Patents by Inventor Robert D Miller

Robert D Miller 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: 20090100553
    Abstract: A resist medium in which features are lithographically produced by scanning a surface of the medium with an AFM probe positioned in contact therewith. The resist medium comprises a substrate; and a polymer resist layer within which features are produced by mechanical action of the probe. The polymer contains thermally reversible crosslinkages. Also disclosed are methods that generally includes scanning a surface of the polymer resist layer with an AFM probe positioned in contact with the resist layer, wherein heating the probe and a squashing-type mechanical action of the probe produces features in the layer by thermally reversing the crosslinkages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michel Despont, Urs T. Duerig, Jane E. Frommer, Bernd W. Gotsmann, James L. Hedrick, Craig Jon Hawker, Robert D. Miller
  • Publication number: 20090073849
    Abstract: A data storage system includes a read/write head having a tip connected to a resistive path locally exerting heat at the tip when an electrical current is applied; and a data storage medium from which information is reproduced by scanning a surface of the medium with a tip positioned in contact therewith, the medium comprising: a substrate; and a polymer recording surface within which data bit values are determined by the topographical state at the bit location, characterized in that the polymer contains thermally reversible crosslinkages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jane Frommer, Robert D. Miller, Craig Hawker, Urs T. Duerig, Bernd Gotsmann, Peter Vettiger, Mark A. Lantz
  • Publication number: 20090075472
    Abstract: Methods of minimizing or eliminating plasma damage to low k and ultra low k organosilicate intermetal dielectric layers are provided. The reduction of the plasma damage is effected by interrupting the etch and strip process flow at a suitable point to add an inventive treatment which protects the intermetal dielectric layer from plasma damage during the plasma strip process. Reduction or elimination of a plasma damaged region in this manner also enables reduction of the line bias between a line pattern in a photoresist and a metal line formed therefrom, and changes in the line width of the line trench due to a wet clean after the reactive ion etch employed for formation of the line trench and a via cavity. The reduced line bias has a beneficial effect on electrical yields of a metal interconnect structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: John C. Arnold, Griselda Bonilla, William J. Cote, Geraud Dubois, Daniel C. Edelstein, Alfred Grill, Elbert Huang, Robert D. Miller, Satya V. Nitta, Sampath Purushothaman, E. Todd Ryan, Muthumanickam Sankarapandian, Terry A. Spooner, Willi Volksen
  • Patent number: 7491425
    Abstract: A resist medium in which features are lithographically produced by scanning a surface of the medium with an AFM probe positioned in contact therewith. The resist medium comprises a substrate; and a polymer resist layer within which features are produced by mechanical action of the probe. The polymer contains thermally reversible crosslinkages. Also disclosed is a method that generally includes scanning a surface of the polymer resist layer with an AFM probe positioned in contact with the resist layer, wherein heating the probe and a squashing-type mechanical action of the probe produces features in the layer by thermally reversing the crosslinkages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michel Despont, Urs T. Duerig, Jane E. Frommer, Bernd W. Gotsmann, James L. Hedrick, Craig Jon Hawker, Robert D. Miller
  • Patent number: 7479306
    Abstract: A low-k dielectric material with increased cohesive strength for use in electronic structures including interconnect and sensing structures is provided that includes atoms of Si, C, O, and H in which a fraction of the C atoms are bonded as Si—CH3 functional groups, and another fraction of the C atoms are bonded as Si—R—Si, wherein R is phenyl, —[CH2]n— where n is greater than or equal to 1, HC?CH, C?CH2, C?C or a [S]n linkage, where n is a defined above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel C. Edelstein, Stephen M. Gates, Alfred Grill, Michael Lane, Qinghuang Lin, Robert D. Miller, Deborah A. Neumayer, Son Van Nguyen
  • Patent number: 7471614
    Abstract: A method reading, writing, and erasing data includes bringing a thermal-mechanical probe into proximity with a layer of cross-linked polymeric material to induce a deformed region at a point in the film, thereby writing information; bringing a thermal-mechanical probe into proximity with the deformed region, thereby reading information; and bringing a thermal-mechanical probe into proximity with the deformed region, further deforming it in such a way to eliminate the deformed region, thereby erasing the information; and repeating the storing, reading, and erasing steps at points in the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jane Frommer, Robert D. Miller, Craig Hawker, Urs T. Duerig, Bernd W Gotsmann, Peter Vettiger, Gerd K. Binnig, Victor Yee-Way Lee
  • Patent number: 7463572
    Abstract: A data storage medium is disclosed from which information is reproduced by scanning a surface of the medium with a tip positioned in contact therewith. The medium includes a substrate and a polymer recording surface within which data bit values are determined by the topographical state at the bit location. The polymer contains thermally reversible crosslinkages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jane Frommer, Robert D. Miller, Craig Hawker, Urs T. Duerig, Bernd Gotsmann, Peter Vettiger, Mark A. Lantz
  • Publication number: 20080286467
    Abstract: A method. The method includes dip coating a film of a composition on a silicon wafer substrate. The composition includes a polymer blend of a first polymer and a second polymer. The first polymer is a substituted silsesquioxane copolymer. The second polymer is a polysilsesquioxane having silanol end groups. The composition includes a photosensitive acid generator, an organic base, and an organic crosslinking agent. The film is patternwise imaged and at least one region is exposed to radiation having a wavelength of about 248 nanometers. The film is baked, resulting in inducing crosslinking in the film. The film is developed resulting in removal of base-soluble unexposed regions of the film, wherein a relief pattern from the film remains. The relief pattern is cured at a temperature between about 300° C. and about 450° C., and the curing utilizes a combination of thermal treatment with UV radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventors: Robert D. Allen, Phillip Brock, Blake W. Davis, Qinghuang Lin, Robert D. Miller, Alshakim Nelson, Ratnam Sooriyakumaran
  • Publication number: 20080277796
    Abstract: A dense boron-based or phosphorus-based dielectric material is provided. Specifically, the present invention provides a dense boron-based dielectric material comprised of boron and at least one of carbon, nitrogen, and hydrogen or a dense phosphorus-based dielectric comprised of phosphorus and nitrogen. The present invention also provides electronic structures containing the dense boron-based or phosphorus-based dielectric as an etch stop, a dielectric Cu capping material, a CMP stop layer, and/or a reactive ion etching mask in a ULSI back-end-of-the-line (BEOL) interconnect structure. A method of forming the inventive boron-based or phosphorus-based dielectric as well as the electronic structure containing the same are also described in the present invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2008
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stephen M. Gates, Robert D. Miller
  • Publication number: 20080233343
    Abstract: Methods and a structure. A first film of a first block copolymer is formed inside a trough integrally disposed on an energetically neutral surface layer of a substrate. Line-forming microdomains are assembled of the first block copolymer, and form first self-assembled structures within the first film normal to the sidewalls and parallel to the surface layer. At least one microdomain is removed from the first film such that oriented structures remain in the trough oriented normal to the sidewalls and parallel to the surface layer. A second film of a second block copolymer is formed inside the trough. Line-forming microdomains are assembled of the second block copolymer, and form second self-assembled structures within the second film oriented normal to the oriented structures and parallel to the sidewalls. A second method and a structure are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2008
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joy Cheng, Ho-Cheol Kim, Robert D. Miller
  • Publication number: 20080233323
    Abstract: A method. A first copolymer is provided. A substrate is provided having an energetically neutral surface layer with at least one trough integrally disposed thereon with sidewalls. A first film of the first copolymer is coated inside the trough. Line-forming microdomains are assembled of the first copolymer forming first self-assembled structures within the first film normal to the sidewalls and parallel to the surface layer. The first and second polymer blocks are removed from the first film and oriented structures remain in the trough normal to the sidewalls and parallel to the surface layer. A second film of a second copolymer is coated inside the trough. Line-forming microdomains are assembled of the second copolymer, and form second self-assembled structures within the second film oriented normal to the oriented structures and parallel to the sidewalls. The third and fourth polymer blocks are removed, and at least one second oriented structure remains.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Inventors: Joy Cheng, Ho-Cheol Kim, Robert D. Miller
  • Publication number: 20080188578
    Abstract: Precursors are provided for dielectric compositions that are useful in the manufacture of electronic devices such as integrated circuit devices and integrated circuit packaging devices. The dielectric compositions are prepared by crosslinking a thermally decomposable porogen to a host polymer via a coupling agent, followed by heating to a temperature suitable to decompose the porogen. The porous materials that result have dielectric constants of less than 2.4.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Applicant: International Business Machines
    Inventors: Craig Jon Hawker, James L. Hedrick, Robert D. Miller, Willi Volksen
  • Publication number: 20080182178
    Abstract: Compositions comprising photobleachable organic materials can be bleached by 193 nm light, and brought back to their original state by stimuli after exposure. (reversible photobleaching). We use these compositions in art-known contrast enhancement layers and as a part of a photoresist, especially in optical lithography processes for semiconductor fabrication. They may comprise polymers such as organosilicon polymers, polymers comprising polymers of aromatic hydroxyl compounds such as phenol and naphthol such as phenol formaldehyde polymers and naphthol formaldehyde polymers styrene polymers and phenolic acrylate polymers or cyclic materials comprising: where the radicals “R” and “Y” represent organo, or substituted organo moieties, Structures I, II, and III represent basic organic skeletons and can be unsubstituted or substituted in any available position with any one or combinations of multiple substituents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Inventors: John A. Hoffnagle, David R. Medeiros, Robert D. Miller, Libor Vycklicky, Gregory M. Wallraff
  • Publication number: 20080142930
    Abstract: A low-k organic dielectric material having stable nano-sized porous is provided as well as a method of fabricating the same. The porous low-k organic dielectric material is made from a composition of matter having a vitrification temperature (Tv-comp) which includes a b-staged thermosetting resin having a vitrification temperate (Tv-resin), a pore generating material, and a reactive additive. The reactive additive lowers Tv-comp below Tv-resin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicants: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION, DOW GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Eric Connor, James P. Godschalx, Craig J. Hawker, James L. Hedrick, Victor Yee-Way Lee, Teddie P. Magbitang, Robert D. Miller, Q. Jason Niu, Willi Volksen
  • Patent number: 7368483
    Abstract: A low-k organic dielectric material having stable nano-sized porous is provided as well as a method of fabricating the same. The porous low-k organic dielectric material is made from a composition of matter having a vitrification temperature (Tv-comp) which includes a b-staged thermosetting resin having a vitrification temperate (Tv-resin), a pore generating material, and a reactive additive. The reactive additive lowers Tv-comp below Tv-resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation, Dow Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Connor, James P. Godschalx, Craig J. Hawker, James L. Hedrick, Victor Yee-Way Lee, Teddie P. Magbitang, Robert D. Miller, Q. Jason Niu, Willi Volksen
  • Patent number: 7363809
    Abstract: A system is described that is configured to determine a plurality of air data parameters for an air vehicle. The system includes a mass air flow sensor, a pressure sensor, and a controller. The mass air flow sensor is mounted to sense an air flow caused by movement of the air vehicle. The pressure sensor is mounted to sense a static pressure at the air vehicle. The controller is configured to receive signals from the mass air flow sensor and the pressure sensor and determine an air velocity and a static pressure using the received signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Miller, Steven H. Thomas
  • Patent number: 7334469
    Abstract: A method for characterizing pressure sensors to improve accuracy in an air data system is described where the sensors include at least one static pressure sensor and at least one total pressure sensor. The method includes characterizing the static pressure sensor and the total pressure sensor to determine a static pressure sensor error, Pse, and a total pressure sensor error, Pte, and performing a second ratiometric characterization to reference the total pressure sensor error, Pte, to the static pressure sensor error, Pse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Honeyweill International Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Miller, Steven H. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20080009141
    Abstract: Methods of forming dielectric films comprising Si, C, O and H atoms (SiCOH) or Si, C, N and H atoms (SiCHN) that have improved cohesive strength (or equivalently, improved fracture toughness or reduced brittleness), and increased resistance to water degradation of properties such as stress-corrosion cracking, Cu ingress, and other critical properties are provided. Electronic structures including the above materials are also included herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2006
    Publication date: January 10, 2008
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Geraud Dubois, Stephen M. Gates, Alfred Grill, Victor Y. Lee, Robert D. Miller, Son Nguyen, Vishnubhai Patel
  • Publication number: 20070296064
    Abstract: A dense boron-based or phosphorus-based dielectric material is provided. Specifically, the present invention provides a dense boron-based dielectric material comprised of boron and at least one of carbon, nitrogen, and hydrogen or a dense phosphorus-based dielectric comprised of phosphorus and nitrogen. The present invention also provides electronic structures containing the dense boron-based or phosphorus-based dielectric as an etch stop, a dielectric Cu capping material, a CMP stop layer, and/or a reactive ion etching mask in a ULSI back-end-of-the-line (BEOL) interconnect structure. A method of forming the inventive boron-based or phosphorus-based dielectric as well as the electronic structure containing the same are also described in the present invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Inventors: Stephen M. Gates, Robert D. Miller
  • Patent number: 7309754
    Abstract: An encapsulant fluid is provided comprising a mixture of a diene-containing compound and a dienophilic compound. At least one of the diene-containing and the dienophilic compounds is protected so that the compounds do not substantially react with each other at room temperature. The diene-containing and the dienophilic compounds undergo a reversible Diels-Alder polymerization reaction at a polymerization temperature above room temperature to form a solid debondable polymeric encapsulant. Also provided are methods for forming slider assemblies and methods for patterning a slider surface using the encapsulant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Phillip Joe Brock, Michael W. Chaw, Dan Dawson, Craig Hawker, James L. Hedrick, Teddie P. Magbitang, Dennis McKean, Robert D. Miller, Richard I. Palmisano, Willi Volksen