Patents by Inventor Walter Kleemeier

Walter Kleemeier 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: 8900990
    Abstract: Metal interconnections are formed in an integrated by combining damascene processes and subtractive metal etching. A wide trench is formed in a dielectric layer. A conductive material is deposited in the wide trench. Trenches are etched in the conductive material to delineate a plurality of metal plugs each contacting a respective metal track exposed by the wide trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics, Inc., International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John H. Zhang, Lawrence A. Clevenger, Carl Radens, Yiheng Xu, Walter Kleemeier, Cindy Goldberg
  • Publication number: 20140183735
    Abstract: Metal interconnections are formed in an integrated by combining damascene processes and subtractive metal etching. A wide trench is formed in a dielectric layer. A conductive material is deposited in the wide trench. Trenches are etched in the conductive material to delineate a plurality of metal plugs each contacting a respective metal track exposed by the wide trench.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicants: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION, STMICROELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: John H. ZHANG, Lawrence A. Clevenger, Carl Radens, Yiheng XU, Walter Kleemeier, Cindy Goldberg
  • Publication number: 20140027933
    Abstract: A device is provided that includes a first die having a first alignment structure that includes a plurality of first transmission columns arranged in a pattern and a second die positioned on the first die, the second die having a second alignment structure that includes a plurality of second transmission columns arranged in the same pattern as the first transmission columns. The first and second transmission columns are each coplanar with a first surface and a second surface of the first and second die, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: John H. Zhang, Walter Kleemeier, Paul Ferreira, Ronald K. Sampson
  • Patent number: 8569899
    Abstract: A device is provided that includes a first die having a first alignment structure that includes a plurality of first transmission columns arranged in a pattern and a second die positioned on the first die, the second die having a second alignment structure that includes a plurality of second transmission columns arranged in the same pattern as the first transmission columns. The first and second transmission columns are each coplanar with a first surface and a second surface of the first and second die, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: John H. Zhang, Walter Kleemeier, Paul Ferreira, Ronald K. Sampson
  • Patent number: 8560111
    Abstract: A method for uniformly planarizing a wafer that includes determining a first wafer warped value at a first zone on the wafer, determining a second wafer warped value at a second zone on the wafer, and calculating a pressure difference based on the first and second wafer warped values at the first and second zones is provided. The method also includes performing a chemical mechanical polishing of the wafer, applying a first pressure based on the first wafer warped value to the wafer at the first zone during the chemical mechanical polishing, and applying a second pressure based on the second wafer warped value to the wafer at the second zone during the chemical mechanical polishing, a difference between the first pressure and the second pressure based on the pressure difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: John H. Zhang, Walter Kleemeier, Ronald K. Sampson
  • Patent number: 8476765
    Abstract: A copper interconnect structure has an intrinsic graphene cap for improving back end of line (BEOL) reliability of the interconnect by reducing time-dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) failure and providing resistance to electromigration. Carbon atoms are selectively deposited onto a copper layer of the interconnect structure by a deposition process to form a graphene cap. The graphene cap increases the activation energy of the copper, thus allowing for higher current density and improved resistance to electromigration of the copper. By depositing the graphene cap on the copper, the dielectric regions remain free of conductors and, thus, current leakage within the interlayer dielectric regions is reduced, thereby reducing TDDB failure and increasing the lifespan of the interconnect structure. The reduction of TDDB failure and improved resistance to electromigration improves BEOL reliability of the copper interconnect structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: John Hongguang Zhang, Cindy Goldberg, Walter Kleemeier, Ronald Kevin Sampson
  • Publication number: 20120139114
    Abstract: A copper interconnect structure has an intrinsic graphene cap for improving back end of line (BEOL) reliability of the interconnect by reducing time-dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) failure and providing resistance to electromigration. Carbon atoms are selectively deposited onto a copper layer of the interconnect structure by a deposition process to form a graphene cap. The graphene cap increases the activation energy of the copper, thus allowing for higher current density and improved resistance to electromigration of the copper. By depositing the graphene cap on the copper, the dielectric regions remain free of conductors and, thus, current leakage within the interlayer dielectric regions is reduced, thereby reducing TDDB failure and increasing the lifespan of the interconnect structure. The reduction of TDDB failure and improved resistance to electromigration improves BEOL reliability of the copper interconnect structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: John Hongguang Zhang, Cindy Goldberg, Walter Kleemeier, Ronald Kevin Sampson
  • Publication number: 20110156284
    Abstract: A device is provided that includes a first die having a first alignment structure that includes a plurality of first transmission columns arranged in a pattern and a second die positioned on the first die, the second die having a second alignment structure that includes a plurality of second transmission columns arranged in the same pattern as the first transmission columns. The first and second transmission columns are each coplanar with a first surface and a second surface of the first and second die, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: John H. Zhang, Walter Kleemeier, Paul Ferreira, Ronald K. Sampson
  • Publication number: 20100167629
    Abstract: A method for uniformly planarizing a wafer that includes determining a first wafer warped value at a first zone on the wafer, determining a second wafer warped value at a second zone on the wafer, and calculating a pressure difference based on the first and second wafer warped values at the first and second zones is provided. The method also includes performing a chemical mechanical polishing of the wafer, applying a first pressure based on the first wafer warped value to the wafer at the first zone during the chemical mechanical polishing, and applying a second pressure based on the second wafer warped value to the wafer at the second zone during the chemical mechanical polishing, a difference between the first pressure and the second pressure based on the pressure difference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2009
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: John H. Zhang, Walter Kleemeier, Ronald K. Sampson