Patents by Inventor Michael J. Seddon

Michael J. Seddon 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: 10896840
    Abstract: Implementations of a method of increasing the adhesion of a tape. Implementations may include: mounting a tape to a frame, mounting a substrate to the tape, heating the tape after mounting the substrate at one or more temperatures for a predetermined period of time, and increasing an adhesion of the tape to the substrate through heating the tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Michael J. Seddon
  • Patent number: 10896815
    Abstract: Implementations of methods of thinning a semiconductor substrate may include: providing a semiconductor substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposing the first surface, the semiconductor substrate having a thickness between the first surface and the second surface. The method may further include inducing damage into a portion of the semiconductor substrate at a first depth into the thickness forming a first damage layer, inducing damage into a portion of the semiconductor substrate at a second depth into the thickness forming a second damage layer, and applying ultrasonic energy to the semiconductor substrate. The method may include separating the semiconductor substrate into three separate thinned portions across the thickness along the first damage layer and along the second damage layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Seddon, Thomas Neyer, Fredrik Allerstam
  • Patent number: 10896819
    Abstract: Implementations of die singulation systems and related methods may include forming a plurality of die on a first side of a substrate, forming a backside metal layer on a second side of a substrate, applying a photoresist layer over the backside metal layer, patterning the photoresist layer along a die street of the substrate, and forming a groove at the pattern of the photoresist layer only partially through a thickness of the backside metal layer. The groove may be located in the die street of the substrate. The method may also include etching through a remaining portion of the backside metal layer located in the die street, removing the photoresist layer, and singulating the plurality of die included in the substrate by removing substrate material in the die street.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Takashi Noma, Michael J. Seddon
  • Publication number: 20200411380
    Abstract: Implementations of a method of separating a semiconductor substrate from a boule including a semiconductor material may include creating a damage layer in a first end of a boule including semiconductor material; heating the boule; and cooling the boule to separate one or more semiconductor substrates from the boule at the damage layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Michael J. SEDDON
  • Publication number: 20200395217
    Abstract: Implementations of a semiconductor package may include a die; a first pad and a second pad, the first pad and the second pad each including a first layer and a second layer where the second layer may be thicker than the first layer. At least a first conductor may be directly coupled to the second layer of the first pad; at least a second conductor may be directly coupled to the second layer of the second pad; and an organic material may cover at least the first side of the die. The at least first conductor and the at least second conductor extend through openings in the organic material where a spacing between the at least first conductor and the at least second conductor may be wider than a spacing between the second layer of the first pad and the second layer of the second pad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Francis J. CARNEY, Michael J. SEDDON, Yusheng LIN, Takashi NOMA, Eiji KUROSE
  • Publication number: 20200365440
    Abstract: Implementations of a method for wafer alignment may include: providing a wafer having a first side and a second side and forming a seed layer on a second side of the wafer. The method may include applying a glop to the seed layer at two or more predetermined points and plating a metal layer over the seed layer and around the glop. The method may include removing the glop to expose the seed layer and etching the seed layer to expose a plurality of alignment features on the second side of the wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. SEDDON, Takashi NOMA
  • Publication number: 20200365408
    Abstract: Implementations of a method of forming a semiconductor package may include forming a plurality of notches into the first side of a semiconductor substrate; forming an organic material over the first side of the semiconductor substrate and into the plurality of notches; forming a cavity into each of a plurality of semiconductor die included in the semiconductor substrate; applying a backmetal into the cavity in each of the plurality of semiconductor die included in the semiconductor substrate; and singulating the semiconductor substrate through the organic material into a plurality of semiconductor packages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2020
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. SEDDON, Francis J. CARNEY, Chee Hiong CHEW, Soon Wei WANG, Eiji KUROSE
  • Publication number: 20200350208
    Abstract: Implementations of methods of forming a plurality of semiconductor die may include forming a damage layer beneath a surface of a die street in a semiconductor substrate, singulating the semiconductor substrate along the die street into a plurality of semiconductor die, and removing one or more particulates in the die street after singulating through applying sonic energy to the plurality of semiconductor die.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Michael J. SEDDON
  • Publication number: 20200350242
    Abstract: Implementations of a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) die may include a silicon layer including a first side and a second side, and an insulative layer coupled directly to the second side of the silicon layer. The insulative layer may not be coupled to any other silicon layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Mark GRISWOLD, Michael J. SEDDON
  • Publication number: 20200350243
    Abstract: Implementations of a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) die may include a silicon layer including a first side and a second side, and an insulative layer coupled directly to the second side of the silicon layer. The insulative layer may not be coupled to any other silicon layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Mark GRISWOLD, Michael J. SEDDON
  • Patent number: 10825731
    Abstract: Implementations of a method for aligning a semiconductor wafer for singulation may include: providing a semiconductor wafer having a first side and a second side. The first side of the wafer may include a plurality of die and the plurality of die may be separated by streets. The semiconductor wafer may include an edge ring around a perimeter of the wafer on the second side of the wafer. The wafer may also include a metal layer on the second side of the wafer. The metal layer may substantially cover the edge ring. The method may include grinding the edge ring to create an edge exclusion area and aligning the semiconductor wafer with a saw using a camera positioned in the edge exclusion area on the second side of the wafer. Aligning the wafer may include using three or more alignment features included in the edge exclusion area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Seddon, Takashi Noma
  • Patent number: 10825725
    Abstract: Implementations of die singulation systems and related methods may include forming a plurality of die on a first side of a substrate, forming a seed layer on a second side of a substrate opposite the first side of the substrate, using a shadow mask, applying a mask layer over the seed layer, forming a backside metal layer over the seed layer, removing the mask layer, and singulating the plurality of die included in the substrate through removing substrate material in the die street and through removing seed layer material in the die street.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Michael J. Seddon
  • Patent number: 10825764
    Abstract: A semiconductor device has a first semiconductor die and second semiconductor die with a conductive layer formed over the first semiconductor die and second semiconductor die. The second semiconductor die is disposed adjacent to the first semiconductor die with a side surface and the conductive layer of the first semiconductor die contacting a side surface and the conductive layer of the second semiconductor die. An interconnect, such as a conductive material, is formed across a junction between the conductive layers of the first and second semiconductor die. The conductive layer may extend down the side surface of the first semiconductor die and further down the side surface of the second semiconductor die. An extension of the side surface of the first semiconductor die can interlock with a recess of the side surface of the second semiconductor die. The conductive layer extends over the extension and into the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Francis J. Carney, Jefferson W. Hall, Michael J. Seddon
  • Patent number: 10818551
    Abstract: Implementations of methods of singulating a plurality of die included in a substrate may include exposing a substrate material of a substrate in a die street through removing a metal layer in the die street coupled to the substrate, wherein only a portion of the substrate material in the die street is removed, and singulating a plurality of die included in the substrate through plasma etching the exposed substrate material of the substrate in the die street.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Michael J. Seddon
  • Patent number: 10818587
    Abstract: A semiconductor device has a semiconductor die containing a base material having a first surface and a second surface with an image sensor area. A masking layer with varying width openings is disposed over the first surface of the base material. The openings in the masking layer are larger in a center region of the semiconductor die and smaller toward edges of the semiconductor die. A portion of the first surface of the base material is removed by plasma etching to form a first curved surface. A metal layer is formed over the first curved surface of the base material. The semiconductor die is positioned over a substrate with the first curved surface oriented toward the substrate. Pressure and temperature is applied to assert movement of the base material to change orientation of the second surface with the image sensor area into a second curved surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Seddon, Francis J. Carney, Eric Woolsey
  • Patent number: 10811598
    Abstract: A sensor package includes a semiconductor die including at least one current sensor. The semiconductor die includes a first pass through hole extending from one side of the semiconductor die to an opposite side of the semiconductor die. The semiconductor package further includes a second pass through hole extending from one side of the sensor package to an opposite side of the sensor package. The second pass through hole is aligned with the first pass through hole and is configured to receive a current-carrying conductor. The at least one current sensor senses current flow in the current-carrying conductor received in the second pass through hole. An end of the current-carrying conductor is coupled to a terminal on a circuit board in the sensor package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jefferson W. Hall, Michael J. Seddon, Yenting Wen
  • Publication number: 20200321236
    Abstract: Implementations of methods of removing an edge support ring may include: providing a semiconductor wafer. The semiconductor wafer may include a first side and a second side. The first side of the semiconductor wafer may include a backmetal. The semiconductor wafer may also include an edge ring around a perimeter of the semiconductor wafer. The method may include mounting a first side of the semiconductor wafer to a film frame. The method may include removing a portion of the backmetal around the edge support ring and singulating the edge support ring from the semiconductor wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Michael J. SEDDON
  • Publication number: 20200321235
    Abstract: Implementations of methods of loading an evaporator may include, using a robotic arm, removing a substrate from a cassette and centering the substrate on a substrate aligner. The method may include aligning the substrate using the substrate aligner. The substrate may also include removing the substrate from the substrate aligner using the robotic arm and loading the substrate into a first available pocket of a planet of an evaporator using the robotic arm. The method may also include rotating the planet to a second available pocket after detecting a presence of the substrate in the first available pocket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. SEDDON, Heng Chen LEE
  • Publication number: 20200321250
    Abstract: Implementations of methods for singulating die from a wafer may include: providing a semiconductor wafer having a first side and a second side. The first side may include a plurality of die and a plurality of die streets between each of the plurality of die. The method may include applying a mask over the plurality of die and around the plurality of die streets. The method may also include wet etching through the semiconductor wafer at the plurality of die streets to singulate the plurality of die.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Michael J. SEDDON
  • Patent number: 10796963
    Abstract: Implementations of methods of singulating a plurality of die comprised in a substrate may include forming a plurality of die on a first side of a substrate, forming a backside metal layer on a second side of a substrate, applying a polymer layer over the backside metal layer and forming a groove entirely through the polymer layer and partially through a thickness of the backside metal layer. The groove may be located in a die street of the substrate. The method may also include etching through a remaining portion of the backside metal layer located in the die street, removing the polymer layer, singulating the plurality of die in the substrate by removing substrate material in the die street.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Michael J. Seddon