Patents by Inventor Katherine L. Saenger

Katherine L. Saenger 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: 20170110359
    Abstract: Method for a controlled spalling utilizing vaporizable release layers. For example, a method comprises providing a base substrate, depositing a stressor layer and a vaporizable release layer on the base substrate, forming a flexible support layer on at least one of the stressor layer and the vaporizable release layer, spalling an upper portion of the base substrate, securing the spalled upper portion of the base substrate to a handle substrate, and vaporizing the vaporizable release layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Inventors: Stephen W. Bedell, Ning Li, Katherine L. Saenger
  • Patent number: 9607854
    Abstract: A method comprises providing a handle substrate having a front surface and a back surface; providing a layer of flexible semiconductor material having a front surface and a back surface and an at least partially sacrificial backing layer stack on the back surface of the layer of flexible semiconductor material; bonding the front surface of the layer of flexible semiconductor material to the front surface of the handle substrate; removing at least a portion of the at least partially sacrificial backing layer stack from the back surface of the layer of flexible semiconductor material; opening outgassing paths through the layer of flexible semiconductor material; and processing the layer of flexible semiconductor material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen W. Bedell, Devendra K. Sadana, Katherine L. Saenger, Abdelmajid Salhi
  • Patent number: 9576837
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device comprises providing a preformed spalled structure comprising a stressor layer stack on a first surface of a semiconductor substrate; forming an interfacial release layer on an exposed second surface of the semiconductor substrate; adhesively bonding the interfacial release layer to a rigid handle substrate using an epoxy; removing at least a portion of the stressor layer stack from the first surface of the semiconductor substrate; processing the semiconductor substrate; and removing the semiconductor substrate from the interfacial release layer to impart flexibility to the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen W. Bedell, Devendra K. Sadana, Katherine L. Saenger, Abdelmajid Salhi
  • Patent number: 9564335
    Abstract: Methods for removing a material layer from a base substrate utilizing spalling in which mode III stress, i.e., the stress that is perpendicular to the fracture front created in the base substrate, during spalling is reduced. The substantial reduction of the mode III stress during spalling results in a spalling process in which the spalled material has less surface roughness at one of its' edges as compared to prior art spalling processes in which the mode III stress is present and competes with spalling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation, KING ABDULAZIZ CITY FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Stephen W. Bedell, Keith E. Fogel, Paul A. Lauro, Ning Li, Devendra K. Sadana, Katherine L. Saenger, Ibrahim Alhomoudi
  • Patent number: 9553008
    Abstract: A method comprises providing a handle substrate having a front surface and a back surface; providing a layer of flexible semiconductor material having a front surface and a back surface and an at least partially sacrificial backing layer stack on the back surface of the layer of flexible semiconductor material; bonding the front surface of the layer of flexible semiconductor material to the front surface of the handle substrate; removing at least a portion of the at least partially sacrificial backing layer stack from the back surface of the layer of flexible semiconductor material; opening outgassing paths through the layer of flexible semiconductor material; and processing the layer of flexible semiconductor material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen W. Bedell, Devendra K. Sadana, Katherine L. Saenger, Abdelmajid Salhi
  • Patent number: 9548235
    Abstract: A method comprises providing a handle substrate having a front surface and a back surface; providing a layer of flexible semiconductor material having a front surface and a back surface and an at least partially sacrificial backing layer stack on the back surface of the layer of flexible semiconductor material; bonding the front surface of the layer of flexible semiconductor material to the front surface of the handle substrate; removing at least a portion of the at least partially sacrificial backing layer stack from the back surface of the layer of flexible semiconductor material; opening outgassing paths through the layer of flexible semiconductor material; and processing the layer of flexible semiconductor material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen W. Bedell, Devendra K. Sadana, Katherine L. Saenger, Abdelmajid Salhi
  • Publication number: 20170011945
    Abstract: A method comprises providing a handle substrate having a front surface and a back surface; providing a layer of flexible semiconductor material having a front surface and a back surface and an at least partially sacrificial backing layer stack on the back surface of the layer of flexible semiconductor material; bonding the front surface of the layer of flexible semiconductor material to the front surface of the handle substrate; removing at least a portion of the at least partially sacrificial backing layer stack from the back surface of the layer of flexible semiconductor material; opening outgassing paths through the layer of flexible semiconductor material; and processing the layer of flexible semiconductor material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventors: Stephen W. Bedell, Devendra K. Sadana, Katherine L. Saenger, Abdelmajid Salhi
  • Publication number: 20170011953
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device comprises providing a preformed spalled structure comprising a stressor layer stack on a first surface of a semiconductor substrate; forming an interfacial release layer on an exposed second surface of the semiconductor substrate; adhesively bonding the interfacial release layer to a rigid handle substrate using an epoxy; removing at least a portion of the stressor layer stack from the first surface of the semiconductor substrate; processing the semiconductor substrate; and removing the semiconductor substrate from the interfacial release layer to impart flexibility to the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventors: Stephen W. Bedell, Devendra K. Sadana, Katherine L. Saenger, Abdelmajid Salhi
  • Publication number: 20170011954
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device comprises providing a preformed spalled structure comprising a stressor layer stack on a first surface of a semiconductor substrate; forming an interfacial release layer on an exposed second surface of the semiconductor substrate; adhesively bonding the interfacial release layer to a rigid handle substrate using an epoxy; removing at least a portion of the stressor layer stack from the first surface of the semiconductor substrate; processing the semiconductor substrate; and removing the semiconductor substrate from the interfacial release layer to impart flexibility to the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventors: Stephen W. Bedell, Devendra K. Sadana, Katherine L. Saenger, Abdelmajid Salhi
  • Publication number: 20170011946
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device comprises providing a preformed spalled structure comprising a stressor layer stack on a first surface of a semiconductor substrate; forming an interfacial release layer on an exposed second surface of the semiconductor substrate; adhesively bonding the interfacial release layer to a rigid handle substrate using an epoxy; removing at least a portion of the stressor layer stack from the first surface of the semiconductor substrate; processing the semiconductor substrate; and removing the semiconductor substrate from the interfacial release layer to impart flexibility to the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventors: Stephen W. Bedell, Devendra K. Sadana, Katherine L. Saenger, Abdelmajid Salhi
  • Publication number: 20170011944
    Abstract: A method comprises providing a handle substrate having a front surface and a back surface; providing a layer of flexible semiconductor material having a front surface and a back surface and an at least partially sacrificial backing layer stack on the back surface of the layer of flexible semiconductor material; bonding the front surface of the layer of flexible semiconductor material to the front surface of the handle substrate; removing at least a portion of the at least partially sacrificial backing layer stack from the back surface of the layer of flexible semiconductor material; opening outgassing paths through the layer of flexible semiconductor material; and processing the layer of flexible semiconductor material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventors: Stephen W. Bedell, Devendra K. Sadana, Katherine L. Saenger, Abdelmajid Salhi
  • Publication number: 20170011947
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device comprises providing a preformed spalled structure comprising a stressor layer stack on a first surface of a semiconductor substrate; forming an interfacial release layer on an exposed second surface of the semiconductor substrate; adhesively bonding the interfacial release layer to a rigid handle substrate using an epoxy; removing at least a portion of the stressor layer stack from the first surface of the semiconductor substrate; processing the semiconductor substrate; and removing the semiconductor substrate from the interfacial release layer to impart flexibility to the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventors: Stephen W. Bedell, Devendra K. Sadana, Katherine L. Saenger, Abdelmajid Salhi
  • Publication number: 20170011933
    Abstract: A method comprises providing a handle substrate having a front surface and a back surface; providing a layer of flexible semiconductor material having a front surface and a back surface and an at least partially sacrificial backing layer stack on the back surface of the layer of flexible semiconductor material; bonding the front surface of the layer of flexible semiconductor material to the front surface of the handle substrate; removing at least a portion of the at least partially sacrificial backing layer stack from the back surface of the layer of flexible semiconductor material; opening outgassing paths through the layer of flexible semiconductor material; and processing the layer of flexible semiconductor material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventors: Stephen W. Bedell, Devendra K. Sadana, Katherine L. Saenger, Abdelmajid Salhi
  • Patent number: 9496128
    Abstract: Method for a controlled spalling utilizing vaporizable release layers. For example, a method comprises providing a base substrate, depositing a stressor layer and a vaporizable release layer on the base substrate, forming a flexible support layer on at least one of the stressor layer and the vaporizable release layer, spalling an upper portion of the base substrate, securing the spalled upper portion of the base substrate to a handle substrate, and vaporizing the vaporizable release layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen W. Bedell, Ning Li, Katherine L. Saenger
  • Patent number: 9496165
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device comprises providing a preformed spalled structure comprising a stressor layer stack on a first surface of a semiconductor substrate; forming an interfacial release layer on an exposed second surface of the semiconductor substrate; adhesively bonding the interfacial release layer to a rigid handle substrate using an epoxy; removing at least a portion of the stressor layer stack from the first surface of the semiconductor substrate; processing the semiconductor substrate; and removing the semiconductor substrate from the interfacial release layer to impart flexibility to the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen W. Bedell, Devendra K. Sadana, Katherine L. Saenger, Abdelmajid Salhi
  • Publication number: 20160322226
    Abstract: The present invention provides ART techniques with reduced LER. In one aspect, a method of ART with reduced LER is provided which includes the steps of: providing a silicon layer separated from a substrate by a dielectric layer; patterning one or more ART lines in the silicon layer selective to the dielectric layer; contacting the silicon layer with an inert gas at a temperature, pressure and for a duration sufficient to cause re-distribution of silicon along sidewalls of the ART lines patterned in the silicon layer; using the resulting smoothened, patterned silicon layer to pattern ART trenches in the dielectric layer; and epitaxially growing a semiconductor material up from the substrate at the bottom of each of the ART trenches, to form fins in the ART trenches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventors: Guy Cohen, Katherine L. Saenger, Kuen-Ting Shiu
  • Patent number: 9472411
    Abstract: A method of performing spalling of a semiconductor substrate in which a release layer is used between a handling substrate and a stressor layer. The release layer is removed using a liquid that does not damage the spalled semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stephen W. Bedell, Cheng-Wei Cheng, Ning Li, Devendra K. Sadana, Katherine L. Saenger
  • Publication number: 20160284554
    Abstract: A method of performing spalling of a semiconductor substrate in which a release layer is used between a handling substrate and a stressor layer. The release layer is removed using a liquid that does not damage the spalled semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Inventors: Stephen W. Bedell, Cheng-Wei Cheng, Ning Li, Devendra K. Sadana, Katherine L. Saenger
  • Patent number: 9455179
    Abstract: A method comprises providing a handle substrate having a front surface and a back surface; providing a layer of flexible semiconductor material having a front surface and a back surface and an at least partially sacrificial backing layer stack on the back surface of the layer of flexible semiconductor material; bonding the front surface of the layer of flexible semiconductor material to the front surface of the handle substrate; removing at least a portion of the at least partially sacrificial backing layer stack from the back surface of the layer of flexible semiconductor material; opening outgassing paths through the layer of flexible semiconductor material; and processing the layer of flexible semiconductor material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen W. Bedell, Devendra K. Sadana, Katherine L. Saenger, Abdelmajid Salhi
  • Patent number: 9406530
    Abstract: The present invention provides ART techniques with reduced LER. In one aspect, a method of ART with reduced LER is provided which includes the steps of: providing a silicon layer separated from a substrate by a dielectric layer; patterning one or more ART lines in the silicon layer selective to the dielectric layer; contacting the silicon layer with an inert gas at a temperature, pressure and for a duration sufficient to cause re-distribution of silicon along sidewalls of the ART lines patterned in the silicon layer; using the resulting smoothened, patterned silicon layer to pattern ART trenches in the dielectric layer; and epitaxially growing a semiconductor material up from the substrate at the bottom of each of the ART trenches, to form fins in the ART trenches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Guy Cohen, Katherine L. Saenger, Kuen-Ting Shiu