Patents Assigned to Indiana Integrated Circuits, LLC
  • Patent number: 11658432
    Abstract: A substrate assembly includes a printed circuit (PC) substrate, first and second microchips, components or substrates mounted on a surface of the PC substrate, and a projection extending in spaced relation to the surface of the PC substrate. In one example, the projection extends between (i) a downward facing surface and/or an edge of a side facing surface proximate the downward facing surface of the first microchip, component or substrate and (ii) an upward facing surface and/or an edge of a side facing surface proximate the upward facing surface of the first microchip, component or substrate. The first and second microchips, components or substrates may be mounted on different levels of the PC substrate surface. In another example, the projection extends between a upward and/or side facing surface of a first microchip, component or substrate and a slot or cavity in a second microchip, component or substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Indiana Integrated Circuits, LLC
    Inventor: Robert Joseph Engelhardt, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11523511
    Abstract: A first microchip includes holes or sockets along or in a top face or surface of the first microchip and a second microchip includes nodules extending from a edge of the second microchip. The nodules of the second microchip are received in the holes or sockets along or in the top face or surface of the first microchip, whereupon the first and second microchips are positioned transverse or perpendicular to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Indiana Integrated Circuits, LLC
    Inventors: Jason M. Kulick, Tian Lu
  • Patent number: 11488660
    Abstract: In a method computer storage element operation, first and second rising (or falling) clock edges are applied to first and second power inputs of the computer storage element having a transistor array between the first and second power inputs over time T1 whereupon a logic value applied to an input of the transistor array is stored therein. Thereafter, first and second falling (or rising) clock edges are applied to the first and second power inputs over time T2, whereupon part of an electrical charge or energy associated with the logic value stored in the transistor array is provided to circuitry that generates the first and/or second clock edge(s), wherein the value(s) of time T1 and/or time T2 is/are greater than a product of RC, where R is resistance associated with the computer storage element, and C is a load capacitance associated with the computer storage element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignees: INDIANA INTEGRATED CIRCUITS, LLC, UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME DU LAC
    Inventors: Gregory Snider, Rene Celis-Cordova, Alexei Orlov, Tian Lu, Jason M. Kulick
  • Patent number: 11398463
    Abstract: A method of forming a quilt package nodule includes forming a trench in a microchip substrate, forming a metal layer on the bottom, the first and second sides of the trench, and on a top surface of the microchip substrate proximate the first and second sides. forming a mask layer on the metal layer, removing portions of the mask and metal layers on the bottom of the trench, etching the bottom of the trench to increase the depth of the bottom of the trench, removing remaining portions of the mask layer from the metal layer to define the quilt package nodules that protrude beyond edges of the first and second sides, and removing the remaining portion of the trench bottom thereby separating the first and second sides from each other, whereupon each side includes at least one quilt package nodule protruding from the side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Indiana Integrated Circuits, LLC
    Inventors: Jason M. Kulick, Tian Lu
  • Patent number: 11224126
    Abstract: A substrate assembly includes at least one printed circuit (PC) substrate. Each PC substrate includes a PC top surface and a PC bottom surface spaced from each other and an edge that runs at least partially about a periphery of the PC substrate between the PC top surface and the PC bottom surface. The edge includes or defines on a facet or edge surface of the edge at least one projection that extends transverse or normal to the facet or edge surface. The projection includes a projection top surface and a projection bottom surface spaced from each other and the projection can include or be made of conductive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignees: Indiana Integrated Circuits, LLC, Science Applications International Corporation
    Inventors: Jason M. Kulick, Tian Lu, Carlos J. Ortega, Robert Joseph Engelhardt, Jr., John Philip Timler
  • Patent number: 10945335
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods related to the field of microchip assembly and handling, in particular to devices and methods for assembling and handling microchips manufactured with solid edge-to-edge interconnects, such as Quilt Packaging® interconnect technology. Specialized assembly tools are configured to pick up one or more microchips, place the microchips in a specified location aligned to a substrate, package, or another microchip, and facilitate electrical contact through one of a variety of approaches, including solder reflow. This specialized assembly tooling performs heating functions to reflow solder to establish electrical and mechanical interconnections between multiple microchips. Additionally, the interconnected microchips may be arranged in an arbitrarily large array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Indiana Integrated Circuits, LLC
    Inventors: Jason M. Kulick, Tian Lu
  • Patent number: 10896898
    Abstract: A substrate assembly includes a first microchip including a first interconnecting structure and a second microchip including a second interconnecting structure, wherein the first and second interconnecting structures have keyed complementary, interlocking shapes. The first interconnecting structure is interlocked with the second interconnecting structure. Quilt package nodules on edges of the first and second microchips electrically connect circuitry formed on or supported by the first and second microchips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Indiana Integrated Circuits, LLC
    Inventors: Jason M. Kulick, Tian Lu
  • Patent number: 10598861
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system for passively aligning optical fibers (4), a first waveguide array (62), and a second waveguide array (42) using chip-to-chip vertical evanescent optical waveguides (44) and (64), that can be used with fully automated die bonding equipment. The assembled system (2, 30, 60) can achieve high optical coupling and high process throughput for needs of high volume manufacturing of photonics, silicon photonics, and other applications that would benefit from aligning optical fibers to lasers efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignees: Indiana Integrated Circuits, LLC, MRSI Systems, LLC, Rochester Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Jason M. Kulick, Yi Qian, Stefan Preble, Jeffrey Steidle, Michael Fanto, Tian Lu
  • Patent number: 10409004
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system for passively aligning optical fibers (4), a first waveguide array (62), and a second waveguide array (42) using chip-to-chip vertical evanescent optical waveguides (44) and (64), that can be used with fully automated die bonding equipment. The assembled system (2, 30, 60) can achieve high optical coupling and high process throughput for needs of high volume manufacturing of photonics, silicon photonics, and other applications that would benefit from aligning optical fibers to lasers efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignees: Indiana Integrated Circuits, LLC, MRSI Systems, LLC, Rochester Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Jason M. Kulick, Yi Qian, Stefan Preble, Jeffrey Steidle, Michael Fanto, Tian Lu
  • Patent number: 10410989
    Abstract: First, second, and third integrated devices each include one or more interconnecting structure. Each interconnecting structure includes (i) one or more interconnecting nodules extending from an edge surface of the device, (ii) one or more interconnect voids formed in an edge surface of the device, or (iii) both (i) and (ii). The one or more interconnecting structures on each of the first and second device is mated with the one or more interconnecting structures on the second device. The first integrated device includes a signal output, the third integrated device includes a signal input; and the second integrated device includes a conductor for conducting a signal from the signal output to the signal input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignees: University of Notre Dame du Lac, Indiana Integrated Circuits, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas C. Hall, Gary H. Bernstein, Anthony Hoffman, Scott Howard, Jason M. Kulick
  • Publication number: 20190250335
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system for passively aligning optical fibers (4), a first waveguide array (62), and a second waveguide array (42) using chip-to-chip vertical evanescent optical waveguides (44) and (64), that can be used with fully automated die bonding equipment. The assembled system (2, 30, 60) can achieve high optical coupling and high process throughput for needs of high volume manufacturing of photonics, silicon photonics, and other applications that would benefit from aligning optical fibers to lasers efficiently.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Applicants: Indiana Integrated Circuits, LLC, Rochester Institute of Technology, MRSI Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Jason M. KULICK, Yi QIAN, Stefan PREBLE, Jeffrey STEIDLE, Michael FANTO, Tian LU
  • Patent number: 10325875
    Abstract: Disclosed is an integrated circuit packaging system that includes first and second microchips. Each microchip includes a top surface, a surface, one or more quilt package nodules fabricated on said top surface, and one or more bottom surface connectors. The system also includes a substrate to which the first and second microchips are mounted. The first and second microchips are connected via the quilt package nodules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignees: North Carolina State University, Indiana Integrated Circuits, LLC
    Inventors: Jason M. Kulick, Douglas Hopkins
  • Patent number: 10182498
    Abstract: A quilt packaging system includes a first microchip substrate having a first edge surface which includes a first conductive interconnecting structure disposed thereon and a second microchip substrate having a first edge surface which includes a second conductive interconnecting structure disposed thereon. The first conductive interconnecting structure is hingedly connected in an interdigitated manner with the second conductive interconnecting structure at an angle that is not a straight angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Indiana Integrated Circuits, LLC
    Inventors: Jason M. Kulick, Tian Lu
  • Patent number: 10056335
    Abstract: In a method of forming an assembly including projecting or protruding nodules, a substrate is provided that supports an electrical circuit. One or more cavities are formed in the substrate, a conductive pad is formed in each cavity, and one or more conductive traces are formed on the substrate. Each conductive trace connects a conductive pad to a location, node, or terminal of the electrical circuit. A part of the substrate is removed to form the assembly that includes the electrical circuit, the one or more conductive traces, and a portion of each conductive pad projecting or protruding from the substrate. The electrical circuit can be formed on the substrate, which can be a PCB, or can be formed on a microchip supported by the substrate, which can be formed of semiconductor material, e.g., a semiconductor wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Indiana Integrated Circuits, LLC
    Inventors: Jason M. Kulick, Tian Lu
  • Patent number: 9844139
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods related to the field of microchip assembly and handling, in particular to devices and methods for assembling and handling microchips manufactured with solid edge-to-edge interconnects, such as Quilt Packaging® interconnect technology. Specialized assembly tools are configured to pick up one or more microchips, place the microchips in a specified location aligned to a substrate, package, or another microchip, and facilitate electrical contact through one of a variety of approaches, including solder reflow. This specialized assembly tooling performs heating functions to reflow solder to establish electrical and mechanical interconnections between multiple microchips. Additionally, the interconnected microchips may be arranged in an arbitrarily large array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Indiana Integrated Circuits, LLC
    Inventors: Jason M. Kulick, Tian Lu
  • Patent number: 9806030
    Abstract: In a method of forming an assembly including projecting or protruding nodules, a substrate is provided that supports an electrical circuit. One or more cavities are formed in the substrate, a conductive pad is formed in each cavity, and one or more conductive traces are formed on the substrate. Each conductive trace connects a conductive pad to a location, node, or terminal of the electrical circuit. A part of the substrate is removed to form the assembly that includes the electrical circuit, the one or more conductive traces, and a portion of each conductive pad projecting or protruding from the substrate. The electrical circuit can be formed on the substrate, which can be a PCB, or can be formed on a microchip supported by the substrate, which can be formed of semiconductor material, e.g., a semiconductor wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Indiana Integrated Circuits, LLC
    Inventors: Jason M. Kulick, Tian Lu
  • Publication number: 20140268592
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods related to the field of microchip assembly and handling, in particular to devices and methods for assembling and handling microchips manufactured with solid edge-to-edge interconnects, such as Quilt Packaging® interconnect technology. Specialized assembly tools are configured to pick up one or more microchips, place the microchips in a specified location aligned to a substrate, package, or another microchip, and facilitate electrical contact through one of a variety of approaches, including solder reflow. This specialized assembly tooling performs heating functions to reflow solder to establish electrical and mechanical interconnections between multiple microchips. Additionally, the interconnected microchips may be arranged in an arbitrarily large array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Indiana Integrated Circuits, LLC
    Inventors: Jason M. Kulick, Tian Lu