isolated from the substrate in either case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1991
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Kendall S. Wills, Paul A. Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 4624556
    Abstract: An apparatus in which original documents used in an electrophotographic printing machine are temporarily stored. The apparatus is mounted on the unused space of the printing machine to organize the original documents to be processed therein. A plurality of trays are mounted pivotably on the base of the apparatus. The trays pivot from a nested position wherein they occupy a minimum amount of space on the printing machine to a substantially vertical position defining a plurality of bins for temporarily storing the original documents therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1986
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Paul A. Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 4623403
    Abstract: A target for a laser beam consists of a plurality of closely spaced lines that causes the generation of an readily-identifiable read-out so that the laser beam can be indexed when performing laser scribing for redundant memory devices or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1986
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Kendall S. Wills, Paul A. Rodriguez
  • Patent number: D504022
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Picture the Cure, Inc.
    Inventor: Brandon Paul Rodriguez