Patents by Inventor Elizabeth N. Hoffman

Elizabeth N. Hoffman 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).

  • Suppressing tin whisker growth in lead-free solders and platings
    Patent number: 8709179
    Abstract: A process of irradiation Sn containing Pb-free solder to mitigate whisker formation and growth thereon is provided. The use of gamma radiation such as cobalt-60 has been applied to a substrate of Sn on copper has been found to change the morphology of the crystalline whisker growth to a more truncated hillock pattern. The change in morphology greatly reduces the tendency of whiskers to contribute to electrical short-circuits being used as a Pb-free solder system on a copper substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Elizabeth N Hoffman, Poh-Sang Lam
  • SUPPRESSING TIN WHISKER GROWTH IN LEAD-FREE SOLDERS AND PLATNGS
    Publication number: 20130089181
    Abstract: A process of irradiation Sn containing Pb-free solder to mitigate whisker formation and growth thereon is provided. The use of gamma radiation such as cobalt-60 has been applied to a substrate of Sn on copper has been found to change the morphology of the crystalline whisker growth to a more truncated hillock pattern. The change in morphology greatly reduces the tendency of whiskers to contribute to electrical short-circuits being used as a Pb-free solder system on a copper substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: SAVANNAH RIVER NUCLEAR SOLUTIONS, LLC
    Inventors: Elizabeth N. Hoffman, Poh-Sang Lam