Patents by Inventor Robert M. Japp

Robert M. Japp 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: 20030042046
    Abstract: A substrate and a method of making the substrate is provided. The substrate includes a layer of metal with at least one through hole therein, the layer of metal having an adhesion promoting layer thereon. A layer of a partially cured low-loss polymer or polymer precursor is positioned on the adhesion promoting layer and a plurality of conductive circuit lines are positioned on a portion of the partially cured dielectric layer. The substrate can be used as a building block in the fabrication of a multilayered printed circuit board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert M. Japp, Voya R. Markovich, Konstantinos I. Papathomas
  • Publication number: 20030022013
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of temporarily adhering a stack of sheets together to facilitate drilling a hole through the stack of sheets. The method includes using a temporary adhesive that prevents burring while drilling a hole through the stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert M. Japp, Gregory A. Kevern, Francis S. Poch
  • Patent number: 6496356
    Abstract: A method of forming a capacitive core structure and of forming a circuitized printed wiring board from the core structure and the resulting structures are provided. The capacitive core structure is formed by providing a central conducting plane of a sheet of conductive material and forming at least one clearance hole in the central conducting plane. First and second external conducting planes are laminated to opposite sides of the ground plane with a film of dielectric material between each of the first and second external planes and the central conducting plane. At least one clearance hole is formed in each of the first and second external planes. A circuitized wiring board structure can be formed by laminating a capacitive core structure between two circuitized structures. The invention also relates to the structures formed by these methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert M. Japp, John M. Lauffer, Konstantinos I. Papathomas
  • Publication number: 20020164468
    Abstract: A method and structure relating to multisegmented plated through holes. A substrate includes a dielectric layer sandwiched between a first laminate layer and a second laminate layer. A through hole is formed through the substrate. The through hole passes through nonplatable dielectric material within the dielectric layer. As a result, subsequent seeding and electroplating of the through hole results in a conductive metal plating forming at a wall of the through hole on a segment of the first laminate layer and on a segment of the second laminate layer, but not on the nonplatable dielectric material of the dielectric layer. Thus, the conductive metal plating is not continuous from the first laminate layer to the second laminate layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Publication date: November 7, 2002
    Inventors: Donald S. Farquhar, Robert M. Japp, John M. Lauffer, Konstantinos I. Papathomas
  • Patent number: 6459047
    Abstract: A substrate and a method of making the substrate is provided. The substrate includes a layer of metal with at least one through hole therein, the layer of metal having an adhesion promoting layer thereon. A layer of a partially cured low-loss polymer or polymer precursor is positioned on the adhesion promoting layer and a plurality of conductive circuit lines are positioned on a portion of the partially cured dielectric layer. The substrate can be used as a building block in the fabrication of a multilayered printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert M. Japp, Voya R. Markovich, Konstantinos I. Papathomas
  • Patent number: 6429384
    Abstract: A structure that adhesively couples a chip to an organic chip carrier. The chip is attached to a top surface of the organic chip carrier by interfacing a solder bump between a C4 solder structure on the chip and a pad on a top surface of the chip carrier. The melting temperature of the solder bump is less than the melting temperature of the C4 solder structure. A block of ferrous material is on a top surface of the chip. A temporary or permanent stiffener of ferrous material is on the top surface of the chip carrier. A permanent magnet is coupled to a bottom surface of the chip carrier. Alternatively, an electromagnetic could be utilized instead of the electromagnet. Due to the permanent magnet or the electromagnet, a magnetic force on the stiffener is directed toward the magnet and substantially flattens the first surface of the chip carrier. Similarly, a magnetic force on the block is directed toward the magnet such that the electronic component and the chip carrier are held in alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Francis J. Downes, Jr., Robert M. Japp, Mark V. Pierson
  • Patent number: 6426470
    Abstract: A method and structure relating to multisegmented plated through holes. A substrate includes a dielectric layer sandwiched between a first laminate layer and a second laminate layer. A through hole is formed through the substrate. The through hole passes through nonplatable dielectric material within the dielectric layer. As a result, subsequent seeding and electroplating of the through hole results in a conductive metal plating forming at a wall of the through hole on a segment of the first laminate layer and on a segment of the second laminate layer, but not on the nonplatable dielectric material of the dielectric layer. Thus, the conductive metal plating is not continuous from the first laminate layer to the second laminate layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Donald S. Farquhar, Robert M. Japp, John M. Lauffer, Konstantinos I. Papathomas
  • Publication number: 20020092677
    Abstract: A method and structure relating to multisegmented plated through holes. A substrate includes a dielectric layer sandwiched between a first laminate layer and a second laminate layer. A through hole is formed through the substrate. The through hole passes through nonplatable dielectric material within the dielectric layer. As a result, subsequent seeding and electroplating of the through hole results in a conductive metal plating forming at a wall of the through hole on a segment of the first laminate layer and on a segment of the second laminate layer, but not on the nonplatable dielectric material of the dielectric layer. Thus, the conductive metal plating is not continuous from the first laminate layer to the second laminate layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2001
    Publication date: July 18, 2002
    Inventors: Donald S. Farquhar, Robert M. Japp, John M. Lauffer, Konstantinos I. Papathomas
  • Publication number: 20020085364
    Abstract: An electronic package, and method of making the electronic package, is provided. The package includes a semiconductor chip and an multi-layered interconnect structure having a high density interconnect layer such as an allylated surface layer. The semiconductor chip includes a plurality of contact members on one of its surfaces that are connected to the multi-layered interconnect structure by a plurality of solder connections. The multi-layered interconnect structure is adapted for electrically interconnecting the semiconductor chip to a circuitized substrate (eg., circuit board) with another plurality of solder connections and includes a thermally conductive layer being comprised of a material having a selected thickness and coefficient of thermal expansion to substantially prevent failure of the solder connections between said first plurality of electrically conductive members and the semiconductor chip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2002
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Inventors: Francis J. Downes, Donald S. Farquhar, Elizabeth Foster, Robert M. Japp, Gerald W. Jones, John S. Kresge, Robert D. Sebesta, David B. Stone, James R. Wilcox
  • Publication number: 20020080556
    Abstract: A method of forming a capacitive core structure and of forming a circuitized printed wiring board from the core structure and the resulting structures are provided. The capacitive core structure is formed by providing a central conducting plane of a sheet of conductive material and forming at least one clearance hole in the central conducting plane. First and second external conducting planes are laminated to opposite sides of the ground plane with a film of dielectric material between each of the first and second external planes and the central conducting plane. At least one clearance hole is formed in each of the first and second external planes. A circuitized wiring board structure can be formed by laminating a capacitive core structure between two circuitized structures. The invention also relates to the structures formed by these methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, New York
    Inventors: Robert M. Japp, John M. Lauffer, Konstantinos I. Papathomas
  • Patent number: 6399896
    Abstract: Reliability of circuit packaging while accommodating larger chips and increased temperature excursions is achieved by use of compliant pads only at the locations of connections between packaging levels, preferably between a laminated chip carrier and a printed circuit board. The invention allows the coefficient of thermal expansion of the chip carrier to be economically well-matched to the CTE of the chip and accommodation of significant differences in CTEs of package materials to be accommodated at a single packaging level. The compliant pads are preferably of low aspect ratio which are not significantly deflected by accelerations and can be formed on a surface or recessed into it. Connections can be made through surface connections and/or plated through holes. Connection enhancements such as solder wettable surfaces or dendritic textures are provided in a conductive metal or alloy layer over a compliant rubber or elastomer layer which may be conductive or non-conductive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Frank J. Downes, Jr., Donald S. Farquhar, Robert M. Japp, William J. Rudik
  • Publication number: 20020050402
    Abstract: Conductive materials that have low coefficients of thermal expansion (CTEs) and that are used for power and ground planes are disclosed. Fibrous materials (such as carbon, graphite, glass, quartz, polyethylene, and liquid crystal polymer fibers) with low CTEs are metallized to provide a resultant conductive material with a low CTE. Such fibers may be metallized in their individual state and then formed into a fabric, or these materials may be formed into a fabric and then metallized or a combination of both metallizations may be used. In addition, a graphite or carbon sheet may be metallized on one or both sides to provide a material that has a low CTE and high conductivity. These metallized, low CTE power and ground planes may be laminated with other planes/cores into a composite, or laminated into a core which is then laminated with other planes/cores into a composite. The resultant composite may be used for printed circuit boards (PCBs) or PCBs used as laminate chip carriers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Publication date: May 2, 2002
    Inventors: Robert M. Japp, Mark D. Poliks
  • Patent number: 6373717
    Abstract: An electronic package, and method of making the electronic package, is provided. The package includes a semiconductor chip and an multi-layered interconnect structure having a high density interconnect layer such as an allylated surface layer. The semiconductor chip includes a plurality of contact members on one of its surfaces that are connected to the multi-layered interconnect structure by a plurality of solder connections. The multi-layered interconnect structure is adapted for electrically interconnecting the semiconductor chip to a circuitized substrate (eg., circuit board) with another plurality of solder connections and includes a thermally conductive layer being comprised of a material having a selected thickness and coefficient of thermal expansion to substantially prevent failure of the solder connections between said first plurality of electrically conductive members and the semiconductor chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Francis J. Downes, Jr., Donald S. Farquhar, Elizabeth Foster, Robert M. Japp, Gerald W. Jones, John S. Kresge, Robert D. Sebesta, David B. Stone, James R. Wilcox
  • Patent number: 6355364
    Abstract: Processes for preparing copper-INVAR-copper (CIC) for use in making chip packaging and the CIC created. One process comprises annealing a CIC section at a temperature in a range of 1475° F. to 1625° F. for a time in a range of 40 to 120 seconds. Another process includes heat treating a CIC section at a temperature in a range of 1275° F. to 1425° F. for a time in a range of 40 to 120 seconds. The above processes can be combined. The CIC section created exhibits unique electrical, physical, and mechanical properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert M. Japp, Lisa J. Jimarez, Bonnie S. McClure
  • Patent number: 6343001
    Abstract: A method of forming a capacitive core structure and of forming a circuitized printed wiring board from the core structure and the resulting structures are provided. The capacitive core structure is formed by providing a central conducting plane of a sheet of conductive material and forming at least one clearance hole in the central conducting plane. First and second external conducting planes are laminated to opposite sides of the ground plane with a film of dielectric material between each of the first and second external planes and the central conducting plane. At least one clearance hole is formed in each of the first and second external planes. A circuitized wiring board structure can be formed by laminating a capacitive core structure between two circuitized structures. The invention also relates to the structures formed by these methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert M. Japp, John M. Lauffer, Konstantinos I. Papathomas
  • Patent number: 6329603
    Abstract: Conductive materials that have low coefficients of thermal expansion (CTEs) and that are used for power and ground planes are disclosed. Fibrous materials (such as carbon, graphite, glass, quartz, polyethylene, and liquid crystal polymer fibers) with low CTEs are metallized to provide a resultant conductive material with a low CTE. Such fibers may be metallized in their individual state and then formed into a fabric, or these materials may be formed into a fabric and then metallized or a combination of both metallizations may be used. In addition, a graphite or carbon sheet may be metallized on one or both sides to provide a material that has a low CTE and high conductivity. These metallized, low CTE power and ground planes may be laminated with other planes/cores into a composite, or laminated into a core which is then laminated with other planes/cores into a composite. The resultant composite may be used for printed circuit boards (PCBs) or PCBs used as laminate chip carriers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert M. Japp, Mark D. Poliks
  • Patent number: 6207595
    Abstract: A fabric material and method of its manufacture suitable for use in electronic packages including chip carriers. High insulation resistance is exhibited when subjected to high temperatures and humidity stress conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Bernd K. Appelt, Lawrence R. Blumberg, William T. Fotorny, Ross D. Havens, Robert M. Japp, Kostas Papathomas, Jan Obrzut, Mark D. Poliks, Amarjit S. Rai
  • Patent number: 6142361
    Abstract: A method, and associated structure, for adhesively coupling a chip to an organic chip carrier. The chip is attached to a top surface of the organic chip carrier by interfacing a solder bump between a C4 solder structure on the chip and a pad on a top surface of the chip carrier. The melting temperature of the solder bump is less than the melting temperature of the C4 solder structure. A block of ferrous material is placed on a top surface of the chip. A temporary or permanent stiffener of ferrous material is placed on the top surface of the chip carrier. A permanent magnet is coupled to a bottom surface of the chip carrier. Alternatively, an electromagnetic could be utilized instead of the electromagnet. Due to the permanent magnet or the electromagnet, a magnetic force on the stiffener is directed toward the magnet and substantially flattens the first surface of the chip carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Francis J. Downes, Jr., Robert M. Japp, Mark V. Pierson
  • Patent number: 6073344
    Abstract: A method for generating multiple conductor segments within a plated through hole of a printed circuit board. The method utilizes laser light to define the segmented surfaces bounding a hole in a circuit board. Two embodiments of this method are a subtractive process and an additive process. The subtractive process starts with a plated through hole and uses a laser to removes vertical strips of the PTH conductive lining to form the multiple conductive segments. The additive process applies a seeding material to a bare hole in a circuit board, removes vertical strips of the seeding material via laser scanning, and applies an electrically conductive material to the seeded surfaces to form the multiple conductive segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert M. Japp, John S. Kresge
  • Patent number: 5824157
    Abstract: The invention involves a fluid treatment device to solution or melt impregnate a resin or polymer or any combination thereof into a reinforcement which can be utilized to fabricate composite materials for laminates, circuit boards, structural/aerospace materials, automotive components, etc. The invention offers significant advantages and benefits over existing methods and equipment and allows the impregnation process to be performed at lower cost and higher efficiency with increased environmental safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Elizabeth F. Foster, Jeffrey C. Hedrick, Robert M. Japp, Konstantinos Papathomas, Stephen L. Tisdale, Alfred Viehbeck