Patents by Inventor Thomas Ference

Thomas Ference 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: 20050252384
    Abstract: An illuminated pop-up candy comprising a housing, cap, moveable candy, moveable illumination system, and switching mechanism. The candy is able to translate and rotate along the length of the housing by the application of pressure to either the candy or the illumination system. The illumination system is switched on and off by touch or translation of the illumination along said housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2005
    Publication date: November 17, 2005
    Inventors: Harvey Allard, Thomas Ference
  • Publication number: 20050161493
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure including a first substrate and a second substrate joined to the first substrate. A plurality of contacts extend between the first substrate and the second substrate. A plurality of first solder bumps are connected between the first substrate and the second substrate for aligning the contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2005
    Publication date: July 28, 2005
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas Ference, Wayne Howell
  • Publication number: 20050158889
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the thickness of a semiconductor wafer during a backside grinding process are disclosed. The present invention uses optical measurement of the wafer thickness during a backside grinding process to determine the endpoint of the grinding process. Preferred methods entail measuring light transmitted through or reflected by a semiconductor wafer as a function of angle of incidence or of wavelength. This information is then used, through the use of curve fitting techniques or formulas, to determine the thickness of the semiconductor wafer. Furthermore, the present invention may be used to determine if wedging of the semiconductor occurs and, if wedging does occur, to provide leveling information to the thinning apparatus such that a grinding surface can be adjusted to reduce or eliminate wedging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2005
    Publication date: July 21, 2005
    Inventors: Donald Brouillette, Thomas Ference, Harold Linde, Michael Hibbs, Ronald Mendelson
  • Publication number: 20050095011
    Abstract: A short intense pulse of radiation is generated by shining radiation through a magneto-optical material and providing multiple stimulations to the material. The material is excited multiple times to rapidly change a property of the radiation, such as the angle of its polarization. The first excitation rotates the polarization in a first direction and the second excitation can rotate the polarization further. Alternatively the second excitation can bring the polarization back to its initial direction. Effect of lengthy relaxation times in the material cancel each other out and the pulse of light has a length that depends on the time difference between the two excitations and the spacing between them. This allows a pulse of light to be produced that has more rotation or has a shorter pulse width than the time for excitation plus the time for normal relaxation of the magneto-optical material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2004
    Publication date: May 5, 2005
    Inventors: William Cottrell, Thomas Ference, Kenneth Puzey
  • Publication number: 20050064697
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure including a first substrate and a second substrate joined to the first substrate. A plurality of contacts extend between the first substrate and the second substrate. A plurality of first solder bumps are connected between the first substrate and the second substrate for aligning the contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2004
    Publication date: March 24, 2005
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas Ference, Wayne Howell