Patents by Inventor Steven L. Wright

Steven L. Wright 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: 9865569
    Abstract: A structure includes an electrical interconnection between a first substrate including a plurality of protrusions and a second substrate including a plurality of solder bumps, the plurality of protrusions includes sharp tips that penetrate the plurality of solder bumps, and a permanent electrical interconnection is established by physical contact between the plurality of protrusions and the plurality of solder bumps including a metallurgical joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Bing Dang, John U. Knickerbocker, Yang Liu, Yu Luo, Steven L. Wright
  • Publication number: 20170363659
    Abstract: A probe head that contains a coining surface and a plurality of probe tips integrated on a same side of the probe head is provided. The probe head has a first portion and a laterally adjacent second portion, wherein the first portion of the probe head contains the coining surface, and the second portion of the probe head contains the plurality of the probe tips. Each probe tip may, in some embodiments, extend outwards from a probe pedestal that is in contact with the second portion of the probe head. The probe head is traversed across the surface of a semiconductor wafer containing a plurality of solder bump arrays such that the coining surface contacts a specific array of solder bumps prior to contacting of the same specific array of solder bumps with the probe tips.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: Yang Liu, Steven L. Wright
  • Publication number: 20170175280
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a substrate mechanically and electrically connected on one side of the substrate to multiple metallic probes in one or more arrays and includes the multiple metallic probes in the one or more arrays. In a method, multiple pits may be formed in an array on a first substrate. The pits have a pyramidal shape. A release layer is formed on the first substrate and covers surfaces of the pits. Probe tips are formed in the pits on the first substrate. The probe tips are formed from rigid conductive material. Multiple pillars are formed from rigid conductive material. The pillars are electrically and mechanically connected to a second substrate and to the probe tips. Release is caused of the probe tips from the first substrate, wherein the pillars and probe tips are connected to the second substrate and together form an array of rigid and conductive probes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Bing Dang, Yang Liu, Steven L. Wright
  • Publication number: 20170172445
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a substrate mechanically and electrically connected on one side of the substrate to multiple metallic probes in one or more arrays and includes the multiple metallic probes in the one or more arrays. In a method, multiple pits may be formed in an array on a first substrate. The pits have a pyramidal shape. A release layer is formed on the first substrate and covers surfaces of the pits. Probe tips are formed in the pits on the first substrate. The probe tips are formed from rigid conductive material. Multiple pillars are formed from rigid conductive material. The pillars are electrically and mechanically connected to a second substrate and to the probe tips. Release is caused of the probe tips from the first substrate, wherein the pillars and probe tips are connected to the second substrate and together form an array of rigid and conductive probes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Bing Dang, Yang Liu, Steven L. Wright
  • Publication number: 20170119960
    Abstract: A digital biomedical device includes a substrate forming a cavity, a seal formed around the cavity, a lid coupled to the substrate by the seal, a reactive metal structure comprising a plurality of metal layers, wherein the reactive metal structure is a component of at least one of the substrate and the lid, a metal trace configured to initiate a self-propagating reaction between the plurality of metal layers of the reactive metal structure and release contents of the cavity, and a power supply configured to apply an electric current to the metal trace
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Inventors: BING DANG, GREGORY M. FRITZ, ERIC P. LEWANDOWSKI, JOANA S.B.T. MARIA, BUCKNELL C. WEBB, STEVEN L. WRIGHT
  • Publication number: 20170119964
    Abstract: A digital biomedical device includes a substrate forming a reservoir, a membrane comprising a first layer and a second layer having a strain therebetween, the membrane sealing the reservoir, and a controller configured to activate the membrane and release at least a portion of the strain causing the membrane curl and open the reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Inventors: BING DANG, JOHN U. KNICKERBOCKER, JOANA S.B.T. MARIA, BUCKNELL C. WEBB, STEVEN L WRIGHT
  • Publication number: 20160240513
    Abstract: A structure includes an electrical interconnection between a first substrate including a plurality of protrusions and a second substrate including a plurality of solder bumps, the plurality of protrusions includes sharp tips that penetrate the plurality of solder bumps, and a permanent electrical interconnection is established by physical contact between the plurality of protrusions and the plurality of solder bumps including a metallurgical joint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Bing Dang, John U. Knickerbocker, Yang Liu, Yu Luo, Steven L. Wright
  • Patent number: 9391040
    Abstract: A structure includes an electrical interconnection between a first substrate including a plurality of protrusions and a second substrate including a plurality of solder bumps, the plurality of protrusions includes sharp tips that penetrate the plurality of solder bumps, and a permanent electrical interconnection is established by physical contact between the plurality of protrusions and the plurality of solder bumps including a metallurgical joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Bing Dang, John U. Knickerbocker, Yang Liu, Yu Luo, Steven L. Wright
  • Publication number: 20160111387
    Abstract: A structure includes an electrical interconnection between a first substrate including a plurality of protrusions and a second substrate including a plurality of solder bumps, the plurality of protrusions includes sharp tips that penetrate the plurality of solder bumps, and a permanent electrical interconnection is established by physical contact between the plurality of protrusions and the plurality of solder bumps including a metallurgical joint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Inventors: Bing Dang, John U. Knickerbocker, Yang Liu, Yu Luo, Steven L. Wright
  • Publication number: 20160084882
    Abstract: A test probe head for probe testing multiple chips on a wafer in a single probing. A probe head substrate includes an array of probe tip attach pads on one surface. The array includes a subarray for each probe head chip test site. Probe tips attached to each probe tip attach pad have an across the head tip height variation less than one micrometer (1 ?m). The subarray probe tips may be on a pitch at or less than fifty microns (50 ?m). The test probe head may be capable of test probing all chips in a quadrant and even up to all chips on a single wafer in a single probing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Bing Dang, Yu Luo, John Knickerbocker, Yang Liu, Steven L. Wright
  • Publication number: 20160074323
    Abstract: Electromechanical substance delivery devices are provided which implement low-power electromechanical release mechanisms for controlled delivery of substances such as drugs and medication. For example, an electromechanical device includes a substrate having a cavity formed in a surface of the substrate, a membrane disposed on the surface of the substrate covering an opening of the cavity, and a seal disposed between the membrane and the surface of the substrate. The seal surrounds the opening of the cavity, and the seal and membrane are configured to enclose the cavity and retain a substance within the cavity. An electrode structure is configured to locally heat a portion of the membrane in response to a control voltage applied to the electrode structure, and create a stress that causes a rupture in the locally heated portion of the membrane to release the substance from within the cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Inventors: S. Jay Chey, Bing Dang, John U. Knickerbocker, Kenneth F. Latzko, Joana Sofia Branquinho Teresa Maria, Lavanya Turlapati, Bucknell C. Webb, Steven L. Wright
  • Patent number: 9200883
    Abstract: Transferable probe tips including a metallic probe, a delamination layer covering a portion of the metallic probe, and a bonding alloy, wherein the bonding alloy contacts the metallic probe at a portion of the probe that is not covered by the delamination layer are provided herein. Also, techniques for creating a transferable probe tip are provided, including etching a handler substrate to form one or more via arrays, depositing a delamination layer in each via array, depositing one or more metals in each via array to form a probe tip structure, and depositing a bonding alloy on a portion of the probe tip structure that is not covered by the delamination layer. Additionally, techniques for transferring transferable probe tips are provided, including removing a handler substrate from a probe tip structure, and transferring the probe tip structure via flip-chip joining the probe tip structure to a target probe head substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Paul S. Andry, Bing Dang, Steven L. Wright
  • Patent number: 8965060
    Abstract: A method is provided for automatically discerning between object and non-object pixels in a hyperspectral image data cube. In particular embodiments, the object of the method is a plant, plant part, plant trait, plant phenotype, plant pot or a plant medium. The method comprises a first step of providing a partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLSDA) algorithm and a second step of applying the PLSDA algorithm to a hyperspectral image data cube to automatically determine which pixels contain the spectral properties of the object. The PLSDA algorithm of the method can be generated by establishing a training matrix, performing an eigenvector decomposition of the training matrix, experimentally determining a weighted linear combination of object signal-containing eigenvectors, calculating a regression vector using the weighted linear combination of signal-containing eigenvectors, generating a mask matrix and multiplying the mask matrix by the hyperspectral image data cube along two spatial dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.
    Inventors: James Janni, Steven L. Wright
  • Patent number: 8674506
    Abstract: Structures and methods to reduce maximum current density in a solder ball are disclosed. A method includes forming a contact pad in a last wiring level and forming a plurality of wires of the contact pad extending from side edges of the contact pad to respective ones of a plurality of vias. Each one of the plurality of wires has substantially the same electrical resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Raschid J. Bezama, Timothy H. Daubenspeck, Gary LaFontant, Ian D. Melville, Ekta Misra, George J. Scott, Krystyna W. Semkow, Timothy D. Sullivan, Robin A. Susko, Thomas A. Wassick, Xiaojin Wei, Steven L. Wright
  • Publication number: 20130234329
    Abstract: Structures and methods to reduce maximum current density in a solder ball are disclosed. A method includes forming a contact pad in a last wiring level and forming a plurality of wires of the contact pad extending from side edges of the contact pad to respective ones of a plurality of vias. Each one of the plurality of wires has substantially the same electrical resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: Intetnational Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Raschid J. BEZAMA, Timothy H. DAUBENSPECK, Gary LaFONTANT, Ian D. MELVILLE, Ekta MISRA, George J. SCOTT, Krystyna W. SEMKOW, Timothy D. SULLIVAN, Robin A. SUSKO, Thomas A. WASSICK, Xiaojin WEI, Steven L. WRIGHT
  • Patent number: 8446006
    Abstract: Structures and methods to reduce maximum current density in a solder ball are disclosed. A method includes forming a contact pad in a last wiring level and forming a plurality of wires of the contact pad extending from side edges of the contact pad to respective ones of a plurality of vias. Each one of the plurality of wires has substantially the same electrical resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Raschid J. Bezama, Timothy H. Daubenspeck, Gary LaFontant, Ian D. Melville, Ekta Misra, George J. Scott, Krystyna W. Semkow, Timothy D. Sullivan, Robin A. Susko, Thomas A. Wassick, Xiaojin Wei, Steven L. Wright
  • Publication number: 20120279287
    Abstract: Transferable probe tips including a metallic probe, a delamination layer covering a portion of the metallic probe, and a bonding alloy, wherein the bonding alloy contacts the metallic probe at a portion of the probe that is not covered by the delamination layer are provided herein. Also, techniques for creating a transferable probe tip are provided, including etching a handler substrate to form one or more via arrays, depositing a delamination layer in each via array, depositing one or more metals in each via array to form a probe tip structure, and depositing a bonding alloy on a portion of the probe tip structure that is not covered by the delamination layer. Additionally, techniques for transferring transferable probe tips are provided, including removing a handler substrate from a probe tip structure, and transferring the probe tip structure via flip-chip joining the probe tip structure to a target probe head substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Paul S. Andry, Bing Dang, Steven L. Wright
  • Patent number: 8298929
    Abstract: Semiconductor structures, methods of manufacture and design structures are provided. The structure includes at least one offset crescent shaped solder via formed in contact with an underlying metal pad of a chip. The at least one offset crescent shaped via is offset with respect to at least one of the underlying metal pad and an underlying metal layer in direct electrical contact with an interconnect of the chip which is in electrical contact with the underlying metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy H. Daubenspeck, Gary Lafontant, Ekta Misra, David L. Questad, George J. Scott, Krystyna W. Semkow, Timothy D. Sullivan, Thomas A. Wassick, Steven L. Wright
  • Patent number: 8264078
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a sub-pad assembly of metal structures is located directly underneath a metal pad. The sub-pad assembly includes an upper level metal line structure abutting the metal pad, a lower level metal line structure located underneath the upper level metal line structure, and a set of metal vias that provide electrical connection between the lower level metal line structure located underneath the upper level metal line structure. In another embodiment, the reliability of a C4 ball is enhanced by employing a metal pad structure having a set of integrated metal vias that are segmented and distributed to facilitate uniform current density distribution within the C4 ball. The areal density of the cross-sectional area in the plurality of metal vias is higher at the center portion of the metal pad than at the peripheral portion of the planar portion of the metal pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy H. Daubenspeck, Wolfgang Sauter, Timothy D. Sullivan, Steven L. Wright, Edmund Sprogis
  • Publication number: 20120139123
    Abstract: Semiconductor structures, methods of manufacture and design structures are provided. The structure includes at least one offset crescent shaped solder via formed in contact with an underlying metal pad of a chip. The at least one offset crescent shaped via is offset with respect to at least one of the underlying metal pad and an underlying metal layer in direct electrical contact with an interconnect of the chip which is in electrical contact with the underlying metal layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Timothy H. Daubenspeck, Gary Lafontant, Ekta Misra, David L. Questad, George J. Scott, Krystyna W. Semkow, Timothy D. Sullivan, Thomas A. Wassick, Steven L. Wright