Patents by Inventor Valerie A. Oberson

Valerie A. Oberson 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: 8197612
    Abstract: Semiconductor packaging techniques are provided which optimize metallurgical properties of a joint using dissimilar solders. A solder composition for Controlled Collapse Chip Connection processing includes a combination of a tin based lead free solder component designed for a chip and a second solder component designed for a laminate. The total concentration of module Ag after reflow is less than 1.9% by weight. A method of manufacturing a solder component is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James A Busby, Minhua Lu, Valerie A Oberson, Eric D Perfecto, Kamalesh K Srivastava, Brian R Sundlof, Julien Sylvestre, Renee L Weisman
  • Publication number: 20120083113
    Abstract: A method of coupling an integrated circuit to a substrate includes providing the substrate, forming a contact pad in the substrate, contacting the contact pad with a solder ball, and repeatedly exposing the solder ball to a thermal process to cause intermetallics based on a metal in the contact pad to be formed in the thermal ball.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Charles L. Arvin, Valerie Oberson, Srinivasa N. Reddy, Krystyna W. Semkow, Richard A. Shelleman, Kamalesh K. Srivastava
  • Patent number: 8003512
    Abstract: Methods and UBM structures having bilayer or trilayer UBM layers that include a thin TiW adhesion layer and a thick Ni-based barrier layer thereover both deposited under sputtering operating conditions that provide the resultant bilayer or trilayer UBM layers with minimal composite stresses. The Ni-based barrier layer may be pure Ni or a Ni alloy. These UBM layers may be patterned to fabricate bilayer or trilayer UBM capture pads, followed by joining a lead-free solder thereto for providing lead-free solder joints that maintain reliability after multiple reflows. Optionally, the top layer of the trilayer UBM structures may include soluble or insoluble metals for doping the lead-free solder connections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Luc L. Belanger, Marc A. Bergendahl, Ajay P. Giri, Paul A. Lauro, Valerie A. Oberson, Da-Yuan Shih
  • Patent number: 7780801
    Abstract: The invention relates to a composition of matter comprising a soldering flux, wherein the flux consists essentially of a combination of a fluxing agent and a solvent, and wherein the fluxing agent comprises a keto acid such as levulinic acid or acetylbutyric acid. The flux may also comprises an ester acid, or comprises a mixture of the keto acid with the ester acid. The solvent comprises a mixture of a tacky solvent with a non-tacky solvent. The invention also relates to a process comprising soldering at least two surfaces together, each of which comprises a metal area to which solder can adhere by employing the following steps in any order: applying solder to at least one of the metal areas, aligning the metal areas so that they are superimposed over one another, heating at least one of the areas to a temperature that comprises at least the melting temperature of the solder. The last step comprises joining the superimposed areas to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Duchesne, Kang-Wook Lee, Valerie Oberson
  • Publication number: 20100193949
    Abstract: Methods and UBM structures having bilayer or trilayer UBM layers that include a thin TiW adhesion layer and a thick Ni-based barrier layer thereover both deposited under sputtering operating conditions that provide the resultant bilayer or trilayer UBM layers with minimal composite stresses. The Ni-based barrier layer may be pure Ni or a Ni alloy. These UBM layers may be patterned to fabricate bilayer or trilayer UBM capture pads, followed by joining a lead-free solder thereto for providing lead-free solder joints that maintain reliability after multiple reflows. Optionally, the top layer of the trilayer UBM structures may include soluble or insoluble metals for doping the lead-free solder connections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Luc L. Belanger, Marc A. Bergendahl, Ajay P. Giri, Paul A. Lauro, Valerie A. Oberson, Da-Yuan Shih
  • Publication number: 20100175790
    Abstract: The invention relates to a composition of matter comprising a soldering flux, wherein the flux consists essentially of a combination of a fluxing agent and a solvent, and wherein the fluxing agent comprises a keto acid such as levulinic acid or acetylbutyric acid. The flux may also comprises an ester acid, or comprises a mixture of the keto acid with the ester acid. The solvent comprises a mixture of a tacky solvent with a non-tacky solvent. The invention also relates to a process comprising soldering at least two surfaces together, each of which comprises a metal area to which solder can adhere by employing the following steps in any order: applying solder to at least one of the metal areas, aligning the metal areas so that they are superimposed over one another, heating at least one of the areas to a temperature that comprises at least the melting temperature of the solder. The last step comprises joining the superimposed areas to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Duchesne, Kang-Wook Lee, Valerie Oberson
  • Patent number: 7740713
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to soldering techniques and compositions for use therein. In one aspect, a flux composition is provided. The flux composition comprises a fluxing agent comprising organic acid, an organic tacking agent and an organic wetting agent. In another aspect, a soldering method for joining objects is provided comprising the following steps. A flux composition and a solder compound are applied to at least a portion of one or more of the objects. The flux composition comprises a fluxing agent comprising organic acid, an organic tacking agent and an organic wetting agent. The objects are then joined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Duchesne, Michael Gaynes, Timothy A. Gosselin, Kang-Wook Lee, Valerie Oberson
  • Publication number: 20090266447
    Abstract: Semiconductor packaging techniques are provided which optimize metallurgical properties of a joint using dissimilar solders. A solder composition for Controlled Collapse Chip Connection processing includes a combination of a tin based lead free solder component designed for a chip and a second solder component designed for a laminate. The total concentration of module Ag after reflow is less than 1.9% by weight. A method of manufacturing a solder component is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: JAMES A. BUSBY, MINHUA LU, VALERIE A. OBERSON, ERIC D. PERFECTO, KAMALESH K. SRIVASTAVA, BRIAN R. SUNDLOF, JULIEN SYLVESTRE, RENEE L. WEISMAN
  • Publication number: 20090039142
    Abstract: A method for forming a solder mold for transferring solder to a wafer includes etching a plurality of solder cavities into a substrate. A plurality of ventilation channels are etched on the substrate connecting the plurality of solder cavities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2007
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Inventors: Raschid Jose Bezama, Russell Alan Budd, Evan George Colgan, Peter Alfred Gruber, Valerie Oberson
  • Publication number: 20090039140
    Abstract: A solder mold for transferring solder to a wafer includes a substrate, a plurality of solder cavities for holding solder, and a plurality of ventilation channels formed between the plurality of solder cavities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2007
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Inventors: Raschid Jose Bezama, Russell Alan Budd, Evan George Colgan, Peter Alfred Gruber, Valerie Oberson
  • Publication number: 20080124568
    Abstract: The invention relates to a composition of matter comprising a soldering flux, wherein the flux consists essentially of a combination of a fluxing agent and a solvent, and wherein the fluxing agent comprises a keto acid such as levulinic acid or acetylbutyric acid. The flux may also comprises an ester acid, or comprises a mixture of the keto acid with the ester acid. The solvent comprises a mixture of a tacky solvent with a non-tacky solvent. The invention also relates to a process comprising soldering at least two surfaces together, each of which comprises a metal area to which solder can adhere by employing the following steps in any order: applying solder to at least one of the metal areas, aligning the metal areas so that they are superimposed over one another, heating at least one of the areas to a temperature that comprises at least the melting temperature of the solder. The last step comprises joining the superimposed areas to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Inventors: Eric Duchesne, Kang-Wook Lee, Valerie Oberson
  • Patent number: 7332424
    Abstract: Disclosed is a new process that permits the transfer and reflow of solder features produced by Injection Molded Solder (IMS) from a mold plate to a solder receiving substrate without the use of flux. Several embodiments produce solder transfer and reflow separately or together and use either formic acid vapor or partial concentration of hydrogen, both in nitrogen, as the oxide reducing atmosphere. A final embodiment produces fluxless transfer and reflow in only nitrogen through the use of ultrasonic vibration between the solder filled mold plate and solder receiving substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Luc Bélanger, Peter A. Gruber, Valérie Oberson, Christopher L. Tessler
  • Publication number: 20060035454
    Abstract: Disclosed is a new process that permits the transfer and reflow of solder features produced by Injection Molded Solder (IMS) from a mold plate to a solder receiving substrate without the use of flux. Several embodiments produce solder transfer and reflow separately or together and use either formic acid vapor or partial concentration of hydrogen, both in nitrogen, as the oxide reducing atmosphere. A final embodiment produces fluxless transfer and reflow in only nitrogen through the use of ultrasonic vibration between the solder filled mold plate and solder receiving substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2005
    Publication date: February 16, 2006
    Applicant: IBM Corporation
    Inventors: Luc Belanger, Peter Gruber, Valerie Oberson, Christopher Tessler
  • Publication number: 20050263571
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming solder bumps by molten solder deposition into cavity arrays in a substrate immediately followed by solidification of molten solder such that precise replication of cavity volumes is consistently achieved in formed solder bump arrays. Various solder filling problems, such as those caused by surface tension and oxidation effects, are overcome by a combination of narrow molten Solder dispense slots and solidification of dispensed molten solder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2004
    Publication date: December 1, 2005
    Inventors: Luc Belanger, Guy Brouillette, Stephen Buchwalter, Peter Gruber, Hideo Kimura, Jean-Luc Landreville, Frederic Manurer, Marc Montminy, Valerie Oberson, Da-Yuan Shih, Stephane St-Onge, Michel Turgeon, Takeshi Yamada
  • Publication number: 20050241731
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to soldering techniques and compositions for use therein. In one aspect, a flux composition is provided. The flux composition comprises a fluxing agent comprising organic acid, an organic tacking agent and an organic wetting agent. In another aspect, a soldering method for joining objects is provided comprising the following steps. A flux composition and a solder compound are applied to at least a portion of one or more of the objects. The flux composition comprises a fluxing agent comprising organic acid, an organic tacking agent and an organic wetting agent. The objects are then joined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2004
    Publication date: November 3, 2005
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Duchesne, Michael Gaynes, Timothy Gosselin, Kang-Wook Lee, Valerie Oberson