Patents by Inventor James J. Hofmann

James J. Hofmann 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: 6428943
    Abstract: A method, composition, and article for patterning and depositioning a substrate employing a colloidal suspension includes the step of agitating the colloidal suspension to eliminate aggregations of colloidal particles in the substrate. The colloidal suspension may include a plurality of colloidal particles in a suspension medium which may comprise deionized water, a resist such as photoresist, and a solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David H. Wells, James J. Hofmann
  • Publication number: 20020098696
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for planarizing a microelectronic substrate. In one embodiment, the method can include planarizing the microelectronic substrate with a fixed abrasive polishing pad while maintaining the pH of a planarizing liquid adjacent the polishing pad at an approximately constant level by buffering the planarizing liquid. The planarizing liquid can include ammonium hydroxide and ammonium acetate, ammonium citrate, or potassium hydrogen phthalate. In another embodiment, the planarizing liquid can have an initially high pH that has a reduced tendency to decrease during planarization. The planarizing liquid can also include agents, such as isopropyl alcohol, ammonium acetate or polyoxy ethylene ether that can increase the wetted surface area of the microelectronic substrate and/or reduce drag force imparted to the microelectronic substrate by the polishing pad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2002
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Inventors: Gundu M. Sabde, James J. Hofmann, Michael J. Joslyn, Whonchee Lee
  • Patent number: 6422906
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for anodically bonding an array of spacer columns to one of the inner major faces on one of the generally planar plates of an evacuated, flat-panel video display. The process includes the steps of: providing a generally planar plate having a plurality of spacer column attachment sites; providing electrical interconnection between all attachment sites; coating each attachment site with a patch of oxidizable material; providing an array of unattached permanent glass spacer columns, each unattached permanent spacer column being of uniform length and being positioned longitudinally perpendicular to a single plane, with the plane intersecting the midpoint of each unattached spacer column; positioning the array such that an end of one permanent spacer column is in contact with the oxidizable material patch at each attachment site; and anodically bonding the contacting end of each permanent spacer column to the oxidizable material layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James J. Hofmann, Jason B. Elledge, Zhong-Yi Xia, David A. Cathey
  • Patent number: 6417605
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for stabilizing the threshold voltage in an active matrix field emission device. The method includes the formation of radiation blocking elements between a cathodoluminescent display screen of the FED and semiconductor junctions formed on a baseplate of the FED.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James J. Hofmann, John K. Lee, David A. Cathey, Glen E. Hush
  • Publication number: 20020053870
    Abstract: A flat panel display and process for forming and the flat panel display having an anodically bonded array of spacer columns to one of the inner major faces on one of the generally planar plates of an evacuated, flat-panel video display. The process including providing a generally planar plate having a plurality of spacer column attachment sites; providing electrical interconnection between all attachment sites, coating each attachment site with a patch of oxidizable material; providing an array of unattached permanent glass spacer columns, each unattached permanent spacer columns being of uniform length and being positioned longitudinally perpendicular to a single plane, with the plane intersecting the midpoint of each unattached spacer column; positioning the array such that an end of one permanent spacer column is in contact with the oxidizable material patch at each attachment site, and anodically bonding the contacting end of each permanent spacer column to the oxidizable material layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Publication date: May 9, 2002
    Inventors: James J. Hofmann, Jason B. Elledge, Zhong-Yi Xia, David A. Cathey
  • Patent number: 6383934
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for planarizing a microelectronic substrate. In one embodiment, the method can include planarizing the microelectronic substrate with a fixed abrasive polishing pad while maintaining the pH of a planarizing liquid adjacent the polishing pad at an approximately constant level by buffering the planarizing liquid. The planarizing liquid can include ammonium hydroxide and ammonium acetate, ammonium citrate, or potassium hydrogen phthalate. In another embodiment, the planarizing liquid can have an initially high pH that has a reduced tendency to decrease during planarization. The planarizing liquid can also include agents, such as isopropyl alcohol, ammonium acetate or polyoxy ethylene ether that can increase the wetted surface area of the microelectronic substrate and/or reduce drag force imparted to the microelectronic substrate by the polishing pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Gundu M. Sabde, James J. Hofmann, Michael J. Joslyn, Whonchee Lee
  • Patent number: 6372404
    Abstract: A method, composition, and article for patterning and depositioning a substrate employing a colloidal suspension includes the step of agitating the colloidal suspension to eliminate aggregations of colloidal particles in the substrate The colloidal suspension may include a plurality of colloidal particles in a suspension medium which may comprise deionized water, a resist such as photoresist, and a solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David H. Wells, James J. Hofmann
  • Patent number: 6372405
    Abstract: A method, composition, and article for patterning and depositioning a substrate employing a colloidal suspension includes the step of agitating the colloidal suspension to eliminate aggregations of colloidal particles in the substrate. The colloidal suspension may include a plurality of colloidal particles in a suspension medium which may comprise deionized water, a resist such as photoresist, and a solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David H. Wells, James J. Hofmann
  • Publication number: 20020031973
    Abstract: A process for fabricating high-aspect ratio support structures comprising: creating a rectangular fiber bundle by stacking selectively etchable glass strands having rectangular cross-sections; slicing the fiber bundle into rectangular tiles; adhering the tiles to an electrode plate of an evacuated display; and selectively removing glass strands, thereby creating support structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2001
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Inventors: James J. Hofmann, Jason B. Elledge
  • Patent number: 6329750
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for anodically bonding an array of spacer columns to one of the inner major faces on one of the generally planar plates of an evacuated, flat-panel video display. The process includes the steps of: providing a generally planar plate having a plurality of spacer column attachment sites; providing electrical interconnection between all attachment sites; coating each attachment site with a patch of oxidizable material; providing an array of unattached permanent glass spacer columns, each unattached permanent spacer columns being of uniform length and being positioned longitudinally perpendicular to a single plane, with the plane intersecting the midpoint of each unattached spacer column; positioning the array such that an end of one permanent spacer column is in contact with the oxidizable material patch at each attachment site; and anodically bonding the contacting end of each permanent spacer column to the oxidizable material layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James J. Hofmann, Jason B. Elledge, Zhong-Yi Xia, David A. Cathey
  • Patent number: 6280274
    Abstract: A process for fabricating high-aspect ratio support structures comprising: creating a rectangular fiber bundle by stacking selectively etchable glass strands having rectangular cross-sections; slicing the fiber bundle into rectangular tiles; adhering the tiles to an electrode plate of an evacuated display; and selectively removing glass strands, thereby creating support structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James J. Hofmann, Jason B. Elledge
  • Publication number: 20010012744
    Abstract: A process is provided for forming spacers useful in large area displays. The process comprises steps of: forming bundles or boules comprising fiber strands which are held together with a binder; slicing the bundles or boules into slices; adhering the slices on an electrode plate of the display; and removing the binder. In the step of forming bundles or boules comprising fiber strands, the function of the binder is initially or fully performed by glass tubings surrounding the glass fibers. The clad glass of the envelopes etches more readily than the core glass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Publication date: August 9, 2001
    Inventors: David A. Cathey, Charles M. Watkins, Darryl M. Stansbury, James J. Hofmann, Robert T. Rasmussen, Surjit S. Chadha
  • Patent number: 6172454
    Abstract: Laser-assisted chemical vapor deposition is used to form spacers at desired locations in a field emission display. The spacers can be designed with different shapes to provide increased strength and also to be formed differently depending on the their location on the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: James J. Hofmann
  • Patent number: 6155900
    Abstract: A process for fabricating high-aspect ratio support structures comprising: creating a rectangular fiber bundle by stacking selectively etchable glass strands having rectangular cross-sections; slicing the fiber bundle into rectangular tiles; adhering the tiles to an electrode plate of an evacuated display; and selectively removing glass strands, thereby creating support structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James J. Hofmann, Jason B. Elledge
  • Patent number: 6037711
    Abstract: An anode of a flat panel display has a glass substrate, a patterned black grille on the substrate, a conductive layer covering the grille and the substrate, a phosphor layer covering, and one or more additional transparent layers that reduce the reflectance of the flat panel display from 14% down to 1%-4%. These additional layers are placed between the black matrix grille and the substrate, and between the conductive layer and phosphor layer. The two additional layers are selected and designed to reduce the reflectance that occurs at these respective interfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Cathey, Charles M. Watkins, James J. Hofmann
  • Patent number: 5980349
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for anodically bonding an array of spacer columns to one of the inner major faces on one of the generally planar plates of an evacuated, flat-panel video display. The process includes the steps of: providing a generally planar plate having a plurality of spacer column attachment sites; providing electrical interconnection between all attachment sites; coating each attachment site with a patch of oxidizable material; providing an array of unattached permanent glass spacer columns, each unattached permanent spacer columns being of uniform length and being positioned longitudinally perpendicular to a single plane, with the plane intersecting the midpoint of each unattached spacer column; positioning the array such that an end of one permanent spacer column is in contact with the oxidizable material patch at each attachment site; and anodically bonding the contacting end of each permanent spacer column to the oxidizable material layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James J. Hofmann, Jason B. Elledge, Zhong-Yi Xia, David A. Cathey
  • Patent number: 5975975
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for stabilizing the threshold voltage in an active matrix field emission device. The method includes the formation of radiation blocking elements between a cathodoluminescent display screen of the FED and semiconductor junctions formed on a baseplate of the FED.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James J Hofmann, John Lee, David A. Carthey, Jr., Glen E. Hush
  • Patent number: 5851133
    Abstract: Laser-assisted chemical vapor deposition is used to form spacers at desired locations in a field emission display. The spacers can be designed with different shapes to provide increased strength and also to be formed differently depending on the their location on the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignee: Micron Display Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: James J. Hofmann
  • Patent number: 5827101
    Abstract: An anode of a flat panel display besides having a glass substrate, a patterned black grille on the substrate, a conductive layer covering the grille and the substrate, and a phosphor layer covering, also has one or more additional transparent layers that reduce the reflectance of the flat panel display from 14% down to 1%-4%. These additional layers are placed between the black matrix grille and the substrate, and between the conductive layer and phosphor layer. The two additional layers are selected and designed to reduce the reflectance that occurs at these respective interfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: Micron Display Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Cathey, Charles M. Watkins, James J. Hofmann
  • Patent number: 5795206
    Abstract: A process is provided for forming spacers useful in large area displays. The process comprises steps of: forming bundles or boules comprising fiber strands which are held together with a binder; slicing the bundles or boules into slices; adhering the slices on an electrode plate of the display; and removing the binder. In the step of forming bundles or boules comprising fiber strands, the function of the binder is initially or fully performed by glass tubings surrounding the glass fibers. The clad glass of the envelopes etches more readily than the core glass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Cathey, Charles M. Watkins, Darryl M. Stansbury, James J. Hofmann, Robert T. Rasmussen, Surjit S. Chadha