Patents by Inventor Dirk Robert Walter Leipold

Dirk Robert Walter Leipold 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: 10504750
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor package with reduced parasitic coupling effects, and a process for making the same. The disclosed semiconductor package includes a thinned flip-chip die and a first mold compound component with a dielectric constant no more than 7. The thinned flip-chip die includes a back-end-of-line (BEOL) layer with an upper surface that includes a first surface portion and a second surface portion surrounding the first surface portion, a device layer over the upper surface of the BEOL layer, and a buried oxide (BOX) layer over the device layer. The BEOL layer includes a first passive device and a second passive device, which are underlying the first surface portion and not underlying the second surface portion. Herein, the first mold compound component extends through the BOX layer and the device layer to the first surface portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.
    Inventors: Julio C. Costa, George Maxim, Dirk Robert Walter Leipold, Baker Scott
  • Publication number: 20190371523
    Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to substrates having three dimensional (3D) inductors and methods of manufacturing the same. In one embodiment, the 3D inductor is a solenoid inductor where the exterior edge contour of the winding ends is substantially the same and substantially aligned with the exterior edge contour of the exterior edge contour of conductive vias that connect the windings. In this manner, there is no overhang between the windings and the conductive vias. In another embodiment of the 3D inductor, via columns connect connector plates. The via column attachment surfaces of each of the conductive vias in each of the columns is the same and substantially aligned. In this manner, carrier pads are not needed and there is no overhand between the conductive vias.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Dirk Robert Walter Leipold, George Maxim, John August Orlowski, Baker Scott
  • Patent number: 10491175
    Abstract: A power amplifier apparatus supporting reverse intermodulation product (rIMD) cancellation is provided. The power amplifier apparatus includes an amplifier circuit configured to amplify and output a radio frequency (RF) signal for transmission via an antenna port. The antenna port may receive a reverse interference signal, which may interfere with the RF signal to create a rIMD(s) that can fall within an RF receive band(s). A reverse coupling circuit is provided in the power amplifier apparatus to generate an interference cancellation signal based on the reverse interference signal. The amplifier circuit is configured to amplify the interference cancellation signal and the RF signal to create an intermodulation product(s) to suppress the rIMD(s) to a determined threshold. By suppressing the rIMD(s) in the power amplifier apparatus, it is possible to support concurrent transmissions and receptions in a number of RF spectrums while in compliance with stringent regulatory spurious emissions (SEM) requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.
    Inventors: Marcus Granger-Jones, Dirk Robert Walter Leipold, Nadim Khlat
  • Patent number: 10492301
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to integrated circuit (IC) packages and methods of manufacturing the same. In one method, a printed circuit board is provided with semiconductor die. The semiconductor die includes a Back-End-of-Line (BEOL) region, a Front-End-of-Line (FEOL) region, and a semiconductor handle such that the BEOL region, the FEOL region, and the semiconductor handle are stacked. A first polymer layer is provided over the printed circuit board so as to cover the semiconductor die. The semiconductor handle of the semiconductor die is exposed through the first polymer layer and removed. A second polymer layer is then provided so that the BEOL region, the FEOL region, and at least a portion of the second polymer layer are stacked. The second polymer layer may be provided to have high thermal conductivity and electric isolation properties thereby providing advantageous package characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.
    Inventors: Julio C. Costa, George Maxim, Dirk Robert Walter Leipold, Baker Scott
  • Patent number: 10483035
    Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to substrates having three dimensional (3D) inductors and methods of manufacturing the same. In one embodiment, the 3D inductor is a solenoid inductor where the exterior edge contour of the winding ends is substantially the same and substantially aligned with the exterior edge contour of the exterior edge contour of conductive vias that connect the windings. In this manner, there is no overhang between the windings and the conductive vias. In another embodiment of the 3D inductor, via columns connect connector plates. The via column attachment surfaces of each of the conductive vias in each of the columns is the same and substantially aligned. In this manner, carrier pads are not needed and there is no overhand between the conductive vias.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.
    Inventors: Dirk Robert Walter Leipold, George Maxim, John August Orlowski, Baker Scott
  • Patent number: 10468329
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a thermally enhanced semiconductor package having field effect transistors (FETs) with a back-gate feature. The thermally enhanced semiconductor package includes a first buried oxide (BOX) layer, a first epitaxial layer over the first BOX layer, a second BOX layer over the first epitaxial layer, a second epitaxial layer over the second BOX layer and having a source, a drain, and a channel between the source and the drain, a gate dielectric aligned over the channel, and a front-gate structure over the gate dielectric. Herein, a back-gate structure is formed in the first epitaxial layer and has a back-gate region aligned below the channel. A FET is formed by the front-gate structure, the source, the drain, the channel, and the back-gate structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.
    Inventors: Julio C. Costa, George Maxim, Dirk Robert Walter Leipold, Baker Scott
  • Patent number: 10468172
    Abstract: Embodiments of an apparatus that includes a substrate and an inductor residing in the substrate are disclosed. In one embodiment, the inductor is formed as a conductive path that extends from a first terminal to a second terminal. The conductive path has a shape corresponding to a two-dimensional (2D) lobe laid over a three-dimensional (3D) volume. Since the shape of the conductive path corresponds to the 2D lobe laid over a 3D volume, the magnetic field generated by the inductor has magnetic field lines that are predominately destructive outside the inductor and magnetic field lines that are predominately constructive inside the inductor. In this manner, the inductor can maintain a high quality (Q) factor while being placed close to other components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.
    Inventors: George Maxim, Dirk Robert Walter Leipold, Baker Scott
  • Publication number: 20190326941
    Abstract: A multi-radio access technology (RAT) circuit is provided. The multi-RAT circuit includes a radio frequency (RF) circuit(s) coupled to an interconnect medium(s). The RF circuit(s) includes a power head circuit configured to receive a local oscillation (LO) pilot and an RF signal via the interconnect medium(s). The power head circuit generates an LO signal based on the LO pilot without requiring a synthesizer. Accordingly, the power head circuit modulates the RF signal to a carrier band based on the LO signal for transmission in a millimeter wave (mmWave) spectrum. By generating the LO signal and modulating the RF signal to the carrier band in the power head circuit, it may be possible to minimize attenuation and/or interference to the RF signal. Further, it may also be possible to share the interconnect medium(s) with existing RATs, thus helping to reduce size, power, and cost impacts associated with supporting an mmWave RAT.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Inventors: George Maxim, Dirk Robert Walter Leipold, Alexander Wayne Hietala, Baker Scott
  • Publication number: 20190326958
    Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) transmitter includes transceiver circuitry coupled to front end circuitry via an interconnect signal path. The transceiver circuitry is configured to generate a number of frequency-shifted RF beamforming signals such that each one of the frequency-shifted RF beamforming signals has a different frequency, and multiplex the frequency-shifted RF beamforming signals to provide a multiplexed interconnect signal. The front-end circuitry is configured to receive the multiplexed interconnect signal from the transceiver circuitry via the interconnect signal path, demultiplex the multiplexed interconnect signal to isolate each of the frequency-shifted RF beamforming signals, shift a frequency of each one of the frequency-shifted RF beamforming signals to provide a number of RF beamforming signals, and transmit each of the RF beamforming signals from a different antenna.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Inventors: Dirk Robert Walter Leipold, George Maxim, Baker Scott
  • Patent number: 10447222
    Abstract: Dynamic error vector magnitude (EVM) compensation is accomplished for radio frequency (RF) power amplifiers (PAs) which experience EVM distortion from thermal settling. Thermal settling causes gain changes in the PAs, and systems, apparatuses, and methods of the present disclosure compensate for known thermal transients of PAs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.
    Inventors: Baker Scott, David Reed, Christopher T. Brown, Dirk Robert Walter Leipold, George Maxim
  • Patent number: 10447344
    Abstract: Improved Radio Frequency (RF) switches are provided herein. According to one aspect, an RF switch comprises one or more stages. In one embodiment, each stage comprises a signal input terminal, a signal output terminal, a control input terminal, and a switching device having a first terminal connected to the signal input terminal, a second terminal connected to the signal output terminal, and a third terminal for controlling the on/off state of the switching device. Each stage includes a first resistor connected in series between the control input terminal and the third terminal, a first bypass switch for electrically bypassing the first resistor, and a second resistor connected in series between the signal input terminal and the signal output terminal. The first resistors form a first bias network, the second resistors form a second bias network, and the switching devices are connected in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.
    Inventors: Baker Scott, George Maxim, Dirk Robert Walter Leipold, Eric K. Bolton, Daniel Charles Kerr, Hideya Oshima
  • Patent number: 10448516
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to integrated circuit (IC) packages and methods of manufacturing the same. In one method, a printed circuit board is provided with semiconductor die. The semiconductor die includes a Back-End-of-Line (BEOL) region, a Front-End-of-Line (FEOL) region, and a semiconductor handle such that the BEOL region, the FEOL region, and the semiconductor handle are stacked. A first polymer layer is provided over the printed circuit board so as to cover the semiconductor die. The semiconductor handle of the semiconductor die is exposed through the first polymer layer and removed. A second polymer layer is then provided so that the BEOL region, the FEOL region, and at least a portion of the second polymer layer are stacked. The second polymer layer may be provided to have high thermal conductivity and electric isolation properties thereby providing advantageous package characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.
    Inventors: Julio C. Costa, George Maxim, Dirk Robert Walter Leipold, Baker Scott
  • Publication number: 20190304977
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a bulk complementary-metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) device including a device substrate, a thinned device die with a device region over the device substrate, a first mold compound, and a second mold compound. The device region includes a back-end-of-line (BEOL) portion and a front-end-of-line (FEOL) portion over the BEOL portion. The first mold compound resides over the device substrate, surrounds the thinned device die, and extends vertically beyond the thinned device die to define an opening over the thinned device die and within the first mold compound. The second mold compound fills the opening and directly connects the thinned device die. Herein, a silicon material with a resistivity between 5 Ohm-cm and 30000 Ohm-cm does not exist between the second mold compound and the thinned device die.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventors: Julio C. Costa, Michael Carroll, Dirk Robert Walter Leipold, George Maxim, Baker Scott
  • Patent number: 10431523
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a thermally enhanced semiconductor package having field effect transistors (FETs) with a back-gate feature. The thermally enhanced semiconductor package includes a first buried oxide (BOX) layer, a first epitaxial layer over the first BOX layer, a second BOX layer over the first epitaxial layer, a second epitaxial layer over the second BOX layer and having a source, a drain, and a channel between the source and the drain, a gate dielectric aligned over the channel, and a front-gate structure over the gate dielectric. Herein, a back-gate structure is formed in the first epitaxial layer and has a back-gate region aligned below the channel. A FET is formed by the front-gate structure, the source, the drain, the channel, and the back-gate structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.
    Inventors: Julio C. Costa, George Maxim, Dirk Robert Walter Leipold, Baker Scott
  • Patent number: 10405433
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to integrated circuit (IC) packages and methods of manufacturing the same. In one method, a printed circuit board is provided with semiconductor die. The semiconductor die includes a Back-End-of-Line (BEOL) region, a Front-End-of-Line (FEOL) region, and a semiconductor handle such that the BEOL region, the FEOL region, and the semiconductor handle are stacked. A first polymer layer is provided over the printed circuit board so as to cover the semiconductor die. The semiconductor handle of the semiconductor die is exposed through the first polymer layer and removed. A second polymer layer is then provided so that the BEOL region, the FEOL region, and at least a portion of the second polymer layer are stacked. The second polymer layer may be provided to have high thermal conductivity and electric isolation properties thereby providing advantageous package characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.
    Inventors: Julio C. Costa, George Maxim, Dirk Robert Walter Leipold, Baker Scott
  • Publication number: 20190267956
    Abstract: A power amplifier apparatus supporting reverse intermodulation product (rIMD) cancellation is provided. The power amplifier apparatus includes an amplifier circuit configured to amplify and output a radio frequency (RF) signal for transmission via an antenna port. The antenna port may receive a reverse interference signal, which may interfere with the RF signal to create a rIMD(s) that can fall within an RF receive band(s). A reverse coupling circuit is provided in the power amplifier apparatus to generate an interference cancellation signal based on the reverse interference signal. The amplifier circuit is configured to amplify the interference cancellation signal and the RF signal to create an intermodulation product(s) to suppress the rIMD(s) to a determined threshold. By suppressing the rIMD(s) in the power amplifier apparatus, it is possible to support concurrent transmissions and receptions in a number of RF spectrums while in compliance with stringent regulatory spurious emissions (SEM) requirements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Marcus Granger-Jones, Dirk Robert Walter Leipold, Nadim Khlat
  • Publication number: 20190260335
    Abstract: Radio frequency (RF) filters configured to filter undesired signal components (e.g., noise and harmonics) from RF signals are disclosed. In one embodiment, an RF filter includes a first inductor coil having a first winding and a second inductor coil having a second winding and a third winding. The second winding of the second inductor coil is configured to have a first mutual magnetic coupling with the first winding, while the third winding of the second inductor coil is configured to have a second mutual magnetic coupling with the first winding. The second winding is connected to the third winding such that the first mutual magnetic coupling and the second mutual magnetic coupling are in opposition. In this manner, the first inductor coil and the second inductor coil may be provided in a compact arrangement while providing weak mutual magnetic coupling between the first inductor coil and the second inductor coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventors: Dirk Robert Walter Leipold, George Maxim, Baker Scott, Danny W. Chang
  • Publication number: 20190260345
    Abstract: Embodiments of radio frequency (RF) filtering circuitry are disclosed. In one embodiment, the RF filtering circuitry includes a first port, a second port, a first RF filter path, and a second RF filter path. The first RF filter path is connected between the first port and the second port and includes at least a pair of weakly coupled resonators. The weakly coupled resonators are configured such that a first transfer response between the first port and the second port defines a first passband. The second RF filter path is coupled to the first RF filter path and is configured such that the first transfer response between the first port and the second port defines a stopband adjacent to the first passband without substantially increasing ripple variation of the first passband defined by the first transfer response.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventors: Dirk Robert Walter Leipold, George Maxim, Marcus Granger-Jones, Baker Scott
  • Patent number: 10381289
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a thermally enhanced semiconductor package having field effect transistors (FETs) with a back-gate feature. The thermally enhanced semiconductor package includes a first buried oxide (BOX) layer, a first epitaxial layer over the first BOX layer, a second BOX layer over the first epitaxial layer, a second epitaxial layer over the second BOX layer and having a source, a drain, and a channel between the source and the drain, a gate dielectric aligned over the channel, and a front-gate structure over the gate dielectric. Herein, a back-gate structure is formed in the first epitaxial layer and has a back-gate region aligned below the channel. A FET is formed by the front-gate structure, the source, the drain, the channel, and the back-gate structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.
    Inventors: Julio C. Costa, George Maxim, Dirk Robert Walter Leipold, Baker Scott
  • Patent number: 10374788
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure relate to a phase locked loop (PLL)-less millimeter wave (mmWave) power head. The mmWave power head receives a multiplexed signal including a pilot signal at a base frequency and a communication signal at the IF frequency. The mmWave power head separates the pilot signal from the communication signal and multiplies the pilot signal to generate a local oscillator (LO) clock signal(s) at a harmonic frequency(ies) relative to the base frequency of the pilot signal. A selected LO clock signal is provided to a mixer circuit(s) for up and down conversions between the IF frequency and the mmWave carrier frequency. By eliminating the PLL frequency synthesizer from the mmWave power head, it is possible to avoid spur and coupling issues associated with collocating the PLL frequency synthesizer with an antenna front end module (FEM), thus helping to improve reliability and performance of the mmWave power head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.
    Inventors: Dirk Robert Walter Leipold, George Maxim, Baker Scott