Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Daniel P. Morris
  • Patent number: 7472215
    Abstract: A portable computer adapted for electrical connection to a docking station having multiple power modes of operation is described. The portable computer has one or more CPU chips which have at least two power modes of operation, a low power mode and a high power mode. When the portable computer is operated as a stand-alone computer, it operates in the low power mode. When the portable computer is operated while electrically connected to the docking station, it operates in a high power mode. The docking station has greater cooling capacity than the portable computer alone to provide enhanced cooling of the high power mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence Shungwei Mok, Daniel Peter Morris
  • Patent number: 7468766
    Abstract: A reflective spatial light modulator array is described incorporating liquid crystal devices, mirrors, a semiconductor substrate, electrical circuits, and a light blocking layer. The light blocking layer can be a reflector/absorber layer containing titanium. The light blocking layer can be a layer resulting in attenuation of incident light below a certain level at the semiconductor substrate. The invention overcomes the problem of shielding light from semiconductor devices, high optical throughput and contrast, pixel storage capacitance to hold the voltage across the liquid crystal device and precise control of the liquid crystal device thickness without spacers obscuring the mirrors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Evan George Colgan, James McKell Edwin Harper, Frank Benjamin Kaufman, Margaret Paggi Manny, Robert Lee Melcher, James Louis Speidell
  • Patent number: 7458413
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving the heat transfer from a semiconductor chip to its heat sinking device. The heat transfer device has a liquid chamber in which liquid is circulated within the chamber to spread the heat from one location of the chamber to the heat pipes partially mounted in the chamber. The heat is then carried away by the heat pipes to a remote heat sinking device. The chamber has built-in mechanism to allow the liquid to expand during normal operation and its expansion status to be monitored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Lawrence S. Mok
  • Patent number: 7442049
    Abstract: Techniques for providing electrical connections are provided. In one aspect, an electrical connecting device is provided which comprises a plurality of compressible contacts; and a downstop structure surrounding at least a portion of one or more of the contacts, limiting compression of the contacts, and being configured to limit interaction between the contacts. The electrical connecting device may be further configured to have the plurality of compressible contacts have a first coefficient of thermal expansion and the downstop structure have a second coefficient of thermal expansion, the first coefficient of thermal expansion being substantially similar to the second coefficient of thermal expansion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gareth Geoffrey Hougham, Brian Samuel Beaman, Claudius Feger
  • Patent number: 7410833
    Abstract: An interconnection structure suitable for flip-chip attachment of microelectronic device chips to packages, comprising a two, three or four layer ball-limiting composition including an adhesion/reaction barrier layer, and having a solder wettable layer reactive with components of a tin-containing lead free solder, so that the solderable layer can be totally consumed during soldering, but a barrier layer remains after being placed in contact with the lead free solder during soldering. One or more lead-free solder balls is selectively situated on the solder wetting layer, the lead-free solder balls comprising tin as a predominant component and one or more alloying components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Keith E. Fogel, Balaram Ghosal, Sung K. Kang, Stephen Kilpatrick, Paul A. Lauro, Henry A. Nye, III, Da-Yuan Shih, Donna S. Zupanski-Nielsen
  • Patent number: 7412134
    Abstract: A single-mode optical waveguide with a core, surrounded by a cladding consisting of an inner soft layer and an outer harder layer is described. The outer layer has a grating structure on its inner surface, whose spatial frequency is the same as that of the guided mode. The thickness of the inner cladding is sufficient to keep the grating outside the mode field in undeformed regions of the waveguide, so that normally no out-coupling of the light results. Connections are made by crossing two such waveguides at an angle and pressing them together. This results in deformation of the two waveguides such that the gratings are brought into proximity with the cores. Light is coupled out of one waveguide and into the other in the deformed region, resulting in a self-aligning optical connection. The out-coupled light propagates normal to the waveguide axis, so errors in the crossing angle cause little change in efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Claudius Feger, Philip C. D. Hobbs, Maurice McGlashan-Powell
  • Patent number: 7404914
    Abstract: Polycrystalline materials containing crystallies of precursors to electrically conductive polymers and electrically conductive polymers are described which have an adjustable high degree of crystallinity. The intersticial regions between the crystallites contains amorphous material containing precursors to electrically conductive polymers and/or electrically conductive polymers. The degree of crystallinity is achieved by preparing the materials under conditions which provide a high degree of mobility to the polymer molecules permitting them to associate with one another to form a crystalline state. This is preferable achieved by including additives, such as plasticizers and diluents, to the solution from which the polycrystalline material is formed. The morphology of the polycrystalline material is adjustable to modify the properties of the material such as the degree of crystallinity, crystal grain size, glass transition temperature, thermal coefficient of expansion and degree of electrical conductivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Marie Angelopoulos, Bruce Kenneth Furman
  • Patent number: 7368924
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to structures having a plurality of discrete insulated elongated electrical conductors projecting from a support surface which are useful as probes for testing of electrical interconnections to electronic devices, such as integrated circuit devices and other electronic components and particularly for testing of integrated circuit devices with rigid interconnection pads and multi-chip module packages with high density interconnection pads and the apparatus for use thereof and to methods of fabrication thereof. Coaxial probe structures are fabricated by the methods described providing a high density coaxial probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Samuel Beaman, Keith Edward Fogel, Paul Alfred Lauro, Yun-Hsin Liao, Daniel Peter Morris, Da-Yuan Shih
  • Patent number: 7332922
    Abstract: Probes for electronic devices are described. The probe is formed by ball bonding a plurality of wires to contact locations on a fan out substrate surface. The wires are cut off leaving stubs. A patterned polymer sheet having electrical conductor patterns therein is disposed over the stubs which extend through holes in the sheet. The ends of the wires are flattened to remit the polymer sheet in place. The wire is connected to an electrical conductor on the polymer sheet which is converted to a contact pad on the polymer sheet. A second wire is ball bonded to the pad on the polymer sheet and cut to leave a second stub. The polymer sheet is laser cut so that each second stub is free to move independently of the other second studs. The ends of the second stubs are disposed against contact locations of an electronic device, such as an FC chip, to test the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Samuel Beaman, Keith Edward Fogel, Paul Alfred Lauro, Maurice Heathcote Norcott, Da-Yuan Shih
  • Patent number: 7288218
    Abstract: Deaggregated substituted and unsubstitued polyparaphenylenes, polyparaphenylevevinyles, polyanilines, polyazines, polythiophenes, poly-p-phenylene sulfides, polyfuranes, polypyrroles, polyselenophene, polyacetylenes formed from soluble precursors and combinations thereof and copolymers thereof and methods of fabrication are described. The deaggregated polymer molecules when subsequently doped show higher electrical conductivity. Agents such as lithium chloride, m-cresol and nonylphenol are used to deaggregate the polymer molecules. The deaggregating agents can be added prior to or during doping the molecules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Marie Angelopoulos, Bruce K. Furman
  • Patent number: 7276919
    Abstract: A high density integrated test probe and method of fabrication is described. A group of wires are ball bonded to contact locations on the surface of a fan out substrate. The wires are sheared off leaving a stub, the end of which is flattened by an anvil. Before flattening a sheet of material having a group of holes is arranged for alignment with the group of stubs is disposed over the stubs. The sheet of material supports the enlarged tip. The substrate with stubs form a probe which is moved into engagement with contact locations on a work piece such as a drip or packaging substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Samuel Beaman, Keith Edward Fogel, Paul Alfred Lauro, Maurice H. Norcott, Da-Yuan Shih, George Frederick Walker
  • Patent number: 7252514
    Abstract: A method for forming a space transformer (and a space transformer formed by the method) having a first plate and a second plate, the plates being separated by a frame, and electrical connectors for providing electrical connections between electrical contacts which are relatively closely spaced on the first plate and relatively more widely spaced on the second plate. The method comprises attaching first ends of wires to first electrically conductive regions on the first plate; forming insulating layers over the wires; forming electrically conductive coverings over the insulating layers; and connecting second ends of the wires to second electrically conductive regions on the second plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Samuel R. McKnight, George F. Walker
  • Patent number: 7186446
    Abstract: A method to deposit TaN by plasma enhanced layer with various nitrogen content. Using a mixture of hydrogen and nitrogen plasma, the nitrogen content in the film can be controlled from 0 to N/Ta=1.7. By turning off the nitrogen flow during deposition of TaN, a TaN/Ta bilayer is easily grown, which has copper diffusion barrier properties superior to those of a single Ta layer or a single TaN layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hyungjun Kim, Andrew J. Kellock, Stephen M. Rossnagel
  • Patent number: 7179758
    Abstract: Often used to reduce the RC delay in integrated circuits are dielectric films of porous organosilicates which have a silica like backbone with alkyl or aryl groups (to add hydrophobicity to the materials and create free volume) attached directly to the Si atoms in the network. Si—R bonds rarely survive an exposure to plasmas or chemical treatments commonly used in processing; this is especially the case in materials with an open cell pore structure. When Si—R bonds are broken, the materials lose hydrophobicity, due to formation of hydrophilic silanols and low dielectric constant is compromised. A method by which the hydrophobicity of the materials is recovered using a novel class of silylation agents which may have the general formula (R2N)XSiR?Y where X and Y are integers from 1 to 3 and 3 to 1 respectively, and where R and R? are selected from the group of hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, allyl and a vinyl moiety. Mechanical strength of porous organosilicates is also improved as a result of the silylation treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Nirupama Chakrapani, Matthew E. Colburn, Christos D. Dimitrakopoulos, Dirk Pfeiffer, Sampath Purushothaman, Satyanarayana V. Nitta
  • Patent number: 7170112
    Abstract: A bipolar transistor structure and process technology is described incorporating a emitter, a base, and a collector, with most of the intrinsic base adjacent the collector having a graded energy bandgap and a layer of the intrinsic base adjacent the emitter having a substantially constant energy bandgap. The invention has a smaller base transit time than a conventional graded-base-bandgap bipolar transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Tak Hung Ning
  • Patent number: 7166241
    Abstract: Disclosed is a novel composition of matter comprising a polyacid and a polymer containing repeating units which contain one or more basic atoms. The complex is water-soluble and electrically conductive. The complex is useful in providing organic discharge layers for use in electronic applications and fabrications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Marie Angelopoulos, Jeffrey Donald Gelorme, Thomas Harold Newman, Niranjan Mohanlal Patel, David Earle Seeger
  • Patent number: 7142268
    Abstract: A combination of a relatively low backscatter diffuser with a specularly reflective or weakly scattering transducer to achieve the required front of screen properties for a paper-like display. The diffuser, which may be of the volume or surface relief type, in enclosed in the display cell. The transducer may be any one of several electro-optically active materials such as a liquid crystal, electrochromic or electrophoretic types.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Anthony Cyril Lowe
  • Patent number: 7136791
    Abstract: We describe here a system and method which makes use of “narrative patterns” to assess and affect the state of affairs within and among given organizations and communities with respect to given issues or objectives. Narrative patterns are conceptual structures that result from common sensemaking around narrative material elicited from the given organizations and communities and relevant to the given issues or objectives. Through the facilitated emergence of such narrative patterns, options for response are formed and evaluated. Response options include the creation and use of purposeful stories, story repositories, and other resources derived from the collected narrative material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Sharon Michelle Darwent, Fiona Incledon, Neal Martin Keller, Cynthia Frances Kurtz, David John Snowden, John Charles Thomas
  • Patent number: 7128135
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of constructing a semiconductor chip cooling device consists of multiple fans and heat sinks to provide redundant cooling capability. Heat coming from a semiconductor chip is first distributed to several heat sinks using multiple heat pipes. The heat sinks are placed around the fan outlet such that air is pulled in near the center of the fan and then pushed to across the heat sinks. Multiple fans and heat sinks are stacked up to form a complete cooling device. An external control circuitry is used to monitor and control the fans. In case of one fan fails, the other fans will be speeded up to make up the lost of air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence S. Mok, Pablo D. Quinones
  • Patent number: 7095474
    Abstract: Electronic devices having patterned electrically conductive polymers providing electrical connection thereto and methods of fabrication thereof are described. Liquid crystal display cells are described having at least one of the electrodes providing a bias across the liquid crystal material formed from a patterned electrically conductive polymer. Thin film transistors having patterned electrically conductive polymers as source drain and gate electrodes are described. Light emitting diodes having anode and coated regions formed from patterned electrically conductive polymers are described. Methods of patterning using a resist mask; patterning using a patterned metal layer; patterning the metal layer using a resist; and patterning the electrically conductive polymer directly to form electrodes and anode and cathode regions are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Marie Angelopoulos, Christos Dimitrios Dimitrakopoulos, Bruce Kenneth Furman, Teresita Ordonez Graham, Shui-Chih Alan Lien