Patents by Inventor Ralph Spolenak

Ralph Spolenak 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: 9293531
    Abstract: A tensile strain state in semiconductor components is adjusted. A pretensioned (tensile strain) layer is applied to a substrate (FIG. 1, (A)). Bridge structures (FIG. 1, (B)) are introduced in the layers by lithography and etching. The bridges are connected to the layer on both sides and are thus continuous. The geometric shape of the bridges, formed with a cross-section modulation, is determined by the windows (FIG. 1 (C)) in the layer. When the substrate is etched selectively, the bridge is undercut through the windows. The geometric structuring of the cross-section (FIG. 1, (D)) causes a redistribution of the originally homogeneous strain when the bridges are detached from the substrate, with the larger cross-sections relaxing at the expense of the smaller cross-sections, where the pretension is increased. Only a multiplication of stresses (or strain) originally present in the sample is possible, with the multiplication factor determined by lengths, widths and depths, and/or the relationships thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignees: PAUL SCHERRER INSTITUT, ETH ZUERICH
    Inventors: Jerome Faist, Gustav Schiefler, Hans Christian Sigg, Ralph Spolenak, Martin Süss
  • Publication number: 20140197375
    Abstract: A tensile strain state in semiconductor components is adjusted. A pretensioned (tensile strain) layer is applied to a substrate (FIG. 1, (A)). Bridge structures (FIG. 1, (B)) are introduced in the layers by lithography and etching. The bridges are connected to the layer on both sides and are thus continuous. The geometric shape of the bridges, formed with a cross-section modulation, is determined by the windows (FIG. 1 (C)) in the layer. When the substrate is etched selectively, the bridge is undercut through the windows. The geometric structuring of the cross-section (FIG. 1, (D)) causes a redistribution of the originally homogeneous strain when the bridges are detached from the substrate, with the larger cross-sections relaxing at the expense of the smaller cross-sections, where the pretension is increased. Only a multiplication of stresses (or strain) originally present in the sample is possible, with the multiplication factor determined by lengths, widths and depths, and/or the relationships thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: PAUL SCHERRER INSTITUT
    Inventors: Jerome Faist, Gustav Schiefler, Hans Christian Sigg, Ralph Spolenak, Martin Suss