Patents by Inventor Robert Kerprich

Robert Kerprich 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: 10946495
    Abstract: Low density polishing pads and methods of fabricating low density polishing pads are described. In an example, a polishing pad for polishing a substrate includes a polishing body having a density approximately in the range of 0.4-0.55 g/cc. The polishing body includes a thermoset polyurethane material and a plurality of closed cell pores dispersed in the thermoset polyurethane material. Each of the plurality of closed cell pores has a shell composed of an acrylic co-polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: CMC Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Ping Huang, William C. Allison, Richard Frentzel, Paul Andre Lefevre, Robert Kerprich, Diane Scott
  • Patent number: 10293459
    Abstract: Polishing pads having a polishing surface with continuous protrusions are described. Methods of fabricating polishing pads having a polishing surface with continuous protrusions are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Cabot Microelectronics Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Andre Lefevre, William C. Allison, Alexander William Simpson, Diane Scott, Ping Huang, Leslie M. Charns, James Richard Rinehart, Robert Kerprich
  • Patent number: 10160092
    Abstract: Polishing pads having a polishing surface with continuous protrusions having tapered sidewalls are described. Methods of fabricating polishing pads having a polishing surface with continuous protrusions having tapered sidewalls are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Cabot Microelectronics Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Andre Lefevre, William C. Allison, Alexander William Simpson, Diane Scott, Ping Huang, Leslie M. Charns, James Richard Rinehart, Robert Kerprich
  • Publication number: 20170203409
    Abstract: Polishing pads having a polishing surface with continuous protrusions are described. Methods of fabricating polishing pads having a polishing surface with continuous protrusions are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventors: Paul Andre LEFEVRE, William C. ALLISON, Alexander William SIMPSON, Diane SCOTT, Ping HUANG, Leslie M. CHARNS, James Richard RINEHART, Robert KERPRICH
  • Patent number: 9649742
    Abstract: Polishing pads having a polishing surface with continuous protrusions are described. Methods of fabricating polishing pads having a polishing surface with continuous protrusions are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: NexPlanar Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Andre Lefevre, William C. Allison, Alexander William Simpson, Diane Scott, Ping Huang, Leslie M. Charns, James Richard Rinehart, Robert Kerprich
  • Publication number: 20160221145
    Abstract: Low density polishing pads and methods of fabricating low density polishing pads are described. In an example, a polishing pad for polishing a substrate includes a polishing body having a density approximately in the range of 0.4-0.55 g/cc. The polishing body includes a thermoset polyurethane material and a plurality of closed cell pores dispersed in the thermoset polyurethane material. Each of the plurality of closed cell pores has a shell composed of an acrylic co-polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Inventors: Ping Huang, William C. Allison, Richard Frentzel, Paul Andre Lefevre, Robert Kerprich, Diane Scott
  • Patent number: 9375823
    Abstract: CMP pads having novel groove configurations are described. For example, described herein are CMP pads comprising primary grooves, secondary grooves, a groove pattern center, and an optional terminal groove. The CMP pads may be made from polyurethane or poly (urethane-urea), and the grooves produced therein may be made by a method from the group consisting of molding, laser writing, water jet cutting, 3-D printing, thermoforming, vacuum forming, micro-contact printing, hot stamping, and mixtures thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: NexPlanar Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Kerprich, Karey Holland, Diane Scott, Sudhanshu Misra
  • Patent number: 9296085
    Abstract: Polishing pads with homogeneous bodies having discrete protrusions thereon are described. In an example, a polishing pad for polishing a substrate includes a homogeneous body having a polishing side and a back side. The homogeneous body is composed of a material having a first hardness. A plurality of discrete protrusions is disposed on and covalently bonded with the polishing side of the homogeneous body. The plurality of discrete protrusions is composed of a material having a second hardness different from the first hardness. Methods of fabricating polishing pads with homogeneous bodies having discrete protrusions thereon are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: NexPlanar Corporation
    Inventors: Rajeev Bajaj, Ping Huang, Robert Kerprich, William C. Allison, Richard Frentzel, Diane Scott
  • Patent number: 9249273
    Abstract: Polishing pads with alignment marks are described. Methods of fabricating polishing pads with alignment marks are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: NexPlanar Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Kerprich, William C. Allison, Diane Scott
  • Publication number: 20160023321
    Abstract: CMP pads having novel groove configurations are described. For example, described herein are CMP pads comprising primary grooves, secondary grooves, a groove pattern center, and an optional terminal groove. The CMP pads may be made from polyurethane or poly (urethane-urea), and the grooves produced therein may be made by a method from the group consisting of molding, laser writing, water jet cutting, 3-D printing, thermoforming, vacuum forming, micro-contact printing, hot stamping, and mixtures thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: Robert Kerprich, Karey Holland, Diane Scott, Sudhanshu Misra
  • Publication number: 20150343595
    Abstract: Soft polishing pads for polishing semiconductor substrates are described. A soft polishing pad includes a molded homogeneous polishing body having a thermoset, closed cell polyurethane material with a hardness approximately in the range of 20 Shore D to 45 Shore D.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2015
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventors: William C. Allison, Diane Scott, Robert Kerprich, Ping Huang, Richard Frentzel
  • Patent number: 9180570
    Abstract: CMP pads having novel groove configurations are described. For example, described herein are CMP pads comprising primary grooves, secondary grooves, a groove pattern center, and an optional terminal groove. The CMP pads may be made from polyurethane or poly (urethane-urea), and the grooves produced therein may be made by a method from the group consisting of molding, laser writing, water jet cutting, 3-D printing, thermoforming, vacuum forming, micro-contact printing, hot stamping, and mixtures thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: NexPlanar Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Kerprich, Karey Holland, Diane Scott, Sudhanshu Misra
  • Patent number: 9156124
    Abstract: Soft polishing pads for polishing semiconductor substrates are described. A soft polishing pad includes a molded homogeneous polishing body having a thermoset, closed cell polyurethane material with a hardness approximately in the range of 20 Shore D to 45 Shore D.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: NexPlanar Corporation
    Inventors: William Allison, Diane Scott, Robert Kerprich, Ping Huang, Richard Frentzel
  • Publication number: 20150152236
    Abstract: Polishing pads with alignment marks are described. Methods of fabricating polishing pads with alignment marks are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Publication date: June 4, 2015
    Inventors: Robert Kerprich, William C. Allison, Diane Scott
  • Patent number: 9017140
    Abstract: A CMP polishing pad comprising (a) a polishing layer having a polishing surface and a back surface opposite said polishing surface; said polishing layer having at least one cured opaque thermoset polyurethane region and at least one aperture region; said at least one cured opaque thermoset region has a porosity from about 10% to about 55% by volume; said at least one aperture region having (1) a top opening positioned below the polishing surface, (2) a bottom opening that is co-planar with said back surface and (3) straight line vertical sidewalls extending from said aperture top opening to said aperture bottom opening; said at least one aperture region filled with a cured plug of thermoset polyurethane local area transparency material that has a light transmission of less than 80% at a wavelength from 700 to 710 nanometers and is chemically bonded directly to a thermoset polyurethane opaque area; (b) an aperture-free removable release sheet covering at least a portion of said back surface of the polishing l
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: NexPlanar Corporation
    Inventors: William Allison, Ping Huang, Diane Scott, Richard Frentzel, Robert Kerprich
  • Patent number: 8968058
    Abstract: Polishing pads with alignment marks are described. Methods of fabricating polishing pads with alignment marks are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: NexPlanar Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Kerprich, William C. Allison, Diane Scott
  • Publication number: 20150056900
    Abstract: Polishing pads with homogeneous bodies having discrete protrusions thereon are described. In an example, a polishing pad for polishing a substrate includes a homogeneous body having a polishing side and a back side. The homogeneous body is composed of a material having a first hardness. A plurality of discrete protrusions is disposed on and covalently bonded with the polishing side of the homogeneous body. The plurality of discrete protrusions is composed of a material having a second hardness different from the first hardness. Methods of fabricating polishing pads with homogeneous bodies having discrete protrusions thereon are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: Rajeev Bajaj, Ping Huang, Robert Kerprich, William C. Allison, Richard Frentzel, Diane Scott
  • Publication number: 20150038066
    Abstract: Low density polishing pads and methods of fabricating low density polishing pads are described. In an example, a polishing pad for polishing a substrate includes a polishing body having a density of less than 0.5 g/cc and composed of a thermoset polyurethane material. A plurality of closed cell pores is dispersed in the thermoset polyurethane material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Ping Huang, William C. Allison, Richard Frentzel, Paul Andre Lefevre, Robert Kerprich, Diane Scott
  • Publication number: 20140273777
    Abstract: Polishing pads having a polishing surface with continuous protrusions having tapered sidewalls are described. Methods of fabricating polishing pads having a polishing surface with continuous protrusions having tapered sidewalls are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: NexPlanar Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Andre Lefevre, William C. Allison, Alexander William Simpson, Diane Scott, Ping Huang, Leslie M. Charns, James Richard Rinehart, Robert Kerprich
  • Publication number: 20140206268
    Abstract: Polishing pads having a polishing surface with continuous protrusions are described. Methods of fabricating polishing pads having a polishing surface with continuous protrusions are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: NexPlanar Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Andre Lefevre, William C. Allison, Alexander William Simpson, Diane Scott, Ping Huang, Leslie M. Charns, James Rinehart, Robert Kerprich