Patents by Inventor Edmund Sprogis

Edmund Sprogis 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: 8264078
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a sub-pad assembly of metal structures is located directly underneath a metal pad. The sub-pad assembly includes an upper level metal line structure abutting the metal pad, a lower level metal line structure located underneath the upper level metal line structure, and a set of metal vias that provide electrical connection between the lower level metal line structure located underneath the upper level metal line structure. In another embodiment, the reliability of a C4 ball is enhanced by employing a metal pad structure having a set of integrated metal vias that are segmented and distributed to facilitate uniform current density distribution within the C4 ball. The areal density of the cross-sectional area in the plurality of metal vias is higher at the center portion of the metal pad than at the peripheral portion of the planar portion of the metal pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy H. Daubenspeck, Wolfgang Sauter, Timothy D. Sullivan, Steven L. Wright, Edmund Sprogis
  • Publication number: 20120080797
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a sub-pad assembly of metal structures is located directly underneath a metal pad. The sub-pad assembly includes an upper level metal line structure abutting the metal pad, a lower level metal line structure located underneath the upper level metal line structure, and a set of metal vias that provide electrical connection between the lower level metal line structure located underneath the upper level metal line structure. In another embodiment, the reliability of a C4 ball is enhanced by employing a metal pad structure having a set of integrated metal vias that are segmented and distributed to facilitate uniform current density distribution within the C4 ball. The areal density of the cross-sectional area in the plurality of metal vias is higher at the center portion of the metal pad than at the peripheral portion of the planar portion of the metal pad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Timothy H. Daubenspeck, Wolfgang Sauter, Timothy D. Sullivan, Steven L. Wright, Edmund Sprogis
  • Patent number: 8084858
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a sub-pad assembly of metal structures is located directly underneath a metal pad. The sub-pad assembly includes an upper level metal line structure abutting the metal pad, a lower level metal line structure located underneath the upper level metal line structure, and a set of metal vias that provide electrical connection between the lower level metal line structure located underneath the upper level metal line structure. In another embodiment, the reliability of a C4 ball is enhanced by employing a metal pad structure having a set of integrated metal vias that are segmented and distributed to facilitate uniform current density distribution within the C4 ball. The areal density of the cross-sectional area in the plurality of metal vias is higher at the center portion of the metal pad than at the peripheral portion of the planar portion of the metal pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy H. Daubenspeck, Wolfgang Sauter, Timothy D. Sullivan, Steven L. Wright, Edmund Sprogis
  • Patent number: 7863734
    Abstract: An electronic device and method of packaging an electronic device. The device including: a first substrate, a second substrate and an integrated circuit chip having a first side and an opposite second side, a first set of chip pads on the first side and a second set of chip pads on the second side of the integrated circuit chip, chip pads of the first set of chip pads physically and electrically connected to corresponding substrate pads on the first substrate and chip pads of the second set of chip pads physically and electrically connected to substrate pads of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kerry Bernstein, Timothy Dalton, Timothy Harrison Daubenspeck, Jeffrey Peter Gambino, Mark David Jaffe, Christopher David Muzzy, Wolfgang Sauter, Edmund Sprogis, Anthony Kendall Stamper
  • Publication number: 20100263913
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a sub-pad assembly of metal structures is located directly underneath a metal pad. The sub-pad assembly includes an upper level metal line structure abutting the metal pad, a lower level metal line structure located underneath the upper level metal line structure, and a set of metal vias that provide electrical connection between the lower level metal line structure located underneath the upper level metal line structure. In another embodiment, the reliability of a C4 ball is enhanced by employing a metal pad structure having a set of integrated metal vias that are segmented and distributed to facilitate uniform current density distribution within the C4 ball. The area1 density of the cross-sectional area in the plurality of metal vias is higher at the center portion of the metal pad than at the peripheral portion of the planar portion of the metal pad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy H. Daubenspeck, Wolfgang Sauter, Timothy D. Sullivan, Steven L. Wright, Edmund Sprogis
  • Publication number: 20090065925
    Abstract: An electronic device and method of packaging an electronic device. The device including: a first substrate, a second substrate and an integrated circuit chip having a first side and an opposite second side, a first set of chip pads on the first side and a second set of chip pads on the second side of the integrated circuit chip, chip pads of the first set of chip pads physically and electrically connected to corresponding substrate pads on the first substrate and chip pads of the second set of chip pads physically and electrically connected to substrate pads of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventors: Kerry Bernstein, Timothy Dalton, Timothy Harrison Daubenspeck, Jeffrey Peter Gambino, Mark David Jaffe, Christopher David Muzzy, Wolfgang Sauter, Edmund Sprogis, Anthony Kendall Stamper
  • Patent number: 7462509
    Abstract: An method of packaging an electronic device. The method for packaging the device including: providing a first substrate, a second substrate and an integrated circuit chip having a first side and an opposite second side, a first set of chip pads on the first side and a second set of chip pads on the second side of the integrated circuit chip, chip pads of the first set of chip pads physically and electrically connected to corresponding substrate pads on the first substrate and chip pads of the second set of chip pads physically and electrically connected to substrate pads of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kerry Bernstein, Timothy Dalton, Timothy Harrison Daubenspeck, Jeffrey Peter Gambino, Mark David Jaffe, Christopher David Muzzy, Wolfgang Sauter, Edmund Sprogis, Anthony Kendall Stamper
  • Publication number: 20080073742
    Abstract: An imaging system for use in a digital camera or cell phone utilizes one chip for logic and one chip for image processing. The chips are interconnected using around-the-edge or through via conductors extending from bond pads on the active surface of the imaging chip to backside metallurgy on the imaging chip. The backside metallurgy of the imaging chip is connected to metallurgy on the active surface of the logic chip using an array of solder bumps in BGA fashion. The interconnection arrangement provides a CSP which matches the space constraints of a cell phone, for example. The arrangement also utilizes minimal wire lengths for reduced noise. Connection of the CSP to a carrier package may be either by conductive through vias or wire bonding. The CSP is such that the imaging chip may readily be mounted across an aperture in the wall of a cell phone, for example, so as to expose the light sensitive pixels on the active surface of said imaging chip to light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Inventors: James Adkisson, Jeffrey Gambino, Mark Jaffe, Robert Leidy, Stephen Luce, Richard Rassell, Edmund Sprogis
  • Publication number: 20080067628
    Abstract: Techniques for electronic device fabrication are provided. In one aspect, an electronic device is provided. The electronic device comprises at least one interposer structure having one or mote vias and a plurality of decoupling capacitors integrated therein, the at least one interposer structure being configured to allow for one or more of the plurality of decoupling capacitors to be selectively deactivated. In another aspect, a method of fabricating an electronic device comprising at least one interposer structure having one or more vias and a plurality of decoupling capacitors integrated therein comprises the following step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond Horton, John Knickerbocker, Edmund Sprogis, Cornelia Tsang
  • Publication number: 20080042798
    Abstract: A resistor with heat sink is provided. The heat sink includes a conductive path having metal or other thermal conductor having a high thermal conductivity. To avoid shorting the electrical resistor to ground with the thermal conductor, a thin layer of high thermal conductivity electrical insulator is interposed between the thermal conductor and the body of the resistor. Accordingly, a resistor can carry large amounts of current because the high conductivity thermal conductor will conduct heat away from the resistor to a heat sink. Various configurations of thermal conductors and heat sinks are provided offering good thermal conductive properties in addition to reduced parasitic capacitances and other parasitic electrical effects, which would reduce the high frequency response of the electrical resistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Douglas Coolbaugh, Ebenezer Eshun, Terence Hook, Robert Rassel, Edmund Sprogis, Anthony Stamper, William Murphy
  • Publication number: 20080036084
    Abstract: A laser release and glass chip removal process for a integrated circuit module avoiding carrier edge cracking is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2006
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Leena Buchwalter, Paul Andry, Matthew Farinelli, Sherif Goma, Raymond Horton, Edmund Sprogis
  • Publication number: 20080019101
    Abstract: A resistor with heat sink is provided. The heat sink includes a conductive path having metal or other thermal conductor having a high thermal conductivity. To avoid shorting the electrical resistor to ground with the thermal conductor, a thin layer of high thermal conductivity electrical insulator is interposed between the thermal conductor and the body of the resistor. Accordingly, a resistor can carry large amounts of current because the high conductivity thermal conductor will conduct heat away from the resistor to a heat sink. Various configurations of thermal conductors and heat sinks are provided offering good thermal conductive properties in addition to reduced parasitic capacitances and other parasitic electrical effects, which would reduce the high frequency response of the electrical resistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Douglas COOLBAUGH, Ebenezer ESHUN, Terence HOOK, Robert RASSEL, Edmund SPROGIS, Anthony STAMPER, William MURPHY
  • Publication number: 20070267746
    Abstract: An electronic device and method of packaging an electronic device. The device including: a first substrate, a second substrate and an integrated circuit chip having a first side and an opposite second side, a first set of chip pads on the first side and a second set of chip pads on the second side of the integrated circuit chip, chip pads of the first set of chip pads physically and electrically connected to corresponding substrate pads on the first substrate and chip pads of the second set of chip pads physically and electrically connected to substrate pads of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Inventors: Kerry Bernstein, Timothy Dalton, Timothy Harrison Daubenspeck, Jeffrey Peter Gambino, Mark David Jaffe, Christopher David Muzzy, Wolfgang Sauter, Edmund Sprogis, Anthony Kendall Stamper
  • Publication number: 20070190692
    Abstract: A backside contact structure and method of fabricating the structure. The method includes: forming a dielectric isolation in a substrate, the substrate having a frontside and an opposing backside; forming a first dielectric layer on the frontside of the substrate; forming a trench in the first dielectric layer, the trench aligned over and within a perimeter of the dielectric isolation and extending to the dielectric isolation; extending the trench formed in the first dielectric layer through the dielectric isolation and into the substrate to a depth less than a thickness of the substrate; filling the trench and co-planarizing a top surface of the trench with a top surface of the first dielectric layer to form an electrically conductive through via; and thinning the substrate from a backside of the substrate to expose the through via.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2006
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventors: Mete Erturk, Robert Groves, Jeffrey Johnson, Alvin Joseph, Qizhi Liu, Edmund Sprogis, Anthony Stamper
  • Publication number: 20070138657
    Abstract: A physically secure processing assembly is provided that includes dies mounted on a substrate so as to sandwich the electrical contacts of the dies between the dies and the substrate. The substrate is provided with substrate contacts and conductive pathways that are electrically coupled to the die contacts and extend through the substrate. Electrical conductors surround the conductive pathways. A monitoring circuit detects a break in continuity of one or more of the electrical conductors, and preferably renders the assembly inoperable. Preferably, an epoxy encapsulation is provided to prevent probing tools from being able to reach the die or substrate contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Publication date: June 21, 2007
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Vincenzo Condorelli, Claudius Feger, Kevin Gotze, Nihad Hadzic, John Knickerbocker, Edmund Sprogis
  • Publication number: 20070132067
    Abstract: Structures for aligning wafers and methods for operating the same. The structure includes (a) a first semiconductor wafer including a first capacitive coupling structure, and (b) a second semiconductor wafer including a second capacitive coupling structure. The first and second semiconductor wafers are in direct physical contact with each other via a common surface. If the first and second semiconductor wafers are moved with respect to each other by a first displacement distance of 1 nm in a first direction while the first and second semiconductor wafers are in direct physical contact with each other via the common surface, then a change of at least 10?18 F in capacitance of a first capacitor comprising the first and second capacitive coupling structures results. The first direction is essentially parallel to the common surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Publication date: June 14, 2007
    Inventors: Timothy Dalton, Jeffrey Gambino, Mark Jaffe, Stephen Luce, Edmund Sprogis
  • Publication number: 20070111385
    Abstract: A Silicon Based Package (SBP) is formed starting with a thick wafer, which serves as the base for the SBP, composed of silicon which has a first surface and a reverse surface which are planar. Then form an interconnection structure including metal capture structures in contact with the first surface and multilayer conductor patterns over the first surface. Form a temporary bond between the SBP and a wafer holder, with the wafer holder being a rigid structure. Thin the reverse side of the wafer to a desired thickness to form an Ultra Thin Silicon Wafer (UTSW) for the SBP. Form via holes with tapered or vertical sidewalls, which extend through the UTSW to reach the metal capture structures. Then form metal pads in the via holes which extend through the UTSW, making electrical contact to the metal capture structures. Then bond the metal pads in the via holes to pads of a carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Inventors: John Magerlein, Chirag Patel, Edmund Sprogis, Herbert Stoller
  • Publication number: 20070077752
    Abstract: A method for the removal of residual UV radiation-sensitive adhesive from the surfaces of semiconductor wafers, remaining thereon from protective UV radiation-sensitive tapes which were stripped from the semiconductor wafers. Moreover, provided is an arrangement for implementing the removal of residual sensitive adhesive, which remain from tapes employed as protective layers on semiconductor wafers, particularly wafers having surfaces including C4 connections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2005
    Publication date: April 5, 2007
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Codding, Timothy Krywanczyk, Edmund Sprogis, Jocelyn Sylvestre, Matthew Whalen
  • Publication number: 20070048896
    Abstract: Conductive through vias are formed in electronic devices and electronic device carrier, such as, a silicon chip carrier. An annulus cavity is etched into the silicon carrier from the top side of the carrier and the cavity is filled with insulating material to form an isolation collar around a silicon core region. An insulating layer with at least one wiring level, having a portion in contact with the silicon core region, is formed on the top side of the carrier. Silicon is removed from the back side of the carrier sufficient to expose the distal portion of the isolation collar. The core region is etched out to expose the portion of the wiring level in contact with the silicon core region to form an empty via. The via is filled with conductive material in contact with the exposed portion of the wiring level to form a conductive through via to the wiring level. A solder bump formed, for example, from low melt C4 solder, is formed on the conductive via exposed on the carrier back side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Andry, Chirag Patel, Edmund Sprogis, Cornelia Tsang
  • Publication number: 20070035030
    Abstract: Techniques for electronic device fabrication are provided. In one aspect, an electronic device is provided. The electronic device comprises at least one interposer structure having one or more vias and a plurality of decoupling capacitors integrated therein, the at least one interposer structure being configured to allow for one or more of the plurality of decoupling capacitors to be selectively deactivated. In another aspect, a method of fabricating an electronic device comprising at least one interposer structure having one or more vias and a plurality of decoupling capacitors integrated therein comprises the following step. One or more of the plurality of decoupling capacitors are selectively deactivated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2005
    Publication date: February 15, 2007
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond Horton, John Knickerbocker, Edmund Sprogis, Cornelia Tsang