Patents by Inventor Steven G. Thummel

Steven G. Thummel 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: 6287503
    Abstract: The upper and lower mold plates of a transfer molding machine are configured for one-side encapsulation of a pair of substrate mounted electronic devices having an opposite conductor-grid-array and/or bare heat sink/dissipator. The pair of devices is positioned back-to-back within a single mold cavity for simultaneous encapsulation. A buffer member optionally with cut-outs or apertures, may be placed between the two back-to-back substrates for protecting the grid-arrays and enabling encapsulation of devices with varying thicknesses without adjustment of the molding machine. Alternately, the upper and lower plates are configured for one-side encasement using covers of a pair of substrate mounted electronic devices having an opposite conductor-grid-array and/or bare heat sink/dissipator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven G. Thummel
  • Patent number: 6247629
    Abstract: A wire bond monitoring system for monitoring wire bonds made on layered packages includes a technique for accessing both the die and the laminate package and making electrical contact thereto so as to test the continuity of the wire bond connection. An electrical connection can be made to a metal trace between the die and the laminate package by contacting a via extending downwardly through the package. Alternatively, a contact may be made from above using a flexible contact. The flexible contact may be attached to the wire bond clamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John O. Jacobson, Derek J. Gochnour, Steven G. Thummel
  • Patent number: 6117382
    Abstract: The upper and lower mold plates of a transfer molding machine are configured for one-side encapsulation of a pair of substrate mounted electronic devices having an opposite conductor-grid-array and/or bare heat sink/dissipator. The pair of devices is positioned back-to-back within a single mold cavity for simultaneous encapsulation. A buffer member, optionally with cut-outs or apertures, may be placed between the two back-to-back substrates for protecting the grid-arrays and enabling encapsulation of devices with varying thicknesses without adjustment of the molding machine. Alternately, the upper and lower plates are configured for one-side encasement using covers of a pair of substrate mounted electronic devices having an opposite conductor-grid-array and/or bare heat sink/dissipator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven G. Thummel
  • Patent number: 6085962
    Abstract: A wire bond monitoring system for monitoring wire bonds made on layered packages includes a technique for accessing both the die and the laminate package and making electrical contact thereto so as to test the continuity of the wire bond connection. An electrical connection can be made to a metal trace between the die and the laminate package by contacting a via extending downwardly through the package. Alternatively, a contact may be made from above using a flexible contact. The flexible contact may be attached to the wire bond clamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John O. Jacobson, Derek J. Gochnour, Steven G. Thummel
  • Patent number: 6084297
    Abstract: A ball grid array (BGA) package includes a central cavity for receiving a semiconductor die therein. The die rests on a base laminate, the die side of which includes traces therein extending into the cavity, which is framed at least by an anisotropically-conductive adhesive layer. Bond pads on the die are electrically connected, as by wire bonds or, in the case of a flip-chip configured die, solder balls or conductive adhesive elements, to the traces. The traces are, in turn, electrically connected through conductive vias to conductive element sites on the opposite side of the base laminate through a dielectric layer, the conductive element sites carrying solder balls or other discrete conductive bonding elements for connection to higher-level packaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry M. Brooks, Steven G. Thummel
  • Patent number: 6057597
    Abstract: A semiconductor package includes a substrate having one or more dice mounted thereto, and a cover adapted to protect and form a sealed space for the dice. The cover can be pre-fabricated of molded plastic, or stamped metal, and attached to the substrate using a cured seal. A hole can also be provided through the substrate to permit pressure equalization during formation of the seal. The cover can be prefabricated in an enclosed configuration for attachment directly to the substrate, or in a planar configuration for attachment to a peripheral ridge on the substrate. In either embodiment, the cover is removable to permit defective dice to be replaced or repaired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Warren M. Farnworth, David R. Hembree, Derek Gochnour, Salman Akram, John O. Jacobson, James M. Wark, Steven G. Thummel
  • Patent number: 5893726
    Abstract: A semiconductor package includes a substrate having one or more dice mounted thereto, and a cover adapted to protect and form a sealed space for the dice. The cover can be pre-fabricated of molded plastic, or stamped metal, and attached to the substrate using a cured seal. A hole can also be provided through the substrate to permit pressure equalization during formation of the seal. The cover can be prefabricated in an enclosed configuration for attachment directly to the substrate, or in a planar configuration for attachment to a peripheral ridge on the substrate. In either embodiment, the cover is removable to permit defective dice to be replaced or repaired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Warren M. Farnworth, David R. Hembree, Derek Gochnour, Salman Akram, John O. Jacobson, James M. Wark, Steven G. Thummel