Devices Held In Place By Clamping Patents (Class 257/726)
  • Publication number: 20030102558
    Abstract: A back-to-back semiconductor device module including two semiconductor devices, the backs of each being secured to one another. The bond pads of both semiconductor devices are disposed adjacent a single, mutual edge of the device module. The device module may be secured to a carrier substrate in a substantially perpendicular orientation relative to the former. Solder reflow or a module-securing device can secure the device module to the carrier substrate. An embodiment of a module-securing device comprises an alignment device having one or more receptacles formed therein and intermediate conductive elements that are disposed within the receptacles to establish an electrical connection between the semiconductor devices and the carrier substrate. Another module-securing device comprises a clip-on lead, where one end resiliently biases against a lead of at least one of the semiconductor devices, while the other end connects electrically to a carrier substrate terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2003
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Inventor: Larry D. Kinsman
  • Patent number: 6566751
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a carrier module for micro-BGA(&mgr;-BGA) type device which is capable of testing a produced device without damaging to a solder ball thereunder after being rapidly connected to a test socket. A carrier module for a &mgr;-BGA type device according to the present invention comprises: an upper and lower carrier module body formed with protrusions at the upper and lower portions thereof; a device receiving unit inserted to the upper carrier module body for receiving a &mgr;-BGA type device; and a spring secured elastically to the upper and lower protrusions by being inserted thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Mirae Corporation
    Inventor: Sang Jae Yun
  • Patent number: 6567291
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a small, thin card-type storage device is capable of easily manufacturing a frame for the storage device from a variety of resin materials without molding a very thin recessed bottom of the supporter. The method prepares a card-type support frame member from resin and a sheet material, cuts the sheet material into the size of the support frame member, to form a support sheet, bonds the support sheet to a bottom surface of the support frame member, to form a frame, and fits a memory module to be fixed in an opening of the support frame member in the frame, thereby completing the card-type storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroshi Iwasaki, Osami Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6563223
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods of testing and assembling fine ball grid array (FBGA) packages having circuit-bearing interconnect components. In one embodiment, a circuit-bearing interconnect component includes a substrate having a plurality of first conductive members disposed therethrough, a plurality of conductive traces coupled to the first conductive members and extending away from the first conductive members to a distal portion of the substrate, and a plurality of second conductive members disposed on the distal portion and coupled to the conductive traces. The substrate may be rigid or flexible. The first conducting members are located within an engagement area that is adapted to be engageable with a semiconductor component having a plurality of conductive bumps wherein each conductive bump engages one of the first conductive members. The first conductive members may include conductively-plated via or conductive pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Stacy L. Freeman
  • Patent number: 6563213
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved heat sink retention assembly, such that the heat sink is physically supported by a base rather than by an integrated circuit. Traditional heat sinks have an alignment feature that physically aligns and supports the heat sink by contact of the feature with an integrated circuit, and that transfers force applied to the heat sink to the integrated circuit. This transferred force may be seen as shear stress at the pins of integrated circuits such as pin-grid arrays, and may damage the integrity of the integrated circuit or its connection to an external circuit. The present invention provides alignment and support features remote from contact with the integrated circuit, and therefore provides support for the heat sink in a manner that does not place substantial stress on the integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Wong, Neal Ulen, Peter Davison, Ketan Shah
  • Patent number: 6548890
    Abstract: A press-contact type semiconductor device comprises: a plurality of semiconductor elements each of which has a first main electrode and a control electrode and a second main electrode; a second common main power source plate having the semiconductor elements positioned on a front surface thereof and electrically connected to the second main electrodes; a first common main power source plate arranged on the front surfaces of the semiconductor elements and electrically connected to the first main electrodes; a common control signal/main current plate arranged between semiconductor elements and including at least control signal wiring layers and main current wiring layers; conductive connectors for electrically connecting at least the main current wiring layers and the first common maim power source plate; and conductive elastic members for electrically connecting the main current wiring layers or the first common main power source plate to the conductive connectors by elasticity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Eitaro Miyake, Yoshiki Endo, Ichiro Omura, Tomokazu Domon
  • Patent number: 6542369
    Abstract: This invention provides a combined base frame for supporting and fixing a CPU heat sink. The base frame has a left-side frame body and a right-side frame body. The buckling pieces are integrally formed under the base frame. The base frame can be efficiently mounted on a circuit board by the engagement between the left-side frame body and a right-side frame body. When an operator needs to install a CPU onto the circuit board, the base frame can be disassembled in a short time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Nextronics Engineering Corp.
    Inventor: Lee-Jen Wu
  • Patent number: 6541856
    Abstract: A high density semiconductor package with thermally enhanced properties is described. The semiconductor package includes a pair of lead frames, each being attached to a respective semiconductor die. The dies are attached to respective lead frames via an adhering material, such as a tape. Further, the dies are each electrically connected to fingers of each lead frame. In one illustrated embodiment, the dies and portions of the fingers are encapsulated in such a way as to leave one surface of each die exposed. In another illustrated embodiment, heat dissipation for the semiconductor package occurs through exposed fingers of the lead frames which adhere semiconductor dies within a cavity located therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Corisis, Mike Brooks, Mark S. Johnson, Larry D. Kinsman
  • Patent number: 6541874
    Abstract: Microelectronic assemblies are encapsulated using disposable frames. The microelectronic assemblies are disposed within an aperture defined by a frame. The aperture is covered by top and bottom sealing layers so that the frame and sealing layers define an enclosed space encompassing the assemblies. The encapsulant is injected into this closed space. The frame is then separated from the encapsulation fixture and held in a curing oven. After cure, the frame is cut apart and the individual assemblies are severed from one another. Because the frame need not be held in the encapsulation fixture during curing, the process achieves a high throughput.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Tessera, Inc.
    Inventors: Tan Nguyen, Craig S. Mitchell, Thomas H. DiStefano
  • Patent number: 6535383
    Abstract: A heatsink which includes a body having a first arm and a second arm and having a mounting area between the first arm and the second arm. The mounting area is dimensioned to hold a heat generating electronic component. The mounting area is dimensioned so that when the component is located within the mounting area, the first arm and the second arm apply opposing forces against the component so that the component is held within the mounting area by the first arm and the second arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Mandy G. Terhaar, Cheryl M. Floyde, George Hsieh
  • Patent number: 6507101
    Abstract: A low-cost EMI shield that fits around an integrated circuit package to absorb electromagnetic energy and dissipate it as heat. The shield is not ohmically conductive so it may contact electrically active conductors without affecting the operation of the circuit. EMI is prevented from being radiated by and around an integrated circuit package by a perimeter of material that is lossy to high-frequency electromagnetic currents. This perimeter is fitted around an integrated circuit package such that the gap between a heat sink or other top conductor and the printed circuit board is completely closed by the lossy material. This provides not only a line-of-sight obstruction to RF currents, but also provides a lossy return path to close the circuit loop for currents on the skin of the heat sink. Since the material is lossy, rather than purely conductive, it can be used with a less than perfect ground attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventor: Terrel L. Morris
  • Publication number: 20030001258
    Abstract: In accordance with a press contact type semiconductor device, a metallic body having macroscopic vacancies in its portion is arranged between a main electrode of the semiconductor device and a main electrode plate, or between an intermediate electrode plate arranged on respective of main plane of the semiconductor element and a main electrode plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: Hironori Kodama, Mitsuo Katou, Mamoru Sawahata
  • Patent number: 6495913
    Abstract: A semiconductor clamped-stack assembly (32) has at least two clamped stacks, each of these clamped stacks having a plurality of power semiconductor components (8) and a plurality of heat sinks (6), which are arranged in series along a horizontally extending axial direction (A). According to the invention, power semiconductor components (8) from different clamped stacks are assigned to one another and are located in a common mounting plane, which is perpendicular to the axial directions (A) of the clamped stacks (31). Mutually associated power semiconductor components (8) can be removed from the clamped-stack assembly or, respectively, inserted into the clamped-stack assembly in a common mounting direction, which lies in the mounting plane. Mutually associated power semiconductor components (8) are preferably mounted on a common plate (14). As a result, they can be dismantled when the clamped-stack assembly (32) is loosened, without further power semiconductor components or heat sinks having to be dismantled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: ABB Industrie AG
    Inventor: Horst GrĂ¼ning
  • Patent number: 6486550
    Abstract: A system and method for detachably securing a locking mechanism to a housing is provided. The locking mechanism comprises a cam ring, a retention ring and a plurality of locking elements. The cam ring and the retention ring are slidably coupled and concentric with respect to each other. The locking elements are movably disposed within the cam ring and the retention ring. When a rotational force is applied to the locking mechanism, the locking elements move between a first position and a second position. The housing is positioned adjacent the locking elements and concentric with the locking mechanism. In the second position, the locking elements engage an engagement mechanism on the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventor: Glenn W. Travis
  • Patent number: 6486554
    Abstract: An electronic package which has a thermally conductive member encapsulated with the semiconductor chip; and which is adapted for chip-scale or near-chip-scale applications of both wire-bond and flip-chip packages. For adhesively bonding the semiconductor chip to a circuitized carrier or substrate on which the chip is positioned, and to concurrently form an encapsulating structure protecting the semiconductor chip, there is provided a mold compound, such as a thermosetting plastic resin or epoxy to not only extend between the surface of the circuitized substrate or carrier facing the semiconductor chip, and possibly about the peripheral sides of the carrier, but to also at least extend over and encompass the peripheral edge portions of the opposite surface of the carrier or circuitized substrate distal to or facing away from the chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Eric Arthur Johnson
  • Patent number: 6480386
    Abstract: A heat sink assembly includes a mother board (70), a CPU (50), a pair of retention modules (40), a heat sink (30), and a fastener (20). The retention modules are secured to the mother board at opposite sides of the CPU. The heat sink is attached to the CPU. The fastener includes a spring (26), and a pair of wedges (22) engaged at opposite ends of the spring. The fastener engagingly spans across the heat sink. The spring provides the fastener with resiliency, and presses the wedges against the retention modules. The wedges are pressed by the retention modules toward the CPU, thereby pressing the heat sink against the CPU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hung-Chi Yu
  • Patent number: 6476464
    Abstract: The invention provides a lead structure having a lead of low resistance material disposed within a surrounding sleeve or collar of low expansion material which is bonded at one end to the lead. The sleeve or collar is bonded on its outer surface to an insulating wall through which the lead structure extends. The lead is preferably copper and the sleeve or collar is preferably a nickel-alloy. The lead is hermetically sealed to the surrounding sleeve, and the sleeve is hermetically sealed to the insulating wall to provide a hermetic structure which does not detract from the use of high conductivity electrical lead materials which are often not employable in conventional hermetic sealed leads or packages. A plurality of lead structures can be employed in one or more walls of a circuit package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Ixion, LLC
    Inventor: Jay Greenspan
  • Patent number: 6476484
    Abstract: A heat sink dissipater includes a retaining device and a heat dissipater. A plurality of fins and a plurality of pads or recesses are integrally formed on the top surface of the heat dissipater. A plurality of resilient legs extend inward from the sides of the retaining device. Retaining edges are also formed on two sides of the retaining device. The resilient legs fall into the gaps between the fins when the retaining device is positioned on the heat dissipater to secure a CPU assembly. In an orientation, the legs are placed on the pads or recesses of the heat dissipater and in an orthogonal orientation, the legs are placed directly on the top surface of the heat dissipater. Therefore, CPU assemblies of different thickness can be accommodated by rotating the retaining device or the heat dissipater 90 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Malico Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Liang
  • Patent number: 6472744
    Abstract: A semiconductor module includes a plurality of semiconductor devices each including a circuit substrate carrying thereon a single memory semiconductor chip and a socket for holding the semiconductor devices detachably.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Mitsutaka Sato, Tetsuya Fujisawa, Shigeyuki Maruyama, Junichi Kasai, Toshimi Kawahara, Toshio Hamano, Yoshihiro Kubota, Mitsunada Osawa, Yoshiyuki Yoneda, Kazuto Tsuji, Hirohisa Matsuki
  • Patent number: 6464513
    Abstract: An adapter and method for aligning and non-permanently connecting the external leads of a plurality of integrated circuit devices to conductors on a substrate of a multi-chip module. The adapter includes a plurality of component frames, each component frame being configured to receive at least one integrated circuit device. The plurality of component frames is attached to at least one support rod. The support rod with attached component frames is placed over one side of the multi-chip module substrate and the external leads of the integrated circuit devices are aligned with corresponding conductors on the multi-chip module substrate. A second support rod, which may also have component frames attached thereto, is placed over the opposing side of the multi-chip module substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Saeed Momenpour, Steven J. Brunelle
  • Patent number: 6452804
    Abstract: A stack up assembly for supplying power and removing heat from a microprocessor while controlling electromagnetic emissions is disclosed. The stack up assembly comprises a VRM circuit board or power regulation module, having a first side and a second side; a thermally conductive plate such as a vapor plate having a first side and a second side, wherein the thermally conductive plate first side is thermally coupled to the second side of the VRM circuit board; and a microprocessor having a first side and a second side, the microprocessor first side thermally coupled to the vapor plate second side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: INCEP Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph T. Dibene, II, David H. Hartke
  • Patent number: 6450248
    Abstract: A heat sink retainer has a rectangle frame with four corners each having a slit defined through the corner. A pair of U shape clamping strips each has two legs. Each leg extends through a corresponding one of the slits. A controlling device pivotally connects to each of the clamping strips and has two driving bosses and each driving boss is integrally formed on a distal end of the controlling device and is clamped between the frame and the clamping strip to control movement of the distal ends of the clamping strip to engage/disengage with holes in the heat sink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Hoya Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ching-Sheng Chang
  • Patent number: 6449153
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for attaching a thermal solution to a mini-cartridge. The apparatus comprises: a bracket adapted to be snapped into position around the mini-cartridge; two or more threads formed in the bracket, the threads positioned such that when the bracket is snapped into position around the mini-cartridge the threads are located on the side of the mini-cartridge opposite from the side adjacent to the thermal solution; and screws adapted to run through holes in the mini-cartridge to engage with the threads and to fixedly attach the thermal solution to the mini-cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Gregory A. James
  • Patent number: 6434036
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a small, thin card-type storage device is capable of easily manufacturing a frame for the storage device from a variety of resin materials without molding a very thin recessed bottom of the supporter. The method prepares a card-type support frame member from resin and a sheet material, cuts the sheet material into the size of the support frame member, to form a support sheet, bonds the support sheet to a bottom surface of the support frame member, to form a frame, and fits a memory module to be fixed in an opening of the support frame member in the frame, thereby completing the card-type storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroshi Iwasaki, Osami Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6426878
    Abstract: The present invention provides a bare chip carrier comprising: a carrier body having a base portion on which a bare chip is mounted and also having at least one cap holder ; and a carrier cap having a pressing member for pressing the bare chip toward the base portion of the body, and the carrier cap being separated from the carrier body, wherein the at least one cap holder has at least a holder engagement portion which is to be engaged with a cap engagement portion of the carrier cap, so that the carrier cap separated from the carrier body is held by the at least one cap holder, whereby the bare chip is mounted by only a single operation of dropping the carrier cap onto the carrier body for realizing the automation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Michinobu Tanioka, Takahiro Kimura
  • Patent number: 6418024
    Abstract: A heat sink apparatus for drawing heat from one or more devices and a method of attaching such a heat sink to one or more devices is provided. The heat sink includes a mounting surface, which draws heat into the heat sink where it is dissipated by fins. The heat sink can be mounted next to the device to be cooled with minimum insertion force since the weight of the heat sink is borne by the printed circuit board upon which the electronic device is installed. A rotatable cam is turned by the user, which engages a pivot arm. The pivot arm rotates a number of spring clips against the device thereby holding it in place. Onceina fully closed position, the cam locks into place to prevent the pivot arm and spring clips from rotating back to an open position. The spring clips affix the heat sink and maintains contact between the mounting surface and the device being cooled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Powerware Corporation
    Inventors: Craig Edevold, Cary Winch
  • Patent number: 6414846
    Abstract: A heat sink assembly includes a heat sink (10) and a fixing device (20). The heat sink includes a base (12) and a plurality of fins (14) extending from the base. The base has a pair of exposed portions at opposite sides of the fins. The fixing device includes a clip (22) and a clamp (24). The clip includes a pair of spaced pressing portions (222) and a pair of engaging loops (228). The clamp has a body (242) with a pair of apertures (244) defined therein. The apertures engagingly receive the engaging loops of the clip, so that the clamp is secured to the clip. The pressing portions are received between fins of the heat sink. The clamp is located over one exposed portion of the heat sink. The pressing portions press the heat sink against an electronic device (50).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Foxconn Precision Components Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chun-Chi Chen
  • Patent number: 6404638
    Abstract: The present invention provides a thermal conduction module assembly kit comprising a base being substantially planar in shape and adapted to receive on a top surface a substrate adapted to receive at least one integrated circuit having top and bottom surfaces. A cover is substantially rectangular, having top and bottom surfaces and an outer edge surface. The cover is designed to mate with the substrate such that the integrated circuit is positioned between the bottom surface of the cover and the top surface of the substrate. A removable shim member is planar in shape and has a definable vertical dimension positioned between the bottom surface of the cover and the top surface of the integrated circuit to provide a specified dimension between the top surface of the integrated circuit and the bottom surface of the cover. A positioning member has top, bottom, and inner surfaces, and is substantially circular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Gaetano P. Messina
  • Patent number: 6388886
    Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor memory module capable of decreasing a parasitic capacitance and a parasitic inductance which are incidental to a signal transmission path, thereby reducing a distortion of a signal waveform. In a memory module, four DRAMs are provided on a muttilayer printed circuit board in one line corresponding to a direction of arrangement of external terminals thereof and board terminal groups of the module are provided to make a pair along two long sides of the multilayer printed circuit board. The DRAM has external terminals extended from one of the long sides and external terminals extended from the other long side. Board terminals and board terminals in the board terminal group of the module are connected to the DRAM, and board terminals and board terminals in the board terminal group TGB of the module are connected to the DRAM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Youichi Tobita
  • Patent number: 6388318
    Abstract: A semiconductor device capable of improving the flexibility of designing electrical lead patterns for connection from chips via a substrate to external terminals by appropriately arranging the substrate structure and layout of more than one address signal as commonly shared by four separate chips is disclosed. In a surface mount type package of ball grid array (BGA), four chips 1 are mounted on a substrate 2 in such a manner such these are laid out in the form of an array of two rows and two columns. These four chips 1 are such that regarding the upper side and lower side, these are in linear symmetry with respect to a center line extending in a direction along long side edges of the substrate 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Akita Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiko Iwaya, Toshio Sugano, Susumu Hatano, Yutaka Kagaya, Masachika Masuda
  • Publication number: 20020041024
    Abstract: The present invention provides a boat and method for holding one or more substrates during a ball grid array packaging assembly. The boat comprises a base and one or more spring locks. The base has one or more openings which provide access to both faces of said substrates. The base has bottom supports protruding into the openings to retain the substrates from below and top supports protruding into the openings to retain the substrates from above. The spring locks apply lateral pressure to the substrates forcing the substrates over the bottom supports and under the top supports, whereby the boat can be flipped with the substrates retained between the top supports and the bottom supports. In one embodiment, substrates are installed in the boat, and the entire boat is flipped when the opposite face needs to be accessed, rather than manually flipping each substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2001
    Publication date: April 11, 2002
    Applicant: ST ASSEMBLY TEST SERVICES PTE LTD
    Inventors: Loreto Yeong Cantillep, Ernesto A. Opiniano
  • Patent number: 6359336
    Abstract: The present invention provides a boat and method for holding one or more substrates during a ball grid array packaging assembly. The boat comprises a base and one or more spring locks. The base has one or more openings which provide access to both faces of said substrates. The base has bottom supports protruding into the openings to retain the substrates from below and top supports protruding into the openings to retain the substrates from above. The spring locks apply lateral pressure to the substrates forcing the substrates over the bottom supports and under the top supports, whereby the boat can be flipped with the substrates retained between the top supports and the bottom supports. In one embodiment, substrates are installed in the boat, and the entire boat is flipped when the opposite face needs to be accessed, rather than manually flipping each substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: ST Assembly Test Services Pte Ltd
    Inventors: Loreto Yeong Cantillep, Ernesto A. Opiniano
  • Publication number: 20020030271
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electronic database search engine comprising an electronic memory device suitable for storing and releasing elements from the database, a display unit, a user interface for selecting and displaying at least one element from the database on the display unit, and control means for controlling the user interface, which user interface allocates icons to the elements of the database, which icons are suitable for display on the display unit at mutual distances that depend on the elements' degree of dissimilarity, wherein the user interface at initial utilization displays at least some icons on the display unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2001
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Inventor: Pieter Jan Stappers
  • Patent number: 6351034
    Abstract: A chip carrier for temporarily connecting a semiconductor chip to a testing device. The chip carrier includes a substrate having a first set of contact points for electrically engaging the testing device and a second set of contact points to be connected with the contact elements of the semiconductor chip. The semiconductor chip is disposed on the substrate and is substantially covered by a cover member. One or more clips are in contact with the cover member and are used to secure the semiconductor chip in position. The clips have a first member removably attached to the substrate and a second member separated from the first member and in contact with the cover member. As the second member is displaced from an unstressed position, a force is generated by the clip and transferred to the cover member and the semiconductor chip. The chip carrier reliably secures the semiconductor chip while occupying a relatively small space over the semiconductor chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Warren M. Farnworth, Derek Gochnour, Alan Wood
  • Publication number: 20020017717
    Abstract: A semiconductor clamped-stack assembly (32) has at least two clamped stacks, each of these clamped stacks having a plurality of power semiconductor components (8) and a plurality of heat sinks (6), which are arranged in series along a horizontally extending axial direction (A). According to the invention, power semiconductor components (8) from different clamped stacks are assigned to one another and are located in a common mounting plane, which is perpendicular to the axial directions (A) of the clamped stacks (31). Mutually associated power semiconductor components (8) can be removed from the clamped-stack assembly or, respectively, inserted into the clamped-stack assembly in a common mounting direction, which lies in the mounting plane. Mutually associated power semiconductor components (8) are preferably mounted on a common plate (14). As a result, they can be dismantled when the clamped-stack assembly (32) is loosened, without further power semiconductor components or heat sinks having to be dismantled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2001
    Publication date: February 14, 2002
    Inventor: Horst Gruning
  • Patent number: 6343013
    Abstract: A heat sink assembly includes a heat sink (30), a fan (50), and a fixing device (10). The fixing device includes an engaging portion (12) for pressing the heat sink onto a CPU (40), and a fixing portion (14) for securing the fan to the heat sink. The engaging portion has a pressing section (122) and two spring sections (124) received in a slot (36) of the heat sink, and two legs (126). An aperture (130) is defined in each leg, for engaging with a corresponding catch (22) of a socket (20). The fixing portion has a frame (142), and four clamps (144) at four corners of the frame. Each clamp has a slit (148), and a pair of barbs (150) at a distal end of the clamp. Two integrating flanges (149) depend from opposite sides of the frame, each integrating flange integrally connecting with a corresponding leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Assignee: Foxconn Precision Components Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chun-Chi Chen
  • Patent number: 6332946
    Abstract: A book-like fixture and method for assembly of a plurality of multi-layered ceramic packages including a substrate and a cap. The fixture has a baseplate, a removable tray, an alignment plate for precisely aligning the caps with the substrates, a compression plate, and a plurality of compression devices designed to uniformly distribute compressive force on the plurality of packages. The fixture is preferably adapted for use of removable trays conforming to the Joint Electronics Design Engineering Council Tray Standard. The compression devices preferably have a spring, preferably a detachable leaf spring, and a compression plate placed over each cap. The structure of the fixture allows replacement of the springs and other modifications to allow assembly of multi-layered ceramic packages of differing dimensions. The structure of the fixture also allows stacking one on top of another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Emmett, Ronald L. Hering, Eric B. Hultmark, Howard D. Hutchinson
  • Patent number: 6330160
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a mounting clip for electronic components and, more specifically, to a component retention spring clip for securing electronic components to an electronic device support such as the leg of a heat sink. In one embodiment the component retention clip is comprised of a resilient strip that has an arcuate portion and first and second ends. The resilient strip is configured to encompass an electronic component and an electronic device support adjacent to the electronic component. The arcuate portion of the component retention clip contacts a portion of the electronic component, thereby partially supporting the electronic component against the electronic device support. Located at the first end of the resilient strip is a first latch configured to cooperatively engage a corresponding second latch located at the second end and retain the electronic component on the electronic device support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Ayres, Susan M. Ayres, Vincent M. Byrne, Edward C. Fontana
  • Patent number: 6323426
    Abstract: A mounting structure for a high temperature superconductor device, such as a filter, housed in a closed vacuum chamber and operated at a low temperature. The filter has dielectric substrate having: first and second surfaces; a circuit portion made of a superconducting thin film formed on the first surface of the dielectric substrate; and a ground layer consisting of a superconducting thin film formed on second surface of the dielectric substrate and a metal film deposited on the superconducting thin film. The mounting structure comprises: a device holder for holding the filter thereon; a conductive layer intervening between the ground layer of the filter and the device holder; urging parts for resiliently urging the filter toward the device holder. The conductive layer is made of a metal selected from among the group consisting of gold, silver, copper, aluminum and an alloy made of at least one of gold, silver, copper, and aluminum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Advanced Mobile Telecommunication Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroki Hoshizaki, Masashi Fuse
  • Patent number: 6323547
    Abstract: In a GCT device which controls large current at the operating frequency of 1 kHz or more, a ring-shaped gate terminal (10) is made of a magnetic material with the maximum permeability of 15,000 or less in the CGS Gaussian system of units. Further, in the outer end portion of an outer plane portion (10O) of the ring-shaped gate terminal (10), a plurality of slits extending diametrically are provided along the circumference to be coupled to mounting holes (10b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshinobu Kawamura, Katsumi Satoh, Mikio Bessho
  • Patent number: 6320268
    Abstract: A power semiconductor module in which at least one semiconductor chip with which contact is made by pressure is electrically connected via a contact element to a main connection. The contact element has two planar contact surfaces, between which a spring element is located. Irrespective of the individual position and height of a chip, the respective spring element ensures a standard contact force. Overloading of the semiconductor chips when the module is being clamped in is prevented by ceramic supporting elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: ABB (Schweiz) AG
    Inventors: Thomas Lang, Benno Bucher, Toni Frey
  • Patent number: 6300678
    Abstract: There is provided an I/O pin by which an MCM is positively prevented from being damaged by solder flowing from the fore end to the base of the I/O pin when the I/O pin is soldered in the case of mounting the MCM. An I/O pin used for an electrical connection is provided, one end of which is perpendicularly fixed to an MCM and the other end of which is soldered to a predetermined position on the mother board in the case of mounting the MCM on the mother board. In an intermediate portion of the I/O pin, there is formed a solder dam composed of a plated layer of Ni of low solder wettability, a layer of highly heat-resistant resin or a layer of high-temperature solder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Mitsuo Suehiro, Satoshi Osawa, Shunichi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 6297542
    Abstract: An integrated circuit module having sockets adapted to receive direct die contact (DDC) dies. Bond pads on each DDC die is arranged such that they are displaced with respect to one another along a particular direction. Each socket of a module includes spring arms adapted to contact the bond pads so configured on the die. The socket includes multiple types of spring arms of varying lengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Warren M. Farnworth, Larry D. Kinsman, Walter L. Moden
  • Patent number: 6297549
    Abstract: This is a semiconductor power module provided with: a ceramic substrate; a metallic plate bonded to a surface of this substrate; a cylindrical metallic flange which is hermetically bonded to a surface of substrate or the metallic plate; a ceramic housing for hermetically sealing an opening of the metallic flange; and at least one or more semiconductor chips soldered to the metallic plate. The metallic flange is made of metal with a low thermal expansion coefficient. A hermetically sealed container is created by welding the metallic flange, the ceramic substrate and the housing with silver brazing. Moreover, external collector, emitter and gate electrodes are bonded on the housing by using the silver brazing. The collector, emitter and gate conductive pillars are respectively connected to the external collector, emitter and gate electrodes with calking. Thus, this hermetically sealed container is strong in mechanical strength and high in explosion-proof durability and excellent in moisture resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Michiaki Hiyoshi
  • Publication number: 20010023995
    Abstract: Microelectronic assemblies are encapsulated using disposable frames. The microelectronic assemblies are disposed within an aperture defined by a frame. The aperture is covered by top and bottom sealing layers so that the frame and sealing layers define an enclosed space encompassing the assemblies. The encapsulant is injected into this closed space. The frame is then separated from the encapsulation fixture and held in a curing oven. After cure, the frame is cut apart and the individual assemblies are severed from one another. Because the frame need not be held in the encapsulation fixture during curing, the process achieves a high throughput.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2001
    Publication date: September 27, 2001
    Inventors: Tan Nguyen, Craig S. Mitchell, Thomas H. Distefano
  • Patent number: 6295221
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a small, thin card-type storage device is capable of easily manufacturing a frame for the storage device from a variety of resin materials without molding a very thin recessed bottom of the supporter. The method prepares a card-type support frame member from resin and a sheet material, cuts the sheet material into the size of the support frame member, to form a support sheet, bonds the support sheet to a bottom surface of the support frame member, to form a frame, and fits a memory module to be fixed in an opening of the support frame member in the frame, thereby completing the card-type storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroshi Iwasaki, Osami Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20010019176
    Abstract: A ceramic substrate (1) has two side surfaces (64, 65) in a lengthwise direction (X) and two side surfaces (66, 67) in a widthwise direction Y intersecting each other, and is also provided with at least one flat surface (68) in a thicknesswise direction (Z). Internal electrode films (2 to 11) are embedded in the ceramic substrate (1) with film surfaces thereof extending roughly parallel to the flat surface (68) of the ceramic substrate (1). External electrodes (44, 55) are each provided on the flat surface (68) of the ceramic substrate (1) toward one of the two ends of the ceramic substrate (1) in the lengthwise direction (X), are electrically continuous with the internal electrode films (2 to 11) and are formed over distances (d11, d12) and (d21, d22) from the two side surfaces (66, 67) in the widthwise direction (Y).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 1999
    Publication date: September 6, 2001
    Inventors: TAISUKE AHIKO, TAKAYA ISHIGAKI, HIROKI SATO, KAMIYA TAKASHI, MASANORI YAMAMOTO
  • Patent number: 6285076
    Abstract: The semiconductor device has two sets of semiconductor units 13, having a plurality of semiconductor pellets 11 arranged and connected in parallel on the same plane, which are connected in series with a common electrode plate 14 intervened between the semiconductor units 13. An anode plate 15 and a cathode plate 16 are arranged in parallel on both sides of the semiconductor units 13. These electrode plates are pushed against the opposed main faces of the semiconductor pellets 11 by pushing force of coned disc springs 17. A press-connecting screw member consisting of a through bolt 21 and a nut 22 is set through the center of the semiconductor units and the like. A pushing force is uniformly applied to respective parts of the electrode plates without being dispersed, and the electrode plates are securely pushed against the respective semiconductor pellets 11.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Masaru Ando
  • Patent number: 6284572
    Abstract: The present invention provides a boat and method for holding one or more substrates during a ball grid array packaging assembly. The boat comprises a base and one or more spring locks. The base has one or more openings which provide access to both faces of said substrates. The base has bottom supports protruding into the openings to retain the substrates from below and top supports protruding into the openings to retain the substrates from above. The spring locks apply lateral pressure to the substrates forcing the substrates over the bottom supports and under the top supports, whereby the boat can be flipped with the substrates retained between the top supports and the bottom supports. In one embodiment, substrates are installed in the boat, and the entire boat is flipped when the opposite face needs to be accessed, rather than manually flipping each substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: St Assembly Test Services Pte Ltd.
    Inventors: Loreto Yeong Cantillep, Ernesto A. Opiniano
  • Patent number: 6255722
    Abstract: A semiconductor device package is provided which can accommodate currents larger than those of similarly sized standard device packages such as the “TO-247” package. Higher currents are accommodated by allowing a larger semiconductor die to be mounted on the device's lead frame than can be mounted on a similarly sized standard package. An improved mold clamping area is also provided which reduces the area from which damaging moisture can enter the molded package and increases the distance required for moisture to contact the die. Clip arrangements are also provided to mount the device package to a circuit board or heat sink, thereby allowing the increased operating temperatures associated with the increased operating currents to be efficiently dissipated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corp.
    Inventors: Peter R. Ewer, Mark Steers