Patents by Inventor Thomas M. Culnane

Thomas M. Culnane 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: 6524888
    Abstract: Mixtures for attaching a semiconductor chip to a substrate. The semiconductor chip has an array of joining material bumps, such as C4 solder balls. The substrate has an array of conductive pads corresponding to the array of joining material bumps. In a first embodiment the fixture has a body having a first cavity containing the semiconductor chip and a second cavity for containing the substrate. The substrate is placed over the semiconductor chip with the conductive pads opposing and in contact with the joining material bumps, such that during reflow of the joining material bumps, the weight of the substrate acts against the joining material bumps and aids in the attachment of the semiconductor chip to the substrate to form electrical connections therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David N. Cokely, Thomas M. Culnane, Lisa J. Jimarez, Miguel A. Jimarez, Li Li, Donald I. Mead
  • Patent number: 6517662
    Abstract: A semiconductor chip carrier assembly which includes a flexible substrate having a metallicized path on one of its surfaces in electrical communication with a semiconductor chip. A stiffener is disposed adjacent to said flexible substrate and is bonded thereto by an adhesive composition. The adhesive composition which comprises a microporous film laden with a curable adhesive is disposed between the flexible substrate and the stiffener. A cover plate is adhesively bonded to the semiconductor chip and to the stiffener. A process of making the assembly involving disposition of the flexible substrate in a vacuum fixture upon which the adhesive composition and stiffener is placed followed by the application of heat and pressure to cure the curable adhesive is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas M. Culnane, Michael A. Gaynes, Ramesh R. Kodnani, Mark V. Pierson, Charles G. Woychik
  • Publication number: 20020096746
    Abstract: Fixtures for attaching a semiconductor chip to a substrate. The semiconductor chip has an array of joining material bumps, such as C4 solder balls. The substrate has an array of conductive pads corresponding to the array of joining material bumps. In a first embodiment the fixture has a body having a first cavity for containing the semiconductor chip and a second cavity in communication with the first cavity for containing the substrate. Whereby the substrate is placed over the semiconductor chip with the conductive pads opposing and in contact with the joining material bumps, such that during reflow of the joining material bumps, the weight of the substrate acts against the joining material bumps and aids in the attachment of the semiconductor chip to the substrate to form electrical connections therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2002
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: David N. Cokely, Thomas M. Culnane, Lisa J. Jimarez, Miguel A. Jimarez, Li Li, Donald I. Mead
  • Publication number: 20020046804
    Abstract: A semiconductor chip carrier assembly which includes a flexible substrate having a metallicized path on one of its surfaces in electrical communication with a semiconductor chip. A stiffener is disposed adjacent to said flexible substrate and is bonded thereto by an adhesive composition. The adhesive composition which comprises a microporous film laden with a curable adhesive is disposed between the flexible substrate and the stiffener. A cover plate is adhesively bonded to the semiconductor chip and to the stiffener. A process of making the assembly involving disposition of the flexible substrate in a vacuum fixture upon which the adhesive composition and stiffener is placed followed by the application of heat and pressure to cure the curable adhesive is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 1999
    Publication date: April 25, 2002
    Inventors: THOMAS M. CULNANE, MICHAEL A. GAYNES, RAMESH R. KODNANI, MARK V. PIERSON, CHARLES G. WOYCHIK
  • Patent number: 6337509
    Abstract: Fixtures for attaching a semiconductor chip to a substrate. The semiconductor chip has an array of joining material bumps, such as C4 solder balls. The substrate has an array of conductive pads corresponding to the array of joining material bumps. In a first embodiment the fixture has a body having a first cavity for containing the semiconductor chip and a second cavity in communication with the first cavity for containing the substrate. Whereby the substrate is placed over the semiconductor chip with the conductive pads opposing and in contact with the joining material bumps, such that during reflow of the joining material bumps, the weight of the substrate acts against the joining material bumps and aids in the attachment of the semiconductor chip to the substrate to form electrical connections therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David N. Cokely, Thomas M. Culnane, Lisa J. Jimarez, Miguel A. Jimarez, Li Li, Donald I. Mead
  • Publication number: 20010019174
    Abstract: Fixtures for attaching a semiconductor chip to a substrate. The semiconductor chip has an array of joining material bumps, such as C4 solder balls. The substrate has an array of conductive pads corresponding to the array of joining material bumps. In a first embodiment the fixture has a body having a first cavity for containing the semiconductor chip and a second cavity in communication with the first cavity for containing the substrate. Whereby the substrate is placed over the semiconductor chip with the conductive pads opposing and in contact with the joining material bumps, such that during reflow of the joining material bumps, the weight of the substrate acts against the joining material bumps and aids in the attachment of the semiconductor chip to the substrate to form electrical connections therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 1998
    Publication date: September 6, 2001
    Inventors: DAVID N. COKELY, THOMAS M. CULNANE, LISA J. JIMAREZ, MIGUEL A. JIMAREZ, LI LI, DONALD I. MEAD
  • Patent number: 5973389
    Abstract: A semiconductor chip carrier assembly which includes a flexible substrate having a metallicized path on one of its surfaces in electrical communication with a semiconductor chip. A stiffener is disposed adjacent to said flexible substrate and is bonded thereto by an adhesive composition. The adhesive composition which comprises a microporous film laden with a curable adhesive is disposed between the flexible substrate and the stiffener. A cover plate is adhesively bonded to the semiconductor chip and to the stiffener. A process of making the assembly involving disposition of the flexible substrate in a vacuum fixture upon which the adhesive composition and stiffener is placed followed by the application of heat and pressure to cure the curable adhesive is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas M. Culnane, Michael A. Gaynes, Ramesh R. Kodnani, Mark V. Pierson, Charles G. Woychik
  • Patent number: 5889321
    Abstract: A stiffener (34 or 52 or 72) includes a pathway which allows gases and fluids, such as air, to be vented from the interface between surface bonding regions (35 or 60 or 74) of the stiffener and an adhesive (38 or 56 or 80) on a flexible substrate (36 or 54 or 78). The pathway may take the form of a porous material used for the stiffener or one or more bore holes (58 or 59 or 70) formed in the stiffener. The stiffener may also include an internal cavity (76) for promoting venting of fluids and gases. By venting fluid and gases from the adhesive/stiffener interface, better adhesion between the stiffener and flexible substrate is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas M. Culnane, Michael A. Gaynes, Ramesh R. Kodnani, Mark V. Pierson