Patents by Inventor Christopher N. Collins

Christopher N. Collins 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: 9252133
    Abstract: The formation of TSVs (through substrate vias) for 3D applications has proven to be defect dependent upon the type of starting semiconductor substrate employed. In addition to the initial formation of TSVs via Bosch processing, backside 3D wafer processing has also shown a defect dependency on substrate type. High yield of TSV formation can be achieved by utilizing a substrate that embodies bulk micro defects (BMD) at a density between 1e4/cc (particles per cubic centimeter) and 1e7/cc and having equivalent diameter less than 55 nm (nanometers).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Christopher N. Collins, Mukta G. Farooq, Troy L. Graves-Abe, Joyce C. Liu, Gerd Pfeiffer, Thuy L. Tran-Quinn
  • Publication number: 20150004749
    Abstract: The formation of TSVs (through substrate vias) for 3D applications has proven to be defect dependent upon the type of starting semiconductor substrate employed. In addition to the initial formation of TSVs via Bosch processing, backside 3D wafer processing has also shown a defect dependency on substrate type. High yield of TSV formation can be achieved by utilizing a substrate that embodies bulk micro defects (BMD) at a density between 1e4/cc (particles per cubic centimeter) and 1e7/cc and having equivalent diameter less than 55 nm (nanometers).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Christopher N. Collins, Mukta G. Farooq, Troy L. Graves-Abe, Joyce C. Liu, Gerd Pfeiffer, Thuy L. Tran-Quinn
  • Patent number: 8907494
    Abstract: The formation of TSVs (through substrate vias) for 3D applications has proven to be defect dependent upon the type of starting semiconductor substrate employed. In addition to the initial formation of TSVs via Bosch processing, backside 3D wafer processing has also shown a defect dependency on substrate type. High yield of TSV formation can be achieved by utilizing a substrate that embodies bulk micro defects (BMD) at a density between 1e4/cc (particles per cubic centimeter) and 1e7/cc and having equivalent diameter less than 55 nm (nanometers).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher N. Collins, Mukta G. Farooq, Troy L. Graves-Abe, Joyce C. Liu, Gerd Pfeiffer, Thuy L. Tran-Quinn
  • Publication number: 20140264756
    Abstract: The formation of TSVs (through substrate vias) for 3D applications has proven to be defect dependent upon the type of starting semiconductor substrate employed. In addition to the initial formation of TSVs via Bosch processing, backside 3D wafer processing has also shown a defect dependency on substrate type. High yield of TSV formation can be achieved by utilizing a substrate that embodies bulk micro defects (BMD) at a density between 1e4/cc (particles per cubic centimeter) and 1e7/cc and having equivalent diameter less than 55 nm (nanometers).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher N. Collins, Mukta G. Farooq, Troy L. Graves-Abe, Joyce C. Liu, Gerd Pfeiffer, Thuy L. Tran-Quinn
  • Publication number: 20140061915
    Abstract: A method of forming an integrated circuit device includes forming a diffusion barrier layer in an opening defined in a substrate; forming a highly doped copper alloy seed layer over the diffusion barrier layer, the copper alloy seed layer having a minority alloy component having a concentration greater than 0.5% atomic; and forming a copper layer over the copper alloy seed layer so as to define a wiring structure of the integrated circuit device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher N. Collins, Daniel C. Edelstein, Mukta G. Farooq, Troy L. Graves-Abe, Andrew H. Simon, Richard P. Volant
  • Patent number: 6440813
    Abstract: A trench capacitor having an increased surface area. In one embodiment, the trench capacitor is a dual trench capacitor having a first trench and a second trench wherein inner walls of the trenches electrically connect. The invention also includes a single trench capacitor wherein the trench is curved around an axis substantially perpendicular to a substrate surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher N. Collins, Harris C. Jones, James P. Norum, Stefan Schmitz
  • Patent number: 6328041
    Abstract: A cleaning wafer is used during the vaporization of particulate deposits that were previously deposited on the walls of a plasma chamber. The cleaning wafer includes a first dielectric layer, a conducting layer and a second dielectric layer covering the conducting layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Brown, Christopher N. Collins, Wilson Tong Lee, George A. Kaplita, Stefan Schmitz, Len Yuan Tsou
  • Publication number: 20010023956
    Abstract: A trench capacitor having an increased surface area. In one embodiment, the trench capacitor is a dual trench capacitor having a first trench and a second trench wherein inner walls of the trenches electrically connect. The invention also includes a single trench capacitor wherein the trench is curved around an axis substantially perpendicular to a substrate surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2001
    Publication date: September 27, 2001
    Inventors: Christopher N. Collins, Harris C. Jones, James P. Norum, Stefan Schmitz
  • Patent number: 6188096
    Abstract: A trench capacitor having an increased surface area. In one embodiment, the trench capacitor is a dual trench capacitor having a first trench and a second trench wherein inner walls of the trenches electrically connect. The invention also includes a single trench capacitor wherein the trench is curved around an axis substantially perpendicular to a substrate surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher N. Collins, Harris C. Jones, James P. Norum, Stefan Schmitz
  • Patent number: 5948193
    Abstract: Greensheets having enhanced flexibility and strength are prepared from a greensheet casting composition comprising alumina or other ceramic having a mean particle size of less than about 1 micron and being substantially unimodal, a binder resin, a solvent system and a plasticizer. The greensheets may be formed having a thickness of about 50 microns using conventional greensheet fabricating devices. The greensheets are particularly suitable as dielectric layers for internal layer capacitors in a multilayer ceramic substrate. A preferred co-sintering heating profile to avoid blistering of the MLC package is also provided to form the capacitor containing MLC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael A. Cohn, Jon A. Casey, Christopher N. Collins, Robert A. Rita, Robert J. Sullivan, Adrienne M. Tirch, Leslie J. Wiands, Ryan W. Wuthrich
  • Patent number: 5874162
    Abstract: Camber of ceramic substrates is prevented by placing a conformable load tile over substrates during sintering. The conformable load tile has an initial curvature that facilitates escape of substrate binder gases during a burn out cycle. Subsequently, the conformable load tile conforms to the substrates under the higher heat of sintering temperature to maintain flatness of the substrates. To prevent sticking of the conformable load tile to the substrates, the conformable load tile is provided with a nonstick surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kurt E. Bastian, James J. Burte, Michael A. Cohn, Christopher N. Collins, Joseph P. DeGeorge, Italo A. DiNunzio, Robert C. Greenlese, Alan Piciacchio, Teresa L Pinto, Robert J. Sullivan, Ryan W. Wuthrich