Patents by Inventor Franz Schrank

Franz Schrank 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: 20170179183
    Abstract: The semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor wafer with an integrated circuit, formed by a plurality of dies, a further semiconductor wafer, which differs from the semiconductor wafer in diameter and semiconductor material, the semiconductor wafer and the further semiconductor wafer being bonded to one another by means of a bonding layer, and an electrically conductive contact layer arranged on the further semiconductor wafer opposite to the bonding layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Cathal CASSIDY, Joerg SIEGERT, Franz SCHRANK
  • Patent number: 9684074
    Abstract: An optical sensor arrangement, in particular an optical proximity sensor arrangement comprises a three-dimensional integrated circuit further comprising a first layer comprising a light-emitting device, a second layer comprising a light-detector and a driver circuit. The driver circuit is electrically connected to the light-emitting device and to the light-detector to control the operation of the light-emitting device and the light-detector. A mold layer comprising a first light-barrier between the light-emitting device and the light-detector configured to block light from being transmitted directly from the light-emitting device to the light-detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: AMS AG
    Inventors: Franz Schrank, Eugene G. Dierschke, Martin Schrems
  • Patent number: 9608035
    Abstract: The method of wafer-scale integration of semiconductor devices comprises the steps of providing a semiconductor wafer (1), a further semiconductor wafer (2), which differs from the first semiconductor wafer in at least one of diameter, thickness and semiconductor material, and a handling wafer (3), arranging the further semiconductor wafer on the handling wafer, and bonding the further semiconductor wafer to the semiconductor wafer. The semiconductor device may comprise an electrically conductive contact layer (6) arranged on the further semiconductor wafer (2) and a metal layer connecting the contact layer with an integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: AMS AG
    Inventors: Cathal Cassidy, Joerg Siegert, Franz Schrank
  • Publication number: 20170062277
    Abstract: The dicing method comprises the steps of providing a substrate (1) of semiconductor material, the substrate having a main surface (10), where integrated components (3) of chips (13) are arranged, and a rear surface (11) opposite the main surface, fastening a first handling wafer above the main surface, thinning the substrate at the rear surface, and forming trenches (20) penetrating the substrate and separating the chips by a single etching step after the substrate has been thinned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Martin SCHREMS, Bernhard STERING, Franz SCHRANK
  • Patent number: 9574723
    Abstract: An LED module, selectively comprising at least zero, one, or a plurality of LEDs from Group B and/or Group G and/or Group R and at least one or more LEDs from Group P. The concentration of phosphors/phosphor mixtures of the LEDs in Group P is selected such that the photometric efficiency (lm/W) thereof is at or near the maximum as a function of the CIE x-coordinates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: LUMITECH PRODUKTION UND ENTWICKLUNG GMBH
    Inventors: Erwin Baumgartner, Franz Schrank
  • Patent number: 9570390
    Abstract: The semiconductor device comprises a substrate of semiconductor material, a dielectric layer on the substrate, an electrically conductive contact pad arranged in the dielectric layer, a hot plate arranged in the dielectric layer, a recess of the substrate at the location of the hot plate, and an integrated circuit, which operates the hot plate. An electrically conductive layer is arranged on a side of the substrate opposite the dielectric layer. The substrate is provided with a via hole above the contact pad, and an electrically conductive material connecting the electrically conductive layer with the contact pad is applied in the via hole. The recess and the via hole are formed in the same process step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: AMS AG
    Inventors: Franz Schrank, Martin Schrems
  • Publication number: 20170025351
    Abstract: The semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor substrate (10) with a metallization (111) having an upper terminal layer (22) located at a front side (20) of the substrate. The metallization forms a through-substrate via (23) from the upper terminal layer to a rear terminal layer (13) located opposite to the front side at a rear side (21) of the substrate. The through-substrate via comprises an annular cavity (18) and a void (101), which may be filled with air or another gas. A solder ball (100) closes the void without completely filling it. A variety of interconnections for three-dimensional integration is offered by this scheme.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Cathal CASSIDY, Martin SCHREMS, Franz SCHRANK
  • Patent number: 9553039
    Abstract: The semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor substrate (10) with a metallization (111) having an upper terminal layer (22) located at a front side (20) of the substrate. The metallization forms a through-substrate via (23) from the upper terminal layer to a rear terminal layer (13) located opposite to the front side at a rear side (21) of the substrate. The through-substrate via comprises a void (101), which may be filled with air or another gas. A solder ball (100) closes the void without completely filling it. A variety of interconnections for three dimensional integration is offered by this scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: AMS AG
    Inventors: Cathal Cassidy, Martin Schrems, Franz Schrank
  • Publication number: 20170018518
    Abstract: A semiconductor substrate is provided with a through-substrate via comprising a metallization and an opening. A solder ball is placed on the opening. A reflow of the solder ball is performed in such a way that the solder ball closes the through-substrate via and leaves a void in the through-substrate via.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Publication date: January 19, 2017
    Inventors: Cathal CASSIDY, Martin SCHREMS, Franz SCHRANK
  • Patent number: 9543245
    Abstract: The semiconductor device comprises a substrate (1) of semiconductor material with a front side (4) and an opposite rear side (7), a wiring layer (5) at the front side (4), a further wiring layer (8) at the rear side (7), and a through-substrate via (3) connecting the wiring layer (5) and the further wiring layer (8). A hot plate (24) is arranged on or in the substrate, and a sensor layer (21) is arranged in the vicinity of the hot plate. A mold compound (14) is arranged on the rear side (7) above the substrate (1), a cavity (17) is formed in the mold compound (14) to accommodate the sensor layer (21), and the cavity (17) is covered with a membrane (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: ams AG
    Inventors: Franz Schrank, Martin Schrems
  • Publication number: 20160343757
    Abstract: A sensor (2) is arranged at a main surface (10) of a semiconductor substrate (1), and a filter (3) is arranged above the sensor. A through-substrate via (4) penetrates the substrate outside the region of the sensor. A semiconductor body is applied above the main surface and then partially removed at least in an area above the sensor. A portion of the semiconductor body remains above the through-substrate via as a frame layer (5). The filter is on a level with the frame layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventors: Hubert ENICHLMAIR, Franz SCHRANK
  • Publication number: 20160322519
    Abstract: A dielectric layer (2) is arranged on the main surface (10) of a semiconductor substrate (1), and a passivation layer (6) is arranged on the dielectric layer. A metal layer (3) is embedded in the dielectric layer above an opening (12) in the substrate, and a metallization (14) is arranged in the opening. The metallization contacts the metal layer and forms a through-substrate via to a rear surface (11) of the substrate. A layer or layer sequence (7, 8, 9) comprising at least one further layer is arranged on the passivation layer above the opening. In this way the bottom of the through-substrate via is stabilized. A plug (17) may additionally be arranged in the opening without filling the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventors: Franz SCHRANK, Sara CARNIELLO, Hubert ENICHLMAIR, Jochen KRAFT, Bernhard LOEFFLER, Rainer HOLZHAIDER
  • Publication number: 20160306042
    Abstract: An optical sensor arrangement, in particular an optical proximity sensor arrangement comprises a three-dimensional integrated circuit further comprising a first layer comprising a light-emitting device, a second layer comprising a light-detector and a driver circuit. The driver circuit is electrically connected to the light-emitting device and to the light-detector to control the operation of the light-emitting device and the light-detector. A mold layer comprising a first light-barrier between the light-emitting device and the light-detector configured to block light from being transmitted directly from the light-emitting device to the light-detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventors: Franz SCHRANK, Eugene G. DIERSCHKE, Martin SCHREMS
  • Publication number: 20160186937
    Abstract: An LED module, selectively comprising at least zero, one, or a plurality of LEDs from Group B and/or Group G and/or Group R and at least one or more LEDs from Group P. The concentration of phosphors/phosphor mixtures of the LEDs in Group P is selected such that the photometric efficiency (lm/W) thereof is at or near the maximum as a function of the CIE x-coordinates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Applicant: LUMITECH PRODUKTION UND ENTWICKLUNG GMBH
    Inventors: Erwin BAUMGARTNER, Franz SCHRANK
  • Publication number: 20160020238
    Abstract: The semiconductor device for detection of radiation comprises a semiconductor substrate (1) with a main surface (11), a dielectric layer (6) comprising at least one compound of a semiconductor material, an integrated circuit (2) including at least one component sensitive to radiation (3), a wiring (4) of the integrated circuit embedded in an intermetal layer (8) of the dielectric layer (6), an electrically conductive through-substrate via (5) contacting the wiring, and an optical filter element (7) arranged immediately on the dielectric layer above the component sensitive to radiation. The dielectric layer comprises a passivation layer (9) at least above the through-substrate via, the passivation layer comprises a dielectric material that is different from the intermetal layer (8), and the wiring is arranged between the main surface and the passivation layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Hubert Enichlmair, Franz Schrank, Joerg Siegert
  • Patent number: 9206947
    Abstract: An LED module, selectively comprising at least zero, one, or a plurality of LEDs from Group B and/or Group G and/or Group R and at least one or more LEDs from Group P. The concentration of phosphors/phosphor mixtures of the LEDs in Group P is selected such that the photometric efficiency (lm/W) thereof is at or near the maximum as a function of the CIE x-coordinates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: LUMITECH PRODUKTION UND ENTWICKLUNG GMBH
    Inventors: Erwin Baumgartner, Franz Schrank
  • Publication number: 20150340264
    Abstract: A device wafer having a main surface including an edge region and a carrier having a further main surface including an annular surface region corresponding to the edge region of the device wafer are provided. An adhesive is applied in the edge region and/or in the annular surface region, but not on the remaining areas of the main surfaces. The device wafer is fastened to the carrier by the adhesive. The main surface and the further main surface are brought into contact with one another when the device wafer is fastened to the carrier, while the main surface and the further main surface are fastened to one another only in the edge region. The device wafer is removed from the carrier after further process steps, which may include the formation of through-wafer vias in the device wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Applicant: AMS AG
    Inventors: Joerg SIEGERT, Martin SCHREMS, Jochen KRAFT, Franz SCHRANK
  • Publication number: 20150303141
    Abstract: The semiconductor device comprises a substrate of semiconductor material, a dielectric layer on the substrate, an electrically conductive contact pad arranged in the dielectric layer, a hot plate arranged in the dielectric layer, a recess of the substrate at the location of the hot plate, and an integrated circuit, which operates the hot plate. An electrically conductive layer is arranged on a side of the substrate opposite the dielectric layer. The substrate is provided with a via hole above the contact pad, and an electrically conductive material connecting the electrically conductive layer with the contact pad is applied in the via hole. The recess and the via hole are formed in the same process step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Applicant: ams AG
    Inventors: Franz SCHRANK, Martin SCHREMS
  • Publication number: 20150287674
    Abstract: The semiconductor device comprises a substrate (1) of semiconductor material with a front side (4) and an opposite rear side (7), a wiring layer (5) at the front side (4), a further wiring layer (8) at the rear side (7), and a through-substrate via (3) connecting the wiring layer (5) and the further wiring layer (8). A hot plate (24) is arranged on or in the substrate, and a sensor layer (21) is arranged in the vicinity of the hot plate. A mold compound (14) is arranged on the rear side (7) above the substrate (1), a cavity (17) is formed in the mold compound (14) to accommodate the sensor layer (21), and the cavity (17) is covered with a membrane (15).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Inventors: Franz Schrank, Martin Schrems
  • Publication number: 20150162308
    Abstract: The interposer-chip-arrangement comprises an interposer (1), metal layers arranged above a main surface (10), a further metal layer arranged above a further main surface (11) opposite the main surface, an electrically conductive interconnection (7) through the interposer, the interconnection connecting one of the metal layers and the further metal layer, a chip (12) arranged at the main surface or at the further main surface, the chip having a contact pad (15), which is electrically conductively connected with the interconnection, a dielectric layer (2) arranged above the main surface with the metal layers embedded in the dielectric layer, a further dielectric layer (3) arranged above the further main surface with the further metal layer embedded in the further dielectric layer, and an integrated circuit (25) in the interposer, the integrated circuit being connected with at least one of the metal layers (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Inventors: Jochen KRAFT, Martin SCHREMS, Franz SCHRANK