Patents by Inventor Dale S. McPherson

Dale S. McPherson 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).

  • Publication number: 20240017990
    Abstract: Electronic test probes formed in a batch have a plurality of multi-material layers wherein at least one of the materials is a sacrificial material and at least one other material is a structural material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2023
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Inventors: Duy P. Le, Rulon J. Larsen, Jeffrey A. Thompson, Uri Frodis, Dale S. McPherson, Kleun Kim, Mahmood Samiee, Nina C. Levy, Dennis R. Smalley
  • Publication number: 20200354848
    Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to techniques for building single layer or multi-layer structures on dielectric or partially dielectric substrates. Certain embodiments deposit seed layer material directly onto substrate materials while others use an intervening adhesion layer material. Some embodiments use different seed layer and/or adhesion layer materials for sacrificial and structural conductive building materials. Some embodiments apply seed layer and/or adhesion layer materials in what are effectively selective manners while others apply the materials in blanket fashion. Some embodiments remove extraneous material via planarization operations while other embodiments remove the extraneous material via etching operations. Other embodiments are directed to the electrochemical fabrication of multilayer mesoscale or microscale structures which are formed using at least one conductive structural material, at least one conductive sacrificial material, and at least one dielectric material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Applicant: Microfabrica Inc.
    Inventors: Adam L. Cohen, Michael S. Lockard, Kieun Kim, Qui T. Le, Gang Zhang, Uri Frodis, Dale S. McPherson, Dennis R. Smalley
  • Patent number: 10676836
    Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to techniques for building single layer or multi-layer structures on dielectric or partially dielectric substrates. Certain embodiments deposit seed layer material directly onto substrate materials while others use an intervening adhesion layer material. Some embodiments use different seed layer and/or adhesion layer materials for sacrificial and structural conductive building materials. Some embodiments apply seed layer and/or adhesion layer materials in what are effectively selective manners while others apply the materials in blanket fashion. Some embodiments remove extraneous material via planarization operations while other embodiments remove the extraneous material via etching operations. Other embodiments are directed to the electrochemical fabrication of multilayer mesoscale or microscale structures which are formed using at least one conductive structural material, at least one conductive sacrificial material, and at least one dielectric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Microfabrica Inc.
    Inventors: Adam L. Cohen, Michael S. Lockard, Kieun Kim, Qui T. Le, Gang Zhang, Uri Frodis, Dale S. McPherson, Dennis R. Smalley
  • Publication number: 20190017189
    Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to techniques for building single layer or multi-layer structures on dielectric or partially dielectric substrates. Certain embodiments deposit seed layer material directly onto substrate materials while others use an intervening adhesion layer material. Some embodiments use different seed layer and/or adhesion layer materials for sacrificial and structural conductive building materials. Some embodiments apply seed layer and/or adhesion layer materials in what are effectively selective manners while others apply the materials in blanket fashion. Some embodiments remove extraneous material via planarization operations while other embodiments remove the extraneous material via etching operations. Other embodiments are directed to the electrochemical fabrication of multilayer mesoscale or microscale structures which are formed using at least one conductive structural material, at least one conductive sacrificial material, and at least one dielectric material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Applicant: Microfabrica Inc.
    Inventors: Adam L. Cohen, Michael S. Lockard, Kieun Kim, Qui T. Le, Gang Zhang, Uri Frodis, Dale S. McPherson, Dennis R. Smalley
  • Publication number: 20170247807
    Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to techniques for building single layer or multi-layer structures on dielectric or partially dielectric substrates. Certain embodiments deposit seed layer material directly onto substrate materials while others use an intervening adhesion layer material. Some embodiments use different seed layer and/or adhesion layer materials for sacrificial and structural conductive building materials. Some embodiments apply seed layer and/or adhesion layer materials in what are effectively selective manners while others apply the materials in blanket fashion. Some embodiments remove extraneous material via planarization operations while other embodiments remove the extraneous material via etching operations. Other embodiments are directed to the electrochemical fabrication of multilayer mesoscale or microscale structures which are formed using at least one conductive structural material, at least one conductive sacrificial material, and at least one dielectric material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Applicant: Microfabrica Inc.
    Inventors: Adam L. Cohen, Michael S. Lockard, Kieun Kim, Qui T. Le, Gang Zhang, Uri Frodis, Dale S. McPherson, Dennis R. Smalley
  • Patent number: 9546431
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention are directed to techniques for building up single layer or multi-layer structures on dielectric or partially dielectric substrates. Certain embodiments deposit seed layer material directly onto substrate materials while other embodiments use an intervening adhesion layer material. Some embodiments use different seed layer materials and/or adhesion layer materials for sacrificial and structural conductive building materials. Some embodiments apply seed layer and/or adhesion layer materials in what are effectively selective manners while other embodiments apply the materials in blanket fashion. Some embodiments remove extraneous depositions (e.g. depositions to regions unintended to form part of a layer) via planarization operations while other embodiments remove the extraneous material via etching operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Microfabrica Inc.
    Inventors: Adam L. Cohen, Michael S. Lockard, Kieun Kim, Qui T. Le, Gang Zhang, Uri Frodis, Dale S. McPherson, Dennis R. Smalley
  • Publication number: 20140209473
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention are directed to techniques for building up single layer or multi-layer structures on dielectric or partially dielectric substrates. Certain embodiments deposit seed layer material directly onto substrate materials while other embodiments use an intervening adhesion layer material. Some embodiments use different seed layer materials and/or adhesion layer materials for sacrificial and structural conductive building materials. Some embodiments apply seed layer and/or adhesion layer materials in what are effectively selective manners while other embodiments apply the materials in blanket fashion. Some embodiments remove extraneous depositions (e.g. depositions to regions unintended to form part of a layer) via planarization operations while other embodiments remove the extraneous material via etching operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Inventors: Adam L. Cohen, Michael S. Lockard, Kieun Kim, Qui T. Le, Gang Zhang, Uri Frodis, Dale S. McPherson, Dennis R. Smalley
  • Patent number: 8512578
    Abstract: Multi-layer structures are electrochemically fabricated from at least one structural material (e.g. nickel), that is configured to define a desired structure and which may be attached to a substrate, and from at least one sacrificial material (e.g. copper) that surrounds the desired structure. After structure formation, the sacrificial material is removed by a multi-stage etching operation. In some embodiments sacrificial material to be removed may be located within passages or the like on a substrate or within an add-on component. The multi-stage etching operations may be separated by intermediate post processing activities, they may be separated by cleaning operations, or barrier material removal operations, or the like. Barriers may be fixed in position by contact with structural material or with a substrate or they may be solely fixed in position by sacrificial material and are thus free to be removed after all retaining sacrificial material is etched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Microfabrica Inc.
    Inventors: Adam L. Cohen, Michael S. Lockard, Dale S. McPherson
  • Publication number: 20110073479
    Abstract: Multi-layer structures are electrochemically fabricated from at least one structural material (e.g. nickel), that is configured to define a desired structure and which may be attached to a substrate, and from at least one sacrificial material (e.g. copper) that surrounds the desired structure. After structure formation, the sacrificial material is removed by a multi-stage etching operation. In some embodiments sacrificial material to be removed may be located within passages or the like on a substrate or within an add-on component. The multi-stage etching operations may be separated by intermediate post processing activities, they may be separated by cleaning operations, or barrier material removal operations, or the like. Barriers may be fixed in position by contact with structural material or with a substrate or they may be solely fixed in position by sacrificial material and are thus free to be removed after all retaining sacrificial material is etched.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventors: Adam L. Cohen, Michael S. Lockard, Dale S. McPherson
  • Publication number: 20100270165
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention are directed to techniques for building up single layer or multi-layer structures on dielectric or partially dielectric substrates. Certain embodiments deposit seed layer material directly onto substrate materials while other embodiments use an intervening adhesion layer material. Some embodiments use different seed layer materials and/or adhesion layer materials for sacrificial and structural conductive building materials. Some embodiments apply seed layer and/or adhesion layer materials in what are effectively selective manners while other embodiments apply the materials in blanket fashion. Some embodiments remove extraneous depositions (e.g. depositions to regions unintended to form part of a layer) via planarization operations while other embodiments remove the extraneous material via etching operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Inventors: Adam L. Cohen, Michael S. Lockard, Kieun Kim, Qui T. Le, Gang Zhang, Uri Frodis, Dale S. McPherson, Dennis R. Smalley
  • Patent number: 7524427
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention are directed to techniques for building up single layer or multi-layer structures on dielectric or partially dielectric substrates. Certain embodiments deposit seed layer material directly onto substrate materials while other embodiments use an intervening adhesion layer material. Some embodiments use different seed layer materials and/or adhesion layer materials for sacrificial and structural conductive building materials. Some embodiments apply seed layer and/or adhesion layer materials in what are effectively selective manners while other embodiments apply the materials in blanket fashion. Some embodiments remove extraneous depositions (e.g. depositions to regions unintended to form part of a layer) via planarization operations while other embodiments remove the extraneous material via etching operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Microfabrica Inc.
    Inventors: Adam L. Cohen, Michael S. Lockard, Kieun Kim, Qui T. Le, Gang Zhang, Uri Frodis, Dale S. McPherson, Dennis R. Smalley
  • Patent number: 7517462
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention are directed to techniques for building up single layer or multi-layer structures on dielectric or partially dielectric substrates. Certain embodiments deposit seed layer material directly onto substrate materials while other embodiments use an intervening adhesion layer material. Some embodiments use different seed layer materials and/or adhesion layer materials for sacrificial and structural conductive building materials. Some embodiments apply seed layer and/or adhesion layer materials in what are effectively selective manners while other embodiments apply the materials in blanket fashion. Some embodiments remove extraneous depositions (e.g. depositions to regions unintended to form part of a layer) via planarization operations while other embodiments remove the extraneous material via etching operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Microfabrica Inc.
    Inventors: Adam L. Cohen, Michael S. Lockard, Kieun Kim, Qui T. Le, Gang Zhang, Uri Frodis, Dale S. McPherson, Dennis R. Smalley
  • Publication number: 20080121343
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention are directed to techniques for building up single layer or multi-layer structures on dielectric or partially dielectric substrates. Certain embodiments deposit seed layer material directly onto substrate materials while other embodiments use an intervening adhesion layer material. Some embodiments use different seed layer materials and/or adhesion layer materials for sacrificial and structural conductive building materials. Some embodiments apply seed layer and/or adhesion layer materials in what are effectively selective manners while other embodiments apply the materials in blanket fashion. Some embodiments remove extraneous depositions (e.g. depositions to regions unintended to form part of a layer) via planarization operations while other embodiments remove the extraneous material via etching operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Inventors: Adam L. Cohen, Michael S. Lockard, Kieun Kim, Qui T. Le, Gang Zhang, Uri Frodis, Dale S. McPherson, Dennis R. Smalley
  • Patent number: 7303663
    Abstract: Multilayer structures are electrochemically fabricated from at least one structural material (e.g. nickel), that is configured to define a desired structure and which may be attached to a substrate, and from at least one sacrificial material (e.g. copper) that surrounds the desired structure. After structure formation, the sacrificial material is removed by a multi-stage etching Operation. In some embodiments sacrificial material to be removed may be located within passages or the like on a substrate or within an add-on component. The multi-stage etching Operations may be separated by intermediate post processing activities, they may be separated by cleaning Operations, or barrier material removal Operations, or the like. Barriers may be fixed in position by contact with structural material or with a substrate or they may be solely fixed in position by sacrificial material and are thus free to be removed after all retaining sacrificial material is etched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Microfabrica, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam L. Cohen, Michael S. Lockard, Dale S. McPherson
  • Publication number: 20040007468
    Abstract: Multilayer structures are electrochemically fabricated from at least one structural material (e.g. nickel), that is configured to define a desired structure and which may be attached to a substrate, and from at least one sacrificial material (e.g. copper) that surrounds the desired structure. After structure formation, the sacrificial material is removed by a multi-stage etching Operation. In some embodiments sacrificial material to be removed may be located within passages or the like on a substrate or within an add-on component. The multi-stage etching Operations may be separated by intermediate post processing activities, they may be separated by cleaning Operations, or barrier material removal Operations, or the like. Barriers may be fixed in position by contact with structural material or with a substrate or they may be solely fixed in position by sacrificial material and are thus free to be removed after all retaining sacrificial material is etched.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2003
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Applicant: MEMGen Corporation
    Inventors: Adam L. Cohen, Michael S. Lockard, Dale S. McPherson