Patent ID: 6474553
Filing Date: 2002-11-05
Classification: H05K

Abstract:
An apparatus for indicating a count of IC (integrated circuit) packages for a plurality of types of IC (integrated circuit) package trays, each of said plurality of types of IC package trays having a same predetermined number of rows of pockets for carrying IC packages, and each of said plurality of types of IC package trays having a respective number of columns of pockets for carrying IC packages, the apparatus comprising:a plurality of counting grids, each counting grid having respective counting labels corresponding to a respective type of IC package tray, wherein each of said respective counting labels are arranged to be over a respective pocket of said respective type of IC package tray corresponding to a counting grid when said counting grid is placed over said respective type of IC package tray with said predetermined number of rows of counting labels on said counting grid being aligned to said predetermined number of rows of pockets of said respective type of IC package tray, and wherein said respective counting labels of said counting grid are numerically ordered according to an order of filling said pockets of said respective type of IC package tray; and a chest including: a bottom opening for holding an IC package tray that is partially filled with IC packages; a plurality of slots disposed through the chest with each slot holding a respective one of said counting grids disposed over and parallel with said IC package tray placed in said bottom opening of said chest such that said predetermined number of rows of counting labels of a counting grid are aligned to said predetermined number of rows of pockets of said IC package tray placed in said bottom opening of said chest; and a plurality of viewing windows through the top of the chest, each viewing window being aligned over a respective one of said predetermined number of rows of pockets of said IC package tray placed in said bottom opening of said chest; wherein each row of counting labels of each of said counting grids within said chest is out of view through said viewing window when each of said counting grids are at a respective hidden position within said slots of said chest, and wherein a respective counting grid corresponding to said IC package tray placed in said bottom opening of said chest is placed to a respective visible position within said chest such that counting labels on said respective counting grid are visible through said plurality of viewing windows through the top of said chest, and wherein a counting label of said respective counting grid over a last pocket to be filled within said IC package tray placed in said bottom opening of said chest indicates the count of IC packages within said IC package tray placed in said bottom opening of said chest.