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: 20130330568
    Abstract: A method for fine positioning a component through the use of fusible elements having two or more melting points so as to establish intermediate displacements between totally melted fusible elements and unmelted fusible elements. Because of the use of non-eutectic fusible materials, fine adjustments in the displacement may be achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Inventors: Peter A. Gruber, Philip Hobbs
  • Publication number: 20130273339
    Abstract: A method for fine positioning a component through the use of fusible elements having two or more melting points so as to establish intermediate displacements between totally melted fusible elements and unmelted fusible elements. Because of the use of non-eutectic fusible materials, fine adjustments in the displacement may be achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventors: Peter A. Gruber, Philip Hobbs
  • Patent number: 8551816
    Abstract: The present invention allows for direct chip-to-chip connections using the shortest possible signal path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Steven A. Cordes, Matthew J. Farinelli, Sherif A. Goma, Peter A. Gruber, John U. Knickerbocker, James L. Speidell
  • Patent number: 8541299
    Abstract: An electrical interconnect forming method. The electrical interconnect includes a first substrate comprising a first electrically conductive pad, a second substrate comprising a second electrically conductive pad, and an interconnect structure electrically and mechanically connecting the first electrically conductive pad to the second electrically conductive pad. The interconnect structure comprises a non-solder metallic core structure, a first solder structure, and a second solder structure. The first solder structure electrically and mechanically connects a first portion of the non-solder metallic core structure to the first electrically conductive pad. The second solder structure electrically and mechanically connects a second portion of the non-solder metallic core structure to the second electrically conductive pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Ultratech, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Leslie Buchwalter, Bruce K. Furman, Peter A. Gruber, Jae-Woong Nah, Da-Yuan Shih
  • Patent number: 8528805
    Abstract: A method for fine positioning a component through the use of fusible elements having two or more melting points so as to establish intermediate displacements between totally melted fusible elements and unmelted fusible elements. Because of the use of non-eutectic fusible materials, fine adjustments in the displacement may be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Peter A. Gruber, Philip Charles Danby Hobbs
  • Patent number: 8523046
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for forming and transferring metal arrays of balls and shapes is described incorporating molds, tape, injection molded metal such as solder, metal reflow and a mask on a substrate for shearing solidified metal of metal arrays into respective openings in the mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Peter A. Gruber, Paul A. Lauro, Jae-Woong Nah
  • Publication number: 20130206351
    Abstract: A process and tools for forming and/or releasing metal preforms, metal shapes and solder balls is described incorporating flexible molds or sheets, injection molded metal such as solder and in the case of solder balls, a liquid or gaseous environment to reduce or remove metal oxides prior to or during metal (solder) reflow to increase surface tension to form spherical or substantially spherical solder-balls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2012
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: PETER A. GRUBER, PAUL A. LAURO, JAE-WOONG NAH
  • Patent number: 8492262
    Abstract: An assembly is obtained; it includes a substrate; a plurality of wet-able pads formed on a surface of the substrate; and a solder resist layer deposited on the surface of the substrate and having an outer surface. At least the solder resist layer is formed with recessed regions defining volumes adjacent the wet-able pads. Molten solder is directly injected into the volumes adjacent the wet-able pads, such that the volumes adjacent the wet-able pads are filled with solder. The solder is allowed to solidify. It forms a plurality of solder structures adhered to the wet-able pads. The substrate and the solder are re-heated after the solidification, to re-flow the solder into generally spherical balls extending above the outer surface of the solder resist layer. The volumes adjacent the wet-able pads are configured and dimensioned to receive sufficient solder in the injecting step such that the generally spherical balls extend above the outer surface of the solder resist layer as a result of the re-heating step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Peter A. Gruber, Paul A. Lauro, Jae-Woong Nah
  • Patent number: 8476773
    Abstract: An electrical structure including a first substrate comprising a first electrically conductive pad, a second substrate comprising a second electrically conductive pad, and an interconnect structure electrically and mechanically connecting the first electrically conductive pad to the second electrically conductive pad. The interconnect structure comprises a non-solder metallic core structure, a first solder structure, and a second solder structure. The first solder structure electrically and mechanically connects a first portion of the non-solder metallic core structure to the first electrically conductive pad. The second solder structure electrically and mechanically connects a second portion of the non-solder metallic core structure to the second electrically conductive pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Leslie Buchwalter, Bruce K. Furman, Peter A. Gruber, Jae-Woong Nah, Da-Yuan Shih
  • Patent number: 8381962
    Abstract: A flexible unitary mask has a plurality of through holes. A substrate has a plurality of wettable pads in recessed regions defining volumes. The through holes are aligned with the wettable pads. Molten solder is directly injected through the through holes of the flexible unitary mask into the volumes with the wettable pads, such that the through holes and the volumes with the wettable pads are filled with solder. The solder is allowed to solidify, forming a plurality of solder structures adhered to the wettable pads. The flexible unitary mask is peeled from the substrate after the solder has solidified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Peter A. Gruber, Paul A. Lauro, Jae-Woong Nah, Kazushige Toriyama
  • Patent number: 8376207
    Abstract: A portion of compliant material includes four walls defining a slot. The slot has a relatively large cross-section end in fluid communication with a solder reservoir, and also has a relatively small cross-section end opposed to the relatively large cross-section end. The slot has a generally elongate rectangular shape when viewed in plan, with a length perpendicular to a scan direction, a width, parallel to the scan direction, associated with the relatively large cross section end, and a width, parallel to the scan direction, associated with the relatively small cross section end. The slot is configured in the portion of compliant material such that the relatively small cross-section end of the slot normally remains substantially closed, but locally opens sufficiently to dispense solder from the reservoir when under fluid pressure and locally unsupported by a workpiece. Methods of operation and fabrication are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen L. Buchwalter, Peter A. Gruber, Paul A. Lauro, Jae-Woong Nah
  • Patent number: 8342387
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods of making solder balls having a uniform size. More particularly, the disclosure relates to improved solder ball formation processes that prevent or reduce bridging/merging of two or more solder balls during reflow. The processes of the instant disclosure are desirable because they do not require a sifting step to obtain uniformly-sized solder balls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Peter A. Gruber, Jae-Woong Nah
  • Patent number: 8328156
    Abstract: Interconnects are formed on attachment points of a wafer by performing several steps. A plurality of cavities having a predetermined shape is formed in a semiconductor substrate. These cavities are then filled with an interconnect material to form the interconnects. The interconnects are subsequently attached to the attachment points of the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Bing Dang, Peter A. Gruber, Luc Guerin, Chirag S. Patel
  • Publication number: 20120273155
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods of making solder balls having a uniform size. More particularly, the disclosure relates to improved solder ball formation processes that prevent or reduce bridging/merging of two or more solder balls during reflow. The processes of the instant disclosure are desirable because they do not require a sifting step to obtain uniformly-sized solder balls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Peter A. Gruber, Jae-Woong Nah
  • Patent number: 8272120
    Abstract: An apparatus for applying solder to semiconductor chips is provided that employs a plurality of apertured decals to define areas for engaging solder on a semiconductor chip. Each of the plurality of decals includes an upper, center and bottom layer having apertures present therethrough. The apparatus fills the apertures with solder. The upper and bottom layers of the apertured decals are removed to provide solder portions projecting from the center layer. The apparatus provides a station for applying an adhesive layer to the exposed surfaces of the center layer having the solder portions projecting therefrom. The apparatus includes a station for contacting the solder and adhesive to the semiconductor chip. The apparatus also includes a separating structure for detaching the portion of the center layer that is in contacting to the semiconductor chip through the solder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Peter A. Gruber, Jae-woong Nah
  • Publication number: 20120234902
    Abstract: A plurality of through-substrate holes is formed in each of at least one substrate. Each through-substrate hole extends from a top surface of the at least one substrate to the bottom surface of the at least one substrate. The at least one substrate is held by a stationary chuck or a rotating chuck. Vacuum suction is provided to a set of through-substrate holes among the plurality of through-substrate holes through a vacuum manifold attached to the bottom surface of the at least one substrate. An injection mold solder head located above the top surface of the at least one substrate injects a solder material into the set of through-substrate holes to form a plurality of through-substrate solders that extend from the top surface to the bottom surface of the at least one substrate. The vacuum suction prevents formation of air bubbles or incomplete filling in the plurality of through-substrate holes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: S. Jay Chey, David Danovitch, Peter A. Gruber, Cornelia K. Tsang
  • Patent number: 8268719
    Abstract: A process for aligning at least two layers in an abutting relationship with each other comprises forming a plurality of sprocket openings in each of the layers for receiving a sprocket of diminishing diameters as the sprocket extends outwardly from a base, with the center axes of the sprocket openings in each layer being substantially alignable with one another, the diameter of the sprocket openings in an abutting layer for first receiving the sprocket being greater than the diameter of the sprocket openings in an abutted layer. This is followed by forming a plurality of reservoir openings in each of at least two of the layers and positioning the sprocket openings in the layers to correspond with one another and the reservoir openings in the layers to correspond with one another so that substantial alignment of the center axes of the corresponding sprocket openings in the layers effects substantial alignment of the center axes of the corresponding reservoir openings in the layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen L. Buchwalter, Peter A. Gruber, Jae-Woong Nah, Da-Yuan Shih
  • Publication number: 20120228477
    Abstract: A detector contains a housing with at least one window for allowing radiation to enter, at least one outlook sensor for sensing entered radiation, a unit for processing outlook sensor signals, and outlook mirrors that are shaped and mounted in the housing for reflecting onto the outlook sensor radiation from outside detection zones better than radiation from elsewhere. At least some of the outlook mirrors face the window and in operative orientation neighbor each other vertically. The detector further contains one or more window sensors for sensing radiation indicative of the window being masked or having been damaged and a unit for processing window sensor signals. A gap between at least two of the outlook mirrors allows radiation to travel between the window and at least one window sensor or accordant window sender or both.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: THOMAS BACHELS, ANDREAS ERNI, SIMON DANIEL FISCHER, PETER GRUBER
  • Publication number: 20120205425
    Abstract: A solder joint comprising a solder capture pad on a substrate having a circuit; and a lead containing or a lead free solder selected from the group comprising Sn—Ag—Cu solder, Sn—Cu solder and Sn—Ag solder adhered to the solder capture pad; the solder selected from the group comprising between 0.1 and 6.0 percent by weight Zn. A solder joint, comprising a solder capture pad on a substrate having a circuit; and a Sn—Cu lead free solder adhered to the solder capture pad, the solder comprising between 0.1 and 6.0% by weight Zn. Formation of voids at an interface between the solder and the solder capture pad is suppressed. A method for forming solder joints using the solders.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Inventors: Peter A. Gruber, Donald W. Henderson, Sung K. Kang, Da-Yuan Shih
  • Patent number: D693710
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens AB
    Inventors: Thomas Bachel, Matthias Droll, Peter Gruber