Patents by Inventor Peter Gruber

Peter Gruber 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: 20080014406
    Abstract: An injection molded soldering head includes a substrate that is flexible (compliant) and stable at high temperature. The substrate includes an aperture therethrough for holding and dispensing solder onto a mold and a low friction coating on the bottom side of the substrate to provide a lower friction surface for the head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Inventors: S. Jay Chey, Peter A. Gruber
  • Publication number: 20070272389
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the formation of coplanar electrical interconnectors. Solder material is deposited onto a wafer, substrate, or other component of an electrical package using a complaint mold such that the terminal ends of the solder material being deposited, i.e., the ends opposite to those forming an attachment to the wafer, substrate, or other component of an electrical package are coplanar with one another. A complaint mold is used having one or more conduits for receiving solder material and having a compliant side and a planar side. The compliant side of the mold is positioned adjacent to the wafer, substrate, or other component of an electrical package allowing solder material to be deposited onto the surface thereof such that the planar side of the compliant mold provides coplanar interconnectors. An Injection Molded Solder (IMS) head can be used as the means for filling the conduits of the compliant mold of the present invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Applicant: IBM Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Gruber, John Knickerbocker
  • Publication number: 20070246515
    Abstract: A system and method for injection molding conductive bonding material into a plurality of cavities in a non-rectangular mold is disclosed. The method comprises aligning a fill head with a non-rectangular mold. The non-rectangular mold includes a plurality of cavities. The fill head is placed in substantial contact with the non-rectangular mold. Rotational motion is provided to at least one of the non-rectangular mold and the fill head while the fill head is in substantial contact with the non-rectangular mold. Conductive bonding material is forced out of the fill head toward the non-rectangular mold. The conductive bonding material is provided into at least one cavity of the plurality of cavities contemporaneous with the at least one cavity being in proximity to the fill head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven Cordes, Peter Gruber, John Knickerbocker, James Speidell
  • Publication number: 20070246518
    Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for injection molding conductive bonding material into a plurality of cavities in a surface are disclosed. The method comprises aligning a fill head with a surface. The mold includes a plurality of cavities. The method further includes placing the fill head in substantial contact with the surface. At least a first gas is channeled about a first region of the fill head. The at least first gas has a temperature above a melting point of conductive bonding material residing in a reservoir thereby maintaining the conductive bonding material in a molten state. The conductive bonding material is forced out of the fill head toward the surface. The conductive bonding material is provided into at least one cavity of the plurality of cavities contemporaneous with the at least one cavity being in proximity to the fill head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven Cordes, Peter Gruber, John Knickerbocker, James Speidell
  • Publication number: 20070246511
    Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus of providing conductive bonding material into a plurality of cavities in a circuit supporting substrate is disclosed. The method comprises placing a fill head in substantial contact with a circuit supporting substrate. The circuit supporting substrate includes at least one cavity. A linear motion or a rotational motion is provided to at least one of the circuit supporting substrate and the fill head while the fill head is in substantial contact with the circuit supporting substrate. Conductive bonding material is forced out of the fill head toward the circuit supporting substrate. The conductive bonding material is provided into the at least one cavity contemporaneous with the at least one cavity being in proximity to the fill head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven Cordes, Peter Gruber, John Knickerbocker, James Speidell
  • Publication number: 20070246516
    Abstract: A system, method, and device for applying conductive bonding material to a substrate are disclosed. The method includes providing conductive bonding material in a plurality of cavities of a mold. A total number of cavities in the plurality of cavities being greater than a total number of at least one conductive pad of a circuit supporting substrate corresponding to the mold. The conductive bonding material in the mold is heated to a reflow temperature of the conductive bonding material. At least one wettable surface is placed in substantial contact with the heated conductive bonding material in at least one cavity. The mold and the corresponding circuit supporting substrate are brought in close proximity to each other such that the heated conductive bonding material in at least one cavity comes in contact with at least one conductive pad of the corresponding circuit supporting substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven Cordes, Peter Gruber, John Knickerbocker, James Speidell
  • Publication number: 20070246853
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for injection molding conductive bonding material into a plurality of cavities in a mold within a vacuum chamber. A mold and a fill head are located within a vacuum chamber, wherein the mold includes a plurality of cavities. A vacuum is created within the vacuum chamber, thereby removing air from the chamber and from the cavities. Optionally, rotational motion is provided to at least one of the mold and the fill head while the fill head is in substantial contact with the mold. Conductive bonding material is forced out of the fill head toward the mold, and into at least one of the cavities, while a vacuum is maintained in the vacuum chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: S. CHEY, Steven Cordes, Peter Gruber, John Knickerbocker, James Speidell
  • Patent number: 7273806
    Abstract: Methods of forming a conductive structure on a substrate prior to packaging, and a test probe structure generated according to the method, are disclosed. The conductive structure includes a high aspect ratio structure formed by injected molded solder. The invention can be applied to form passive elements and interconnects on a conventional semiconductor substrate after the typical BEOL, and prior to packaging. The method may provide better electromigration characteristics, lower resistivity, and higher Q factors for conductive structures. In addition, the method is backwardly compatible and customizable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert A. Groves, Peter A. Gruber, Kevin S. Petrarca, Richard P. Volant, George F. Walker
  • Publication number: 20070134317
    Abstract: A non effervescent tablet of sodium naproxen, comprising a tablet core and, if desired, a sugar or film coat, wherein the tablet core, based on the weight of the tablet core, consists of 30 to 99% by weight sodium naproxen and 70 to 1% by weight auxiliary agent component comprising at least one basic auxiliary agenL possesses a sufficient hardness, is comparatively small and leads to a particularly rapid increase in blood level and thereby to an accelerated onset of analgesic effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Publication date: June 14, 2007
    Inventors: Peter Gruber, Martin Siegmund
  • Publication number: 20070029277
    Abstract: A wafer-scale apparatus and method is described for the automation of forming, aligning and attaching two-dimensional arrays of microoptic elements on semiconductor and other image display devices, backplanes, optoelectronic boards, and integrated optical systems. In an ordered fabrication sequence, a mold plate comprised of optically designed cavities is formed by reactive ion etching or alternative processes, optionally coated with a release material layer and filled with optically specified materials by an automated fluid-injection and defect-inspection subsystem. Optical alignment fiducials guide the disclosed transfer and attachment processes to achieve specified tolerances between the microoptic elements and corresponding optoelectronic devices and circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2005
    Publication date: February 8, 2007
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence Jacobowitz, Stephen Buchwalter, Casimer DeCusatis, Peter Gruber, Da-Yuan Shih
  • Publication number: 20060289607
    Abstract: A method for constructing a composite solder transfer moldplate for flip chip wafer bumping of a substrate, comprising the steps of coating at least one polymer layer onto a first side of a transparent plate, the plate having a thermal expansion coefficient similar to that of the substrate; and forming a multiplicity of cavities in a polymer layer on one side of the plate, each cavity being for receiving solder. A moldplate made by the method. The structure has required behavior through temperature excursions between room temperature and various solder molten temperatures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Publication date: December 28, 2006
    Inventors: Stephen Buchwalter, David Danovitch, Frank Egitto, Peter Gruber, Eric Perfecto, Da-Yuan Shih
  • Patent number: 7131565
    Abstract: A solder feeding device having a reservoir, a drive unit, a first lead, and a second lead is provided. The reservoir melts solid solder wire into molten solder, while the drive unit selectively feeds the solid solder wire into the reservoir. The first and second leads are in electrical communication with the drive unit. The first lead is positioned in the reservoir so that it electrically communicates with the second lead through the molten solder when the molten solder reaches a triggering level, but so that it does not electrically communicate with the second lead when the level is below the triggering level. The drive unit feeds the solid solder wire into the reservoir based upon a state of electrical communication between the first and second leads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Peter A Gruber, Lannie R Bolde
  • Publication number: 20060231591
    Abstract: A solder feeding device having a reservoir, a drive unit, a first lead, and a second lead is provided. The reservoir melts solid solder wire into molten solder, while the drive unit selectively feeds the solid solder wire into the reservoir. The first and second leads are in electrical communication with the drive unit. The first lead is positioned in the reservoir so that it electrically communicates with the second lead through the molten solder when the molten solder reaches a triggering level, but so that it does not electrically communicate with the second lead when the level is below the triggering level. The drive unit feeds the solid solder wire into the reservoir based upon a state of electrical communication between the first and second leads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Publication date: October 19, 2006
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corp.
    Inventors: Peter Gruber, Lannie Bolde
  • Publication number: 20060124927
    Abstract: Methods of forming a conductive structure on a substrate prior to packaging, and a test probe structure generated according to the method, are disclosed. The conductive structure includes a high aspect ratio structure formed by injected molded solder. The invention can be applied to form passive elements and interconnects on a conventional semiconductor substrate after the typical BEOL, and prior to packaging. The method may provide better electromigration characteristics, lower resistivity, and higher Q factors for conductive structures. In addition, the method is backwardly compatible and customizable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2004
    Publication date: June 15, 2006
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert Groves, Peter Gruber, Kevin Petrarca, Richard Volant, George Walker
  • Publication number: 20060118604
    Abstract: Improved interconnects are produced by injection molded solder which fills mold arrays with molten solder so that columns that have much greater height to width aspect ratios greater than one are formed, rather than conventional flip chip bumps. The columns may have filler particles or reinforcing conductors therein. In the interconnect structures produced, the cost and time of a subsequent underfill step is reduced or avoided. The problem of incompatibility with optical interconnects between chips because underfills require high loading of silica fillers which scatter light, is solved, thus allowing flip chips to incorporate optical interconnects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2004
    Publication date: June 8, 2006
    Inventors: Stephen Buchwalter, Claudius Feger, Peter Gruber, Sung Kang, Paul Lauro, Da-Yuan Shih
  • Publication number: 20060035454
    Abstract: Disclosed is a new process that permits the transfer and reflow of solder features produced by Injection Molded Solder (IMS) from a mold plate to a solder receiving substrate without the use of flux. Several embodiments produce solder transfer and reflow separately or together and use either formic acid vapor or partial concentration of hydrogen, both in nitrogen, as the oxide reducing atmosphere. A final embodiment produces fluxless transfer and reflow in only nitrogen through the use of ultrasonic vibration between the solder filled mold plate and solder receiving substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2005
    Publication date: February 16, 2006
    Applicant: IBM Corporation
    Inventors: Luc Belanger, Peter Gruber, Valerie Oberson, Christopher Tessler
  • Publication number: 20050263571
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming solder bumps by molten solder deposition into cavity arrays in a substrate immediately followed by solidification of molten solder such that precise replication of cavity volumes is consistently achieved in formed solder bump arrays. Various solder filling problems, such as those caused by surface tension and oxidation effects, are overcome by a combination of narrow molten Solder dispense slots and solidification of dispensed molten solder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2004
    Publication date: December 1, 2005
    Inventors: Luc Belanger, Guy Brouillette, Stephen Buchwalter, Peter Gruber, Hideo Kimura, Jean-Luc Landreville, Frederic Manurer, Marc Montminy, Valerie Oberson, Da-Yuan Shih, Stephane St-Onge, Michel Turgeon, Takeshi Yamada
  • Patent number: 6962717
    Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition for slow release of active ingredient in the gastrointestinal tract, comprising a plurality of active ingredient-containing particles coated with a material insoluble in gastric and intestinal juices, where the particles have as core a homogeneous mixture comprising an active pharmaceutical ingredient and a polymer insoluble in gastric and intestinal juices, with an average internal pore diameter not exceeding 35 ?m, makes efficient and pH-independent delaying of release possible even with comparatively small amounts of polymer. It is additionally distinguished by a long shelf life and is particularly suitable also for nonspherical particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Disphar International B.V.
    Inventors: Gerald Huber, Peter Gruber
  • Patent number: 6924171
    Abstract: Methods for fabricating microelectronic interconnection structures as well as the structures formed by the methods are disclosed which improve the manufacturing throughput for assembling flip chip semiconductor devices. The use of a bilayer of polymeric materials applied on the wafer prior to dicing eliminates the need for dispensing and curing underfill for each semiconductor at the package level, thereby improving manufacturing throughput and reducing cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen L. Buchwalter, David Danovitch, Fuad Elias Doany, Claudius Feger, Peter A. Gruber, Revathi Iyengar, Nancy C. LaBianca
  • Patent number: 6910615
    Abstract: In a solder reflow type building of modular electrical apparatus involving integrated circuit and discrete components, fabrication operations are arranged to include the providing of a general type series of steps for each component element involving a reflow or joining step at the highest joining temperature, immediately followed by a solder flux cleaning step and immediately followed by a testing of the entire module constructed thus far. There is provided a further specific type operation for each different type of component element that includes the providing of a loop for the introduction of a replacement for any broken discrete component with joining being achieved with use of a lower fusion temperature solder, flux cleaning and testing at each joining followed by reinsertion into the module. There is further provided an operation at the encapsulation stage of the module building for introducing underfill between the component and supporting carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Peter A. Gruber, Minkailu A Jalloh, Chon Cheong Lei