Patents by Inventor Tom Lao

Tom Lao 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: 20070001286
    Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for venting pressure from an integrated circuit package that is sealed with a lid. During a surface mount process for mounting a ball grid array integrated circuit package to a circuit board the application of heat (1) weakens the solder that seals a soldered lid, and (2) increases vapor pressure within the integrated circuit package. This may cause the soldered lid to move out of its soldered position. The present invention solves this problem by providing an integrated circuit with a solder mask that has a plurality of solder mask vents that form a plurality of vapor pressure vents through the solder. The vapor pressure vents prevent the occurrence of any increase in vapor pressure that would shift the soldered lid out of its soldered position. An alternate embodiment vents pressure through an epoxy layer that is used to attach a lid by epoxy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Publication date: January 4, 2007
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Chiu, Tom Lao
  • Patent number: 6846186
    Abstract: A battery pack for two 2032 batteries includes a molded plastic base having an upper surface on which the batteries are received and columnar standoff posts projecting from a bottom surface, as well as a molded plastic housing sized to receive the batteries and an upper portion of the base and having ears through which screws are passed to be received by press-fit threaded inserts mounted on an integrated circuit packaging substrate and tightened to a predetermined torque. Like terminals of the batteries are joined by a welded plate, with conductive pins connected to each plate extending through the base and projecting from a bottom surface of the battery pack. A mounting guide ensures connection of proper pins to corresponding receptacles of an integrated circuit packaged during mounting of the battery pack on the integrated circuit packaging substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Tom Lao, Krishnan Kelappan, Mike Hundt
  • Publication number: 20050001330
    Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for controlling a height and a planarity of an integrated circuit die. In one advantageous embodiment of the invention, a plurality of patterned metal stops are fabricated on an integrated circuit substrate and covered with die attach material. An integrated circuit die is inserted into the die attach material and placed into a clamping mechanism of a molding machine. The clamping mechanism (1) compresses the die into the die attach material, (2) rotates the die into parallel alignment with the substrate, and (3) pushes the die into contact with the patterned metal stops. In this manner the die height and the die planarity are precisely controlled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Publication date: January 6, 2005
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Harry Siegel, Robert Bond, Tom Lao
  • Publication number: 20030201751
    Abstract: A battery pack for two 2032 batteries includes a molded plastic base having an upper surface on which the batteries are received and columnar standoff posts projecting from a bottom surface, as well as a molded plastic housing sized to receive the batteries and an upper portion of the base and having ears through which screws are passed to be received by press-fit threaded inserts mounted on an integrated circuit packaging substrate and tightened to a predetermined torque. Like terminals of the batteries are joined by a welded plate, with conductive pins connected to each plate extending through the base and projecting from a bottom surface of the battery pack. A mounting guide ensures connection of proper pins to corresponding receptacles during mounting of the battery pack on the integrated circuit packaging substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Tom Lao, Krishnan Kelappan, Mike Hundt