Patents by Inventor Timothy Krywanczyk

Timothy Krywanczyk 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: 7666689
    Abstract: A method holds wafers that contain patterned structures using a particle blasting tool. Next, the method directs particles at the patterned structures, such that the particles contact the patterned structures with a predetermined velocity and remove the patterned structures. This process of directing the particles at the wafer is controlled to stop directing the particles when substantially all of the patterned structures are removed from the wafer. This process also comprises selecting the particles to have a size equal to or less than 3 microns. For example, the particles can comprise aluminum oxide, silicon oxide, cerium, and/or a plastic. By maintaining the particle size equal to 3 microns or less, the blasting produces a substantially smooth wafer surface, thereby omitting the need for subsequent wafer polishing. Further, the wafers produced by such processing do not exhibit the highly stress lattice and fragile nature of wafers processed by wet processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Steven R. Codding, David Domina, James L. Hardy, Timothy Krywanczyk
  • Publication number: 20080139088
    Abstract: A method holds wafers that contain patterned structures using a particle blasting tool. Next, the method directs particles at the patterned structures, such that the particles contact the patterned structures with a predetermined velocity and remove the patterned structures. This process of directing the particles at the wafer is controlled to stop directing the particles when substantially all of the patterned structures are removed from the wafer. This process also comprises selecting the particles to have a size equal to or less than 3 microns. For example, the particles can comprise aluminum oxide, silicon oxide, cerium, and/or a plastic. By maintaining the particle size equal to 3 microns or less, the blasting produces a substantially smooth wafer surface, thereby omitting the need for subsequent wafer polishing. Further, the wafers produced by such processing do not exhibit the highly stress lattice and fragile nature of wafers processed by wet processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventors: Steven R. Codding, David Domina, James L. Hardy, Timothy Krywanczyk
  • Publication number: 20080099149
    Abstract: A method for the removal of residual UV radiation-sensitive adhesive from the surfaces of semiconductor wafers, remaining thereon from protective UV radiation-sensitive tapes which were stripped from the semiconductor wafers. Moreover, provided is an arrangement for implementing the removal of residual sensitive adhesive, which remain from tapes employed as protective layers on semiconductor wafers, particularly wafers having surfaces including C4 connections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven Codding, Timothy Krywanczyk, Edward Sprogis, Jocelyn Sylvestre, Matthew Whalen
  • Publication number: 20080064185
    Abstract: There is provided a method for making a wafer comprising the steps of providing a substrate having a first surface, an opposite second surface, and at least one side edge defining a thickness of the substrate, the at least one side edge having a first peripheral region and a second peripheral region adjacent to the first peripheral region. The method includes applying a fluid to the first surface and the first peripheral region of the at least one side edge and removing the opposite second surface and the second peripheral region of the at least one side edge to form a third surface. A semiconductor chip made from the method for making the wafer is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Allan Abrams, Donald Brouillette, Joseph Danaher, Timothy Krywanczyk, Rene Lamothe, Ivan Stone, Matthew Whalen
  • Publication number: 20070077752
    Abstract: A method for the removal of residual UV radiation-sensitive adhesive from the surfaces of semiconductor wafers, remaining thereon from protective UV radiation-sensitive tapes which were stripped from the semiconductor wafers. Moreover, provided is an arrangement for implementing the removal of residual sensitive adhesive, which remain from tapes employed as protective layers on semiconductor wafers, particularly wafers having surfaces including C4 connections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2005
    Publication date: April 5, 2007
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Codding, Timothy Krywanczyk, Edmund Sprogis, Jocelyn Sylvestre, Matthew Whalen
  • Publication number: 20070054115
    Abstract: System and method for applying an adhesive tape or a pressure release tape to a surface of the semiconductor wafer to remove particulate contaminants or foreign material that may have been collected thereon. The pressure-release tape to which the foreign material is adherent is peeled off or removed from the surface of the semiconductor wafer. Advantageously, a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape may be utilized which does not require any intermediate steps between application thereof onto the surface substrate. The adhesive tape provides a novel degree of adhesion to a surface of the substrate compared to the tapes employed in the art, in order to increase the efficiency in removing the foreign materials. Moreover, no residue is left from the pressure-sensitive tape on the surface of the substrate or semiconductor wafer after the step of removing the tape to which the foreign material has adhered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2005
    Publication date: March 8, 2007
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven Codding, Petra Klinger-Park, Timothy Krywanczyk
  • Publication number: 20070029045
    Abstract: In accordance with the foregoing objects and advantages, the present invention provides a fabrication device that may be used during the grinding operation of the fabrication process. The fabrication device comprises a socket plate that includes a plurality of cavities formed therein that correspond in position and number to the solder (or other conductive material) bumps formed on the front surface of a product wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Publication date: February 8, 2007
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy Krywanczyk, Edmund Sprogis
  • Publication number: 20060163204
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure fabrication method for removing a tape physically attached to a device side of the semiconductor substrate by an adhesive layer of the tape, wherein the adhesive layer comprises an adhesive material. The method includes the step of submerging the tape in a liquid chemical comprising monoethanolamine or an alkanolamine for a pre-specified period of time sufficient to allow for a separation of the tape from the semiconductor substrate without damaging devices on the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2005
    Publication date: July 27, 2006
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven Codding, Timothy Krywanczyk, Steven Perrotte, Jason Ritter
  • Publication number: 20060105547
    Abstract: A thermally conductive protective film or layer is applied to the backside surface of a semiconductor wafer prior to a subsequent dicing operation performed on the wafer to singulate the wafer into diced semiconductor chips, during which the thin thermally conductive film minimizes and prevents chipping and cracking damage to the wafer and diced chips.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2004
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Audette, Steven Codding, Timothy Krywanczyk, Brian Thibault, Matthew Whalen
  • Publication number: 20050202678
    Abstract: There is provided a method for making a wafer comprising the steps of providing a substrate having a first surface, an opposite second surface, and at least one side edge defining a thickness of the substrate, the at least one side edge having a first peripheral region and a second peripheral region adjacent to the first peripheral region. The method includes applying a fluid to the first surface and the first peripheral region of the at least one side edge and removing the opposite second surface and the second peripheral region of the at least one side edge to form a third surface. A semiconductor chip made from the method for making the wafer is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2005
    Publication date: September 15, 2005
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Allan Abrams, Donald Brouillette, Joseph Danaher, Timothy Krywanczyk, Rene Lamothe, Ivan Stone, Matthew Whalen
  • Publication number: 20050104147
    Abstract: There is provided a UV energy curable tape comprising an adhesive material including a UV energy curable oligomer, a UV energy initiator, and a material which emits optical light when the tape composition is substantially fully cured. A semiconductor chip made using the tape is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Publication date: May 19, 2005
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy Krywanczyk, Donald Brouillette, Steven Martel, Matthew Whalen
  • Publication number: 20050106879
    Abstract: In accordance with the foregoing objects and advantages, the present invention provides a fabrication device that may be used during the grinding operation of the fabrication process. The fabrication device comprises a socket plate that includes a plurality of cavities formed therein that correspond in position and number to the solder (or other conductive material) bumps formed on the front surface of a product wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Publication date: May 19, 2005
    Inventors: Timothy Krywanczyk, Edmund Sprogis
  • Publication number: 20050090110
    Abstract: A structure and method of formation. The substrate has front and back surfaces on opposite sides of the substrate. The substrate has a backside portion extending from the back surface to a second depth into the substrate as measured from the front surface. At least one via is formed in the substrate and extends from the front surface to a via depth into the substrate. The via depth is specific to each via. The via depth of each via is less than an initial thickness of the substrate. The second depth does not exceed the minimum via depth of the via depths. Organic material (e.g., photoresist) is inserted into each via. The organic material is subsequently covered with a tape, followed by removal of the backside portion of the substrate. The tape is subsequently removed from the organic material, followed by removal of the organic material from each via.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2004
    Publication date: April 28, 2005
    Inventors: Donald Brouillette, Joseph Danaher, Timothy Krywanczyk, Amye Wells
  • Publication number: 20050045591
    Abstract: A method of treating a molybdenum (moly) mask used in a C4 process to pattern C4 contacts. The moly mask has a wafer side which contacts a wafer during the C4 process and has a rough surface that includes spikes/projections of moly. The moly mask also has a non wafer side and a plurality of holes extending through the mask to pattern C4 contacts in the C4 process. An adhesive layer, such as an adhesive tape, is applied to the non wafer side of the moly mask, to enable a polishing tool to pull a vacuum on the non wafer side of the moly mask in spite of the presence of the holes to secure the moly mask during a subsequent polishing step. The tape also functions as a cushion so that defects on the non wafer side of the moly mask do not replicate through the moly mask to the polished wafer side of the moly mask.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Publication date: March 3, 2005
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven Codding, Timothy Krywanczyk, Joseph Danaher, John Malinowski, James Palmer, Melvin Kelly, Caitlin Weinstein, Wolfgang Sauter