Patents by Inventor Kostas I. Papathomas

Kostas I. Papathomas 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: 7348677
    Abstract: A method of making a printed circuit board in which conductive thru-holes are formed within two dielectric layers of the board's structure so as to connect designated conductive layers. One hole connects two adjacent layers and the other connects two adjacent layers, including one of the conductive layers connected by the other hole. It is also possible to connect all three conductive layers using one or more holes. The resulting holes may be filled, e.g., with metal plating, or conductive or non-conductive paste. In the case of the latter, it is also possible to provide a top covering conductive layer over the paste, e.g., to serve as a pad or the like on the board's external surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Endicott Interconnect Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Larnerd, John M. Lauffer, Voya R. Markovich, Kostas I. Papathomas
  • Patent number: 7211289
    Abstract: A method of making a printed circuit board in which conductive thru-holes are formed within two dielectric layers of the board's structure so as to connect designated conductive layers. One hole connects two adjacent layers and the other connects two adjacent layers, including one of the conductive layers connected by the other hole. It is also possible to connect all three conductive layers using one or more holes. The resulting holes may be filled, e.g., with metal plating, or conductive or non-conductive paste. In the case of the latter, it is also possible to provide a top covering conductive layer over the paste, e.g., to serve as a pad or the like on the board's external surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Endicott Interconnect Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Larnerd, John M. Lauffer, Voya R. Markovich, Kostas I. Papathomas
  • Patent number: 7145221
    Abstract: A circuitized substrate comprising a first layer comprised of a dielectric material including a low moisture absorptive polymer resin in combination with a nodular fluoropolymer web encased within the resin, the resulting dielectric layer formed from this combination not including continuous or semi-continuous fibers as part thereof. The substrate further includes at least one circuitized layer positioned on the dielectric first layer. An electrical assembly and a method of making the substrate are also provided, as is an information handling system (e.g., computer) incorporating the circuitized substrate of the invention as part thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Endicott Interconnect Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Irving Memis, Kostas I. Papathomas
  • Patent number: 6609296
    Abstract: A method of making a circuitized substrate such as a printed circuit board having at least one hole therein which comprises the steps of providing a layer of dielectric, forming at least one (and preferably several) holes therein, providing a fill member including a quantity of fill material and reinforcement means located within the fill material, positioning the fill member on the dielectric over the holes and thereafter applying a predetermined force sufficient to cause only the fill material to be forcibly driven into the accommodating hole(s), not the reinforcement means. Subsequent steps can include forming a layer of circuitry on the substrate's external surface and over the filled holes such that an electrical component such as a ball grid array (BGA), semiconductor chip, etc. may be directly positioned on and/or over the hole(s). A fill member usable with the method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Donald S. Farquhar, Voya R. Markovich, Kostas I. Papathomas, Leonard L. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 6199751
    Abstract: A technique of forming a metallurgical bond between pads on two surfaces is provided. A metal coating placed on each surface includes a first metal base layer and a second metal surface layer. The first and second metals include a low melting point constituent. A first ratio of the two metals forms a liquid phase with a second ratio of the two metals forming a solid phase. The volume of the base layer metal exceeds the volume necessary to form the solid phase between the base metal and the surface metal. Conductive metal particles are provided having a core metal and a coating metal dispersed in an uncured polymer material, at a volume fraction above the percolation threshold. The core metal and the coating metal together include a low melting point constituent. At a first ratio the components form a liquid phase and at a second ratio the two components form a solid phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael A. Gaynes, Kostas I. Papathomas, Giana M. Phelan, Charles G. Woychik
  • Patent number: 6125531
    Abstract: A method of making a circuitized substrate such as a printed circuit board having at least one hole therein which comprises the steps of providing a layer of dielectric, forming at least one (and preferably several) holes therein, providing a fill member including a quantity of fill material and reinforcement means located within the fill material, positioning the fill member on the dielectric over the holes and thereafter applying a predetermined force sufficient to cause only the fill material to be forcibly driven into the accommodating hole(s), not the reinforcement means. Subsequent steps can include forming a layer of circuitry on the substrate's external surface and over the filled holes such that an electrical component such as a ball grid array (BGA), semiconductor chip, etc. may be directly positioned on and/or over the hole(s). A fill member usable with the method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Donald S. Farquhar, Voya R. Markovich, Kostas I. Papathomas, Leonard L. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 6114098
    Abstract: An aperture in an electronic substrate is filled with a filling material without need for a specially built fill mask. A layer of tape or tentable photosensitive dielectric film is applied to one surface of the substrate covering the aperture. An opening is made in the tape or film by directing radiation through the aperture. Fill material is then forced through the opening to substantially fill the aperture. Protruding nubs may be removed to planarize the substrate surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Bernd Karl Appelt, John Steven Kresge, John Matthew Lauffer, Kostas I. Papathomas
  • Patent number: 6087021
    Abstract: A technique of forming a metallurgical bond between pads on two surfaces is provided. A metal coating placed on each surface includes a first metal base layer and a second metal surface layer. The first and second metals include a low melting point constituent. A first ratio of the two metals forms a liquid phase with a second ratio of the two metals forming a solid phase. The volume of the base layer metal exceeds the volume necessary to form the solid phase between the base metal and the surface metal. Conductive metal particles are provided having a core metal and a coating metal dispersed in an uncured polymer material, at a volume fraction above the percolation threshold. The core metal and the coating metal together include a low melting point constituent. At a first ratio the components form a liquid phase and at a second ratio the two components form a solid phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael A. Gaynes, Kostas I. Papathomas, Giana M. Phelan, Charles G. Woychik
  • Patent number: 6079100
    Abstract: A method of making a circuitized substrate such as a printed circuit board having at least one hole therein which comprises the steps of providing a layer of dielectric, forming at least one (and preferably several) holes therein, positioning a thin layer of support material atop the dielectric layer and over the hole(s), positioning a quantity of fill material on the thin layer of support material (preferably before positioning the thin layer on the dielectric) and thereafter applying a predetermined force sufficient to cause the thin support layer to rupture or otherwise deform (including melting from heat application thereto) such that the fill material is forcibly driven into the accommodating hole(s). Subsequent steps can include forming a layer of circuitry on the substrate's external surface and over the filled holes such that an electrical component such as a ball grid array (BGA), semiconductor chip, etc. may be directly positioned on and/or over the hole(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Donald S. Farquhar, Voya R. Markovich, Kostas I. Papathomas, Leonard L. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 5668059
    Abstract: Solder interconnection encapsulant, encapsulated structure and method for its fabrication and use, whereby the gap created by solder connections between a carrier substrate and a semiconductor device is filled with a composition obtained from curing a preparation containing a cycloaliphatic polyepoxide and/or curable cyanate ester or prepolymer thereof; filler, e.g., an aluminum nitride or aluminum oxide filler, having a maximum particle size of 31 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick Richard Christie, Kostas I. Papathomas, David Wei Wang
  • Patent number: 5656862
    Abstract: Solder interconnection encapsulant, encapsulated structure and method for its fabrication and use, whereby the gap created by solder connections between a carrier substrate and a semiconductor device is filled with a composition obtained from curing a preparation containing a cycloaliphatic polyepoxide and/or curable cyanate ester or prepolymer thereof; filler, e.g., an aluminum nitride or aluminum oxide filler, having a maximum particle size of 31 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kostas I. Papathomas, David Wei Wang
  • Patent number: 5637442
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for using the simple, environmentally friendly organic compounds gamma-butyrolactone and benzyl alcohol to develop and to strip free radical-initiated, addition polymerizable resists, cationically cured resists and solder masks and Vacrel photoresists. In all cases the developers and strippers include gamma butyrolactone or benzyl alcohol. The developers and strippers optionally also include a minor amount of methanol, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, propylene glycol monomethylacetate, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, formamide, nitromethane, propylene oxide, or methyl ethyl ketone, acetone and water. During development of the photopatterned resist or solder mask, the unpolymerized regions are dissolved in the disclosed developers. During stripping of the resist or solder mask, the polymerized regions are debonded from a circuit board in the disclosed strippers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Anilkumar C. Bhatt, Gary S. Ksenak, Kostas I. Papathomas, James A. Shurtleff, Jerome J. Wagner
  • Patent number: 5571417
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for using the simple, environmentally-friendly organic compounds gamma-butyrolactone and benzyl alcohol to develop and to strip free radical-initiated, addition polymerizable resists, cationically cured resists and solder masks and Vacrel photoresists. In all cases the developers and strippers include gamma butyrolactone or benzyl alcohol. The developers and strippers optionally also include a minor amount of methanol, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, propylene glycol monomethylacetate, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, formamide, nitromethane, propylene oxide, or methyl ethyl ketone, acetone and water. During development of the photopatterned resist or solder mask, the unpolymerized regions are dissolved in the disclosed developers. During stripping of the resist or solder mask, the polymerized regions are debonded from a circuit board in the disclosed strippers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Anilkumar C. Bhatt, Gary S. Ksenak, Kostas I. Papathomas, James A. Shurtleff, Jerome J. Wagner
  • Patent number: 5471096
    Abstract: Compositions containing bisphenol M dicyanate, prepolymer thereof, or mixtures thereof, and 4,4'-ethylidene bisphenol dicyanate, prepolymer thereof or mixtures thereof; and filler having maximum particle size of 20 microns and being substantially free of alpha particle emissions. The compositions are useful in forming interconnection structures for forming an integrated semiconductor device to a carrier substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kostas I. Papathomas, Frederick R. Christie, David W. Wang
  • Patent number: 5310428
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of thermally stabilizing an effluent stream from an industrial process, such as a photolithographic process, to allow thermally manageable recovery of the solvent. In the separation and recovery process the solvent is exposed to temperatures that can cause polymerization of the relatively small amounts of monomer still contained therein. This polymerization is an exothermic polymerization, which can accelerate the polymerization of the remaining monomer, potentially causing a thermally initiated, exothermic, run away polymerization. Run away, thermally initiated, exothermic polymerization can materially degrade the solvent. The thermally initiated, run away exothermic reaction is inhibited by the inclusion of a thermal stabilizer or polymerization inhibitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Assignee: Inernational Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Anilkumar C. Bhatt, Kostas I. Papathomas, Terry D. Sinclair, Jerome J. Wagner
  • Patent number: 5250848
    Abstract: Solder interconnection whereby the gap created by solder connections between a carrier substrate and semiconductor device is filled with a composition obtained from curing a preparation containing a cycloaliphatic polyepoxide and/or curable cyanate ester or prepolymer thereof; filler having a maximum particle size of 31 microns and being at least substantially free of alpha particle emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1993
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick R. Christie, Kostas I. Papathomas, David W. Wang
  • Patent number: 5089440
    Abstract: Solder interconnection whereby the gap created by solder connections between a carrier substrate and semiconductor device is filled with a composition obtained from curing a preparation containing a cycloaliphatic polyepoxide and/or curable cyanate ester or prepolymer thereof; filler having a maximum particle size of 31 microns and being at least substantially free of alpha particle emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1992
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick R. Christie, Kostas I. Papathomas, David W. Wang
  • Patent number: 5015719
    Abstract: Dicyanato diphenyl fluorinated alkane resin precursor compositions are modified by the addition of minor predetermined amounts of aromatic diepoxides having high epoxide equivalent weights in order to reduce the curing temperature of prepregs and laminates, such as circuit boards, while retaining low dielectric constants, heat stability and high flame retardance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1991
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kostas I. Papathomas, William J. Summa, David W. Wang
  • Patent number: 4999699
    Abstract: Solder interconnection whereby the gap created by solder connections between a carrier substrate and semiconductor device is filled with a composition obtained from curing a preparation containing a cycloaliphatic polyepoxide and/or curable cyanate ester or prepolymer thereof; filler having a maximum particle size of 31 microns and being at least substantially free of alpha particle emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1991
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick R. Christie, Kostas I. Papathomas, David W. Wang