Patents by Inventor Christian Sparing

Christian Sparing 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: 10219391
    Abstract: A method for pretreating a copper surface for the subsequent formation of a firmly adhesive bond between the copper surface and a plastic material substrate. The method comprises bringing a copper surface into contact with: a) hydrogen peroxide; b) an acid; c) a nitrogen-containing, five-membered, heterocyclic compound; and d) a lactam, amide, or polyamide, connected at one or more of its nitrogen atoms with at least one residue of formula (I), wherein: n is an integer from 1 to 100; R1 is hydrogen or a hydrocarbon residue with 1 to 6 carbon atoms; R2 is hydrogen or a hydrocarbon residue with 1 to 6 carbon atoms; and each R1 and R2 in a —(CHR1—CHR2—O)— moiety is selected independently of each R1 and R2 in another —(CHR1—CHR2—O)— moiety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Atotech Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Sparing, Thomas Huelsmann, Arno Clicque, Patrick Brooks, Adrian Zee, Heiko Brunner
  • Publication number: 20170086305
    Abstract: A method for pretreating a copper surface for the subsequent formation of a firmly adhesive bond between the copper surface and a plastic material substrate. The method comprises bringing a copper surface into contact with: a) hydrogen peroxide; b) an acid; c) a nitrogen-containing, five-membered, heterocyclic compound; and d) a lactam, amide, or polyamide, connected at one or more of its nitrogen atoms with at least one residue of formula (I), wherein: n is an integer from 1 to 100; R1 is hydrogen or a hydrocarbon residue with 1 to 6 carbon atoms; R2 is hydrogen or a hydrocarbon residue with 1 to 6 carbon atoms; and each R1 and R2 in a —(CHR1—CHR2—O)— moiety is selected independently of each R1 and R2 in another —(CHR1—CHR2—O)— moiety.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: Christian SPARING, Thomas HUELSMANN, Arno CLICQUE, Patrick BROOKS, Adrian ZEE, Heiko BRUNNER
  • Patent number: 9504161
    Abstract: The invention concerns a solution for pretreating copper surfaces, and a method for pre-treating copper surfaces allowing the formation of a tight bond to plastic substrates. The solution comprises: a) hydrogen peroxide, b) at least one acid, and c) at least one nitrogen-containing, five-membered, heterocyclic compound, and d) additionally at least one nitrogen containing, adhesion-promoting compound, said compound comprising, or consisting of, lactams, non-quaternary fatty amines, amides and polyamides, connected at one or more of its nitrogen atoms with at least one residue of formula (I).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: ATOTECH DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Christian Sparing, Thomas Huelsmann, Arno Clicque, Patrick Brooks, Adrian Zee, Heiko Brunner
  • Patent number: 8945298
    Abstract: To achieve good adherence of a resist coating, more specifically a photo imageable resist coating, to a copper base while ensuring that the copper base being very thin is not compromised, a non-etching non-resist composition for the treatment of the copper base is provided, said composition comprising at least one adhesion agent selected from the group comprising (i) heterocyclic compounds comprising at least one thiol moiety and (ii) quaternary ammonium polymers having the following general chemical formula: {N+(R3)(R4)—(CH2)a—N(H)—C(Y)—N(H)—(CH2)b—N+(R3)(R4)—R5}n 2n X?, with R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, Y and X? being defined as claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Atotech Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Sparing, Dirk Tews, Norbert Luetzow, Martin Thoms
  • Patent number: 8758634
    Abstract: Disclosed is a composition for and applying said method for micro etching of copper or copper alloys during manufacture of printed circuit boards. Said composition comprises a copper salt, a source of halide ions, a buffer system and a benzothiazole compound as an etch refiner. The inventive composition and method is especially useful for manufacture of printed circuit boards having structural features of ?100 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Atotech Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Tews, Christian Sparing, Martin Thoms
  • Publication number: 20140076461
    Abstract: The invention concerns a solution for pretreating copper surfaces, and a method for pre-treating copper surfaces allowing the formation of a tight bond to plastic substrates. The solution comprises: a) hydrogen peroxide, b) at least one acid, and c) at least one nitrogen-containing, five-membered, heterocyclic compound, and d) additionally at least one nitrogen containing, adhesion-promoting compound, said compound comprising, or consisting of, lactams, non-quaternary fatty amines, amides and polyamides, connected at one or more of its nitrogen atoms with at least one residue of formula (I).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: ATOTECH DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Christian Sparing, Thomas Huelsmann, Arno Clicque, Patrick Brooks, Adrian Zee, Heiko Brunner
  • Publication number: 20130056438
    Abstract: Disclosed is a composition for and applying said method for micro etching of copper or copper alloys during manufacture of printed circuit boards. Said composition comprises a copper salt, a source of halide ions, a buffer system and a benzothiazole compound as an etch refiner. The inventive composition and method is especially useful for manufacture of printed circuit boards having structural features of ?100 ?m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: ATOTECH DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Dirk Tews, Christian Sparing, Martin Thoms
  • Patent number: 8192636
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for treating copper or copper alloy surfaces for tight bonding to polymeric substrates, for example solder masks found in multilayer printed circuit boards. The substrate generally is a semiconductor-device, a lead frame or a printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Atotech Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Tews, Christian Sparing
  • Publication number: 20120118753
    Abstract: In order to be able to produce high density circuits on a dielectric substrate wherein the conductor lines of said circuit have a good adhesion to the dielectric substrate surface, a method is provided which comprises the following method steps: a) providing an auxiliary substrate having two sides, at least one of said sides having an electrically conductive surface; b) treating at least one of the at least one electrically conductive surface with at least one release layer forming compound, the at least one release layer forming compound being a heterocyclic compound having at least one thiol group, c) forming a patterned resist coating on at least one of said at least one electrically conductive surface which has been treated with said at least one release layer forming compound, the patterned resist coating having at least one resist opening thereby exposing the electrically conductive surface; d) forming an electrically conductive pattern in the at least one resist opening by electrodepositing a metal on
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: ATOTECH DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Norbert Lützow, Christian Sparing, Dirk Tews, Martin Thoms
  • Publication number: 20120037312
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for manufacture of multilayer printed circuit boards and articles formed thereby, especially IC substrates. The inventive process utilizes in individual process steps inorganic silicates and organosilane bonding mixtures to provide adhesion between layers of copper and dielectric materials. Said process leads to an enhanced adhesive strength, improved mechanical and thermal stress resistance as well as humidity resistance of multilayer printed circuit boards and IC substrates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventors: Christian Sparing, Thomas Huelsmann, Patrick Brooks, Arno Clicque
  • Publication number: 20100323099
    Abstract: To achieve good adherence of a resist coating, more specifically a photo imageable resist coating, to a copper base while ensuring that the copper base being very thin is not compromised, a non-etching non-resist composition for the treatment of the copper base is provided, said composition comprising at least one adhesion agent selected from the group comprising (i) heterocyclic compounds comprising at least one thiol moiety and (ii) quaternary ammonium polymers having the following general chemical formula: {N+(R3)(R4)—(CH2)a—N(H)—C(Y)—N(H)—(CH2)b—N+(R3)(R4)—R5}n2n X?, with R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, Y and X? being defined as claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: Atotech Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Sparing, Dirk Tews, Norbert Luetzow, Martin Thoms
  • Publication number: 20100035435
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for treating copper or copper alloy surfaces for tight bonding to polymeric substrates, for example solder masks found in multilayer printed circuit boards. The substrate generally is a semiconductor-device, a lead frame or a printed circuit board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: ATOTECH DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Dirk Tews, Christian Sparing
  • Publication number: 20060189141
    Abstract: A solution for etching copper or a copper alloy for producing a copper surface having the brightest possible finish for a metallization that is to follow is described. The solution has a pH on the order of 4 or less and is free of sulfate ions. It comprises: a) at least one oxidizing agent selected from the group comprising hydrogen peroxide and peracids, b) at least one substance selected from the group comprising aromatic sulfonic acids and salts of the aromatic sulfonic acids and optionally c) at least one N-heterocyclic compound. Further a method for depositing metal onto the surface of copper or a copper alloy is described. Said method comprises the following method steps: a) contacting the surface with the solution in accordance with the invention and b) coating the surface with at least one metal. The solution and the method are especially suited in the production of electric circuit carriers, more specifically for semiconductor manufacturing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2004
    Publication date: August 24, 2006
    Inventors: Hartmut Mahlkow, Christian Sparing
  • Publication number: 20050175780
    Abstract: A processing solution and a method are used for producing solderable and bondable silver layers that properties of which are not degraded even after storing, with no anti-tarnishing compounds being utilized as contrasted with prior art solutions and methods. The acidic solution for silver deposition contains silver ions and at least one Cu(I) complexing agent, said Cu(I) complexing agent being selected from the group consisting of having the structure element (I).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2003
    Publication date: August 11, 2005
    Applicant: Atotech Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Sparing, Hartmut Mahlkow
  • Patent number: 6869637
    Abstract: Known methods of improving the solderability of copper surfaces on printed circuit boards present the disadvantage that outer layers of an irregular thickness are formed at the metal surfaces, that these layers are very expensive or that the constituents used in manufacturing them are harmful to the environment. Furthermore, the metal surfaces are to be suited to form bond connections as well as electrical contacts. To overcome these problems there are disclosed a bath and a method of electroless plating of silver by way of charge exchange reaction on surfaces of metals that are less noble than silver, more particularly on copper, that contain at least one silver halide complex and not containing any reducing agent for Ag+ ions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Atotech Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Carl Hutchinson, Hartmut Mahlkow, Christian Sparing
  • Publication number: 20030157264
    Abstract: Known methods of improving the solderability of copper surfaces on printed circuit boards present the disadvantage that outer layers of an irregular thickness are formed at the metal surfaces, that these layers are very expensive or that the constituents used in manufacturing them are harmful to the environment. Furthermore, the metal surfaces are to be suited to form bond connections as well as electrical contacts. To overcome these problems there are disclosed a bath and a method of electroless plating of silver by way of charge exchange reaction on surfaces of metals that are less noble than silver, more particularly on copper, that contain at least one silver halide complex and not containing any reducing agent for Ag+ ions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Inventors: Carl Hutchinson, Hartmut Mahlkow, Christian Sparing