Patents by Inventor Thad L. Brunelli

Thad L. Brunelli 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: 7097546
    Abstract: The fabrication of integrated circuits entails the repeated application of many basic processing steps, for instance, planarization—the process of making a surface flat, or planar. One specific technique for making surfaces flat is chemical-mechanical planarization, which typically entails applying slurry onto a surface of an integrated circuit and polishing the surface with a rotating polishing head. The head includes several holes, known as slurry dispensers, through which slurry is applied to the surface. After completion of a polishing operation, gas is forced through the slurry dispensers to separate the surface from the rotating head. Unfortunately, the gas dries slurry remaining on the surface, causing slurry particles to stick to the polished surface, which ultimately cause defects in integrated circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Thad L. Brunelli
  • Patent number: 6935926
    Abstract: The fabrication of integrated circuits entails the repeated application of many basic processing steps, for instance, planarization—the process of making a surface flat, or planar. One specific technique for making surfaces flat is chemical-mechanical planarization, which typically entails applying slurry onto a surface of an integrated circuit and polishing the surface with a rotating polishing head. The head includes several holes, known as slurry dispensers, through which slurry is applied to the surface. After completion of a polishing operation, gas is forced through the slurry dispensers to separate the surface from the rotating head. Unfortunately, the gas dries slurry remaining on the surface, causing slurry particles to stick to the polished surface, which ultimately cause defects in integrated circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Thad L. Brunelli
  • Publication number: 20030013383
    Abstract: The fabrication of integrated circuits entails the repeated application of many basic processing steps, for instance, planarization—the process of making a surface flat, or planar. One specific technique for making surfaces flat is chemical-mechanical planarization, which typically entails applying slurry onto a surface of an integrated circuit and polishing the surface with a rotating polishing head. The head includes several holes, known as slurry dispensers, through which slurry is applied to the surface. After completion of a polishing operation, gas is forced through the slurry dispensers to separate the surface from the rotating head. Unfortunately, the gas dries slurry remaining on the surface, causing slurry particles to stick to the polished surface, which ultimately cause defects in integrated circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2002
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Thad L. Brunelli
  • Patent number: 6497612
    Abstract: The fabrication of integrated circuits entails the repeated application of many basic processing steps, for instance, planarization—the process of making a surface flat, or planar. One specific technique for making surfaces flat is chemical-mechanical planarization, which typically entails applying slurry onto a surface of an integrated circuit and polishing the surface with a rotating polishing head. The head includes several holes, known as slurry dispensers, through which slurry is applied to the surface. After completion of a polishing operation, gas is forced through the slurry dispensers to separate the surface from the rotating head. Unfortunately, the gas dries slurry remaining on the surface, causing slurry particles to stick to the polished surface, which ultimately cause defects in integrated circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Thad L. Brunelli
  • Publication number: 20020115388
    Abstract: The fabrication of integrated circuits entails the repeated application of many basic processing steps, for instance, planarization—the process of making a surface flat, or planar. One specific technique for making surfaces flat is chemical-mechanical planarization, which typically entails applying slurry onto a surface of an integrated circuit and polishing the surface with a rotating polishing head. The head includes several holes, known as slurry dispensers, through which slurry is applied to the surface. After completion of a polishing operation, gas is forced through the slurry dispensers to separate the surface from the rotating head. Unfortunately, the gas dries slurry remaining on the surface, causing slurry particles to stick to the polished surface, which ultimately cause defects in integrated circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2002
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Thad L. Brunelli
  • Patent number: 6375544
    Abstract: The fabrication of integrated circuits entails the repeated application of many basic processing steps, for instance, planarization—the process of making a surface flat, or planar. One specific technique for making surfaces flat is chemical-mechanical planarization, which typically entails applying slurry onto a surface of an integrated circuit and polishing the surface with a rotating polishing head. The head includes several holes, known as slurry dispensers, through which slurry is applied to the surface. After completion of a polishing operation, gas is forced through the slurry dispensers to separate the surface from the rotating head. Unfortunately, the gas dries slurry remaining on the surface, causing slurry particles to stick to the polished surface, which ultimately cause defects in integrated circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Thad L. Brunelli