Patents by Inventor Robert J. Small

Robert J. Small 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: 20240124288
    Abstract: A portable, self-contained beverage apparatus includes a container assembly having a known storage capacity for storing a consumable liquid, and a dispensing assembly disposed within the container assembly that dispenses variable, non-zero quantities of additives into the consumable liquid. The dispensing assembly includes multiple apertures structured and arranged to retain vessels containing the additives to be dispensed into the consumable liquid. The beverage apparatus also includes a level sensor disposed within the container assembly that determines a consumable liquid level of the consumable liquid stored in the container assembly. In certain embodiments, one or more positive displacement pumping mechanisms are configured to pump additive liquid from additive containers into a beverage chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: Cirkul, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Lyons, Jonathon Perrelli, Robert Lawson-Shanks, Abraham Maclean, Connor Bacon, James Christopher Small, Jesse John Horne, Simon Lewis Bilton, Matthew James Edwards, Andrew Gordon Wallace, Maxim D. Wheatley, David J. Wheatley, Todd Metlen
  • Patent number: 8142675
    Abstract: A composition for chemical-mechanical planarization comprises periodic acid and an abrasive present in a combined amount sufficient to planarize a substrate surface having a feature thereon comprising a noble metal, noble metal alloy, noble metal oxide, or any combination thereof. In one embodiment, the periodic acid is present in an amount in a range of from about 0.05 to about 0.3 moles/kilogram, and the abrasive is present in an amount in a range of from about 0.2 to about 6 weight percent. In another embodiment, the composition further comprises a pH-adjusting agent present in an amount sufficient to cause the pH of the composition to be in a range of from about pH 5 to about pH 10, or of from about pH 1 to about pH 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Small, Zhefei J. Chen
  • Patent number: 8057696
    Abstract: This invention relates to compositions and methods for removing overfilled substrates, preferably at a relatively high removal rates. Advantageously, a composition according to the invention can contain an oxidizer, preferably a per-type oxidizer such as a peroxide, periodic acid, and peracetic acid, and may also optionally contain an abrasive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: DuPont Air Products NanoMaterials LLC
    Inventors: Philippe H. Chelle, Robert J. Small
  • Publication number: 20110187010
    Abstract: A method of cleaning a substrate includes contacting a surface of a semiconductor substrate with a composition comprising a superacid. The semiconductor substrate may be a wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Inventor: Robert J. Small
  • Patent number: 7968465
    Abstract: A method of polishing a semiconductor substrate surface having at least one ruthenium feature thereon and at least one dielectric material, wherein the substrate is contacted with an aqueous composition containing from about 0.0005 to about 1 moles/kilogram of periodic acid, from about 0.2% to about 6% % by weight of silica abrasive having an average particle size of about 50 nm or less, and an amine in an amount sufficient to adjust the pH of the composition to between about 2.5 and 7. The removal selectivity of the ruthenium to a. low-K dielectric is greater than 20:1. Advantageously, the substrate further has a tantalum-containing compound, and the polishing rate of the tantalum-containing compound is about the same as the polishing rate of the ruthenium, so that the polishing process is a one-step process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: DuPont Air Products NanoMaterials LLC
    Inventors: Robert J. Small, Haruki Nojo, Kenichi Orui, Steve Masami Aragaki, Atsushi Hayashida
  • Patent number: 7923424
    Abstract: A method of cleaning a substrate includes contacting a surface of a semiconductor substrate with a composition comprising a superacid. The semiconductor substrate may be a wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Advanced Process Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Robert J. Small
  • Publication number: 20090255903
    Abstract: A composition for chemical-mechanical planarization comprises periodic acid and an abrasive present in a combined amount sufficient to planarize a substrate surface having a feature thereon comprising a noble metal, noble metal alloy, noble metal oxide, or any combination thereof. In one embodiment, the periodic acid is present in an amount in a range of from about 0.05 to about 0.3 moles/kilogram, and the abrasive is present in an amount in a range of from about 0.2 to about 6 weight percent. In another embodiment, the composition further comprises a pH-adjusting agent present in an amount sufficient to cause the pH of the composition to be in a range of from about pH 5 to about pH 10, or of from about pH 1 to about pH 4.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Inventors: Robert J. SMALL, Zhefei J. CHEN
  • Publication number: 20090250656
    Abstract: A chemical mechanical polishing composition having: a fluid comprising water and at least one oxidizing compound that produces free radicals when contacted with an activator; and a plurality of particles having a surface and comprising at least one activator selected from ions or compounds of Cu, Fe, Mn, Ti, or mixtures thereof disposed on said surface, wherein at least a portion of said surface comprises a stabilizer. Preferred activators are selected from inorganic oxygen-containing compounds of B, W, Al, and P, for example borate, tungstate, aluminate, and phosphate. The activators are preferably ions of Cu or Fe. Advantageously, certain organic acids, and especially dihydroxy enolic acids, are included in an amount less than about 4000 ppm. Advantageously, activator is coated onto abrasive particles after the particles have been coated with stabilizer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Inventors: Junaid Ahmed Siddiqui, Robert J. Small, Daniel Hernandez Castillo
  • Patent number: 7524346
    Abstract: A composition for chemical-mechanical planarization comprises periodic acid and an abrasive present in a combined amount sufficient to planarize a substrate surface having a feature thereon comprising a noble metal, noble metal alloy, noble metal oxide, or any combination thereof. In one embodiment, the periodic acid is present in an amount in a range of from about 0.05 to about 0.3 moles/kilogram, and the abrasive is present in an amount in a range of from about 0.2 to about 6 weight percent. In another embodiment, the composition further comprises a pH-adjusting agent present in an amount sufficient to cause the pH of the composition to be in a range of from about pH 5 to about pH 10, or of from about pH 1 to about pH 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: DuPont Air Products NanoMaterials LLC
    Inventors: Robert J. Small, Zhefei J. Chen
  • Patent number: 7513920
    Abstract: A CMP composition having: a fluid comprising water and at least one oxidizing compound that produces free radicals when contacted with an activator; and a plurality of particles having a surface and comprising at least one activator selected from ions or compounds of Cu, Fe, Mn, Ti, or mixtures thereof disposed on said surface, wherein at least a portion of said surface comprises a stabilizer. Preferred activators are selected from inorganic oxygen-containing compounds of B, W, Al, and P, for example borate, tungstate, aluminate, and phosphate. The activators are preferably ions of Cu or Fe. Surprisingly, as little as 0.2 ppm and 12 ppm of activator is useful, if the activator-containing particles are suspended in the fluid as a slurry. Advantageously, certain organic acids, and especially dihydroxy enolic acids, are included in an amount less than about 4000 ppm. Advantageously, activator is coated onto abrasive particles after the particles have been coated with stabilizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: DuPont Air Products NanoMaterials LLC
    Inventors: Junaid Ahmed Siddiqui, Robert J. Small, Daniel Hernandez Castillo
  • Publication number: 20090029553
    Abstract: The present invention provides a composition for chemical-mechanical polishing which comprises at least one abrasive particle having a surface at least partially coated by a activator. The activator comprises a metal other than a metal of Group 4(b), Group 5(b) or Group 6(b). The composition further comprises at least one oxidizing agent. The composition is believed to be effective by virtue of the interaction between the activator coated on the surface of the abrasive particles and the oxidizing agent, at the activator surface, to form free radicals. The invention further provides a method that employs the composition in the polishing of a feature or layer, such as a metal film, on a substrate surface. The invention additionally provides a substrate produced this method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventors: Brandon Shane Scott, Robert J. Small
  • Publication number: 20090014415
    Abstract: This invention relates to compositions and methods for removing overfilled substrates, preferably at a relatively high removal rates Advantageously, a composition according to the invention can contain an oxidizer, preferably a per-type oxidizer such as a peroxide, periodic acid, and peracetic acid, and may also optionally contain an abrasive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Inventors: Philippe H. Chelle, Robert J. Small
  • Publication number: 20090011967
    Abstract: A composition for removing resists and etching residue from substrates containing at least one nucleophilic amine compound having oxidation and reduction potentials, at least one organic solvent, water and, optionally, a chelating agent is described. The chelating agent is preferred to be included since it provides added stability and activity to the cleaning composition so that the composition has long term effectiveness. If a chelating agent is not present, the composition, while providing for adequate stripping and cleaning upon initial use of the composition following mixing, has only short term stability. In this latter instance, the nucleophilic amine compound and organic solvent components of the composition preferably are maintained separate from each other until it is desired to use the composition. Thereafter, the components are combined. Following use of the composition, the non-used portion of the composition can be disposed of or be reactivated by the addition of a chelating agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Inventors: Wai Mun Lee, Charles U. Pittman, JR., Robert J. Small
  • Patent number: 7456140
    Abstract: A composition for the stripping of photoresist and the cleaning of residues from substrates, and for silicon oxide etch, comprising from about 0.01 percent by weight to about 10 percent by weight of one or more fluoride compounds, from about 10 percent by weight to about 95% by weight of a sulfoxide or sulfone solvent, and from about 20 percent by weight to about 50 percent by weight water. The composition may contain corrosion inhibitors, chelating agents, co-solvents, basic amine compounds, surfactants, acids and bases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: EKC Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Small, Bakul P. Patel, Wai Mun Lee, Douglas Holmes, Jerome Daviot, Chris Reid
  • Patent number: 7427361
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to compositions and methods for chemically mechanically polishing a substrate, including a polishing accelerator, which is normally one or more oxidizers, an abrasive material, and chelating particles and/or metal-absorbent clay material. In addition, the invention can also involve methods of forming chelator particles and methods of separating metal-containing ions from polishing and/or etching solutions after polishing and/or etching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: DuPont Air Products NanoMaterials LLC
    Inventors: Robert J. Small, Donald William Frey, Bruce Tredinnick, Christopher G. Hayden
  • Patent number: 7427305
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method of making selected oxidizers or other free radical-producing compounds become more effective chemical etchants and/or oxidizers for CMP activities by promoting the formation of the free radicals in a CMP composition with one or more activators. The activator comprises iron, copper or combinations thereof. The activator coated abrasive is particularly effective as it brings the activator in close proximity to the targeted material on the substrate surface, and thus facilitates or accelerates the removal reaction substantially at the site of the targeted material. The activator reacts with the per-type oxidizer to form at least one oxygen-containing free radical. The invention further provides a method that employs the composition in the polishing of a feature or layer, such as a metal film, on a substrate surface. The invention additionally provides a substrate produced by this method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: DuPont Air Products NanoMaterials LLC
    Inventors: Brandon Shane Scott, Robert J. Small
  • Patent number: 7419911
    Abstract: This invention relates to compositions and methods for removing overfilled substrates, preferably at a relatively high removal rates. Advantageously, a composition according to the invention can contain an oxidizer, preferably a per-type oxidizer such as a peroxide, periodic acid, and peracetic acid, and may also optionally contain an abrasive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: EKC Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Philippe H. Chelle, Robert J. Small
  • Patent number: 7387130
    Abstract: A composition for removing resists and etching residue from substrates containing at least one nucleophilic amine compound having oxidation and reduction potentials, at least one organic solvent, water and, optionally, a chelating agent is described. The chelating agent is preferred to be included since it provides added stability and activity to the cleaning composition so that the composition has long term effectiveness. If a chelating agent is not present, the composition, while providing for adequate stripping and cleaning upon initial use of the composition following mixing, has only short term stability. In this latter instance, the nucleophilic amine compound and organic solvent components of the composition preferably are maintained separate from each other until it is desired to use the composition. Thereafter, the components are combined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: EKC Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Wai Mun Lee, Charles U. Pittman, Jr., Robert J. Small
  • Patent number: 7368388
    Abstract: The use of mixed cerium-containing synthetic solid abrasive materials in chemical mechanical polishing slurries can provide better selectivity, better substrate removal rates, or lower defect rates than conventional ceria slurries. The slurries have abrasive particles that include a plurality of solid cerium-containing phases selected from CeO2, Ce2O3, cerium-nitride material, cerium-fluoride material, and cerium-sulfide material, where different cerium-containing materials are present in different particles or on the same particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Inventors: Robert J. Small, Christopher G Hayden
  • Publication number: 20080038995
    Abstract: A method of polishing a semiconductor substrate surface having at least one ruthenium feature thereon and at least one dielectric material, wherein the substrate is contacted with an aqueous composition containing from about 0.0005 to about 1 moles/kilogram of periodic acid, from about 0.2% to about 6% % by weight of silica abrasive having an average particle size of about 50 nm or less, and an amine in an amount sufficient to adjust the pH of the composition to between about 2.5 and 7. The removal selectivity of the ruthenium to a.low-K dielectric is greater than 20:1. Advantageously, the substrate further has a tantalum-containing compound, and the polishing rate of the tantalum-containing compound is about the same as the polishing rate of the ruthenium, so that the polishing process is a one-step process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2004
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventors: Robert J. Small, Haruki Nojo, Kenichi Orui, Steve Masami Aragaki, Atsushi Hayashida