Patents by Inventor John Charles Ehmke

John Charles Ehmke 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: 11858806
    Abstract: In described examples, a first metal layer is configured along a periphery of a cavity to be formed between a first substrate and a second substrate. A second metal layer is adjacent the first metal layer. The second metal layer includes a cantilever. The cantilever is configured to deform by bonding the first substrate to the second substrate. The deformed cantilevered is configured to impede contaminants against contacting an element within the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: John Charles Ehmke, Ivan Kmecko
  • Patent number: 11835739
    Abstract: A system includes an optical film stack, where the optical film stack includes a substrate and a first inorganic layer on the substrate. The optical film stack also includes a first dielectric layer on the first inorganic layer and a first metal layer on the first dielectric layer. The optical film stack also includes a second dielectric layer on the first metal layer and a second inorganic layer on the second dielectric layer. The optical film stack also includes a second metal layer on the second inorganic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: John Charles Ehmke
  • Publication number: 20210371272
    Abstract: In described examples, a first metal layer is configured along a periphery of a cavity to be formed between a first substrate and a second substrate. A second metal layer is adjacent the first metal layer. The second metal layer includes a cantilever. The cantilever is configured to deform by bonding the first substrate to the second substrate. The deformed cantilevered is configured to impede contaminants against contacting an element within the cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Inventors: John Charles Ehmke, Ivan Kmecko
  • Patent number: 11167983
    Abstract: A method includes attaching an optically transparent wafer to a first surface of an interposer wafer. The interposer wafer has a second surface opposite the first surface, and the second surface has a first channel therein. The method further includes attaching the interposer wafer to a first surface of a semiconductor wafer, and etching a second channel through the optically transparent wafer and through the interposer wafer. The method then includes applying wax into the second channel, and sawing through the optically transparent wafer and through at least a portion of the interposer wafer to form a third channel having a width that is wider than a width of the second channel. The wax is then removed to expose a portion of the first surface of the semiconductor wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: John Charles Ehmke
  • Publication number: 20210255372
    Abstract: A system includes an optical film stack, where the optical film stack includes a substrate and a first inorganic layer on the substrate. The optical film stack also includes a first dielectric layer on the first inorganic layer and a first metal layer on the first dielectric layer. The optical film stack also includes a second dielectric layer on the first metal layer and a second inorganic layer on the second dielectric layer. The optical film stack also includes a second metal layer on the second inorganic layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Inventor: John Charles EHMKE
  • Patent number: 11084717
    Abstract: In described examples, a first device on a first surface of a substrate is coupled to a structure arranged on a second surface of the substrate. In at least one example, a first conductor arranged on the first surface is coupled to circuitry of the first device. An elevated portion of the first conductor is supported by disposing an encapsulate and curing the encapsulate. The first conductor is severed by cutting the encapsulate and the first conductor. A second conductor is coupled to the first conductor. The second conductor is coupled to the structure arranged on the second surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Virgil Cotoco Ararao, John Charles Ehmke
  • Patent number: 11000915
    Abstract: In described examples, a transient liquid phase (TLP) metal bonding material includes a first substrate and a base metal layer. The base metal layer is disposed over at least a portion of the first substrate. The base metal has a surface roughness (Ra) of between about 0.001 to 500 nm. Also, the TLP metal bonding material includes a first terminal metal layer that forms an external surface of the TLP metal bonding material. A metal fuse layer is positioned between the base metal layer and the first terminal metal layer. The TLP metal bonding material is stable at room temperature for at least a predetermined period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: John Charles Ehmke, Simon Joshua Jacobs
  • Publication number: 20200391993
    Abstract: In described examples, a first metal layer is configured along a periphery of a cavity to be formed between a first substrate and a second substrate. A second metal layer is adjacent the first metal layer. The second metal layer includes a cantilever. The cantilever is configured to deform by bonding the first substrate to the second substrate. The deformed cantilevered is configured to impede contaminants against contacting an element within the cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventors: John Charles Ehmke, Ivan Kmecko
  • Patent number: 10759658
    Abstract: In described examples, a first metal layer is arranged along a periphery of a cavity to be formed between a first substrate and a second substrate. A second metal layer is arranged adjacent to the first metal layer, where the second metal layer includes a cantilever. The cantilever is arranged to deform in response to forces applied from a contacting structure of the second substrate during bonding of the first substrate to the second substrate. The deformed cantilevered is arranged to impede contaminants against contacting an element within the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: John Charles Ehmke, Ivan Kmecko
  • Patent number: 10750645
    Abstract: In described examples, an image-generating panel is arranged for modulating a projection beam to include a modulated optical image. A cooling device is arranged to transfer heat received from the image-generating panel to a heat sink. The cooling device is arranged to receive the projection beam on a first side and to transmit the projection beam from a second side. The heat received from the image-generating panel can include heat generated by the image-generating panel in response to incidental sunlight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORTED
    Inventors: John Charles Ehmke, Scott Patrick Overmann, Sean Christopher O'Brien
  • Publication number: 20200223690
    Abstract: A method includes attaching an optically transparent wafer to a first surface of an interposer wafer. The interposer wafer has a second surface opposite the first surface, and the second surface has a first channel therein. The method further includes attaching the interposer wafer to a first surface of a semiconductor wafer, and etching a second channel through the optically transparent wafer and through the interposer wafer. The method then includes applying wax into the second channel, and sawing through the optically transparent wafer and through at least a portion of the interposer wafer to form a third channel having a width that is wider than a width of the second channel. The wax is then removed to expose a portion of the first surface of the semiconductor wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventor: John Charles EHMKE
  • Publication number: 20200196481
    Abstract: In described examples, an image-generating panel is arranged for modulating a projection beam to include a modulated optical image. A cooling device is arranged to transfer heat received from the image-generating panel to a heat sink. The cooling device is arranged to receive the projection beam on a first side and to transmit the projection beam from a second side. The heat received from the image-generating panel can include heat generated by the image-generating panel in response to incidental sunlight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: John Charles Ehmke, Scott Patrick Overmann, Sean Christopher O'Brien
  • Publication number: 20200180946
    Abstract: In described examples, a first metal layer is arranged along a periphery of a cavity to be formed between a first substrate and a second substrate. A second metal layer is arranged adjacent to the first metal layer, where the second metal layer includes a cantilever. The cantilever is arranged to deform in response to forces applied from a contacting structure of the second substrate during bonding of the first substrate to the second substrate. The deformed cantilevered is arranged to impede contaminants against contacting an element within the cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: John Charles Ehmke, Ivan Kmecko
  • Publication number: 20190382262
    Abstract: In described examples, a first device on a first surface of a substrate is coupled to a structure arranged on a second surface of the substrate. In at least one example, a first conductor arranged on the first surface is coupled to circuitry of the first device. An elevated portion of the first conductor is supported by disposing an encapsulate and curing the encapsulate. The first conductor is severed by cutting the encapsulate and the first conductor. A second conductor is coupled to the first conductor. The second conductor is coupled to the structure arranged on the second surface of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Inventors: Virgil Cotoco Ararao, John Charles Ehmke
  • Patent number: 10427932
    Abstract: In described examples, a hermetic package of a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) structure includes a substrate having a surface with a MEMS structure of a first height. The substrate is hermetically sealed to a cap forming a cavity over the MEMS structure. The cap is attached to the substrate surface by a vertical stack of metal layers adhering to the substrate surface and to the cap. The stack has a continuous outline surrounding the MEMS structure while spaced from the MEMS structure by a distance. The stack has: a first bottom metal seed film adhering to the substrate and a second bottom metal seed film adhering to the first bottom metal seed film; and a first top metal seed film adhering to the cap and a second top metal seed film adhering to the first top metal seed film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: John Charles Ehmke, Virgil Cotoco Ararao
  • Patent number: 10392246
    Abstract: In described examples, a first device on a first surface of a substrate is coupled to a structure arranged on a second surface of the substrate. In at least one example, a first conductor arranged on the first surface is coupled to circuitry of the first device. An elevated portion of the first conductor is supported by disposing an encapsulate and curing the encapsulate. The first conductor is severed by cutting the encapsulate and the first conductor. A second conductor is coupled to the first conductor. The second conductor is coupled to the structure arranged on the second surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Virgil Cotoco Ararao, John Charles Ehmke
  • Publication number: 20180186629
    Abstract: In described examples, a first device on a first surface of a substrate is coupled to a structure arranged on a second surface of the substrate. In at least one example, a first conductor arranged on the first surface is coupled to circuitry of the first device. An elevated portion of the first conductor is supported by disposing an encapsulate and curing the encapsulate. The first conductor is severed by cutting the encapsulate and the first conductor. A second conductor is coupled to the first conductor. The second conductor is coupled to the structure arranged on the second surface of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: Virgil Cotoco Ararao, John Charles Ehmke
  • Publication number: 20180148319
    Abstract: In described examples, a hermetic package of a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) structure includes a substrate having a surface with a MEMS structure of a first height. The substrate is hermetically sealed to a cap forming a cavity over the MEMS structure. The cap is attached to the substrate surface by a vertical stack of metal layers adhering to the substrate surface and to the cap. The stack has a continuous outline surrounding the MEMS structure while spaced from the MEMS structure by a distance. The stack has: a first bottom metal seed film adhering to the substrate and a second bottom metal seed film adhering to the first bottom metal seed film; and a first top metal seed film adhering to the cap and a second top metal seed film adhering to the first top metal seed film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Inventors: John Charles Ehmke, Virgil Cotoco Ararao
  • Patent number: 9890036
    Abstract: In described examples, a hermetic package of a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) structure includes a substrate having a surface with a MEMS structure of a first height. The substrate is hermetically sealed to a cap forming a cavity over the MEMS structure. The cap is attached to the substrate surface by a vertical stack of metal layers adhering to the substrate surface and to the cap. The stack has a continuous outline surrounding the MEMS structure while spaced from the MEMS structure by a distance. The stack has: a first bottom metal seed film adhering to the substrate and a second bottom metal seed film adhering to the first bottom metal seed film; and a first top metal seed film adhering to the cap and a second top metal seed film adhering to the first top metal seed film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: John Charles Ehmke, Virgil Cotoco Ararao
  • Patent number: 9796585
    Abstract: A method of leak detection of hermetically sealed cavities semiconductor devices is provided. Scribe streets are formed with access from each packaged device on a first substrate to the edge of the first substrate. The first substrate is attached to a second substrate, forming gaps between the two substrates. A cavity is formed around a packaged device on the first substrate by attaching a bond ring to the first substrate and an optically transparent window above the bonding ring. The cavity is evacuated. A high powered laser beam strikes the top surface of the device on the first substrate within the cavity and creates a vertical surface displacement of the first substrate. The vertical surface displacement is monitored using a separate interrogation laser beam. Leakage of the cavity can be measured by characterizing the resonance decay rate, Q.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: John Charles Ehmke