Patents by Inventor Thomas J. Hartswick

Thomas J. Hartswick 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: 20190362977
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure with low resistance conduction paths and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The method includes forming at least one low resistance conduction path on a wafer, and forming an electroplated seed layer in direct contact with the low resistance conduction path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Inventors: Jeffrey P. GAMBINO, Thomas J. HARTSWICK, Zhong-Xiang HE, Anthony K. STAMPER, Eric J. WHITE
  • Patent number: 10438803
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure with low resistance conduction paths and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The method includes forming at least one low resistance conduction path on a wafer, and forming an electroplated seed layer in direct contact with the low resistance conduction path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jeffrey P. Gambino, Thomas J. Hartswick, Zhong-Xiang He, Anthony K. Stamper, Eric J. White
  • Patent number: 10177000
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure with low resistance conduction paths and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The method includes forming at least one low resistance conduction path on a wafer, and forming an electroplated seed layer in direct contact with the low resistance conduction path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jeffrey P. Gambino, Thomas J. Hartswick, Zhong-Xiang He, Anthony K. Stamper, Eric J. White
  • Patent number: 10134670
    Abstract: An aspect of the invention includes a method for plating wires on a wafer comprising: forming an array of integrated circuit (IC) chips having a redistribution level; forming a kerf bus, the kerf bus separating each of the IC chips from each other, the kerf bus being connected to an edge of the wafer; forming an array of wires in the redistribution level of each IC chip; electrically connecting at least one wire in the array of wires on each IC chip to the kerf bus; and electroplating the array of IC chips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas J. Hartswick, Anthony K. Stamper
  • Patent number: 9691623
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure with low resistance conduction paths and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The method includes forming at least one low resistance conduction path on a wafer, and forming an electroplated seed layer in direct contact with the low resistance conduction path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jeffrey P. Gambino, Thomas J. Hartswick, Zhong-Xiang He, Anthony K. Stamper, Eric J. White
  • Publication number: 20170148672
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure with low resistance conduction paths and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The method includes forming at least one low resistance conduction path on a wafer, and forming an electroplated seed layer in direct contact with the low resistance conduction path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: Jeffrey P. GAMBINO, Thomas J. HARTSWICK, Zhong-Xiang HE, Anthony K. STAMPER, Eric J. WHITE
  • Patent number: 9620371
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure with low resistance conduction paths and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The method includes forming at least one low resistance conduction path on a wafer, and forming an electroplated seed layer in direct contact with the low resistance conduction path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jeffrey P. Gambino, Thomas J. Hartswick, Zhong-Xiang He, Anthony K. Stamper, Eric J. White
  • Patent number: 9478427
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure with low resistance conduction paths and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The method includes forming at least one low resistance conduction path on a wafer, and forming an electroplated seed layer in direct contact with the low resistance conduction path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jeffrey P. Gambino, Thomas J. Hartswick, Zhong-Xiang He, Anthony K. Stamper, Eric J. White
  • Publication number: 20160300793
    Abstract: An aspect of the invention includes a method for plating wires on a wafer comprising: forming an array of integrated circuit (IC) chips having a redistribution level; forming a kerf bus, the kerf bus separating each of the IC chips from each other, the kerf bus being connected to an edge of the wafer; forming an array of wires in the redistribution level of each IC chip; electrically connecting at least one wire in the array of wires on each IC chip to the kerf bus; and electroplating the array of IC chips.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2015
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas J. Hartswick, Anthony K. Stamper
  • Publication number: 20160284645
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure with low resistance conduction paths and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The method includes forming at least one low resistance conduction path on a wafer, and forming an electroplated seed layer in direct contact with the low resistance conduction path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Inventors: Jeffrey P. GAMBINO, Thomas J. HARTSWICK, Zhong-Xiang HE, Anthony K. STAMPER, Eric J. WHITE
  • Patent number: 9312140
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure with low resistance conduction paths and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The method includes forming at least one low resistance conduction path on a wafer, and forming an electroplated seed layer in direct contact with the low resistance conduction path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jeffrey P. Gambino, Thomas J. Hartswick, Zhong-Xiang He, Anthony K. Stamper, Eric J. White
  • Publication number: 20150364368
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure with low resistance conduction paths and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The method includes forming at least one low resistance conduction path on a wafer, and forming an electroplated seed layer in direct contact with the low resistance conduction path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Inventors: Jeffrey P. GAMBINO, Thomas J. HARTSWICK, Zhong-Xiang HE, Anthony K. STAMPER, Eric J. WHITE
  • Publication number: 20150364416
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure with low resistance conduction paths and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The method includes forming at least one low resistance conduction path on a wafer, and forming an electroplated seed layer in direct contact with the low resistance conduction path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Inventors: Jeffrey P. GAMBINO, Thomas J. HARTSWICK, Zhong-Xiang HE, Anthony K. STAMPER, Eric J. WHITE
  • Publication number: 20150364367
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure with low resistance conduction paths and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The method includes forming at least one low resistance conduction path on a wafer, and forming an electroplated seed layer in direct contact with the low resistance conduction path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Inventors: Jeffrey P. GAMBINO, Thomas J. HARTSWICK, Zhong-Xiang HE, Anthony K. STAMPER, Eric J. WHITE
  • Publication number: 20150332925
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure with low resistance conduction paths and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The method includes forming at least one low resistance conduction path on a wafer, and forming an electroplated seed layer in direct contact with the low resistance conduction path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jeffrey P. GAMBINO, Thomas J. HARTSWICK, Zhong-Xiang HE, Anthony K. STAMPER, Eric J. WHITE
  • Patent number: 6627926
    Abstract: In a semiconductor device using fill shape patterns incorporated into wiring levels to increase the planarity of the wiring levels, the fill shapes are aligned from one wiring level to another wiring level to provide lines of sight to lower wiring levels for visual inspection. Also, in accordance with the invention, selected aligned fill shapes are interconnected with vias to form conductive stacks for contacting lower wiring level conductive wires from upper wiring levels in order to perform electrical test probing/diagnostics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas J. Hartswick, Mark E. Masters
  • Patent number: 6274393
    Abstract: A method for determining the quality of features of a photoresist pattern, especially for vias and contacts, formed on a semiconductor wafer. A photoresist mask layer having a pattern of openings therein is deposited onto the wafer, and a test region (kerf) of the wafer is marked through the openings in the mask layer. In a preferred embodiment, the mask layer is a photoresist layer, although in alternative embodiments the mask layer could be provided as an insulator mask layer or a metal mask layer. The marking transfers an image of the bottom of the mask layer into the substrate by etching, such as by rastering a focused ion beam over the openings in the mask layer in the presence of an etchant gas. This provides an etched mark in the wafer defined by the passage of the focused ion beam through the mask opening. In alternative embodiments, the marking could be performed by staining or dyeing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas J. Hartswick
  • Publication number: 20010005052
    Abstract: In a semiconductor device using fill shape patterns incorporated into wiring levels to increase the planarity of the wiring levels, the fill shapes are aligned from one wiring level to another wiring level to provide lines of sight to lower wiring levels for visual inspection. Also, in accordance with the invention, selected aligned fill shapes are interconnected with vias to form conductive stacks for contacting lower wiring level conductive wires from upper wiring levels in order to perform electrical test probing/diagnostics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Publication date: June 28, 2001
    Inventors: Thomas J. Hartswick, Mark E. Masters
  • Patent number: 6251773
    Abstract: In a semiconductor device using fill shape patterns incorporated into wiring levels to increase the planarity of the wiring levels, the fill shapes are aligned from one wiring level to another wiring level to provide lines of sight to lower wiring levels for visual inspection. Also, in accordance with the invention, selected aligned fill shapes are interconnected with vias to form conductive stacks for contacting lower wiring level conductive wires from upper wiring levels in order to perform electrical test probing/diagnostics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas J. Hartswick, Mark E. Masters
  • Patent number: 5926738
    Abstract: The preferred embodiment of the present invention provides increased conductivity between interlevel interconnection lines. The preferred embodiment uses sidewall spacers on the sides of the interconnection lines to increase the contact area between interconnection lines and interconnect studs. This increase in area improves connection resistance and allows further device scaling without unacceptable decreases in the conductivity of the connection, and without adding significant expense in the fabrication process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John E. Cronin, Thomas J. Hartswick, Anthony K. Stamper