Patents by Inventor Scott Alan Estes

Scott Alan Estes 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: 8236580
    Abstract: A method of monitoring copper contamination. The method includes method, comprising: (a) ion-implanting an N-type dopant into a region of single-crystal silicon substrate, the region abutting a top surface of the substrate; (c) activating the N-type dopant by annealing the substrate at a temperature of 500° C. or higher in an inert atmosphere; (c) submerging, for a present duration of time, the substrate into an aqueous solution, the aqueous solution to be monitored for copper contamination; and (d) determining an amount of copper adsorbed from the aqueous solution by the region of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jay Sanford Burnham, Joseph Kerry Vaughn Comeau, Leslie Peter Crane, James Randall Elliott, Scott Alan Estes, James Spiros Nakos, Eric Jeffrey White
  • Patent number: 7957917
    Abstract: A computer system. The computer system including a processor and memory unit coupled to the processor, the memory unit containing instructions that when executed by the processor implement a method for monitoring a solution in a tank used to fabricate integrated circuits, the method comprising the computer implemented steps of: (a) collecting data indicating of an amount of copper in a region of a substrate of a monitor, the monitor comprising an N-type region in a silicon substrate, the region abutting a top surface of the substrate, the monitor having been submerged in the solution for a preset time; (b) comparing the data to a specification for copper content of the solution; (c) if the data indicates a copper content exceeds a limit of the specification for copper, indicating a corrective action is required to prevent copper contamination of the integrated circuits; and (d) repeating steps (a) through (c) periodically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jay Sanford Burnham, Joseph Kerry Vaughn Comeau, Leslie Peter Crane, James Randall Elliott, Scott Alan Estes, James Spiros Nakos, Eric Jeffrey White
  • Publication number: 20110086442
    Abstract: A method of monitoring copper contamination. The method includes method, comprising: (a) ion-implanting an N-type dopant into a region of single-crystal silicon substrate, the region abutting a top surface of the substrate; (c) activating the N-type dopant by annealing the substrate at a temperature of 500° C. or higher in an inert atmosphere; (c) submerging, for a present duration of time, the substrate into an aqueous solution, the aqueous solution to be monitored for copper contamination; and (d) determining an amount of copper adsorbed from the aqueous solution by the region of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jay Sanford Burnham, Joseph Kerry Vaughn Comeau, Leslie Peter Crane, James Randall Elliott, Scott Alan Estes, James Spiros Nakos, Eric Jeffrey White
  • Patent number: 7888142
    Abstract: A method of monitoring copper contamination. The method includes method, comprising: (a) ion-implanting an N-type dopant into a region of single-crystal silicon substrate, the region abutting a top surface of the substrate; (c) activating the N-type dopant by annealing the substrate at a temperature of 500° C. or higher in an inert atmosphere; (c) submerging, for a present duration of time, the substrate into an aqueous solution, the aqueous solution to be monitored for copper contamination; and (d) determining an amount of copper adsorbed from the aqueous solution by the region of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jay Sanford Burnham, Joseph Kerry Vaughn Comeau, Leslie Peter Crane, James Randall Elliott, Scott Alan Estes, James Spiros Nakos, Eric Jeffrey White
  • Publication number: 20090087928
    Abstract: A method of monitoring copper contamination. The method includes method, comprising: (a) ion-implanting an N-type dopant into a region of single-crystal silicon substrate, the region abutting a top surface of the substrate; (c) activating the N-type dopant by annealing the substrate at a temperature of 500° C. or higher in an inert atmosphere; (c) submerging, for a present duration of time, the substrate into an aqueous solution, the aqueous solution to be monitored for copper contamination; and (d) determining an amount of copper adsorbed from the aqueous solution by the region of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventors: Jay Sanford Burnham, Joseph Kerry Vaughn Comeau, Leslie Peter Crane, James Randall Elliott, Scott Alan Estes, James Spiros Nakos, Eric Jeffrey White
  • Publication number: 20090088984
    Abstract: A computer system. The computer system including a processor and memory unit coupled to the processor, the memory unit containing instructions that when executed by the processor implement a method for monitoring a solution in a tank used to fabricate integrated circuits, the method comprising the computer implemented steps of: (a) collecting data indicating of an amount of copper in a region of a substrate of a monitor, the monitor comprising an N-type region in a silicon substrate, the region abutting a top surface of the substrate, the monitor having been submerged in the solution for a preset time; (b) comparing the data to a specification for copper content of the solution; (c) if the data indicates a copper content exceeds a limit of the specification for copper, indicating a corrective action is required to prevent copper contamination of the integrated circuits; and (d) repeating steps (a) through (c) periodically.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventors: Jay Sanford Burnham, Joseph Kerry Vaughn Comeau, Leslie Peter Crane, James Randall Elliott, Scott Alan Estes, James Spiros Nakos, Eric Jeffrey White
  • Patent number: 6812193
    Abstract: Slurry compositions comprising an oxidizing agent, optionally a copper corrosion inhibitor, abrasive particles; surface active agent, a service of chloride and a source of sulfate ions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Todd Brigham, Donald Francis Canaperi, Michael Addison Cobb, William Cote, Kenneth Morgan Davis, Scott Alan Estes, Edward Jack Gordon, James Willard Hannah, Mahadevaiyer Krishnan, Michael Francis Lofaro, Michael Joseph MacDonald, Dean Allen Schaffer, George James Slusser, James Anthony Tornello, Eric Jeffrey White
  • Publication number: 20030073593
    Abstract: Slurry compositions comprising an oxidizing agent, optionally a copper corrosion inhibitor, abrasive particles; surface active agent, a service of chloride and a source of sulfate ions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Inventors: Michael Todd Brigham, Donald Francis Canaperi, Michael A. Cobb, William Cote, Kenneth M. Davis, Scott Alan Estes, Edward Jack Gordon, James Willard Hannah, Mahadevaiyer Krishnan, Michael F. Lofaro, Michael Joseph MacDonald, Dean Allen Schaffer, George James Slusser, James A. Tornello, Eric Jeffrey White