Patents by Inventor Glenn J. Leedy

Glenn J. Leedy 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: 5354695
    Abstract: General purpose methods for the fabrication of integrated circuits from flexible membranes formed of very thin low stress dielectric materials, such as silicon dioxide or silicon nitride, and semiconductor layers. Semiconductor devices are formed in a semiconductor layer of the membrane. The semiconductor membrane layer is initially formed from a substrate of standard thickness, and all but a thin surface layer of the substrate is then etched or polished away. In another version, the flexible membrane is used as support and electrical interconnect for conventional integrated circuit die bonded thereto, with the interconnect formed in multiple layers in the membrane. Multiple die can be connected to one such membrane, which is then packaged as a multi-chip module. Other applications are based on (circuit) membrane processing for bipolar and MOSFET transistor fabrication, low impedance conductor interconnecting fabrication, flat panel displays, maskless (direct write) lithography,. and 3D IC fabrication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Inventor: Glenn J. Leedy
  • Patent number: 5225771
    Abstract: Individual transistor or logic unit testing is accomplished by a specially fabricated flexible tester surface made in one embodiment of several layers of flexible silicon dioxide, each layer containing vias and conductive traces leading to thousands of microscopic metal probe points on one side of the test surface. The probe points electrically contact the contacts on the wafer under test by fluid pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1993
    Assignee: DRI Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Glenn J. Leedy
  • Patent number: 5103557
    Abstract: Each transistor or logic unit on an integrated circuit wafer is tested prior to interconnect metallization. By means of CAD software, the transistor or logic units placement net list is revised to substitute redundant defect-free logic units for defective ones. Then the interconnect metallization is laid down and patterned under control of a CAD computer system. Each die in the wafer thus has its own interconnect scheme, although each die is functionally equivalent, and yields are much higher than with conventional testing at the completed circuit level.The individual transistor or logic unit testing is accomplished by a specially fabricated flexible tester surface made in one embodiment of several layers of flexible silicon dioxide, each layer containing vias and conductive traces leading to thousands of microscopic metal probe points on one side of the test surface. The probe points electrically contact the contacts on the wafer under test by fluid pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1992
    Inventor: Glenn J. Leedy
  • Patent number: 5034685
    Abstract: Each transistor or logic unit on an integrated circuit wafer is tested prior to interconnect metallization. By CAD, the transistor or logic units placement net list is revised to substitute redundant defect-free logic units for defective ones. Then the interconnect metallization is laid down and patterned under control of CAD. Each die in the wafer thus has its own interconnect scheme, although each die is functionally equivalent, and yields are much higher than with conventional testing at the completed circuit level. The individual transistor or logic unit testing is accomplished by a specially fabricated flexible tester surface made in one embodiment of several layers of flexible silicon dioxide, each layer containing vias and conductive traces leading to thousands of microscopic metal probe points on one side of the test surface. The probe points electrically contact the contacts on the wafer under test by fluid pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1991
    Inventor: Glenn J. Leedy
  • Patent number: 5020219
    Abstract: Each transistor or logic unit on an integrated circuit wafer is tested prior to interconnect metallization. By CAD means, the transistor or logic units placement net list is revised to substitute redundant defect-free logic units for defective ones. Then the interconnect metallization is laid down and patterned under control of a CAD means. Each die in the wafer thus has its own interconnect scheme, although each die is functionally equivalent, and yields are much higher than with conventional testing at the completed circuit level.The individual transistor or logic unit testing is accomplished by a specially fabricated flexible tester surface made in one embodiment of several layers of flexible silicon dioxide, each layer containing vias and conductive traces leading to thousands of microscopic metal probe points on one side of the test surface. The probe points electrically contact the contacts on the wafer under test by fluid pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1991
    Inventor: Glenn J. Leedy
  • Patent number: 4994735
    Abstract: The individual transistor or logic unit testing is accomplished by a specially fabricated flexible tester surface made in one embodiment of several layers of flexible silcon dioxide, each layer containing vias and conductive traces leading to thousands of microscopic metal probe points on one side of the test surface. The probe points electrically contact the contacts on the wafer under test by fluid pressure. The tester surface traces are then connected, by means of multiplexers, to a conventional tester signal processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1991
    Inventor: Glenn J. Leedy
  • Patent number: 4924589
    Abstract: Each transistor or logic unit on an integrated circuit wafer is tested prior to interconnect metallization. By CAD means, the transistor or logic units placement net list is revised to substitute redundant defect-free logic units for defective ones. Then the interconnect metallization is laid down and patterned under control of a CAD means. Each die in the wafer thus has its own interconnect scheme, although each die is functionally equivalent, and yields are much higher than with conventional testing at the completed circuit level.The individual transistor or logic unit testing is accomplished by a specially fabricated flexible tester surface made in one embodiment of several layers of flexible silicon dioxide, each layer containing vias and conductive traces leading to thousands of microscopic metal probe points on one side of the test surface. The probe points electrically contact the contacts on the wafer under test by fluid pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1990
    Inventor: Glenn J. Leedy