Patents by Inventor Steven Towle

Steven Towle 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: 7888183
    Abstract: A method and apparatus provide an integrated circuit package with improved heat dissipation and easier fabrication. The integrated circuit package includes a thinned semiconductor die attached to a heat spreader using a thermally conductive material. The thinned die reduces the thermal resistance of the die/heat spreader combination to improve heat extraction from the die as well as eliminating processing steps in fabrication. Additionally, the thinned die becomes more compliant as it takes on the thermal/mechanical properties of the heat spreader to reduce stress-induced cracking of the die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Cheng-Yi Liu, Johanna Swan, Steven Towle, Anna George, legal representative, Chuan Hu
  • Patent number: 7420273
    Abstract: A method and apparatus provide an integrated circuit package with improved heat dissipation and easier fabrication. The integrated circuit package includes a thinned semiconductor die attached to a heat spreader using a thermally conductive material. The thinned die reduces the thermal resistance of the die/heat spreader combination to improve heat extraction from the die as well as eliminating processing steps in fabrication. Additionally, the thinned die becomes more compliant as it takes on the thermal/mechanical properties of the heat spreader to reduce stress-induced cracking of the die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Cheng-Yi Liu, Johanna Swan, Anna George, legal representative, Chuan Hu, Steven Towle
  • Publication number: 20080153209
    Abstract: A method and apparatus provide an integrated circuit package with improved heat dissipation and easier fabrication. The integrated circuit package includes a thinned semiconductor die attached to a heat spreader using a thermally conductive material. The thinned die reduces the thermal resistance of the die/heat spreader combination to improve heat extraction from the die as well as eliminating processing steps in fabrication. Additionally, the thinned die becomes more compliant as it takes on the thermal/mechanical properties of the heat spreader to reduce stress-induced cracking of the die.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventors: Cheng-Yi Liu, Johanna Swan, Steven Towle, Anna George, Chuan Hu
  • Patent number: 7372120
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to optically couple an optoelectronic chip to a waveguide are disclosed. A disclosed apparatus includes a substrate, a waveguide mounted on the substrate and an optoelectronic chip bonded to the substrate and having an optical element directly engaging the waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Anna M. George, legal representative, Daoqiang Lu, Henning Braunisch, Gilroy Vandentop, Steven Towle
  • Patent number: 7369718
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a substrate comprising a base substrate, a conductive layer on the base substrate, and a solder resist layer on the conductive layer, a die including an optical area, the die being flip-chip bonded to the substrate, and an optical inter-connector optically coupled to the optical area and at least partially positioned between the die and the base substrate, the optical inter-connector positioned in a trench formed in the solder resist layer and the conductive layer. A process comprising providing a substrate comprising a base substrate, a conductive layer on the base substrate, and a solder resist layer on the conductive layer, forming a trench in the conductive layer and the solder resist layer, positioning a waveguide in the trench, and flip-chip bonding a die to the substrate, the die including an optical area, such that the optical area is optically coupled to the waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Anna M. George, legal representative, Steven Towle
  • Publication number: 20070190776
    Abstract: A process flow to make an interconnect structure with one or more thick metal layers under Controlled Collapse Chip Connection (C4) bumps at a die or wafer level. The interconnect structure may be used in a backend interconnect of a microprocessor. The process flow may include forming an inter-layer dielectric with spray coating or lamination over a surface with high aspect ratio structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Applicant: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Sarah Kim, Kevin Lee, Steven Towle, Anna George
  • Patent number: 7256059
    Abstract: The application discloses an apparatus comprising an optical die flip-chip bonded to a substrate and defining a volume between the optical die and the substrate, the optical die including an optically active area on a surface of the die facing the substrate, an optically transparent material occupying at least those portions of the volume substantially corresponding with the optically active area, and an underfill material occupying portions of the volume not occupied by the optically transparent material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Daoqiang Lu, Anna M. George, legal representative, Steven Towle, deceased
  • Patent number: 7236666
    Abstract: Optical apparatus, methods of forming the apparatus, and methods of using the apparatus are disclosed herein. In one aspect, an optical apparatus may include a substrate, an on-substrate microlens coupled with the substrate to receive light from an off-substrate light emitter and focus the light toward a focal point, and an on-substrate optical device coupled with the substrate proximate the focal point to receive the focused light. Communication of light in the reverse direction is also disclosed. Systems including the optical apparatus are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Anna George, legal representative, Henning Braunisch, Daoqiang Lu, Gilroy J. Vandentop, Steven Towle, deceased
  • Patent number: 7226812
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for wafer support and release using sacrificial materials in wafer processing. In one embodiment, a solution of a sacrificial polymer is spray-coated on the wafer bump side to form a thin layer of the sacrificial polymer after solvent vaporization. An adhesive layer is then used to attach the wafer bump side onto a wafer support substrate over the sacrificial polymer to support the wafer in backside processing. After wafer thinning and backside metal deposition, the wafer is exposed to heat to thermally decompose the sacrificial polymer into gases. The decomposition of the sacrificial polymer reduces the adhesion of the adhesive layer to the bump side of the wafer such that, when the support substrate is detached from the wafer, the adhesive layer is detached together with the support substrate from the wafer bump side, leaving almost no residual traces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Daoqiang Lu, Anna M. George, legal representative, Steven Towle, deceased
  • Patent number: 7189596
    Abstract: A method of fabricating microelectronic dice by providing or forming a first encapsulated die assembly and a second encapsulated die assembly. Each of the encapsulated die assemblies includes at least one microelectronic die disposed in a packaging material. Each of the encapsulated die assemblies has an active surface and a back surface. The encapsulated die assemblies are attached together in a back surface-to-back surface arrangement. Build-up layers are then formed on the active surfaces of the first and second encapsulated assemblies, preferably, simultaneously. Thereafter, the microelectronic dice are singulated, if required, and the microelectronic dice of the first encapsulated die assembly are separated from the microelectronic dice of the second encapsulated die assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Chun Mu, Qing Ma, Quat Vu, Steven Towle
  • Patent number: 7183658
    Abstract: A low cost microelectronic circuit package includes a single build up metallization layer above a microelectronic die. At least one die is fixed within a package core using, for example, an encapsulation material. A single metallization layer is then built up over the die/core assembly. The metallization layer includes a number of landing pads having a pitch that allows the microelectronic device to be directly mounted to an external circuit board. In one embodiment, the metallization layer includes a number of signal landing pads within a peripheral region of the layer and at least one power landing pad and one ground landing pad toward a central region of the layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Towle, John Tang, John S. Cuendet, Henning Braunisch, Thomas S. Dory
  • Patent number: 7177504
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a substrate having a trench therein, the trench extending to an edge of the substrate, a waveguide array positioned in the trench, the waveguide array extending to the edge of the substrate, and a ferrule attached at or near the edge of the substrate and spanning a width of the waveguide array, the ferrule being directly in contact with a surface of the waveguide array. A process comprising positioning a waveguide in a trench on a substrate, the waveguide extending to an edge of the substrate, and attaching a ferrule at or near the edge of the substrate, the ferrule including a recess having a bottom, wherein the bottom is in direct contact with a surface of the waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Anna M. George, legal representative, Daoqiang Lu, Henning Braunisch, Steven Towle, deceased
  • Patent number: 7085449
    Abstract: A system is disclosed. The system includes an external waveguide and an IC coupled to the external waveguide. The IC includes at least two lenses and a second waveguide. The lenses couple radiant energy from the external waveguide to the second waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Henning Braunisch, Anna George, legal representative, Daoqiang Lu, Gilroy Vandentop, Steven Towle, deceased
  • Patent number: 7078788
    Abstract: A microelectronic substrate including at least one microelectronic device disposed within an opening in a microelectronic substrate core, wherein an encapsulation material is disposed within portions of the opening not occupied by the microelectronic devices, or a plurality microelectronic devices encapsulated without the microelectronic substrate core. At least one conductive via extended through the substrate, which allows electrical communication between opposing sides of the substrate. Interconnection layers of dielectric materials and conductive traces are then fabricated on the microelectronic device, the encapsulation material, and the microelectronic substrate core (if present) to form the microelectronic substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Quat T. Vu, Jian Li, Steven Towle
  • Patent number: 7071024
    Abstract: Expanded bond pads are formed over a passivation layer on a semiconductor wafer before the wafer is diced into individual circuit chips. After dicing, the individual chips are packaged by fixing each chip within a package core and building up one or more metallization layers on the resulting assembly. In at least one embodiment, a high melting temperature (lead free) alternative bump metallurgy (ABM) form of controlled collapse chip connect (C4) processing is used to form relatively wide conducting platforms over the bond pads on the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Towle, Martha Jones, Quat T. Vu
  • Patent number: 7067356
    Abstract: A microelectronic device fabrication technology that places at least one microelectronic die within at least one opening in a microelectronic package core and secures the microelectronic die/dice within the opening(s) with an encapsulation material, that encapsulates at least one microelectronic die within an encapsulation material without a microelectronic package core, or that secures at least one microelectronic die within at least one opening in a heat spreader. A laminated interconnector of dielectric materials and conductive traces is then attached to the microelectronic die/dice and at least one of following: the encapsulation material, the microelectronic package core, and the heat spreader, to form a microelectronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Towle, Paul H. Wermer
  • Patent number: 7042106
    Abstract: The application discloses an apparatus comprising an optical die flip-chip bonded to a substrate and defining a volume between the optical die and the substrate, the optical die including an optically active area on a surface of the die facing the substrate, an optically transparent material occupying at least those portions of the volume substantially corresponding with the optically active area, and an underfill material occupying portions of the volume not occupied by the optically transparent material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Daoqiang Lu, Anna M. George, legal representative, Steven Towle, deceased
  • Patent number: 7039263
    Abstract: An electrooptic assembly including a microelectronic package and an optical substrate, wherein the optical substrate includes a coupler and a waveguide. An electrooptic element is disposed to convert an electrical signal from the microelectronic package to an optical signal for transmission to the coupler and waveguide, and/or to receive an optical signal and convert it to an electrical signal for transmission to the microelectronic package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Steven Towle
  • Publication number: 20060076678
    Abstract: A process flow to make an interconnect structure with one or more thick metal layers under Controlled Collapse Chip Connection (C4) bumps at a die or wafer level. The interconnect structure may be used in a backend interconnect of a microprocessor. The one or more integrated thick metal layers may improve power delivery and reduce mechanical stress to a die at a die/package interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2005
    Publication date: April 13, 2006
    Inventors: Sarah Kim, Bob Martell, David Ayers, R. List, Peter Moon, Steven Towle, Anna George
  • Publication number: 20060067624
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a substrate having a trench therein, the trench extending to an edge of the substrate, a waveguide array positioned in the trench, the waveguide array extending to the edge of the substrate, and a ferrule attached at or near the edge of the substrate and spanning a width of the waveguide array, the ferrule being directly in contact with a surface of the waveguide array. A process comprising positioning a waveguide in a trench on a substrate, the waveguide extending to an edge of the substrate, and attaching a ferrule at or near the edge of the substrate, the ferrule including a recess having a bottom, wherein the bottom is in direct contact with a surface of the waveguide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Publication date: March 30, 2006
    Inventors: Steven Towle, Anne George, Daoqiang Lu, Henning Braunisch