Patents by Inventor David B. James

David B. James 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: 7074115
    Abstract: A polishing pad is useful planarizing semiconductor substrates. The polishing pad comprises a polymeric material having a porosity of at least 0.1 volume percent, a KEL energy loss factor at 40° C. and 1 rad/sec of 385 to 750 1/Pa and a modulus E? at 40° C. and 1 rad/sec of 100 to 400 MPa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials CMP Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: David B. James, Mary Jo Kulp
  • Patent number: 6869350
    Abstract: This invention describes improved polishing pads useful in the manufacture of semiconductor devices or the like. The pads of the present invention have an advantageous hydrophilic polishing material and have an innovative surface topography and texture which generally improves predictability and polishing performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials CMP Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: John H. V. Roberts, David B. James, Lee Melbourne Cook
  • Patent number: 6860802
    Abstract: An improved pad and process for polishing metal damascene structures on a semiconductor wafer. The process includes the steps of pressing the wafer against the surface of a polymer sheet in combination with an aqueous-based liquid that optionally contains sub-micron particles and providing a means for relative motion of wafer and polishing pad under pressure so that the moving pressurized contact results in planar removal of the surface of said wafer, wherein the polishing pad has a low elastic recovery when said load is removed, so that the mechanical response of the sheet is largely anelastic. The improved pad is characterized by a high energy dissipation coupled with a high pad stiffness. The pad exhibits a stable morphology that can be reproduced easily and consistently. The pad surface resists glazing, thereby requiring less frequent and less aggressive conditioning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Rohm and Haas Electric Materials CMP Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Arun Vishwanathan, David B. James, Lee Melbourne Cook, Peter A. Burke, David Shidner
  • Patent number: 6848977
    Abstract: The present invention provides a polishing pad for electrochemical mechanical polishing of conductive substrate. The pad comprises a plurality of grooves formed in a polishing surface of the polishing pad, the grooves being adapted to facilitate the flow of polishing fluid over the polishing pad. The conductive layers are respectively formed in the grooves and are in electrical communication with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials CMP Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Lee Melbourne Cook, David B. James, John V. H. Roberts
  • Patent number: 6843712
    Abstract: This invention describes improved polishing pads useful in the manufacture of semiconductor devices or the like. The pads of the present invention have an advantageous hydrophilic polishing material and have an innovative surface topography and texture which generally improves predictability and polishing performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials CMP Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: John H. V. Roberts, David B. James, Lee Melbourne Cook
  • Patent number: 6749485
    Abstract: An improved pad and process for polishing metal damascene structures on a semiconductor wafer. The process includes the steps of pressing the wafer against the surface of a polymer sheet in combination with an aqueous-based liquid that optionally contains sub-micron particles and providing a means for relative motion of wafer and polishing pad under pressure so that the moving pressurized contact results in planar removal of the surface of said wafer, wherein the polishing pad has a low elastic recovery when said load is removed, so that the mechanical response of the sheet is largely anelastic. The improved pad is characterized by a high energy dissipation coupled with a high pad stiffness and hydrolytic stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Rodel Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: David B. James, Arun Vishwanathan, Lee Melbourne Cook, Peter A. Burke, David Shidner, Joseph K. So, John V. H. Roberts
  • Patent number: 6739962
    Abstract: Polishing pads are provided having a polishing surface formed from a material. The polishing surface has a topography produced by a thermoforming process. The topography consists of large and small features that facilitate the flow of polishing fluid and facilitate smoothing and planarizing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Rodel Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: John V. H. Roberts, David B. James, Lee Melbourne Cook, Charles W. Jenkins
  • Patent number: 6736709
    Abstract: An improved pad and process for polishing metal damascene structures on a semiconductor wafer. The process includes the steps of pressing the wafer against the surface of a polymer sheet in combination with an aqueous-based liquid that optionally contains sub-micron particles and providing a means for relative motion of wafer and polishing, pad under pressure so that the moving pressurized contact results in planar removal of the surface of said wafer, wherein the polishing pad has a low elastic recovery when said load is removed, so that the mechanical response of the sheet is largely anelastic. The improved pad is characterized by a high energy dissipation coupled with a high pad stiffness. The pad also exhibits a stable morphology that can be reproduced easily and consistently. The pad surface has macro-texture that includes perforations as well as surface groove designs The surface groove designs have specific relationships between groove depth and overall pad thickness and groove.area and land area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Rodel Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: David B. James, Arun Vishwanathan, Lee Melbourne Cook, Peter A. Burke, David Shidner, Joseph K. So, John V. H. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20040048564
    Abstract: This invention describes improved polishing pads useful in the manufacture of semiconductor devices or the like. The pads of the present invention have an advantageous hydrophilic polishing material and have an innovative surface topography and texture which generally improves predictability and polishing performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventors: John V.H. Roberts, David B. James, Lee Melbourne Cook
  • Publication number: 20040048562
    Abstract: This invention describes improved polishing pads useful in the manufacture of semiconductor devices or the like. The pads of the present invention have an advantageous hydrophilic polishing material and have an innovative surface topography and texture which generally improves predictability and polishing performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventors: John V.H. Roberts, David B. James, Lee Melbourne Cook
  • Patent number: 6682402
    Abstract: This invention describes improved polishing pads useful in the manufacture of semiconductor devices or the like. The pads of the present invention have an advantageous hydrofoil polishing material and have an innovative surface topography and texture which generally improves predictability and polishing performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Rodel Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: John H. V Roberts, David B. James, Lee Melbourne Cook
  • Patent number: 6648733
    Abstract: A polishing pad with a polishing layer having a macro-texture and a micro-texture wherein the polishing layer is formed by solidifying a flowable material, the polishing layer further comprising hard domains and soft domains, each domain having an average size less than 100 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Rodel Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: John V. H. Roberts, David B. James, Lee Melbourne Cook, Ronald D. Bakule
  • Patent number: 6582283
    Abstract: An improved pad and process for polishing metal damascene structures on a semiconductor wafer. The process includes the steps of pressing the wafer against the surface of a polymer sheet in combination with an aqueous-based liquid that optionally contains sub-micron particles and providing a means for relative motion of wafer and polishing pad under pressure so that the moving pressurized contact results in planar removal of the surface of said wafer, wherein the polishing pad has a low elastic recovery when said load is removed, so that the mechanical response of the sheet is largely anelastic. The improved pad is characterized by a high energy dissipation coupled with a high pad stiffness. The pad exhibits a stable morphology that can be reproduced easily and consistently. The pad surface resists glazing, thereby requiring less frequent and less aggressive conditioning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Rodel Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: David B. James, Arun Vishwanathan, Lee Melbourne Cook, Peter A. Burke, David Shidner
  • Patent number: 6530539
    Abstract: An interceptor missile including an infrared radiation detection subsystem and a window assembly in the hull of the missile optically coupled to the infrared radiation detection subsystem. The window assembly includes an inner window, an outer window, and a support subsystem between the inner and the outer windows defining a plurality of infrared transparent fluid flow cooling channels between the inner and outer windows. A source of fluid coupled to the cooling channels for cooling the outer window without adversely affecting the optical properties of either window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Lee M. Goldman, Steven R. Collins, David B. James, David M. Blanchard, Steven Wirth
  • Patent number: 6518188
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for polishing the surface of a semiconductor wafer is provided in which the polishing pad has on its surface a multiplicity of nanoasperities which are particles having an imputed radius (of curvature) of about 0.5 to about 0.1 microns and sufficient resiliency to permanently deform by less than 10% which contact the wafer surface in combination with a reactive liquid solution which may be recirculated, analyzed, adjusted, and from which soluble reaction products may be removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Rodel Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Lee Melbourne Cook, David B. James, William D. Budinger
  • Publication number: 20030027500
    Abstract: An improved pad and process for polishing metal damascene structures on a semiconductor wafer. The process includes the steps of pressing the wafer against the surface of a polymer sheet in combination with an aqueous-based liquid that optionally contains sub-micron particles and providing a means for relative motion of wafer and polishing pad under pressure so that the moving pressurized contact results in planar removal of the surface of said wafer, wherein the polishing pad has a low elastic recovery when said load is removed, so that the mechanical response of the sheet is largely anelastic. The improved pad is characterized by a high energy dissipation coupled with a high pad stiffness. The pad exhibits a stable morphology that can be reproduced easily and consistently. The pad surface resists glazing, thereby requiring less frequent and less aggressive conditioning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Inventors: David B. James, Arun Vishwanathan, Lee Melbourne Cook, Peter A. Burke, David Shidner
  • Patent number: 6500053
    Abstract: This invention describes improved polishing pads useful in the manufacture ofsemiconductor devices or the like. The pads of the present invention may have an advantageous hydrophilic polishing material and are sufficiently thin to generally improve predictability and polishing performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Rodel Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: David B. James, Lee Melbourne Cook, Arthur Richard Baker
  • Patent number: 6488570
    Abstract: A method of making a polishing pad composition comprising a high modulus phase component and a low modulus phase component, and a method of polishing a semiconductor substrate by creating nanoasperities at a polishing interface between the polishing layer and the wafer during polishing by providing the high modulus phase component at the polishing interface, either as protrusions from the polishing layer, or by being released from the polishing layer into the polishing interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Rodel Holdings Inc.
    Inventors: David B. James, William D. Budinger, John V. H. Roberts, Michael R. Oliver, Nina G. Chechik, Richard M. Levering, Jr., Lee Melbourne Cook
  • Publication number: 20020155801
    Abstract: Polishing pads are provided having a polishing surface formed from a material. The polishing surface has a topography produced by a thermoforming process. The topography consists of large and small features that facilitate the flow of polishing fluid and facilitate smoothing and planarizing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2002
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Inventors: John V.H. Roberts, David B. James, Lee Melbourne Cook, Charles W. Jenkins
  • Patent number: 6454634
    Abstract: An improved pad and process for polishing metal damascene structures on a semiconductor wafer. The process includes the steps of pressing the wafer against the surface of a polymer sheet in combination with an aqueous-based liquid that optionally contains sub-micron particles and providing a means for relative motion of wafer and polishing pad under pressure so that the moving pressurized contact results in planar removal of the surface of said wafer, wherein the polishing pad has a low elastic recovery when said load is removed, so that the mechanical response of the sheet is largely anelastic. The improved pad is characterized by a high energy dissipation coupled with a high pad stiffness. The pad exhibits a stable morphology that can be reproduced easily and consistently. The pad surface resists glazing, thereby requiring less frequent and less aggressive conditioning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Rodel Holdings Inc.
    Inventors: David B. James, Arun Vishwanathan, Lee Melbourne Cook, Peter A. Burke, David Shidner