Patents by Inventor Gary L. Steinbrueck

Gary L. Steinbrueck 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: 8990759
    Abstract: The fabrication of the wafer may be analyzed starting from when the wafer is in a partially fabricated state. The value of a specified performance parameter may be determined at a plurality of locations on an active area of a die of the wafer. The specified performance parameter is known to be indicative of a particular fabrication process in the fabrication. Evaluation information may then be obtained based on a variance of the value of the performance parameter at the plurality of locations. This may be done without affecting a usability of a chip that is created from the die. The evaluation information may be used to evaluate how one or more processes that include the particular fabrication process that was indicated by the performance parameter value was performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: tau-Metrix, Inc.
    Inventors: Majid Aghababazadeh, Jose J. Estabil, Nader Pakdaman, Gary L. Steinbrueck
  • Patent number: 8344745
    Abstract: The fabrication of the wafer may be analyzed starting from when the wafer is in a partially fabricated state. The value of a specified performance parameter may be determined at a plurality of test structures located on an active area of a die of the wafer. The specified performance parameter is known to be indicative of a particular fabrication process in the fabrication. Evaluation information may then be obtained based on a variance of the value of the performance parameter at the plurality of locations. This may be done without affecting a usability of a chip that is created from the die. The evaluation information may be used to evaluate how one or more processes that include the particular fabrication process that was indicated by the performance parameter value was performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: tau-Metrix, Inc.
    Inventors: Majid Aghababazadeh, Jose J. Estabil, Nader Pakdaman, Gary L. Steinbrueck, James S. Vickers
  • Publication number: 20100304509
    Abstract: The fabrication of the wafer may be analyzed starting from when the wafer is in a partially fabricated state. The value of a specified performance parameter may be determined at a plurality of locations on an active area of a die of the wafer. The specified performance parameter is known to be indicative of a particular fabrication process in the fabrication. Evaluation information may then be obtained based on a variance of the value of the performance parameter at the plurality of locations. This may be done without affecting a usability of a chip that is created from the die. The evaluation information may be used to evaluate how one or more processes that include the particular fabrication process that was indicated by the performance parameter value was performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventors: Majid Aghababazadeh, Jose J. Estabil, Nader Pakdaman, Gary L. Steinbrueck
  • Patent number: 7736916
    Abstract: The fabrication of the wafer may be analyzed starting from when the wafer is in a partially fabricated state. The value of a specified performance parameter may be determined at a plurality of locations on an active area of a die of the wafer. The specified performance parameter is known to be indicative of a particular fabrication process in the fabrication. Evaluation information may then be obtained based on a variance of the value of the performance parameter at the plurality of locations. This may be done without affecting a usability of a chip that is created from the die. The evaluation information may be used to evaluate how one or more processes that include the particular fabrication process that was indicated by the performance parameter value was performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: tau-Metrix, Inc.
    Inventors: Majid Aghababazadeh, Jose J. Estabil, Nader Pakdaman, Gary L. Steinbrueck, James S. Vickers
  • Patent number: 7730434
    Abstract: The fabrication of the wafer may be analyzed starting from when the wafer is in a partially fabricated state. The value of a specified performance parameter may be determined at a plurality of locations on an active area of a die of the wafer. The specified performance parameter is known to be indicative of a particular fabrication process in the fabrication. Evaluation information may then be obtained based on a variance of the value of the performance parameter at the plurality of locations. This may be done without affecting a usability of a chip that is created from the die. The evaluation information may be used to evaluate how one or more processes that include the particular fabrication process that was indicated by the performance parameter value was performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: tau-Metrix, Inc.
    Inventors: Majid Aghababazadeh, Jose J. Estabil, Nader Pakdaman, Gary L. Steinbrueck
  • Patent number: 7723724
    Abstract: A system is provided for using test structures to evaluate a fabrication of a wafer. The test structures include a combination of device and interconnect elements that are provided on an active region of a die, on the wafer prior to the fabrication of the wafer being completed. The combination of device and interconnect elements include one or more circuits that are activatable to produce an output corresponding to measurable electrical and/or optical characteristics. A power receiving element that is configured to receive activation energy sufficient to cause the output on a contactless medium, so that the activation energy is received without affecting a usability of the die or wafer. The one or more circuits are structured to generate a variation in either the output or in a parameter determined from output, as a result of a process variation in a specific fabrication step that provided elements for forming the one or more circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: tau-Metrix, Inc.
    Inventors: Majid Aghababazadeh, Jose J. Estabil, Nader Pakdaman, Gary L. Steinbrueck, James S. Vickers
  • Patent number: 7605597
    Abstract: The fabrication of the wafer may be analyzed starting from when the wafer is in a partially fabricated state. The value of a specified performance parameter may be determined at a plurality of locations on an active area of a die of the wafer. The specified performance parameter is known to be indicative of a particular fabrication process in the fabrication. Evaluation information may then be obtained based on a variance of the value of the performance parameter at the plurality of locations. This may be done without affecting a usability of a chip that is created from the die. The evaluation information may be used to evaluate how one or more processes that include the particular fabrication process that was indicated by the performance parameter value was performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: tau-Metrix, Inc.
    Inventors: Majid Aghababazadeh, Jose J. Estabil, Nader Pakdaman, Gary L. Steinbrueck, James S. Vickers
  • Publication number: 20080315196
    Abstract: The fabrication of the wafer may be analyzed starting from when the wafer is in a partially fabricated state. The value of a specified performance parameter may be determined at a plurality of locations on an active area of a die of the wafer. The specified performance parameter is known to be indicative of a particular fabrication process in the fabrication. Evaluation information may then be obtained based on a variance of the value of the performance parameter at the plurality of locations. This may be done without affecting a usability of a chip that is created from the die. The evaluation information may be used to evaluate how one or more processes that include the particular fabrication process that was indicated by the performance parameter value was performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: Majid AGHABABAZADEH, Jose J. Estabil, Nader Pakdaman, Gary L. Steinbrueck, James S. Vickers
  • Patent number: 7423288
    Abstract: The fabrication of the wafer may be analyzed starting from when the wafer is in a partially fabricated state. The value of a specified performance parameter may be determined at a plurality of locations on an active area of a die of the wafer. The specified performance parameter is known to be indicative of a particular fabrication process in the fabrication. Evaluation information may then be obtained based on a variance of the value of the performance parameter of the plurality of locations. This may be done without affecting a usability of a chip that is created from the die. The evaluation information may be used to evaluate how one or more processes that include the particular fabrication process that was indicated by the performance parameter value was performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: tau-Metrix, Inc.
    Inventors: Majid Aghababazadeh, Jose J. Estabil, Nader Pakdaman, Gary L. Steinbrueck, James S. Vickers
  • Patent number: 7339388
    Abstract: The fabrication of the wafer may be analyzed starting from when the wafer is in a partially fabricated state. The value of a specified performance parameter may be determined at a plurality of locations on an active area of a die of the wafer. The specified performance parameter is known to be indicative of a particular fabrication process in the fabrication. Evaluation information may then be obtained based on a variance of the value of the performance parameter at the plurality of locations. This may be done without affecting a usability of a chip that is created from the die. The evaluation information may be used to evaluate how one or more processes that include the particular fabrication process that was indicated by the performance parameter value was performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: tau-Metrix, Inc.
    Inventors: Majid Aghababazadeh, Jose J. Estabil, Nader Pakdaman, Gary L. Steinbrueck, James S. Vickers
  • Patent number: 7256055
    Abstract: The fabrication of the wafer may be analyzed starting from when the wafer is in a partially fabricated state. The value of a specified performance parameter may be determined at a plurality of locations on an active area of a die of the wafer. The specified performance parameter is known to be indicative of a particular fabrication process in the fabrication. Evaluation information may then be obtained based on a variance of the value of the performance parameter at the plurality of locations. This may be done without affecting a usability of a chip that is created from the die. The evaluation information may be used to evaluate how one or more processes that include the particular fabrication process that was indicated by the performance parameter value was performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: tau-Metrix, Inc.
    Inventors: Majid Aghababazadeh, Jose J. Estabil, Nader Pakdaman, Gary L. Steinbrueck, James S. Vickers
  • Patent number: 7220990
    Abstract: The fabrication of the wafer may be analyzed starting from when the wafer is in a partially fabricated state. The value of a specified performance parameter may be determined at a plurality of locations on an active area of a die of the wafer. The specified performance parameter is known to be indicative of a particular fabrication process in the fabrication. Evaluation information may then be obtained based on a variance of the value of the performance parameter at the plurality of locations. This may be done without affecting a usability of a chip that is created from the die. The evaluation information may be used to evaluate how one or more processes that include the particular fabrication process that was indicated by the performance parameter value was performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: tau-Metrix, Inc.
    Inventors: Majid Aghababazadeh, Jose J. Estabil, Nader Pakdaman, Gary L. Steinbrueck, James S. Vickers