Patent ID: 6413459
Filing Date: 2002-07-02
Classification: B25J,H01L,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for handling a wafer assembly having a frame, a backing film attached to the frame, and a microelectronic-substrate assembly attached to the backing film, the method comprising;moving a clamp of a substrate handling apparatus at an elevation along a processing path through a processing station of a processing machine by sliding an arm attached to the clamp along a guide member having an elongated shape corresponding to the processing path, the clamp being selectively moved between a first position at a first side of the processing station to hold a substrate assembly at the processing station and a second position at a second side of the processing station to grip or release a selected frame and substrate assembly in a cassette, wherein the guide member comprises an elongated beam fixedly attached to first and second legs projecting from a table of the processing machine, the beam having a length defining a longitudinal axis and the beam being spaced apart from the processing path, the arm comprises a first arm section having a bracket slidably attached to the beam to slide along the longitudinal axis and a second arm section having a bar attached to the bracket and extending transversely from the bracket, and wherein moving the clamp comprises sliding the bracket along the beam; and operating the clamp in the second position by either gripping the selected frame to carry the substrate assembly from the second position to the first position at the processing station, or releasing the selected frame to place the selected frame and substrate assembly back in the cassette.