Patents by Inventor Brian Michael Erwin

Brian Michael Erwin 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: 11168400
    Abstract: At least one plating pen is brought into aligned relationship with at least one hole defined in a board. The pen includes a central retractable protrusion, a first shell surrounding the protrusion and defining a first annular channel therewith, and a second shell surrounding the first shell and defining a second annular channel therewith. The protrusion is lowered to block the hole and plating material is flowed down the first channel to a surface of the board and up into the second channel, to form an initial deposit on the board surface. The protrusion is raised to unblock the hole, and plating material is flowed down the first annular channel to side walls of the hole and up into the second annular channel, to deposit the material on the side walls of the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Charles L. Arvin, Brian Michael Erwin, Chris Muzzy, Thomas Weiss
  • Publication number: 20190390348
    Abstract: At least one plating pen is brought into aligned relationship with at least one hole defined in a board. The pen includes a central retractable protrusion, a first shell surrounding the protrusion and defining a first annular channel therewith, and a second shell surrounding the first shell and defining a second annular channel therewith. The protrusion is lowered to block the hole and plating material is flowed down the first channel to a surface of the board and up into the second channel, to form an initial deposit on the board surface. The protrusion is raised to unblock the hole, and plating material is flowed down the first annular channel to side walls of the hole and up into the second annular channel, to deposit the material on the side walls of the hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: Charles L. Arvin, Brian Michael Erwin, Chris Muzzy, Thomas Weiss
  • Patent number: 10043723
    Abstract: A method of forming a temporary test structure for device fabrication is provided. The method allows for electrically testing conductive interconnects during controlled collapse chip connections (C4) fabrication and/or through-silicon vias (TSVs) during interposer fabrication. The method includes providing a substrate containing a plurality of electrically conductive interconnects extending vertically to top surface of the substrate. A temporary test structure is formed to connect the plurality of interconnects for electrical testing. Electrical testing is performed on the substrate by probing at different test locations on the temporary test structure. All or part of the temporary test structure is removed so as not to affect product performance. The temporary test structure can contain electrical test pads which provide a way to make temporary connections to small interconnect landings or features at extreme tight pitch to fan them out to testable pads sizes and pitches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Charles L. Arvin, Brian Michael Erwin, Gary W. Maier
  • Patent number: 9997424
    Abstract: A method of forming a temporary test structure for device fabrication is provided. The method allows for electrically testing conductive interconnects during controlled collapse chip connections (C4) fabrication and/or through-silicon vias (TSVs) during interposer fabrication. The method includes providing a substrate containing a plurality of electrically conductive interconnects extending vertically to top surface of the substrate. A temporary test structure is formed to connect the plurality of interconnects for electrical testing. Electrical testing is performed on the substrate by probing at different test locations on the temporary test structure. All or part of the temporary test structure is removed so as not to affect product performance. The temporary test structure can contain electrical test pads which provide a way to make temporary connections to small interconnect landings or features at extreme tight pitch to fan them out to testable pads sizes and pitches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Charles L. Arvin, Brian Michael Erwin, Gary W. Maier
  • Publication number: 20180090400
    Abstract: A method of forming a temporary test structure for device fabrication is provided. The method allows for electrically testing conductive interconnects during controlled collapse chip connections (C4) fabrication and/or through-silicon vias (TSVs) during interposer fabrication. The method includes providing a substrate containing a plurality of electrically conductive interconnects extending vertically to top surface of the substrate. A temporary test structure is formed to connect the plurality of interconnects for electrical testing. Electrical testing is performed on the substrate by probing at different test locations on the temporary test structure. All or part of the temporary test structure is removed so as not to affect product performance. The temporary test structure can contain electrical test pads which provide a way to make temporary connections to small interconnect landings or features at extreme tight pitch to fan them out to testable pads sizes and pitches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Inventors: Charles L. Arvin, Brian Michael Erwin, Gary W. Maier
  • Publication number: 20180090399
    Abstract: A method of forming a temporary test structure for device fabrication is provided. The method allows for electrically testing conductive interconnects during controlled collapse chip connections (C4) fabrication and/or through-silicon vias (TSVs) during interposer fabrication. The method includes providing a substrate containing a plurality of electrically conductive interconnects extending vertically to top surface of the substrate. A temporary test structure is formed to connect the plurality of interconnects for electrical testing. Electrical testing is performed on the substrate by probing at different test locations on the temporary test structure. All or part of the temporary test structure is removed so as not to affect product performance. The temporary test structure can contain electrical test pads which provide a way to make temporary connections to small interconnect landings or features at extreme tight pitch to fan them out to testable pads sizes and pitches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Inventors: Charles L. Arvin, Brian Michael Erwin, Gary W. Maier
  • Patent number: 9899280
    Abstract: A method of forming a temporary test structure for device fabrication is provided. The method allows for electrically testing conductive interconnects during controlled collapse chip connections (C4) fabrication and/or through-silicon vias (TSVs) during interposer fabrication. The method includes providing a substrate containing a plurality of electrically conductive interconnects extending vertically to top surface of the substrate. A temporary test structure is formed to connect the plurality of interconnects for electrical testing. Electrical testing is performed on the substrate by probing at different test locations on the temporary test structure. All or part of the temporary test structure is removed so as not to affect product performance. The temporary test structure can contain electrical test pads which provide a way to make temporary connections to small interconnect landings or features at extreme tight pitch to fan them out to testable pads sizes and pitches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Charles L. Arvin, Brian Michael Erwin, Gary W. Maier
  • Publication number: 20170263514
    Abstract: A method of forming a temporary test structure for device fabrication is provided. The method allows for electrically testing conductive interconnects during controlled collapse chip connections (C4) fabrication and/or through-silicon vias (TSVs) during interposer fabrication. The method includes providing a substrate containing a plurality of electrically conductive interconnects extending vertically to top surface of the substrate. A temporary test structure is formed to connect the plurality of interconnects for electrical testing. Electrical testing is performed on the substrate by probing at different test locations on the temporary test structure. All or part of the temporary test structure is removed so as not to affect product performance. The temporary test structure can contain electrical test pads which provide a way to make temporary connections to small interconnect landings or features at extreme tight pitch to fan them out to testable pads sizes and pitches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Charles L. Arvin, Brian Michael Erwin, Gary W. Maier
  • Patent number: 9735071
    Abstract: A method of forming a temporary test structure for device fabrication is provided. The method is particularly useful for electrically testing conductive interconnects during controlled collapse chip connections (C4) fabrication and/or through-silicon vias (TSVs) during interposer fabrication. The method includes providing a substrate containing a plurality of electrically conductive interconnects extending vertically to top surface of the substrate. A temporary test structure is formed to connect the plurality of interconnects and for electrical testing. The suitable material for the temporary test structure is TiW for a single layer structure, or Cu or Cu alloy over Ti or TiW for a bilayer structure with thickness in a range of about 20 nm to 1200 nm. Excimer laser ablation can be used to form the temporary test structure. Electrical testing is performed on the substrate by probing at different test locations on the temporary test structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Charles L. Arvin, Brian Michael Erwin, Gary W. Maier
  • Publication number: 20170062291
    Abstract: A method of forming a temporary test structure for device fabrication is provided. The method is particularly useful for electrically testing conductive interconnects during controlled collapse chip connections (C4) fabrication and/or through-silicon vias (TSVs) during interposer fabrication. The method includes providing a substrate containing a plurality of electrically conductive interconnects extending vertically to top surface of the substrate. A temporary test structure is formed to connect the plurality of interconnects and for electrical testing. The suitable material for the temporary test structure is TiW for a single layer structure, or Cu or Cu alloy over Ti or TiW for a bilayer structure with thickness in a range of about 20 nm to 1200 nm. Excimer laser ablation can be used to form the temporary test structure. Electrical testing is performed on the substrate by probing at different test locations on the temporary test structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Charles L. Arvin, Brian Michael Erwin, Gary W. Maier
  • Patent number: 8563416
    Abstract: A solder bump support structure and method of manufacturing thereof is provided. The solder bump support structure includes an inter-level dielectric (ILD) layer formed over a silicon substrate. The ILD layer has a plurality of conductive vias. The structure further includes a first insulation layer formed on the ILD layer. The solder bump support structure further includes a pedestal member formed on the ILD layer which includes a conductive material formed above the plurality of conductive vias in the ILD layer coaxially surrounded by a second insulation layer. The second insulation layer is thicker than the first insulation layer. The structure further includes a capping under bump metal (UBM) layer formed over, and in electrical contact with, the conductive material and formed over at least a portion of the second insulation layer of the pedestal member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Michael Erwin, Ian D. Melville, Ekta Misra, George John Scott
  • Publication number: 20130026624
    Abstract: A solder bump support structure and method of manufacturing thereof is provided. The solder bump support structure includes an inter-level dielectric (ILD) layer formed over a silicon substrate. The ILD layer has a plurality of conductive vias. The structure further includes a first insulation layer formed on the ILD layer. The solder bump support structure further includes a pedestal member formed on the ILD layer which includes a conductive material formed above the plurality of conductive vias in the ILD layer coaxially surrounded by a second insulation layer. The second insulation layer is thicker than the first insulation layer. The structure further includes a capping under bump metal (UBM) layer formed over, and in electrical contact with, the conductive material and formed over at least a portion of the second insulation layer of the pedestal member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brian Michael Erwin, Ian D. Melville, Ekta Misra, George John Scott